Have you noticed that in certain times or seasons you feel compelled to partner with God in different ways? Certain activities suddenly give you life and other activities have become dull.
In this season, I have daily spent time with my small sketch book. I have drawn from photos on Pinterest. Then I took the life drawings and translated them in my imagination. At the same time I have noticed the slight differences between animals such as lions, tigers, leopards, as well as deer, giraffes and horses. I have pondered their colors, patterns, and shapes. Even with people, I am more aware of the variety of face shapes and features. I have been invited into various sub-cultures and have ponders their ways. Clearly, we have a God who likes variety and is surprisingly playful. Underlying it all is purpose as well. But He certainly is lavish. Perhaps tomorrow I will consider the lilies. Some may say that I am wasting my time; that I should be evangelizing or praying for someone. They say I must be about the practical ministries that directly help people. Chop, chop! Well, that brought life in past seasons. This is a new season with new possibilities and fresh ways to relate to God. I sat in a parking ramp and watched leaves dance on a row of poplar trees for 20 minutes. God asked me if I thought their dance felt like nervousenes or excitement. That reminded me of a Graham Cooke sermon. I said that it made me feel nervous. He said, Choose to be excited! Where are you with God? Has your Bible reading become dry? Maybe you can meditate on a scripture such as: Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Or ponder an attribute of God such Creator or Jehovah Shalom. How is God showing up for you? For me He is the more in the silence than in the sound. In this season He is deepening my awareness of rest. One day I was lying on my bed and it felt like I entered eternity. It reminded me of time-elapse photography of clouds rolling over a landscape. The clouds flashed by but I stayed still on the Rock. I was steady and immovable as if in the eye of the hurricane. It reminds me of the scripture: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. In Galatians Paul writes that he did not consult with anyone but spent time alone with God for some years. Henry Nouwen said that sometimes you need a ‘creative absence’ from community. Yes, I have connected with my inner Christian circle but I have enjoyed my sabbatical away from the herd. The religious will give me a scolding but there are Christians I have fellowshipped with at work. I have connected with Christian artists – my tribe. And I have found that time to be super creative and divine. Have you taken time to dream with God? It may be hard if you are in a crisis but not impossible. Hey, God, this is my dream; what is yours? I have gone on prayer walks. I have gone on art dates with God to Hobby Lobby of all places. And I am in a new season identifying with a new Bible character that I will not disclose. Nope, I have not mentioned him yet. Take some time out today to see if you can see God moving in a different way.
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