680: Remember

I was reading my daily devotional from my book What Would Jesus Ask You Today? last Saturday on my radio show. The topic was "Remember" and I recommended that the reader go to 2 Peter 1:12-15 to see what Peter wrote to help people remember what Jesus had said and taught. Here is that passage for you to consider today:

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

I thought of this in terms of the theology of writing and creativity that I am developing. Here is what I saw in those verses:

1. Peter wrote to remind people of what they already knew. Often people say, "No one needs another book on counseling or spiritual warfare or prayer." Peter would disagree. They need to hear and read what they already know and you need to present it to them from your experience and perspective.
2. Peter was committed to write as long as he lived. Creativity and writing are not part-time activities, but full-time expressions of broadcasting and sharing. You always need to be looking for opportunities to package and produce your insight and creativity.
3. Peter knew that he was soon to be gone from this earth. You also will be gone "soon." That means you cannot put off until tomorrow what you need to do today. You are not guaranteed another day or 20 years to express your purpose and creativity. Get busy today.
4. Peter was thinking about his legacy for he stated that he was making every effort to make sure that people could read what he knew after he was gone. You don't know what will happen with your creative works. Perhaps they are for another generation or another time. You write and create in faith that God will use your work to bless someone at some time.

I am seeing more and more clearly that I am to spend some of my remaining days helping people like you produce their creative works - to hold, read, see, hear and touch them. To that end, I have started two publishing labels called Urban Press and PurposeQuest Ink. I helped formulate and teach a Writer's and Creativity Workshop a few weeks ago, and you can order the CDs or schedule one for your church or community. I will be in Providence, RI in a few weeks and will be teaching on creativity on Friday night, November 14. I have pulled all my Memos on creativity and will be publishing a book in early 2015 titled Unlocking the Power of Your Creativity.

That is what I am doing to release yours and my creativity. Now what are you prepared to do? Faith without works is useless, so don't tell me you are waiting on the Lord or that God hasn't released you. Those are unacceptable excuses and, while sounding pious, they are often fear-based. You do your own Bible study and I think you will see that you are underan obligation to produce what is in your heart now, today, without any more excuses. If I can help you, let me know. Otherwise, let's "make every effort to see that after [your] departure [others]t will always be able" to remember what the Lord has done through you and with you. Have a blessed week.

********************

WRITER'S WORKSHOP CDs: You can order the CDs (there are 4) from the Writer's and Creativity Workshop. You can pay online using PayPal or send me check for $20 to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8881, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0881. I will get your set right out to you in the mail.

KENYA UPDATE: I have posted two updates from Kenya, one that announces the plans to build a library that the residents there have decided to name after yours truly! You can read those updates here. Once you do, please give as the Lord leads. My own preference is that no funds be taken away from the widows or orphans in order to build the library, so please make them the priority in your giving. You can give for either cause through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882.

PURPOSE SEMINAR: My last purpose seminar for this year here in Pittsburgh is next Saturday, November 1 from noon to 4:30. It's free but you have to register, so please let me know if you plan to attend.