From January 2007 to the summer of 2008 a group of commited creatives gathered every Sunday night to pray for the arts community in Columbus. We shared food, artwork and prayed for each other and the larger community. We prayed that God would bless the arts in the church and in our city.We asked God for an Arts Revival! We prayed, we listened, and recorded our time; so that when God answers we can reflect on His faithfulness.
One friend, Paul Tepper, felt God had invited him into a conversation through his artwork. He was challenged to ask God for five words that he could express in his paintings, one word at a time. We also took up the challenge and began to ask God what five words He might want us to express through our work. As God gave each of us five words it became apparent that He was using this excercise to focus us by allowing our creativity to be used by Him, and to give direction and purpose to our lives. Together it was exciting to see God through the words He was speaking to & through the group.
I challenge you to join the conversation and ask for God to speak to you. Ask God for five words. Five words to communicate to the world through your life and your work. Let me also suggest that these words are living and active long after you. When you are focused & connected to God your work will have impact & the potential to change lives. One of the words God gave me is "tutor". This word can be expressed visually in a painting, or as an action to be recorded on video, or simply seen through the work produced by those tutored. This is not a complex concept, but the simplest.
Ask God for one word to communicate to this world. You will start to see God speak in the paragraph through our community.
