The Journey of Desire by John Eldredge

As a Minister of Students here at Blue Valley Baptist Church I am honored to be a part of students lives on a weekly basis.  It's absolutely amazing to see God at work in their lives as they grow in their devotion to Him.  I recognize outside of Christ, none of this is possible.  He alone orchestrates the talents, gifts, and abilities in each of our students to grow in their God-given abilities.  When they display the fruit of the spirit it molds the Body of Christ.  It also inspires my life and the lives of our adult shepherds to stay passionate about life and our walk with Christ.

For example, we have many, many students who serve on a weekly basis in the Preschool and Childrens Ministry on Sunday morning and at special events.  They may not know it or not but I watch their example.  How they make the kids feel welcome, excited, and loved.  Now I don't evaluate them on a scale of 1 to 10.  No, it more acknowledging their ability and then celebrate them with giving a high five and a word of encouragement.  Why is that so important?  Because it's celebrating Christ within them and His power being made manifest through their obedience.

In his book The Journey of Desire by author John Eldredge he gives this brief description about creativity.  Read below:

"Somehow," notes Os Guinness, "we human beings are never happier than when we are expressing the deepest gifts that are truly us."  Now, some children are gifted toward science, and others are born athletes.  But whatever their specialty, all children are inherently creative.  Give them a barrel of Legos and a free afternoon and my boys will produce an endless variety of spaceships and fortresses and who knows what.  It comes naturally to children; it's in their nature, their design as little image bearers.  Set a group of kindergartners down with sheets of paper and tubs of finger paint, and you don't have to provide directions.  They know what to do.  In fact, paint and paper aren't even necessary; chocolate pudding and a nearby wall will do nicely.  A pack of boys let loose in a wood soon becomes a major Civil War reenactment.  A chorus of girls, upon discovering a trunk of skirts and dresses, will burst into the Nutcracker Suite.  The right opportunity reveals the creative nature.

This is precisely what happens when God shares with mankind his own artistic capacity and then sets us down in a paradise of unlimited potential.  It is an act of creative invitation, like providing Monet with a studio for the summer, stocked full of brushes and oils and empty canvases.  Or like giving Mozart full use of an orchestra and a concert hall for an autumn of composing.  Or like setting Martha Stewart loose in a gourmet kitchen on a snowy winter weekend, just before the holidays.  You needn't provide instructions or motivation; all you have to do is release them to be who they are, and remarkable things will result.  As the poet Hopkins wrote, "What I do is me: for that I came."  --Taken from pages, 152 and 153

As you seek the Father this week in all you say and do, be reminded that you are gifted to do great things for Christ.  Be creative.  Create opportunities to be an extensions of God's grace and kindness this week.  Don't forget that the gifts you give in secret do not go unnoticed by the One who gave His all in the first place.  You are loved, valued, and appreciated.

JWes Crockett, Minister of Students