Day 4 - Creativity is the Door

[fmckinnon]

Today's lesson focuses on creativity - being creative in writing and expressing praise to God.

Share some ways you've recently been "creative". For us, we did a "salvation declaration" reading that we read aloud as a congregation this past Sunday. Our typical worship environment doesn't usually include "readings" like that, so we added a background of music to it, which intentionally ascended the musical scale, etc., and applied this during the reading - it was glorious!

how about you?

[harrywalls4]

About a month ago, I felt like we needed to give people a little more time to reflect and respond to the message in our service. We had determined that most of our people don't get that much quiet time during the week and we wanted to create some time for people to be alone with God. What we came up with was the idea of putting the music at the back end of the service. We started putting one song at the beginning and then the sermon pretty much came right after that. The music is now more of a response to the sermon. People have loved it and they have enjoyed being able to interact with what they had just heard. We also put people in the front available to pray with people as they felt the need. It has turned out really well.

[ErikaMichelle]

Those are some wonderful ideas. Being a songwriter, I made a resolution this year to write something every day. Sometimes it is a full worship song, sometimes it is a melody or chord progression and other times it is just lyrics. I found that taking this time out every day has helped me to grow so much. As I set aside that quiet time every day, the Lord is honoring the sacrifice. Our creative God is pouring out songs and ideas every day. I am thankful.

[Maggievt]

Actually, having this medical time off has been wonderful for the creative side of me - my job is VERY time consuming.
Well, I have been doing this 'song-a-week' thing on my own that I read about on another posters blog - but I have been trying to do it with the intent of the 'audience of One', instead of the congregation. I have always been so taken with the story of David - his songs lasted for millenia because they are so true - and all he wanted was to glorify God and speak what he knew of and from God.
To walk that much with Him!
(NO, I don't think I am a writer for the ages, but I can only improve in writing to Him. )
Otherwise, I have written a couple of things that the congregation really likes - I make jokes that I am the Hanson Brothers of Christian Music - I have the ability to come up with catchy, VERY easily learned things that my church enjoys, that anyone can play, HA!
I have recently, because of this gift of time, been working on power points with some intense instrumental music that I love, telling the story of certain Bible verses that go with the sermon - AND, as I have mentioned before, we have really been working on those moments of quieter praise, ourselves - build it and bring the worship down to a point where everyone is really singing/praying/breathing a simple worship phrase or line - it has had some wonderful moments!
But, oh, I learn so much from all of you!
Maggie

[michael]

harry, geat idea. i don't know why one of our worship leaders seem that it's a race to get through the music so quickly. i and others have sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted to move and allow people to worship but there seems to be no sensitivity to Him. i and a friend of mine from high school: we have both been out of school for well over 20 years, so i am giving our age away ask ourselves just how do you teach sensitivity to people?

[Wannabe a Worshiper]

My mind constantly makes up simple rhymes; I almost think in poetry. Most of it is totally forgetable, and is forgotten as soon as it is thought. Sometimes God puts a thought in my head, and I find myself searching for a piece of paper to write it down on.
With a fulltime job, and a pretty demanding music position, (I don't like to call it a job, it is a calling) I don't have nearly enough time to just sit quietly and let the creative juices flow as I wish I had. So there isn't a lot of "quality" stuff coming from me. And my best isn't all that great.
I try to add variety to the church services, but there are definite limits on what I can do. I love the idea of putting most of the songs after the sermon, as a response to what we've heard. I don't think the old timers would take too kindly to that idea, though.
I'm a not-so-traditional person leading worship in a pretty traditional church.
I'm certain that's where God wants me to be, for now.

God, I have to leave it to you to work the changes in my church that will make it more of what you want it to be. Give me the partience I need, along with the wisdom and courage to go in a new direction when you tell me to.

[Smitty]

I journal nearly every day...and a lot of it is prayers and song lyrics. Most of it will likely never see the light of day, but thats okay with me. I share it with God.

Wannabe...don't be so sure your stuff isn't so great. That song idea I had in another thread, and that you contributed to, is alive and well, and is about to become a complete, rockin' worship song. I used your lyric idea as the bridge, and it just all started falling into place. I will post the song when it is complete.

The more I think about it, the more I LIKE the idea of having the main portion of worship music AFTER the sermon. It fits the revelation>response model.

Smitty

[Mike S]

It is fascinating to see what God is up to in our lives. Each with a certain unique way of responding to the what is around us. It is amazing when you stop to think about it.

Playing for the "audience of one" is something that resonates with me as well. Then there are those times when I thought it was an "audience of one". Surprise, surprise, there were people listening and I did not see or perceive them there. You ever wonder if those moments were a calling out for you to serve with out knowing? I do.

A response to what God has called us to do. You are creative always as nobody plays, sings, Worships, or is like you are. Truly amazing when you stop to think about it. Like wise perhaps this is why there are songs we choose not to cover?

[Rogenia]

For the past 6 weeks, one of our neighboring church families has been teaching on the “Six Principles of the doctrine of Christ.” This week - God bless and enable me to teach on Eternal Judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

I know the Holy Spirit enlighten and gave me this idea. I had everyone write down things that they had hidden and wanted to be forgiven for. I asked one of the praise leaders that accompanied me to the church to sing a praise song as I prayed. As she sang and I prayed, I had the congregation to come up and put their papers into a can at the altar, kneel and remain there until all was at the altar worshiping and praising our Lord. Once we had finish, I had everyone to go outside and we formed a circle and continue praying as the papers were set a fire in the can. God said that once we are forgiven of our sins; He remembers no more and they are put into the sea of forgetfulness. I had the opportunity to see and experience a great move of the Holy Spirit and be a part of it.

Creativity is wonderful - when God is the author and the beginning of all that we do in Him and our lives.

[MandoRon]

Last year, I made a "resolution" to write song a month based on the upcoming sermon series, if possible. I think I wrote three, and then it tapered off.

I want to be a decent songwriter, but I struggle to make time to focus on that... Too many other things compete for my attention.

I use blogging as a creative outlet, as well as music. But it takes time away from the music...