Sunday, September 20, 2009
Nightline Slates Ten Commandment Series
Nightline begins a new series that explores the Biblical commandments from a modern-day perspective starting Thursday, Sept. 24 at 11:35 p.m. ET. The program will look at each commandment, what it means, and how the program's anchors and correspondents apply them to daily life.
Creativity and the Daily Walk
By Charlotte Lowrie
Because I’m a writer and because I’m a photographer, I often think about creativity, and specifically about how creativity relates to my walk with the Lord. I’ve asked the Lord for insights and teachings on creativity. He faithfully provides teachings at the perfect time and in the perfect way.
Is there anyone better to teach creativity than the Great Creator of the universe? I think not. It is humbling to think that the greatest Creator ever would take time to teach anyone, much less me, but He does.
By way of background, the concept of “chance” has no place in my life. Rather, a finely tuned knowingness alerts me to the slightest whisper of the Holy Spirit as He brushes by touching each moment with His wisdom and leading. It’s the Spirit who tells me to look up to discover a new perspective or a new idea. It’s the Spirit who tells me to go left instead of right to discover the best light for the next image. It’s the Spirit who uncovers sweet secrets that I'd otherwise miss.
I’ll share some of the teaching and insights that I’ve received so far. I hope that this is only the beginning of the teachings. Note that in some cases, I’m taking the teachings and insights out of the context of a specific situation or a longer conversation; but for the sake of brevity, I’ll provide the brief version.
“You have to believe that there is a new song hanging in the air around. You only need ears to hear it.” I believe that heaven is filled with music, literally overflowing with music. And I believe that much of that music is, indeed, flowing around us as we walk in the Kingdom on earth. We only have to ask for Kingdom ears to hear the divine symphony.
“Creativity is not random chaos. Rather there is beauty in orderly structure. Structure is part of all creative things.”
“It is your vision of what can be from what exists that’s creative.”
“Habit inhibits creativity. If you travel the same road every day, you see the same things, and your senses become dulled. Take a new way. See new things. Open your eyes to what is around you. Be aware of My voice and My leading.
Is there anyone better to teach creativity than the Great Creator of the universe? I think not. It is humbling to think that the greatest Creator ever would take time to teach anyone, much less me, but He does.
By way of background, the concept of “chance” has no place in my life. Rather, a finely tuned knowingness alerts me to the slightest whisper of the Holy Spirit as He brushes by touching each moment with His wisdom and leading. It’s the Spirit who tells me to look up to discover a new perspective or a new idea. It’s the Spirit who tells me to go left instead of right to discover the best light for the next image. It’s the Spirit who uncovers sweet secrets that I'd otherwise miss.
I’ll share some of the teaching and insights that I’ve received so far. I hope that this is only the beginning of the teachings. Note that in some cases, I’m taking the teachings and insights out of the context of a specific situation or a longer conversation; but for the sake of brevity, I’ll provide the brief version.
“You have to believe that there is a new song hanging in the air around. You only need ears to hear it.” I believe that heaven is filled with music, literally overflowing with music. And I believe that much of that music is, indeed, flowing around us as we walk in the Kingdom on earth. We only have to ask for Kingdom ears to hear the divine symphony.
“Creativity is not random chaos. Rather there is beauty in orderly structure. Structure is part of all creative things.”
“It is your vision of what can be from what exists that’s creative.”
“Habit inhibits creativity. If you travel the same road every day, you see the same things, and your senses become dulled. Take a new way. See new things. Open your eyes to what is around you. Be aware of My voice and My leading.
I hope to add to this article in coming weeks. If you have insights to share, I'd love to hear from you. Just drop me an e-mail or respond to this article.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Continuing Insights on Following the Lord
The great joy in following Christ is the continual learning -- learning how to live in the Kingdom, how to follow, how to reorient thinking, responding, working, how to live as a child of the King. And here are snippets of continuing insights from Bible study and talking with the Lord each day. I hope that these insights resonate with you as they have with me.
- The life you live testifies louder than words. Live so that others see Christ in you.
- It's not what happens but how you respond to it that makes the eternal difference--for you and for others.
- If you do everything with a heart of love, you'll have no regrets.
- Every single thing is transformed in His presence.
- There are 365 "Fear not's" in the Bible--one for every day of the week.
Wonderful New Worship Song
I wanted to share a worship song by Chris Tomlin named, I Will Rise. Click here for a link to a video of Chris Tomlin performing the song and the words to the song.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Insights
By Charlotte LowrieHere are some notes from recent Bible study and prayer that I hope will strengthen you in your walk with Christ.
* Love looks through the lens of eternity with Kingdom values in sight. Love endures through eternity, for God is love. And without forgiveness, there can be no love.
- “Stop limiting yourself in your thinking. You have all of the resources of heaven at your disposal. Do you need more than that?”
- Stewardship is moving the Father’s resources to new places to advance the work of the Kingdom. It is using what He gives you for His purposes.
- There are not two sets of priorities—yours and God's. There is only one set of priorities—the Kingdom priorities. There is no division. There is one purpose in heaven and on earth—that the Father’s will be done. That simplifies everything.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Living to Show Christ In Our Lives
By Charlotte LowrieWhen I think back to when I accepted the Lord, I wasn’t convinced by someone testifying to me or by listening to a sermon. I had heard a lot of sermons growing up in a Christian home. I had been witnessed to, and, before I strayed from the Lord, I had witnessed to others.
That time away from the Lord was long—around 30 long years. In those years, I worked to acquire status, a modicum of fame, and worldly possessions. In short, I had it all.
Then I interviewed a professional photographer for a feature article that I was writing. During the one-hour telephone interview, I was struck again and again by the photographer’s profound peace. I couldn’t “see” his peace, but I could hear and sense his peace. By the end of the interview, I had only one burning question—how had he achieved peace?
In response, the photographer told me about the religions that he’d encountered during his worldwide travels. And then he told me that he was a Christian—a Christian who grew up in a country where Christianity is a minority faith. He told me quietly. He didn’t ask me if I was a believer. He didn’t try to convert me. He answered my question simply. And still his profound peace hung heavily in the air.
When we hung up, I was determined to find that peace for myself. I had everything that I needed and wanted, and I considered myself to be happy. But after experiencing this man’s peace, I knew that I wanted that kind of peace.
I set about studying different religions—Western, Middle Eastern, you name the religion, I explored it. I read books. I talked to different people. But nothing rang completely true. Finally, I decided that I should give the Bible another chance. I began reading. And as I read, and over a period of weeks, I knew that the right and true answer was Christ. My decision came slowly, but the first gifts were a profound peace and abiding joy.
I recount this story because in study and prayer this morning, the Lord reminded me:
That time away from the Lord was long—around 30 long years. In those years, I worked to acquire status, a modicum of fame, and worldly possessions. In short, I had it all.
Then I interviewed a professional photographer for a feature article that I was writing. During the one-hour telephone interview, I was struck again and again by the photographer’s profound peace. I couldn’t “see” his peace, but I could hear and sense his peace. By the end of the interview, I had only one burning question—how had he achieved peace?
In response, the photographer told me about the religions that he’d encountered during his worldwide travels. And then he told me that he was a Christian—a Christian who grew up in a country where Christianity is a minority faith. He told me quietly. He didn’t ask me if I was a believer. He didn’t try to convert me. He answered my question simply. And still his profound peace hung heavily in the air.
When we hung up, I was determined to find that peace for myself. I had everything that I needed and wanted, and I considered myself to be happy. But after experiencing this man’s peace, I knew that I wanted that kind of peace.
I set about studying different religions—Western, Middle Eastern, you name the religion, I explored it. I read books. I talked to different people. But nothing rang completely true. Finally, I decided that I should give the Bible another chance. I began reading. And as I read, and over a period of weeks, I knew that the right and true answer was Christ. My decision came slowly, but the first gifts were a profound peace and abiding joy.
I recount this story because in study and prayer this morning, the Lord reminded me:
“The life you live testifies louder than words. Live that others may see Me.”
And that is my prayer.
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