Monday, April 25, 2016

Rebekah | More Radiance blog | guest post

I am very excited to be sharing this guest post with you all today!! Rebekah has become a dear friend of mine and I love her heart for encouraging others. Her blog is a favorite of mine and is always very encouraging + inspiring. 
I hope you all enjoy reading this guest post like I did.

Are you a creative person?  Do you know how to get inspired?
Creativity is sorely lacking in our world today. Thankfully, inspiration is literally everywhere we go.   I think it's important for us as young women to use the mind and creativity that God has given us. Consider this for a moment: the very first thing we learn about God is this...
"In the beginning God created..." Genesis 1:1
Our God is the Ultimate Creator.  By becoming creative young women, we can be radiant reflection of our amazing God to the world. 
Why else should we seek inspiration to become creative young women?
Here are just two reasons why I think we should become creative young women who reflect our Creator:
Creativity can help us spread the light of Jesus wherever we go
Jesus told us to be a light to the world (Matt. 5:16).  By taking a little bit of inspiration and a lot of creativity, we can use our unique talents and abilities to spread more light into this dark world.  Whether it's playing music for the elderly, baking bread for a neighbor, mentoring a younger girl, starting a blog, or serving in a ministry, there are so many ways we can use our creativity to further God's Kingdom.
Creativity can help us accomplish our unique duties for the Lord
I have to marvel at the strength and ability of the Proverbs 31 woman nearly every time I read about her. Surely, this godly woman had to have a passel of inspiration and creativity to accomplish all that she did each day.  Becoming a creative young woman can help us get busy each day serving the Lord, doing what He has called each of us to do.
So where can we get inspiration to  become creative young women?  Read on, my dear friend :)
5 Ways to Get (and Stay) Inspired
1) Read lots of books
Books contain so much knowledge. Reading is one of the wisest things you can do-todayRead as much as we can, as often as you can. I would, however, encourage you to be careful of reading too much fiction. Even fictional books with good morals, don't always help you spiritually.  Many times they appeal more to the flesh with stories of love, mystery, or unrealistic circumstances.  It's fun to read good novel every now and then but please... be careful with the books you choose to read.  Instead of reading novel after novel, consider reading books that will help you in your walk with God.  Biographies of Christian men and women are very inspiring and will help increase your faith.  Other non-fiction books can teach you new skills, give you new ideas, and will help you learn.   Reading truly is "the key to take you where you want to be."  Of course, never forget the most important book we have been given, God's Word.  This book ought to have the highest place in our lives and is worthy of our time and diligent study (2 Tim. 2:15).
2) Be Outgoing
Talk to your siblings, find out what they are learning.  Talk to your parents, ask them to tell you about their years growing up, and things they have learned along the way.  Talk to older adults.  Ask questions.  Learn from their wisdom and experience. Talk to missionaries when they visit your church -even write to them and ask them about their life on the mission field.  Be brave enough to introduce yourself and start conversations. You can learn so much from other people - be outgoing!
3) Look for Ideas Everywhere You Go
New ideas are everywhere.  You can get a little (or a lot!) of inspiration just by looking for it.  You may find an idea through a magazine, at the store, listening to little children talk and play, or by just being aware of your surroundings.  Always be on the lookout for new ideas.
4) Use a Notebook
It's a great idea to carry a notebook with you wherever you go.  You never know when you will come up with a new idea or hear something you don't want to forget.  Because of this I think it's important to have access to an old fashioned piece of paper and a pencil.  Another fun thing to do is brainstorm.  Just forcing yourself to come up with a few new ideas can help you come up with even more!  Give it a try sometime.  Sit down with your notebook for a few minutes.  Write a goal at the top of the page (for example: "How I Plan to Read More Books") then force yourself to come up with as many ideas as you can.  Using a notebook and writing things down can do wonders for more inspiration and creativity.
5) Do Something Different
Go for a walk.  Spend the morning at the library.  Watch people.  Sit on a park bench and just think. Take a class. Try something new.  Just do something different.  You'll be amazed at all the new things you will learn and the new ideas you will come up with.  Go and do something different.
Remember: Creativity is a gift from God.  One thing that will work better than anything else is this: Pray for inspiration.  Pray for opportunities.  Pray for ways to make your light shine brighter.  Pray for ways to be a radiant reflection of your Savior to the world.  God is the Ultimate Creator.  When you use the ideas and the creativity He has given you, when it's done for Him, He is honored and glorified.
I Would Love to Know
  • What can you do to increase your creativity and spread your light (HIS light) to the world around you?
  • How do you find inspiration and creative ideas?
I want to thank Tashia for allowing to write this guest post for her blog!  I am so thrilled to have Tashia as a friend of mine -her blog and friendship are such a blessing and encouragement to me!
I also want to invite you to come and visit my website www.moreradiance.com for more ideas on how to become a radiant woman of faith.    I am also beginning a weekly devotional series entitled "Radiant Faith".  These short devotional emails are sent directly to your inbox once a week.  I would love to have you a part of my blog in this way.  You can sign up for free right here ♥ 
With Love, Rebekah Joy ♥

Thanks so much for doing this, Rebekah! I enjoyed the post and was so glad you could do it!! ♡
Be sure to check out Rebekah's blog and subscribe! 
. . .

Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Psalm 36:5

7 comments:

  1. Thanks so much Rebekah!! It's so refreshing and inspiring to read things like this!!! I heartily agree with your points! and Tashia, I've never commented before but I've loved following your blog ever since I found it!! =) God bless yall!!! love in Christ,Bethany

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  2. So nice to see you over here, Rebekah! Lovely post and inspiring as usual :)

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  3. Lovely guest post, Rebekah! You should do more of these, Tashia. :)
    I think the topic of creativity is an interesting one. I once heard someone say that creativity requires boundaries, and I think that is a point we often miss. We tend to think "if only I could do_____," we could add to our product, be it a picture or an essay. But creativity is more than expression; it is like problem-solving. In an essay you are given a word count to reach, a topic to address, and a format to follow. The amount of artistic expression within those boundaries is, I think, the greater evidence of creativity.
    For the past seventy years artists have become increasingly "liberated" and free from boundaries. But what is the result? We see paint on a canvas or hear sounds from an orchestra, but there is little to no form. It can culminate in chaos, and we end up feeling dissatisfied as to the aesthetic quality of a piece. And, let's face it: there's a whole lot of satisfaction in doing or seeing something done thoroughly and correctly--writing a flawless essay (there's a formula), reading a sonnet (has to be 14 lines), listening to or playing a fugue (the repeating mathematical pattern) or even seeing a put-together outfit, which follows the elements and principles of design (line, color, texture; balance, emphasis, and unity, respectively). In many day-to-day things, time is the greatest boundary. God is a God of order, and He shows that in His creation. Ever hear of the Golden Ratio? Everything He creates has a rhythm to it, a certain pattern and consistency. All trees have leaves. Every body is created with the same limbs, same organs, and .
    I would say boundaries are the essence of creativity. It's something which I think also helps in remaining inspired and creative. Even in your photography challenges, there's rules to follow, right?. It keeps us on our toes and improves us, and gives us a feeling of contentment that we can fill in the check marks, so to speak. We like to know we did a good job, but if there's no boundaries, what are we gauging ourselves against?
    Sorry for such a long and inefficient comment, but I just thought I'd share that. It's a topic ripe for discussion and consideration. Thanks for giving me food for thought! :)
    <3 Secily

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    1. Thanks for the [long ;)] comment, Secily! Very interesting thoughts. I think what you're saying is true. Thanks for sharing! :)
      *hugs* ♡

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