greater creator ...

God wants me to show off, and to display,

embody his creative nature lots -

and his hard working love, that works at play,

makes all his children & helps those who’ve got

some reasons to believe that he's their Dad.

"You made a world for them to live within,

show off in ways more brill-i-ant than sad

-  your same creative love that’s hard working!

You know oh God, I'm doing that with you,
as much as I can, and with gifts you've gi'en.
I love to see the things you like to do
and try to do like them on Earth, - as Hea'en.

Encourage who lives with me and connects,

to do the same, that we might in this mist,

know motives matter. Love covers, protects,

it frees up fun, lets jolly joy exist.

Please help us see creative ways for’ard

(you might need to give us new eyes to see).

We ask this of you now our living Lord,

that we might see new options. We believe

that you are able to do this, for you

are linked to all those prophecies of old

and "hopes" that were for good that would be true,

so now to ask you for this, I am bold!"

We need to reimagine our work as

our service to this God (and others too)

that all our methods, products, and motives,

would shine in this community, with you!

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“No philosophical theory which I have yet come across is a radical improvement on the words of Genesis, that 'In the beginning God made Heaven and Earth.'" - C. S. Lewis

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Gen. 1:1 NIVUK

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Gen. 1:27 NIVUK  

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  Romans 12:6‭-‬8 NIVUK

“One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give, and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God.” - C. S. Lewis

“The meta-narrative of work today is that it is the primary means by which we make a name for ourselves in this life and prove to the world that we are important, valuable, and worthy. …  Because Jesus said, “It is finished,” we no longer have to use our work as a means of saving ourselves. Like Lewis, the gospel frees us to create for the pure joy of creating, not seeking fortune or fame, but the fame of the One who has called us to create.” [from “C.S.Lewis and the call to Create” a Bible reading plan available within the YouVersion Bible App for Apple and Android devices, accessed Jan/Feb 2018 (CSLATCTC).]

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20 NIVUK

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.  Prov. 16:2 NIVUK

“... after his conversion to Christianity, Lewis allowed his faith in Jesus Christ to impact everything he did, including the products he chose to create.” (CSLATCTC)

“… All my seven Narnian books began with seeing pictures in my head. [The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe] began with a picture of a Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels in a snowy wood. This picture had been in my mind since I was about sixteen. Then one day, when I was about forty, I said to myself: ‘Let's try to make a story about it.’ At first I had very little idea how the story would go. But then suddenly Aslan came bounding into it...once He was there He pulled the whole story together.”

(Like Lewis, our product ideas will likely not come from brainstorming sessions where we focus intensely on how we can create a product that reveals God’s character. But…)

“as we begin to create, and we “let the Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly,” (Colossians 3:16) we will undoubtedly see how we can use our creations to reveal the character of our Creator. If our work is to feel like a calling, we, like Lewis, must be willing to allow the True Aslan to come “bounding into” every aspect of our lives, including our work.” (CSLATCTC)

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:16‭-‬17 NIVUK

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIVUK

Wow, I'm over awed as I consider this... A mate who's worked with the United Nations in peacekeeping and providing for refugees/locals in unrest in the Middle East said a year or two back something like:

~“What shows that the Creator God is really with us, is if in the difficulties and stale-mates and dead-ends of life, we can come up with creative options”  
Ash 2016 (?) - in personal conversation.

I have been led to the conclusion that he is right.

“What I owe to [the Inklings] is incalculable. Is there any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?” - C. S. Lewis

As we’ve seen modeled in the life of C. S. Lewis, reimagining our work as a calling from God changes our motivations for creating and the products we choose to create. As we’ll see today, following God’s call to create also changes how we create. …  (trustingly moving into unknown (- by us) chaos)

Like these (Charles Williams, Hugo Dyson, Owen Barfield, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and his brother Warnie Lewis) creators before us, we need regular communion with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to renew our minds and refresh the lenses through which we view the world as we create.

If our work is to feel like a vocation—a true calling on our lives—we must be willing to follow the example of C. S. Lewis and reimagine our work as service to God and others. When we do, we will find the lordship of the True Aslan, Jesus Christ, changing our motivations for creating, the products we choose to create, and how we go about creating them, in community with others following the call to create.(CSLATCTC)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:2 NIVUK

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  Prov. 27:17 NIVUK

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