Hey you! Yes you on the other side of this screen. You with the coffee mug, taking a break from “the real world” by scrolling through social media.
I was just wondering…
Would you consider yourself creative? Maybe an artist of some sort? A dreamer, teacher, planner, organizer, designer?
No, this isn’t a job application. But if you’re a maker of any kind—food, songs, events, babies, words, gardens, ideas, conversation—it’s because there’s something planted inside of you; something in your soul that’s dying to bust out.
Well guess what? He started it.
God was the first creative—our Creator. “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1) and He never stopped. Not only did He sling planets into the galaxies and purposefully design each unique fingerprint, but He also created us to keep creating.
I’m not talking about mere paintings or the hundreds of DYI projects you’ve pinned but probably won’t ever get to. I’m talking about how our individually-constructed minds were created SO THAT we might bring glory to God and draw others to Him—in our own unique ways.
Can I tell you about my friend, Kristin?
Kristin is solid and steady with a bit of sass—which I appreciate. She embodies what it means to be a sold-out follower of Christ and continually lives a life worth following. She and her husband serve like crazy, are willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to Him, and have helped start multiple churches. All of these things are great, but there’s something else I want to highlight:
Kristin goes to a strip club every Monday night.
That’s right… A strip joint, a nudie bar, a gentleman’s club (although I’ve never understood that phrase).
Kristin and a handful of other gals take dinner to some women working at this particular place of employment every Monday night. They hang notes and Bible verses next to the dancing schedules on the bulletin board in the break room. They also bring gifts around the holidays and have even thrown multiple baby showers for some of the women who were expecting.
And no, they don’t stick around for the show (in case you were wondering).
Many of these “dancers” have found themselves in desperate places—just trying to make ends meet. It might not seem like much, what Kristin and her friends are doing, but it is. Every single week, they have the opportunity to show up. To show up once again and shower these ladies with food and consistency and love and the hope of Jesus.
“We live in separate worlds,” Kristin told me, “but still fight the same battles and are loved and forgiven by the same God.”
And that is the bottom line, y’all. God doesn’t discriminate. “We” are not better than them and “they” are not worse off than us. In fact, there is no us and them. We are all lost and broken without a Savior to pave the way home.
And while the futures of these women are uncertain, we know God is working. There’s a lot of planting going on. A lot of watering and praying and continuing to show God’s relentless pursuit of them in the meantime—because God often works miracles right in the messy middle. And I truly believe that one day there will be fruit and a harvest and souls who have a safe eternity because someone wasn’t afraid to show them the love of Jesus in an out-of-the box way.
So here is my question…
What are you doing? What am I doing? What are we doing—collectively, together—to get creative, think bigger, get our hands dirty, and love on those who need Him most? God gave us brains, after all. How can we leverage our passions and convictions and wild-card ideas for Kingdom gain?
Some of us are visionaries, some developers, some make-it-happeners, some evaluators, and some encouragers. But we ALL have something to give.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)
I just love that verse. He gives us the desire AND the power. It’s all Him! And by His design, He uses His people to reach even more of His people.
So what do you have to give away? And I don’t just mean stuff. What part of you do you have to offer? A hug, a smile, a compliment? A second chance, an invitation, the gift of forgiveness? What talents are you sitting on? What passions are hiding dormant, collecting dust on a shelf of excuses somewhere? What can be used for the sole purpose of bringing glory to His name?
One of my friends is fostering the sweetest baby boy, on top of raising her other three.
Another is in the medical field, shining light into the darkness every single day.
Another is using her coffee-maker to unite and encourage tired momma’s in her area.
Another is using her past brokenness and present redemption to inspire married couples who have found themselves in a tough place.
Another is using her stilettos and #girlboss status to make a Kingdom dent in the corporate world.
Another is using her passion for fitness and worship to teach Holy Yoga classes.
Another is donating ice-chests of her frozen breastmilk to a family adopting a newborn.
Another is using her kitchen table and love for food to make Biblical community happen.
Another pays for the person behind her every time she goes to Starbucks, and includes an invite card to her church.
Another teaches her kids about serving by handing out water bottles to the homeless.
Another sends a handwritten note of encouragement to one friend, family member, or stranger every day.
The possibilities are literally endless.
So what do you have? Give it away. What are your gifts? Stop hoarding them. What’s your passion? Do something—anything.
Take the step. Make the move. Create, cultivate, and give it away.
Entirely for the glory of the One who started it.
