May 24, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: K.I.S.S.


If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if i have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, i am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, i gain nothing.  
love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. 
1 Corinthians 13: 1-8a

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!
Have you ever heard of the K.I.S.S. Method before?  KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.  Yes, it is a bit crass, but the point is clear.  How often we muck things up by being fussy, over explaining, or not meeting people where they are at.  I know that when I try to say too much in my art work...it never says anything I want it to say!  I end up overworking the idea, and am left with something that does not reflect the image that was imagined within.  Creating purely...without filtering it through training, thoughts of who will be viewing it, if someone will buy it, or if it is "relevant" will allow the artist to speak from their heart.  

Paul Klee is credited with this quote, "Children also have artistic ability, and there is wisdom in their having it!  The more helpless they are, the more instructive are the examples they furnish us; and they must be preserved free of corruption from an early age."  

In Matthew 19:14 we see Jesus saying " Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Why do Klee & Jesus refer to children with such fondness.  Children keep it simple & pure!
This is good for art & for faith.

ART TEACHER: WHAT DID YOU MAKE?
CHILD:  I MADE MY MOMMY BECAUSE I LOVE HER.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JESUS?
CHILD:  JESUS LOVES ME..THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.(direct quote from my 3 yr old)

If we could regain this beautiful simplicity in our life...how much better off would we be!  We read in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8a about love.  It isn't about all the other "stuff"...it is about love. Without love...the "stuff" is meaningless.  Pretty simple, right?  Can we not get back to the basics?

READ GOD'S WORD...IT IS HIS LETTER OF LOVE TO EACH OF US
SPEND TIME PRAYING....DON'T YOU LIKE TALKING & LISTENING TO THE ONES YOU LOVE & WHO LOVE YOU?
SHARE GOD'S LOVE WITH OTHERS...YOU ALREADY TALK ABOUT THE TEAMS, PRODUCTS, STORES, AND BOOKS YOU LOVE....WHY NOT YOUR SAVIOR?
SPEND TIME WITH GOD'S PEOPLE...IF HE LOVES THEM...SHOULDN'T YOU? (YES THEY ARE ALL HYPOCRITES...YOU'LL FIT RIGHT IN!!!)

PRAYER

God..You are worthy of my praise.  You are worth of my love.  You are worthy of my life.
I thank you for loving me.  I ask that you help me to get back to the basics.
 Help me to embrace the simplicity of the gospel & Christian life:  LOVE!
May this simple message of love impact me to the core & how I live, work, play, interact...love!

In Christ Jesus....AMEN

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