Color Outside the Lines -

This is one of my favorite creativity boosters. I love it when people tell me things like ‘you can’t write a song that way. No one will ever sing it.’ Telling me I can’t do something is like pushing me off a cliff. What may look like a fall for someone else looks like an opportunity for adventure and creativity to me. I should walk around with a placard that says ‘I’ll show you!’ Just because everyone does something one way doesn’t mean it’s the ONLY way. Maybe God has something else for you. Not only should we take God out of any boxes we have placed Him in, we should take OURSELVES out of the box as well. -

"THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NASB

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Awaken Your Senses -

Awakening the senses does not mean to do whatever feels good in a given moment. God gave us senses to help us understand the world and the people around us. Our senses were given with pure and holy intentions in mind. Creative people are often attacked in the area of erotic awareness of our senses. There is a place for that. Learn to use your senses in a godly manner. How can we learn to do this? We must learn to see from God’s perspective. When we see a loved one or a coworker, what do we see? What does God see? Learn to see with His eyes. When we hear someone speak, what do we hear? Do we listen beyond the surface and hear the meaning behind the sound, or are we too concerned with our own needs to hear from God’s perspective? We know that children need to be touched. Have you ever been with someone you knew could benefit from your touch? A gentle touch on the arm that says ‘I understand’ or a pat on the back that says ‘Way to go!’ Have you ever wondered what an emotionally needy person might feel to go untouched in life? Learn to taste and see from God’s perspective…and allow the heightened sensitivity to permeate your creativity. -

O taste and see that the LORD is good;

How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 34:8 NASB

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REFRESH YOURSELF -

Sometimes, creativity means getting out of your regular routine. Have you considered taking a hike to help break the monotony of your job? Taking a hike may mean simply getting up and walking around the office. Such a walk may not seem too adventurous to you until you see that walk from God’s perspective. Take time to look at the people around you from a different point of view. What are their needs? What are their dreams? What would bless them today? Our souls need refreshment. What brings refreshment to you? Clearing the mind does wonders. Need help doing that? Call a friend who is always encouraging to you. Don’t have any friends like that? Call someone who needs encouragement and YOU be that friend. Take a praise break. Take just a few minutes and tell the Lord how much He means to you today. Get away from that computer or that knitting or that washing machine or that telephone for even 5 minutes and refocus on something that brings you joy...then apply that creativity to whatever creative outlet God has placed in your life. -

My soul, wait in silence for God only,

For my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.

On God my salvation and my glory rest;

The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Trust in Him at all times, O people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 62:5-8 NASB

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Think Differently About What Creativity Is -

Creativity (to me) is seeing life and its circumstances from a different perspective. As a child of God Almighty, I must learn to see life from HIS perspective. To do so can prove to be one of the most productive means of unburdening your soul you may ever find in this life. To see tragedy from God’s perspective gives hope. To view hurtful moments from God’s point of view brings maturity and grace. To see your place and purpose from God’s point of view brings passion and joy. To practice creativity in this manner is to be like our Father. He is Creator. We are made in His image. Let’s learn to release more of our identity and be like Him. That is who we are. You get the picture. Focus anew on seeing life from a different perspective and allow it to permeate your creativity. -

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33 NASB

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Write in Your Own Key -

Sounds crazy, but sometimes we put the cart before the horse. We want to write something that will be congregational so as we are writing we place certain parameters on our passion. We think ‘Will this be in the proper key?’ or we think ‘Will this concept translate from my heart to the heart of the congregation?’ and in the process, we limit our own passion. When I am in receiving/writing mode, I always sing in the key that is most comfortable for me…in the range of my own abilities that lend themselves to the release of my personal passion. I do not worry about whether or not others will be able to sing in my key. I can transpose the key once the song is crafted. I do not think about whether people will understand the concept or not, I allow the crafting process to bring about the translation and I trust the Holy Spirit to lead people to understanding. In other words, I release my passion and receive what I receive then I do what is necessary to make the song as usable as possible for the body of Christ. Release your passion as your write and receive and watch the Holy Spirit help you craft it for the body in the process. -

My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

Psalm 45:1 NASB

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Lead Your Sheep to Goodness

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life…

Psalm 23:6a NASB -

Just as we should receive and write from the King’s perspective concerning the hard times of life, we should also focus on what is good and right regardless of our circumstances. In other words, write from the good things life has bestowed upon you! If you receive good news concerning a certain area of your life, rejoice and write from that joy. If you are blessed with a good health report or a financial blessing, write from the joy it brings to your soul. If you have a specific prayer answered, write from the abundance of joy that floods your soul at such news. Always see life from God’s point of view. Write from what you have and not just from what you have lost. Attitude is everything…and our attitude should always be one of hope because we have a relationship with the Savior Who IS our hope…no matter what! -

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 NASB

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Write From the Abundance of Your Own Soul

My cup overflows…

Psalm 23:5c -

It is a good thing to write and receive from your own pains, sorrows, and woundings, but it is just as good and helpful to others to write and receive from the abundance of your own soul. Even when going through hard times, it is the right thing to focus on what is good rather than the darkness. It is of vital importance that we learn to see and live our lives from the King’s perspective. When I am down, I focus on the fact that God will deliver me from the shadows of the lies of the enemy. When I feel betrayed, I focus on the One Who has my back even when others let me down. When I sorrow, I focus on what I have rather than on what I have lost. When we receive creatively we must remember to not always wallow in our sorrows but to also rejoice in all we have been given. Even if you lost everything but still had breath, you would have something to be thankful for. Even if faced with death, we have the reality of eternal life to give thanks for. Write and receive today from the abundance of your soul. -

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 NASB

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Write With Healing in Mind -

You have anointed my head with oil…

Psalm 23:5b -

One thing we can always count on: life, due to sin, is full of pain and sorrow. This means there will always be need of comfort and healing. As a song receiver, you must be constantly aware of the needs of those you are writing for. Remember, also, that God wastes nothing – not even your sorrow and pain. Do not hesitate to allow the sorrows and wounds of your own life to inspire you to receive songs that will minister healing to yourself and to others. As you walk in relationship with God and others, allow life to flow from those relationships and you receive the comfort and healing you need personally – then extend that same hope to others through the songs you receive through the process. This will make for songs that are deeper than the surface – songs that cut to the root of the pain and sorrow and minister healing right where they are needed most. Cry out to God in the midst of your pain and cry out to God for others in the midst of theirs. Songs of deliverance – of comfort and healing – will flow as a result.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

Because the LORD has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners;

To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 61:1-3 NASB

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Write From the Table Set Before You -

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…

Psalm 23:5a NASB -

Far too often, Christians walk around believing they are somehow relegated to whatever their circumstances are. We allow the enemy to dictate our lives according to our present situation. The truth is this: as new creations we are children of the King! We are liuterally joint-heirs with Christ! What does this mean? We do not have to settle for anything less than God’s best – regardless of our circumstances! How do we do that? We recognize that we must view life and its circumstances from the King’s point of view rather than from the point of view of the enemy. In other words, God has prepared a feast for us in the very midst of the lies of the enemy. We can either choose to sit at the table of God’s presence and perspective or we can sit under the table and eat the crumbs the enemy wants us to see from the vantage point of our circumstances. As you walk in relationship with Christ this week as a song receiver, ask Him to allow you to see your circumstances from His point of view…and then write from that perspective. Above all, honor God by walking as a Kingdom Seeker by walking according to your identity as a new creation.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…

1 Peter 2:9 NASB

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Write Songs of Comfort -

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 24:4b

When my children were small, it was often my privilege to comfort them when they would fall and scrape a knee or when they had just received discipline and gone through the steps of repentance. What I have discovered in ministry is that all people need comfort some time in their life. I ask the Lord for songs of comfort for those I am in relationship with or for those I am ministering to at large. Some of those songs are for those broken by life who need a means of crying out to God with their need for comfort. Some of those songs are for those who have gone through the steps of repentance and now need the reassurance that God loves them immensely and that everything really is going to be all right. Listen for such songs this week and then use those songs in ministry to those around you when possible.

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper [Comforter], that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth…” Jesus

John 14:16-17a NASB

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