Two weeks ago I guest posted on Critty Joy (owned and operated by my lovely friend Christy).
I talked about the struggle of feeling our ministry work is meaningless and how we were meant to be filled with dreams and visions and creativity that causes us to forge forward and do things.
I asked, “When is the last time you were compelled to do something for the Kingdom? When is the last time you were so set on fire for His renown, you were bursting with the promise of His purpose? When is the last time you felt like today’s temporary carried eternal weight?”
I’ve been seriously asking and answering those questions myself for months now.
So, tell me.
What is it you are passionate about?
What gets your creativity going?
What makes you want to get up in the morning and get the day started?
What compels you?
About Kristen
Oh wow. Way to get a girl thinking! I’m so glad I’m reading this right now and not last week…or month…or the one before that. God is showing me so much about the passions He’s given me and how my entire life, good and bad, has been building each one. I feel an urgency to help people see how alive God’s Word is and how faithful our Lord is to help us understand Scripture and thereby see the face and hands of God in this fallen world and on our lives. I started trying to do that on my own. Lesson learned…again. Now, I’m just compelled to stand in His presence and study His precepts and be healed of my brokenness enough to carry that message of Hope to anyone He sends my way!
The start of something beautiful!
ps…this page is gorgeous, my friend!
And thank you!
)
I guess sometimes I get stuck on the creativity part. I know where my passion lies and what I feel compelled to do. God has been stirring some amazing things in my heart as of late. But I’m not creative. And I am not a visionary. I get so stuck there, because I want to do something with this passion and purpose He has given me, but I have no idea what that looks like. Or I do become filled with ideas that end up going nowhere because I don’t have the vision to carry them out. Does that make any sense?! I am a team kind of girl!
I don’t think one necessarily needs to be a visionary to have vision for their own gifting. I’ve seen you take what you love and translate it into action. And that is exactly what I am into uncovering. How do we take the things that are stirring and glorify Him more?
And there’s nothing wrong with being a team girl! ;o)
Sadly right now there isn’t much that compels me…no visions or dreams as of late. It stinks. I do know that this week it has been a prayer of my heart to have those visions and dreams again and I know He is going to answer my prayer. I know my heart is full of a lot of grief right now but I miss the compelling of visions and creativeness. Sometimes I want to open up PSE and create and then I just sit there. Nothing. This is the unusual for me but as I said above I know I will find my passions again because He is faithful to us and He is the one who compels us. You sometimes never realize how wonderful your passions are until you are stuck….then it becomes so apparent how beautiful our visions and dreams and creativity are.
I feel like this too. These last months my creativity was on a standstill and I missed it so. For types like you & I, creativity is a sort of language. And if we can’t “speak” it is hard to be happy, isn’t it?
Very hard. You inspired me though.
Well you and our Author Crush.
These are really good questions. I never feel like I have good answers though, because the things that interest me aren’t what most people would answer. I’m a nerd about government. The Administrative Procedure Act makes me happy. In my “spare” time I peruse the Federal Register to see what’s new in the world of regulations. I spend 3 hours watching C-SPAN video of the confirmation hearings.
But I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily “passionate” about any of that. I just don’t really get “passionate”. I’m the type who doesn’t get riled up (for good or bad) very often. I’m not creative, I don’t have “visions or dreams”…but I’m pretty satisfied with my life. I don’t long for those things…which makes me feel weird.
By “visions or dreams” I really am asking, “What is it you love to do with purpose? And do with excellence within your own gifting?” I realize not everyone is creative in terms of crafting or sewing or even projects.
I’m talking about the things that you do well and look forward to doing. How can those things translate from temporal into eternal?
Does that make sense?
It makes total sense…I knew what you meant. I wasn’t referring to that artsy creativity (although I’m not crafty either, ha!). I guess what I meant was that, for me, even though I know that there are aspects of my life where, yes, I could probably pinpoint what I am gifted at or maybe even what my passion is, I don’t generally think of them in those terms. I just wake up, and do them. I don’t often think about them in a bigger picture kind of way. And I don’t necessarily feel a lack because I’m not thinking about them that way, if that makes sense? Which is why I think these are good questions, because they are questions I avoid asking myself because I’ve become quite comfortable not asking them.
Totally see what you are saying! Perhaps you are just living out your thing already and so, you don’t feel the lack.
What compels me? That is a great question, but one that is difficult on my brain at 6:45 AM. ;o) I will try to answer though, because I like a challenge.
) I am compelled to help women who have been hurt by the trauma of past sexual abuse or other ‘hidden pains’ that many tuck away. My heart grieves over the fact that many in our churches wear a mask, but inside they are dying. I want to see woman set free from past issues, so they can live their fullest for the Kingdom.
What I am passionate about…writing Bible studies and teaching women the Word. I love getting into the Word and encouraging women to do the same…to see that God’s Word is alive and active and practical…that it relates to our here and now.
Getting into the Word and seeing it come alive energizes me.
My passion has recently been turned on its head with everything that’s been going on. But it’s good. And I’m definitely still working through everything God is trying to teach me during this time.
My passion: in one word, discipleship. Here’s how it breaks down.
Right now as my husband and I approach a major transition time in our lives, God is refocusing my passion based on what He is calling me to become – ultimately a pastor’s wife. He is showing me things within the American church that grieve Him, and He is teaching me to grieve for what grieves Him. I have visions of what church should be, and I am becoming more and more passionate about those as each day passes. I am passionate about taking church outside the four walls. Binding up the broken. Feeding the hungry. Quenching the thirsty. And all the while offering the Great Reconciler, the Bread of Life, the Living Water. To serve people in body and soul. I grow more and more excited about our future each day, even though I’m scared to death I’m going to fail miserably. He is also teaching me that it’s not my power that will do the work, but His. Wherever we go from here, I want our church to be one that breaks the mold, that works for Christ instead of just against the world (or even worse, for itself). It’s exciting, it makes me smile and it gives me goosebumps.
I’m passionate about the nations. Specifically equipping indigenous Christians to minister within their own countries. I want the Gospel spread, but I’m not satisfied with blanket evangelism. I want discipleship for the nations. To “save” is not enough; and to only focus on salvation is to neglect half of the Great Commission. I want to see Christians of the nations grow in Christ, and I want to be a part of making that happen.
I’m passionate about the young women of our country, teaching them the truth and speaking as loudly as I can against the messages of this world. I’m passionate about equipping women with knowledge of God’s Word and praying for His power and Spirit on their lives, that THEY in turn would become effective ministers on their own. I’m passionate about learning the Word, pouring over it, ingesting it, writing about it, so that I will be effective. I want everything I say to others to be backed with Scripture. To do that, I must KNOW Scripture.
What gets my creativity going? Honestly, my brain, because it never stops. I have a bajillion ideas floating around my head at any given moment and I consider a day wasted if I haven’t attempted at least one of them, whether I succeed or fail.
And at the risk of sounding Sunday-school-cliche, I’m inspired by the Word. When I read, I’m constantly thinking of creative ways to bring the Word to people.
What makes you get up in the morning? Um, the fact that it’s socially unacceptable to sleep till 11 every day. I’m a total night owl. HOWEVER, I get up at a decent hour to make sure we can make it to playdates, since I’m surrounded by early birds. In a less literal sense, I want to see my family, and I want to see what the day will produce.
What compels me? Excellent question. I’d love to say “Just Jesus!” but that would be a lie. I’m compelled by many things. God, ideas, talks with my husband, excitement, my own pride. Perhaps one day I will reach the goal of only being compelled by my Savior. And hopefully I can come to that point without another round of blood clots.
Wow, I just realized how long this is and I’m sorry. Got a little carried away.