creativity...

we enjoyed some mighty fine home-made pasties whilst we chatted about our days, the trials and joys that each of us faced, and how our time in prayer during the morning had been a crucial element in the day.

We continued to talk through prayer and the importance of a healthy and disciplined rhythm of prayer would be key to be a 'prayer community'. It sounds straight forward but it was very helpful exploring together. One the main things we noticed was that a prayerful lifestyle needs a lot of opennes, a focus off ourselves and on Christ, to acknowledge him in everything we do - to 'practise his presence' at all times, to do all things for his Glory....practical stuff came up as well, and we're going to introduce a personal 'quiet time' that we will all be encouraged to do each day, so our personal prayerlives don't start relying on others.

hopefully thats wisdom. we thought so :)

we ended the evening with a small prayer from the monday night's service from David Adam's rhythm of prayer book thing (i forget the title!) then a time of silent prayer, having talked about silence maybe being a sign/helper towards maturity and the disciplined prayer life we're hoping to establish.

Anyway - today is still on the purpose of being True to Christ, but discovering a bit more what it means to practice creativity.

As we gathered in the living room, i introduced the theme of thought and discussion and prayer. 24/7 encourage communities to be places where artistic expressions of prayer and worship may take the form of art, scultpure, new music, poetry, dance, fun and a celebratory lifestyle. Similarly with prayer, the practice of creativity needs openness; a focus off our priorities and on what Jesus is doing. our creativity, whilst using created things is a response to 'God the creator' who created out of nothing. it comes in two ways -

1. artistic: using our God-given and God-created gifts to bring him glory and to express worship. Sometimes painting a picture or writing a prayer on a wall is the only way we can express how we feel. Or, on the flip side, a picture already painted and hanging on a wall, describing a bible verse may speak volumes to someone who might not have understood it if they read the words.

2. celebration: enjoy with thanksgiving what God has created - creation, laughter, fun, the fact that we can taste and see and use other senses, music, sport, gardening, cooking and other creative things; honouring God as the source of it all and recognising his power and awesomness in the everyday things of life.

It's a really interesting concept, and one that's simple but hard to get your head around. Our society is so geared to rush and be busy that its easy to miss the simple things. we dont feel we have the time to consider God's role in the sunrise or sunset, or the birds that sing in our gardens - beauty becomes washed down to the product itself, not the careful loving work and creativity of a heavenly Father.

We're celebrating today the fact that ben was made, as it's his birthday today. He took devotions and it was excellent. We mulled over 1 john 4 - looking at God as love, and love as God, that no one has seen God but if we love him he will live in us, which I guess means he'll be revealed through us, because his love isn't stagnant. The passage is packed with goodness and I recommend reading it. particularly verses 7-21.

Thanks ben.

I forgot to say: It's funny, completely unplanned (or was it?!), it so happens that on our day looking at creativity we're heading over the open mic night at the Guildhall later. Dan, a friend from feig runs it and is taking part and may be running our devotions tomorrow morning. Cool.