I dove into Pinterest this week. I’ll be honest, I was avoiding it…. I knew for certain I was going to find hundreds of fun things to make, repurpose, sell or just enjoy. As predicted I’ve enjoyed poking around for ideas before bedtime almost every night. Being the middle of winter I didn’t exactly consider it a waste of time and turns out it’s proving to be a great help. Why though can I poke for hours and find hundreds of hundreds of small farmers and crafters like me? I’ll tell you… it’s in you to produce something.

Why though?? Many are finding pure joy in making things… Why?? Some will tell you it’s “getting back to our roots”, what roots? Some will tell you “you’ll live longer healthy lives”, so do the doctors. Some will tell you “it’s for peace of mind”, what was I worrying about before? I’d like to answer some of these questions with truth.

This seems silly and we’ve been here before but in case you haven’t seen it this way (I kinda didn’t till now) here it is again Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. He created. Oh man it was right there in front of us the whole time! HE CREATED. He, the one only, Lord of Lord’s, King of kings, Prince of peace…. Created. He likes making things! To simple right? Genesis 1:1 – 27 is just a small look into to a long list of things He created. Then He tells us He created us… in His image. He created us to be like Him. That included loving to create. 

This is good news for me. It means no matter what I’m creating I’m getting closer or learning something new about who Jesus is and what He does. Now before we go to far down that road let us remind ourselves 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.. This means don’t create something for the sole purpose of becoming rich. I’m not interested in having many sorrows, you? Remember that giving is the next step after creating. I often forget this myself and I’m so grateful He reminds me. Our world currently uses currency but Jesus using giving, period. If we need something, He gives it. I don’t need a dollar for bread if he tells a baker I need bread… you get my point. He created all things and then very literally gave them to Adam aka us. Then what??

Then He gave us a job to do. Be fruitful and multiply. This does NOT mean we are all farmers. However, it does mean innately we want to create SOMETHING.  I have a friend who creates beauty in her home with color and coordination. She also creates children so well she and her husband have twelve, it’s beautiful. I have a friend who makes old things new, a friend who creates art, a friend who writes, a friend who sings, and a friend who… well you get the point, yes?

So what are our roots? He created. What is our long life and health? Fear of the Lord. Proverbs 10:27 states, The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Also Proverbs 14:27 states, The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. So how do we get from growing aka creating something to fearing Him? Simple, acknowledging you are made. How quickly can a tree be cut down though you spent years nurturing it to grow big and strong? How quickly can you kill grass with the lack of sun after years of it growing? The answers are heavy and should create fear of the Lord in you. He made you because He loves you and He allows us to feel blessed and have such sense of worth thru creating so that you might have eyes to see and ears to hear that He delights in you, His creation. Listen, take it NOT half hearted when the scripture says the years of the wicked be cut short and fear Him that created you, He is worth it. In doing so you invite a deeper relationship with Him and well, that’s only a good thing. 

This brings us to “peace of mind”. This one belongs to the “preppers” mostly. Some of you relax in creating and sooth yourself thus creating peace of mind, however, this catchy little phrase comes from all my former dooms day buddies. I get it, economy collapses and what does having MONEY do? Nothing. Must we get so wrapped up in money? Loving all the things money can buy and stock piling them so that we have it and someone else doesn’t…. Isn’t that still a love of money? You just skipped the currency part of it. What happened to giving? What happened to a man who doesn’t work doesn’t eat? That’s straight out of the bible by the way, 2 Thessalonians 3:10. It didn’t say “if you don’t stock pile diligently and have everything you might need if you might need it… Does it? In fact if you keep reading it actually says 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. This talks about working vs not working. When you work hard you will be blessed above what your storehouses can hold but not just for you. This goes back to giving. God doesn’t give to you for you to hold it, He gives so that YOU can give 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Let your storehouse fill, but let it be known that your peace of mind comes in giving. Knowing that you also would have nothing if not given to you…. by Him. 

I’m loving my Pinterest time, however, I have to keep these things in mind as I find easy projects for my kids and I to create together. I have to remember that I need to create to bring joy, fill a need or just plain learn something new about Jesus and leave the worry, stress and love of money far far behind me. I hope you will seek something to create and enjoy. While you’re at it, create 2 and give one away, you’ll love the satisfaction of such crafts even more.

Amen