What if we saw the arts in worship as part of discipleship? What if we saw the arts as essential, rather than optional, to the Spirit’s work of forming us in the image of Christ when we gather as a corporate body? What if a carefully crafted work of visual art enabled a congregation to see its mission in a radically new light? What if art in worship could yield a substantively formative experience? …see more at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/april/art-in-worship.html
God so loved the world that He gave His only son….
My theology about much, if not most, human suffering is succinctly defined in John 9:3-4. Jesus’ answer to the question of why of suffering: “so that the works of God can be displayed, and we must work those works while it is day”(paraphrased). I think it’s a powerful commandment to tell our stories; the sad ones; the ones we don’t want to be identified by; the ones where God allows our hidden suffering and our prayers are unanswered.
The pain inside
It’s an effective witness of God’s work in the hearts of His people when we share how Christ works in our lives and that through Him, we have a life of trust in God and the joy in our lives and peace that passes all understanding. While we dont understand unanswered prayer completely, this is one way to make sense of it – it can be used to help others. After all our purpose is to glorify God on this earth in everything.
My watercolor series on the subject of human suffering can be seen at http://www.monicagiglio.com
Your interpretation of the last book of the Bible may earn you the Apocalypse Prize… I am not associated with the sponsors of this contest, but I want to help spread the word! It appears to be extremely well-thought and very challenging. It will require you to dig deep into one of the most confusing misunderstood books of the Bible. If you are interested like I am, we have ten months left to work on our submissions. Really, really, really interesting. I’m gonna take a shot at it:) Follow the link to learn more.
http://apocalypseprize.com/
Remember this quote….
“Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space.”
Take a look at Penny’s blog (click on red text link below) …. another believer doing what they do to glorify God in Heaven and bring peace to people on earth!
Click on the red text-link below to see and hear my nephew’s band doing what they are good at; using the gifts they were blessed with!
Do it well, do it often, and glorify God in Heaven
Do you know any church or organizational leaders who would find this interesting? Help me spread the word! Purpose Driven Arts has several major objectives; to help people IN ANY VOCATION to understand the creative gifts given to them by God and how to use them in their everyday lives. Also to be a missionary witness of Christ to the arts culture and to help develop purpose-driven artists. Also to bring visual arts back into worship privately and publicly. I have seen firsthand the powerful impact this can have. It could be something as simple as thematic art shows at Christmas and Easter and/or during special sermons or series. It is a way to creatively express God’s eternal truths in new ways as an act of worship. At the same time it’s a way for others to view and understand God’s truth in new ways as expressed through various visual art forms. I can work with your church or organization for a surprisingly reasonable fee. Please ask your pastors if they’re interested!
Whenever we make a thing of beauty, we first of all are using the gifts God gave us. He made humankind in His image – His creative image. He gave us the ability to make things of beauty, tools, science, etc. So when we use the gifts He gave us, it’s a way to worship Him and bring Him glory… Whatever you do; do it all for the glory of God.
This is one of my designs. One of a kind jewelry
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. — 1 John 4:17
How do we reflect the image of God in this world? The Bible says love is made complete among us. God’s love is a gift to us and through us to others. God CREATED and made us as creative beings also. Through the arts and through our everyday lives we can bring to the world images of love – God’s love. When a love song is performed opera or rock-n-roll, when Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, when a house is built and designed to provide shelter for a family, all of these can be reflections of God’s love. Worship Him with your gifts and spread God’s love and truths, make His love complete among those in your life, because “…in this world, we are like Him” !
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. — 1 John 4:15
So grateful that we have a living God who is in us, and “gets us”. Life would be so hard without Him and the gifts He gives…
Christ came to earth as a baby
John 3:16 For God so loved ithe world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
The leaves in the background, slightly out of focus gradually take on the shape of lonely hearts. The foreground leaves almost jumping off the paper at the viewer represent the forces invading a person’s life that may prevent them from attending to the needs of their loved ones, and neglecting their own need for intimacy. Sad casualties of becoming too consumed with work, hobbies, careers and self are lonely hearts left behind, one of which may even be their own.
I received a note from one of my High School (over 30 yrs ago) ART teachers who evidently knew back then, even before I did, that the creative spirit of God had taken hold in me and was moving in my life! She recently saw a Newspaper article about me that prompted her to write me and her correspondence was surprisingly like cold water to a thirsty soul. I had a visceral, emotional response to her words and even welled up with tears. The following is an excerpt
“…I was overjoyed to read about your successes and view your portfolio. I must tell you I am not surprised by your strong compositions, nor that your multi-talents cause you to move from medium to medium. I remember you as the creative, artistic young lady in my class whose art permeated her existence. Just wanted to wish you well and tell you I’m proud and thrilled you are following your passion…”
My Prayer: Thank you Lord God, for supportive teachers everywhere for all students, and I thank you especially for the ones that have influenced me, and believed in me when I wasn’t even looking. Amen!
Smiling through pain…
There was a time when Art was recognized as integral to worship in the same way music is. Now, at best it might be seen as ancillary. However, there is a movement – and it is worldwide – to encourage the re-emergence of the visual art s as worship, and that includes privately and “publicly” in the church as part of services.
Make your art, write your songs, act your plays, play your music, build your business, think outside the box! Do it well. Do it often. Do it privately in your studious moments. Perform it publicly. And remember who your gifts come from.As the Bible puts it:
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matt. 5:16
Whether it’s being a singer, painter, actor, dancer, lawyer, teacher, doctor, scientist, builder, etc – you all – we all – need to be in touch with the creative gifts that were given to us by God. Using our gifts for Him can be an act of worship. It can also be a way of expressing His truths to others, but even if the world never see what we do – God does. He may be our only audience sometimes! As the Bible puts it in 1st Cor. 10:31b … whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Life begins with a kiss…
Rev. Michael Radford Sullivan says: “When we are able to give ourselves over to something greater, we begin to participate in a kind of spiritually-led process where our eyes are opened. We might see things that we would not have otherwise seen. I would argue that creativity is something greater than we are.”
Pain and Growth
Many churches find that adding—or improving—an arts planning process reveals God’s grace in startling ways. Creating art for worship can sink Scripture into people’s lives, connect people from different cultures, and build bridges into the community. – Calvin Institute on Worship
Click her for: NOT YOUR MOTHER’S BOOK: Newspapers cover Monica’s Art and Writing
I continue to glorify God with my gifts and bloom where I am planted. The recent articles in The Home News tribune, Courier News and other papers have mentioned the work I do at Renaissance Church in Summit. 2013 is an exciting time for the arts in Christianity and Christianity in the arts!
Purpose Driven Arts 