Being

Isaiah 6:1-4

Isaiah’s Commission

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
       "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
       the whole earth is full of his glory."

 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Matthew 11:28-30

The Yoke of Jesus

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Being – Christians seem to be very good at doing. Those in ministry, whatever that ministry may be, seem to think that the more things we do the more God will bless us. We make sure we fill our days and evenings with worthy tasks. Some of us seem determined to wear ourselves out as quickly as we possibly can. Most do so for good reason, they want to please God, others like being known as spiritually mature.

Although our ministry tasks are important they are not the foundation of who we are. At the heart of our faith is the relationship won for us by Jesus, a relationship with our awesome Creator God.

Therefore it is crucial that we learn to be with God.

In every task, however mundane, we should be aware of God’s presence and let it wash over us and through us.

Even more importantly we should set aside time to purposely search for closeness with God. Creativity is a good way to do this.

Activity – You may feel that you are not a creative person. When people say that they usually mean that they can’t produce something that would please other people or that other people would want to buy.

Creativity is not about the end result. A picture from a child to a parent is not about how accurate or displayable it is, it’s about the giving of a gift of love.

There are many ways in which we can be creative. What would you like to do?

You may want to scribble with a pen or pencil, splash colours on paper, form something from clay or plasticine, bake something, garden, make something, cook something – it doesn’t really matter what it is.

No one else needs to see it (unless you want them to).

Do it for your Father in Heaven.

Dedicate it to him.

Share with him.

Read – some are given gifts and set aside to serve God as artists and crafts people but all of us are created to create.

Exodus 31:1-11

Bezalel and Oholiab

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, 2 "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts- 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent- 8 the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand- 10 and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, 11 and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you."