Discerning and Celebrating God in Creativity

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner

“We need to give ourselves permission to become childlike and enjoy the wonder, awe, and joy of playfulness.” -Suz Skinner

How easy it is to forget the invitation to become like a child if we are to truly experience the kingdom of God. We tend to be more like productivity machines, maximizing the use of each available hour, filling them with noise, activity, and effectiveness. Instead, what brings God delight is when we are childlike, focusing on who we are and who we are becoming in Christ. Playfulness is a fitting antidote to our culture and an invitation to an abundant life in Jesus. Giving ourselves permission to play will release our oft-hidden humility, contentment and joy.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner

“How can we pay greater attention when God uses images, metaphors, parables, stories, songs, and poetry in his Word that invite us to pray and respond?”  – Suz Skinner

The Scriptures are replete with examples of God’s creative work in our world and in our hearts. Taking time to notice the metaphorical ways God describes himself invites us into a posture of graced receptivity. We are in turn invited to be artists in our prayerful response.  There’s a whole world of prayer to explore as we feast our eyes on God’s abiding presence and direction, expressed in images, metaphors, parables, stories, poetry, and songs. As you behold God in his many creative expressions, perhaps there’s a picture to draw or a poem to write in response.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner

“Seeing the sunrise and sunset never gets old. They are the fingerprints of God each and every day.”  – Suz Skinner

Creation and beauty speak directly of God, but without words. God is the author of both gifts and he delights for us to enjoy them. Who among us doesn’t love to lay on the ground and look up at the sky, noticing God’s handiwork in the clouds? In both unpredictable and predictable ways, God has blessed us with his creation and empowered us to create and enjoy beauty.  Because of our uniqueness, each person notices differently. When our senses are enlivened, we are quickened to respond. Embrace a renewed attentiveness and share the joy with others.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner

It’s important that we are in the Word in order to see how God makes himself known to us. – Suz Skinner

The Word of God comes alive in our hearts and minds as we see God with greater clarity in our Scripture reflections and prayers. In this episode we discuss lectio divina (divine reading) and visio divina (divine reflection on a photograph, painting, piece of art or creation) in order to be drawn into the Word of God and prayer in Spirit-empowering ways. We highlight imaginative prayer which invites us into a new way of seeing Jesus with eyes of faith. Study and exegesis of the Bible is richly enhanced in our prayer closets as we join God slowly, prayerfully in the Word.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net

Host: Steve Macchia, Guest: Suz Skinner

We are creative beings, reflecting the creative God who made us in his image. – Suz Skinner

Creativity begins with God the Creator. He invites us to participate in his creation by caring for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the beauty of the sky, the earth, the animals, the trees, and everything that exists.  It’s part of our creative identity to reflect the image of God, care for and nurture what he’s provided, and to honor creation by acknowledging its goodness. As ones who desire ways to reflect God’s priorities, the pursuit of creativity levels the playing field and invites us to pay attention to the hunger within for more of God, more of his and our creativity.

Join the conversation about spiritual discernment as a way of life at www.LeadershipTransformations.org and consider participation in our online and in-person program offerings. Additional LTI spiritual formation resources can be found at www.SpiritualFormationStore.com and www.ruleoflife.com and www.healthychurch.net