Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Wow! (03/11/10)
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TITLE: The Creative Homemaker | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Shipman
03/18/10 -
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When it comes to homemaking, there is no one who does it better than God. Jesus said in John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Imagine that. God himself is preparing a place for us, a beautiful home in heaven filled with every aspect of His character – His joy, rest, peace, order, comfort, provision, love, beauty, holiness and … His creativity.
The One who designed this amazing world we live in is at work creating a home for us, one that will display His attribute of creativity. Knowing this can give us great motivation to be creative homemakers ourselves, simply because that is what God is doing for us.
The Bible is replete with examples of creativity. In Exodus 35 and 36 we read God’s instructions regarding the building of the tabernacle:
“Then Moses said to the people of Israel, ‘See, the Lord has called by name Bezaleel…and He has filled him with the spirit of God; with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.”
God instructed Bezaleel to create a building that would not be just practical, but one that included “artistic designs”. He wanted it to reflect His character – one of creative beauty.
We see other examples of creativity in Scripture: Adam used creative gardening skills as he worked in the very first home, Eden. King Solomon considered color, texture and form when he built the temple. Dorcas and the Proverbs 31 woman were both seamstresses, no doubt adorning their homes with fine fabric creations. The Bible itself is a work of art, including poetry, narrative and the art of letter writing. And of course, the new heaven and new earth will be filled with enough creative beauty to last an eternity.
Carolus Linnaeus, scientist and father of modern taxonomy, said, “I saw the infinite, all-knowing and all-powerful God from behind…I followed His footsteps over nature’s fields and saw everywhere an eternal wisdom and power, an inscrutable perfection.” He saw God’s creative artistry in nature, and followed His footsteps. We also can follow in God’s footsteps by demonstrating His creative beauty in our own homes. Just as Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God”, so can our homes reflect His glory.
Artistic homemaking can take many forms. It might mean cooking meals that are beautiful to the eye, as well as delicious. Sewing curtains for the windows, crocheting afghans, or making quilts to drape over furniture or hang on the walls can be great fun, as well as making the home more inviting. With the internet and HGTV, we have a wealth of ideas readily available for frugal do-it-yourself home decorating. Simply painting the walls a different color can make an artistic statement. It is also easy to fill our homes with lovely music, another form of creativity. I cannot imagine our heavenly home without amazing music, so why not add this little touch of heaven now?
We see God’s artistry on display in creation, and then read about the wonders of our heavenly home that He is preparing for us. This awareness leaves us breathless, and humbly proclaiming, “Wow”. We respond with thankful hearts by making our homes a canvas of beautiful colors, varying textures, delicious aromas and tastes, strains of lovely music – all a reflection of God, the wonderful artist and ultimate homemaker.
Homemaking can be an artistic eternal investment of our time and talents, reflecting His glory and becoming a blessed refuge for others. George McDonald said,
“We make, but Thou art the creating care
Whatever thing I dream, invent, or feel,
Thou art the heart of it, the atmosphere.”
It is an awesome task to create a home that, in some small way, might give the world a glimpse of the wondrous character of God, as well as a foreshadow of the home that awaits us. May He, indeed, be at the heart of all our creative homemaking.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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This is very inspiring and well written. What a blessed message for us all.