Tag: create

Categories
Write for His Glory

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, God created the heavens and earth. And God saw that it was good.

Then He created animals and plants for the earth, and saw that they were good.

THEN He created a Man from the dust of the ground and breathed Life into him, and the man became a living being. God created the Man in His own image. Then because no suitable helper was found for the Man, God created a Woman from a rib of the Man – also in His own image.

And God saw that they were VERY good.

Since the beginning of time, God has been creating life. His creative powers know no boundaries. Out of nothing, God makes beauty, purpose, and goodness.

Do you ever drive down the road and marvel at the seemingly infinite variety of trees, grasses, and flowers?

Do you ever marvel at how, with basically the same anatomy (four legs, body, head, tail), so many distinct animals exist that you can name…let alone the ones you can’t name?

And people, wow! We all have the same features – eyes, nose, mouth, ears, body, arms, legs – yet we are uniquely recognizable among thousands of people.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;

    you formed me in my mother’s womb.

I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!

    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

    I worship in adoration—what a creation!

You know me inside and out,

    you know every bone in my body;

You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,

    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;

    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared

    before I’d even lived one day.

(Psalm 139:13-16, The Message)

Once upon a time, God created people – people who would be His people, and He would be their God. He loves His creation, all of it, especially the human beings He created in His own image, to reflect His glory. Oh, and the best part: when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside us.

Do you know what that means?

We have direct access to the creative power of the Creator of the Universe! Through us, God can create life-giving words, crafted into stories and songs and all kinds of media that will be read, listened to, and watched by whoever He determines needs those words exactly the way we write them. Our purpose is to create as the Holy Spirit leads, out of the passion God puts in our hearts.

Once upon a time, God created you. Don’t ever doubt that He created you exactly as “you”, intentionally and on purpose. Accept and love yourself, thankful for who He made you, and receive all He pours into you. Then pour out in your own way as only you can do, for His glory.

BIO

Mary Graziano Scro, a graduate of Christian Communicators Conference, is an inspirational author, speaker, and blogger who intuitively weaves analogies and personal testimony with practical biblical teaching. Whether “live” or at the keyboard, Mary loves sharing what God has done in her life to encourage others about the awesome life God has planned for us, IF we are willing to choose wisely in our everyday lives (John 8:31-32). And it’s not about us – the more we invest in our own unique relationship with Jesus, the more visible He is to a world that desperately needs Him. You can reach Mary on:

Facebook: Mary Graziano Scro https://www.facebook.com/don.mary.scro

Twitter: @marygscro

LinkedIn: Mary Graziano Scro  https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mary-scro/11/600/a4b

Blogs: Life Is Not A Formula at www.marygscro.com

 

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire.

The Wonder of it All

The Light of the World. The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Chick-Fil-A Cow.

Believe it or not, the aforementioned have a common thread that should fill us with the wonder of it all. They are examples of great works of—wait for it—creativity.

The Light of the World (1851-1853) is a painting by William Holman Hunt depicting Jesus preparing to knock on a long-neglected door. The door with no outside handle was painted to illustrate the scripture of Revelation 3:20. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me”

C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia have thrilled children and adults for decades with magical descriptions of strange animals and beasts that talk. Children from the real world enter an enchanted land called Narnia, meet and pledge loyalty to a lion named Aslan, and together work to fight evil to restore the rightful heirs to the throne.

Then there’s the Chick-Fil-A Cow. In 1995, The Richards Group, an advertising agency based out of Dallas, Texas, put their heads together to come up with a slogan to help S. Truett Cathy sell a few chicken sandwiches. I don’t know exactly how it went down, but at some point, a mastermind said, “I know…let’s use a cow to sell chicken. And the cow can tell everyone to Eat Mor Chikin’.”

Brilliant.

I am fascinated by the creativity of others as they showcase the broad spectrum of vision and imagination in mankind. What makes someone look at a glob of paint and see Jesus raising a hand to knock on a door? Who gazes at a wardrobe and imagines children climbing in and discovering another world? And who, pray tell, ponders how to sell chicken and thinks of a cow?

It all comes down to the Person whose image we bear.

We have the desire to create because we are made in the image of the ultimate Creator—Jesus—the One who was with God in the beginning. The One who spoke all things into existence. The One who moves in us to act according to His will and gives us the desire to reflect His glory.

As writers, when we are driven to shape thoughts and ideas on paper, our hearts should thrill with what is happening. The Creator of all things is moving in us to accomplish His purposes. How affirming!

Over the next months, I pray that CREATE. MOTIVATE. INSPIRE. will be nourishment to your writer’s soul and that it will be a reminder of the Reason behind it all.

We are image-bearers.

May we bear it well.

[bctt tweet=”We are image-bearers. #inspiration #write” via=”no”]

[bctt tweet=”It all comes down to the Person whose image we bear. #write #writer” via=”no”]

Categories
The Creative Tool Kit

12 Days of Christmas for Creative Minds

The creative tool kit

12 days of ChristmasHey, creative peeps, here are twelve gift ideas (either for yourself or for others!) in honor of the 12 Days of Christmas. Enjoy!

On the FIRST day of Christmas // The gift of aloneness

We know there’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. Embracing time away from people, phones, and laptops can boost our brain power, especially during this bustling season.

On the SECOND day of Christmas // The gift of learning

Try taking a class or an online course in an unfamiliar field to broaden your creative horizons.

On the THIRD day of Christmas // The gift of momentum

Feeling off your game lately? Try priming the pump with these writing prompts by ThinkWritten.

“If the road behind me is not growing ever longer, then it is likely that the feet underneath me are not moving any longer. And if my feet are not moving, I have somehow, somewhere traded this most glorious journey for lesser endeavors.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough, An Intimate Collision: Encounters with Life and Jesus

On the FOURTH day of Christmas // The gift of a fresh perspective

Allen Arnold’s The Story of With: A Better Way to Live, Love, & Create offers a fresh perspective on the subject of creativity, squashing pre-conceived notions that only certain privileged folks can attain it.

“Science has shown that, in many ways, we are all wired to create. The key is recognizing that creativity is multifaceted—on the level of the brain, personality, and the creative process—and can be displayed in many different ways, from the deeply personal experience of uncovering a new idea or experience to expressing ourselves through words, photos, fashion, and other everyday creations, to the work of renowned artists that transcends the ages.” -Scott Barry Kaufman, Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind.

On the FIFTH day of Christmas // The gift of acceptance

Embrace your quirks. Enough said.

On the SIXTH day of Christmas // The gift of prayer

Pray for a heightened sense to your surroundings. Engaging all our sensories helps to improve every aspect of life and who better to help than the Creator Himself?

On the SEVENTH day of Christmas // The gift of rest

This is different than the first day. True rest involves shutting down the very senses we just prayed to heighten. It’s resting the body both emotionally and physically. This kind of rest allows our minds to breathe, possibly birthing some of our most creative ideas.

On the EIGHTH day of Christmas // The gift of keen observance

Immerse yourself in nearby crowds. (What better time of year?) Take note of those who pass by. What do you notice about them? Eavesdrop on those eating at the next table. Is there a particular word or phrase you could use in your WIP? The list goes on. Another idea is to pack your camera and head to your downtown area. Capture all things Christmas!

On the NINTH day of Christmas // The gift of a notebook

“A writer is someone on whom ‘nothing is lost'”. -Henry James

On the TENTH day of Christmas // The gift of music

Buy a pack of 3 I-tunes gift cards. Give two away, keep one for yourself. There’s power in music!

“When sailors have to move a heavy load or raise an anchor, they all sing together to keep them up and give them vim. That’s just what artists lack.” -Vincent van Gogh

On the ELEVENTH day of Christmas // The gift of good health and energy

Who needs candy canes stuffed in their stocking? Stock your fridge with blueberries, green tea, leafy vegetables, fatty fish, water, dark chocolate, flaxseeds and nuts.

On the TWELFTH day of Christmas // The gift of a mini-trip

Enjoy all or some of the above gift ideas on a mini-getaway following the holidays. Use this time to restore and re-energize for 2017!


Do you plan to give yourself or someone else any or all of the above gifts? If so, please share your favorite in the comment section. Or, if you have another idea to add, I’d love for you to share it.

Thank you!

Categories
Child's Craft

Keep the FAITH in your Writing

Keeping the faith in your writing can be difficult. I remember sitting on my back porch with a rejection letter in my hand just sobbing. I had received the go ahead from this publisher to send in my full proposal. I’d been waiting in anticipation for several months and believed this was the publisher the Lord had provided. I’d worked so hard to perfect this manuscript but then it came. The dreaded rejection letter. It wasn’t what they needed at the time. Rejection letters weren’t new to me as I’d already received a year’s worth of them, but for some reason, this publisher hurt me the most. I just wanted to quit.

Have you been there? Are you experiencing this or something similar now? It seems that rejection letters aren’t sent so much anymore, as the dreaded silent treatment. No news is not good news in these cases. Luckily my youngest daughter, saddened at seeing her mom sobbing at that time, cuddled next to me and said, “You have to write, Mommy. You’re a writer.”

That was just what I needed to hear at the time to gradually snap me out of my Writers Pit of Despair. We all have one. Some of us visit it more than others. But believe me, we all have them.

What do we do when we don’t have a precious toddler telling us that we have to keep writing?  I think it’s okay to visit the pit once in a while for a brief pity party, but don’t set up camp down there. Claw your way back out. Keep the FAITH. That may sound cliché but I’ve come up with an acronym of FAITH for writers to keep us out of the pits of despair.

F – Fully believe in God’s anointing of your gift of writing.

God gave you the gift of writing for His glory. We don’t know what that means to Him, but we are to use the gifts He’s given to us. You may be asking, “How do I know if He’s given me the gift of writing or not?” People who do not have the gift of writing know it. They don’t like anything having to do with writing. They probably don’t journal, they dreaded writing assignments in school and don’t doodle in idle time. They aren’t looking at the world differently. They may not even enjoy reading. But if you can’t NOT write, you’ve probably got the gift.

A – Actively write or create. God is the Great Creator and I believe loves to see everyone creating in one form or another. Even when you’re visiting the pit, reach for a pen and your beautiful journal (life is too short to use ugly journals) and scribble your thoughts, your feelings and prayers down. Scratch out a note to your mother. Write a letter of praise to God. Draw. Color in those new adult coloring books. Make a craft with your child. Paint. Organize a drawer. Cross stitch. Sew. Find something to create to get your creative juices flowing again.

I – Involve yourself with other writers. Join a critique group. Word Weavers has local chapters all over. See if there’s one close to you or check out http://www.meetup.com/ to find local writers groups. Attend a conference to network with other writers. Join a writers group on facebook. Get creative to find other writers. You know they’re out there.

T- Thank God for your inspirations, for your time to write, for blessings and anything else that comes to mind. Giving thanks brings joy. In fact, giving thanks may be what lifts you out of the pit.

H – Hope, have faith. You have a hope in Jesus and in His love for you. Believe he has the best in mind for you and will use you and your writing in ways you probably can’t even fathom at this point. Be open to His leading. Believe in Him. Believe in your gifts and have FAITH.

Know you’re not alone in this. Anybody who claims to be a writer will receive a rejection or ‘silence’ at some point or many points. Rejections are the battle scars that show we’re writing. Keep writing and keep the FAITH.

Categories
Storyworld

Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy: Alien Nature

Atheists believe all creatures evolved over countless millennia of bloodshed, allowing only the fittest members of a species to breed. They therefore imagine all sentient life with the same violent nature as humanity, and the same basic need for governance.

But the writer of Christian science fiction and fantasy has a unique perspective on mankind, and therefore also a unique way to imagine inhuman races. That comes from a biblical understanding of the nature of man.

But the first question the Christian needs to ask when writing a work of Christian science fiction or fantasy is this: Does your world even take place in our universe? If so, you have to take certain things into account. Specifically …

[bctt tweet=”Does your world even take place in our universe? #storyworld #scifi #fantasy” via=”no”]

God is in charge and has a purpose

If the God we know from the Bible exists in your fiction, then we know certain things are true. Specifically: God created man intentionally (not accidentally) to have a relationship with him, man rebelled against God, and God allows man to be forgiven.

Understanding these fundamental aspects of humanity will guide you when writing about non-humans in a biblical universe. Why? Because although God gave all creatures a purpose, an alien’s purpose may be very different from our own. Maybe God didn’t create the space-fairies to worship him, but to punish humanity. Scary thought, but it wouldn’t be unprecedented based on the way He used Cyrus in Isaiah’s prophecies.

God so loved [humans] that he gave his only begotten son

Sin and redemption are so intrinsic to humanity that we forget that mankind may be unique in this regard. But have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? Perhaps they had a test like the one in Eden but passed. Obviously their relationship with the Lord would look very different. A great pair of novels that deal with this theoretical issue are Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, both Christian science fiction novels by C.S. Lewis.

[bctt tweet=”have aliens even rebelled against God like humans? #storyworld #scifi” via=”no”]

Even if aliens did fall from grace, redemption may look different. God chose a very awesome way to reconcile man to himself, but a different method could be employed to bring otherworldly people to himself. For example, Ted Dekker’s Circle series (Quadrilogy?) had an unusual redemption story for the characters in his alternate reality/ future/ past/ whatever it was.

A sad possibility is that there is no hope for redemption for an alien race. It sounds cruel, but we know of one sentient alien species in our own reality that has fallen members with no hope for salvation. No, not the Rock People from the Noah Movie. Sigh. Angels and Demons. Angels were created for purposes similar to man’s (worshipping God), but somewhere along the line, a third of the angels rebelled against God (just like Adam rebelled). To our knowledge though, their species has not been offered forgiveness. The mercy He grants humanity gives us a unique and humbling position.

 

Before I completely overwhelm you, not all sci-fi and fantasy needs to have aliens or other species. Examples: The Battletech series by Michael A. Stackpole and others, Joss Whedon’s Firefly (ok it’s a TV show, not a book), and Isaac Asimov’s Foundation. But if you’re writing Christian science fiction in our biblical universe and describing fictitious species , you’ll need to consider which aspects of man’s story are unique and which aren’t. Maybe heaven in your book will contain many different species, or maybe not. You don’t have to describe this heavenly display, but you should keep it in mind as an end-goal for your protagonists. At any rate, God’s eternal plan is of supreme importance in human lives, so it at least bears consideration for nonhumans. And a better understanding of humanity’s own (possibly) unique story will help you craft your own.