The Gift of a Creative Imagination via Richard Spillman

Imagination is a fascinating thing and it’s something that writers use quite liberally. We love to create!

Regardless of our profession or creative leanings, God’s gifted each of us with the drive to do something. We may explore different paths or pursue unique talents, but at the heart of our quests is God’s ever-present prodding. Too, He nudges us to use our gifts in ways we may never have thought—in ways we would excel with a higher purpose in mind. 

Today, please welcome Richard Spillman to the blog as he shares about the creative process and imagination.

Richard, take it away!

 

The most dangerous phrase in the history of mankind is “I wonder what it would be like if . . .”

On the other hand, the most uplifting, promising phrase in the history of mankind is “I wonder what it would be like if . . .”

Things change when we begin to imagine possibilities. A sense of wonder is the key to our imagination but that key fits two doors. (Click-to-Tweet) One leads to untold blessings, the other leads to a dark evil.

That key was given to us at the beginning of time when God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness … (Genesis 1:26).” Only man was created in the image of God. It is the one specific feature of our creation that separates us from all of the rest of creation.

What does it mean to be created in the image of God?

It certainly does not mean that we look like God. God is a spirit; He does not have a physical body. Being “created in the image of God” has nothing to do with our physical appearance.

The “image and likeness of God” must be based on who we are, not on how we appear. It must be related to how He revealed His image in the first chapter of Genesis.

What do we know about the “likeness” of God from those verses? What are the most prominent characteristics God displayed just before He created us?

The picture of God in these early verses is one of creative power. That is what He gave us, that is one way we are created in His image. We have the gift of creativity, of imagination, of wonder. This is unique to mankind.

Man is the only living thing that creates beauty for the sake of beauty. (Click-to-Tweet)

Not only can we be creative, we are driven to create. Our imagination is constantly at work as we look in amazement at the world and wonder what we can contribute to it.

It may be working with our hands, teaching, drawing or, as it is for me, writing. We all find pride, joy, and fulfillment in our creative efforts. No matter what our skill, we gain immense enjoyment from using it. A life of pure leisure with nothing to do might sound attractive, but the truth is we have to do something to feel fulfilled. We are lost if we don’t have a purpose. In some way we have to be creative.

That creative process always begins with our imagination. When we imagine something, we say to ourselves, “I wonder what it would be like if . . .”, and then we proceed to make it real. When we use our imagination God’s way, we create something beautiful just as He did.

This is why Paul cautioned the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:5, “… we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Our imagination is a gift from God.  Yet, in a fallen world we can use that gift to create beauty or to create filth.

Unfortunately, mankind does an excellent job at both. If we are to honor God and thank Him for the skills He gave us, we need to take every thought captive and direct all our creative abilities toward what will please Him.

For writers, that means we need to write stories that glorify Him, that add beauty to this world. In short we must use the gift of our imagination to honor the giver.

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Author Bio

Richard Spillman is a retired Computer Scientist who typically writes Christian non-fiction (Do What Jesus Did is available on Amazon) as well as a Christian blog (spillmanrichard.com). His latest passion, however, is Christian fiction. His first novel, The Awakened, released on October 1. The story asks the question: “What if Lazarus didn’t die a second time?” Richard was led to write The Awakened after avoiding being kidnapped by ISIS in the Philippines and then receiving death threats (to behead him in standard ISIS fashion) during the rest of his missionary service there. In addition to the blog, he is active at spillmanauthor.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Twitter (2), and Instagram, where you can see pictures from his missionary travels around the world.

 

 

The Awakened

by Richard Spillman

*Purchase your copy today!* 

Everyone dies once. But what if a chosen few were raised from the dead? 

Two thousand years ago Jesus resurrected his friend, Lazarus, who founded a secret organization: SOAR. Since then Jesus has added to the resurrected—The Awakened—to aid Lazarus in SOAR’s battle against Satan’s slaves, the UnVeilers. The threat is escalating. The UnVeilers have stepped up their attacks on mankind through a charming leader and a devastating series of bombings in Dubai and Tel Aviv. 

But the invasion doesn’t stop with international terrorism. The UnVeilers are searching for a secret that Jesus embedded in Lazarus’ journal that not even Lazarus knows—and it will determine the fate of mankind. After a failed cyber-attack against SOAR’s computers, Lazarus and his team of experts must find the secret before the UnVeilers do. What clue is he overlooking that could turn the tide of this ageless conflict? 

The souls fighting with Lazarus are weary, but the war against evil is far from won. Can Lazarus and his team set aside their longing for heaven and put a stop to these satanic attacks before it’s too late? 

 

 

 

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SHARING IS CARING

Writing is a unique calling. How do we pursue our talents while honoring the Giver of imagination?

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

Human beings are driven to create. Thoughts to consider as we seek new opportunities.

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

God and craft. How do we honor both?

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

 

TO ENCOURAGE YOU

 

When Dreams Die

via Janalyn Voigt

Sometimes, stepping out ahead of God brings only sorrow. To obtain our dreams, we must fully surrender them to God.

 

What the Worst Year of My Life Taught Me

via Laurie Wood

How author Laurie Wood persevered and triumphed , despite migraines, accidents and injuries while raising two special needs children.

 

Not Your Average Romance Novel

via Angela Ruth Strong

Exploring the realities and myths of real-life romance and what women should know. How romance should look in healthy relationships.

 

Original Image Credit: Łukasz Łada on Unsplash

 

 

Question

How are you using your imagination? What have you learned along the creative path?

 

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Thanks, Richard, for joining us today and for inspiring us to use our gift of imagination with a higher purpose in mind. And wow—The Awakened sounds amazing!

During the past several months, I’ve so enjoyed our many blog guests and their words of wisdom and encouragement. Next week, I’ll jump back in the blogging saddle again. I hope you’ll join me as we gear up for an exciting, new season! Don’t forget to subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter (October’s issue goes out next week!)

Much Love and Many Blessings,