Everyone is born with creativity. But those people who appear to be super creative have a secret. They know that creativity has to be developed and exercised to come easily. I am on a quest to immerse myself in creativity of all kinds. I hope you will join me!

I have a giant pot of beads. Bead Soup. For the last couple years, I have used bead soup for some interesting ministry opportunities. It has been a fund raiser for mission trips. We take it sometimes to make bracelets at Girls Night In at Grace Centers of Hope. Last summer, we took 16 pounds of beads from the soup pot with us in our suit cases to Germany where we made bracelets with the women of the Air Force base.

Another use for the bead soup ministry was presented a couple weeks ago.  We committed to make 200 beaded bracelets for a ministry called My Sister Song.  My Sister Song ministers to women in the sex industry in the Detroit area. They go into strip clubs and brothels to visit with the girls who work there.  They take goodie bags for the girls, help them with resources they might need to change their lives, and offer them a link to the outside world should they choose to accept it.

It is a faith based ministry. Their vision is for women to understand their great worth and realize that God has a purpose for the life of each woman and every woman has a story that matters. 


So, we asked if we could pitch in 200 bracelets for the goodie bags.



We sorted beads, strung them, attached charms and got 106 bracelets finished tonight.

It has become important to me to use the skills and resources that God has afforded me to serve others. I know many artists that look for avenues to do that same thing. I have read stories about random acts of art, where artists leave notes and small bits of art in public places for others to find, hoping it will be meaningful and brighten someone's day.

That is a fun activity, but I wonder if an artist is going to that much trouble, wouldn't it be more gratifying to use art to serve someone else whom you know for sure will benefit?  I love encouraging artists to do just that. It is more gratifying that you can imagine.

Gather a group of women who crochet, sit together, and make scarves and mittens for homeless folks who need them. Have an art sale, give the proceeds to a rescue mission. Teach simple crafts to women in the battered women's shelter.

I think every artist can think of ways to make a difference in someone else's life.

Think about it. It will bless you.
And take a double dose of Vitamin C!