7. Expressions of truth through love

Tonight I claimed creativity as part of my identity for the first time that I can remember. That might not seem like a huge deal to you.... but I realized this week it is, in fact, a huge deal.

I can not claim to be made in the image of God and claim to be 'not creative.' Unless- of course, I consider God to lack creativity. Just for the record ... using a burning bush to get the attention of man is creative genius. Right?!?!

I have claimed these lies many times....

"I am not the least bit creative."

"I'm a lot of things.... creative isn't one of them."

I've claimed agreement with that whisper of deception so often that it became my truth.

Thankfully- I have had a few amazing people placed in my life recently that carefully expressed a new truth, through love, to me......

Let's back up a bit.

Again- until recently I had a very distorted view of that scripture in Ephesians. I assumed that the scripture eluded to a structure of accountability. This structure included better people than me, that I desperately wanted to feel love from, telling me all the things I needed to 'fix' and all things that were 'wrong' about me. Then I could get busy working on 'fixing' and 'getting right' so I could be deserving of the love I craved.

I'm so thankful I was so incredibly wrong about that scripture. I've been wrong about many things- but I'm exceptionally thankful I was wrong about that.

I see it almost exactly opposite now. Those that love me.... love me in the way God intends us to love .... offer support.... offer encouragement... It is through those acts of love that truth expresses itself.

This truth looks more like a longing for me to lean in toward the love of God, to rest in the truth of salvation and grace, to cling to confidence that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. Ironically, this expression of truth has led me closer to change .... change of heart.... change of desires.

I have put to rest the desires to be worthy of the love of others'. The spirit of Christ within me has brought to life a desire fueled by a craving to love others in a way that they are led toward truth as well. that they will long for the light of peace and grace.

So, in continuation of my list of 'one thousand gifts' I add..

7. Those that love me and express truth in amazing ways.

8. Being creatively made in the image of a creative creator.

9. Creating with friends.

10. Being invited in to the lives, into the experiences, into the truth of those that love first.

11. This expression of my creativity.