27 July 2009
In her book, Hidden Art►, Edith Schaeffer explains:
“All art involves conscious discipline. If one is going to paint, do sculpture, design a building or write a book, it will involve discipline in time and energy — or there would never be any produce at all to be seen, felt or enjoyed by ourselves or others.“
How true this statement is! Without perseverance, and a great deal of discipline, art cannot be produced to its greatest potential! If we rattle-tattle around and do not diligently strive to make progress, how will our talents ever develop?
Art can be beautiful. Art can be ugly. What are we striving for in our art? What are we spending our time creating? Are we producing work that honors our Creator (who created beauty), or work that dishonors our Creator? What is the motive of our art?
We must create art that glorifies God. Our motive should not be selfish gain, money, praise, or anything other than to point to our Lord. It is He that created us, and why would we wish to do anything that would displease Him and bring shame to is His Name?
Just as art requires “conscious discipline”, so does our motives. It is only by God’s grace that we breathe, that we see, that we hear, that we feel, . . . and that we create. It is He that gives us those talents, and the patience to cultivate and grow them. No matter how “good” our art becomes, may we never refrain from giving God all the praise.
As we create art around us (and as we do everything), let us forever keep at the forefront of our minds that our motives (in everything) should always be to glorify God!
What an excellent reminder and encouragement, Emily! It’s so easy to waste time instead of investing it in the talents God has given, or to take the credit for those talents! To say that “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever” is so easy to say, but so hard to “live!”
I always appreciate your thoughts and musings — and the evidence of the many talents that God has given you! :-)
Love in Christ,
Shannon
What a lovely reminder of doing all for the glory of God. It’s easy to fall into the trap of forgetting who we are to please, but when we practice asking ourselves “why would God bless what I am doing? it definitely helps to put things in perspective. May God bless you and grant you perseverance!
Love,
Momma
Oh, how inspiring Miss Emily Rose! Yes, it takes much discipline to see a project through to completion as I discovered in doing my pastel portrait. But, the thing to keep in mind is the reward for persevering which is not just the finished project, but also the glorious feeling of accomplishment!
Hope you have a blessed day!
This was used of the Lord in my life today… and I just wanted to whisper thank you.
He uses you!
All’s grace,
Ann
For a girl who loves to be creative, that is something I try hard to remember!!
In attempting to write a “real” novel, and starting my own Etsy shop, I’m just having to let it go and if God wants something good to come out of it, He will make it happen. I just have to do it because I love it and want to glorify Him.
4Him,
~Hannah
Thank you dear friend, for these
beautiful, thought provoking words!!
I too, am reading Mrs.Schaeffer’s
wonderful book… what a delight it is!
With Much Love~ Miss Jen
Dear Sweet Miss Emily,
This was a lovely post and oh such a wonderful reminder. If you don’t mind I would like to link my followers to it on Monday. At Happy Homemaker we highlight our favorite post of the week. I hope you don’t mind. Your wonderful thoughts and insight are a Blessing.
Have a Blessed Sabbath.
Serving Him Together,
Sherry