Week: Creativity - God's creativity in us
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Creator God, You formed us from dust, breathe in us again. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us and even create through us today.
Aretha Franklin was born in America in 1942. She was an incredible singer and she loved singing about how God cared for her, during the good times and during the bad times too.
Let’s begin by REFLECTING on one of David’s songs, which we call the Psalms, in which he wrote about God’s help during difficult times.
Read by Bea
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the Lord.
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of destruction,
out of the sticky mud.
He stood me on a rock
and made my feet steady.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many people will see this and worship him.
Then they will trust the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3 (CEV)
Aretha Franklin’s father was a church leader and she sang in his church choir from a very young age. She had an incredible voice and by the time she was 10 she was already leading songs on her own – everyone could see that she had a special talent. When she was a teenager, she started recording and releasing songs. And by the time she was in her 20s, she was one of the most popular singers in the whole world… and she stayed that way for the rest of her life.
Although she was very successful, Aretha had a difficult life. Her mother died when she was young and she was treated very badly by some of the people who she should have been able to trust. Although she often felt sad and depressed, she knew that God was with her, and this gave her the strength to keep going. ‘I’ve been so blessed.’ she said. ‘I’m most thankful for how good God has been to me.’*
Aretha always put lots of emotion into her singing – her sadness as well as her joy – and that’s one of the reasons why people still love her songs. And many of them speak of God’s amazing love for everyone. ‘Being a singer is a natural gift,’ she said. ‘It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use.’
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What gifts and talents do we have? What are we good at? Or what do we wish we were good at?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, thank you for the gifts and talents that you’ve given to us. We ASK you to help us use them to the highest degree possible, like Aretha did. Help us to be the very best that we can be, as a way of expressing our thanks to you.
It’s not easy for singers and other celebrities who are Christians. They can feel a lot of pressure to have to do and say the right thing all the time, and it’s like everyone is watching them. Let’s pray for them now.
Creator God, thank you for the women and men, like Aretha Franklin, who are trying to use the gifts that you’ve given them to the highest degree. We ASK you to be with them – comfort them and encourage them. And give them boldness to continue following Jesus in everything that they say and do.
And now, let’s say YES to God, using words from one of the songs that Aretha Franklin loved to sing.
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.***
Pause
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
*https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/aretha-franklin-quotes-feminist-death-grief-respect-confidence-love-heartbreak/222216
**https://americansongwriter.com/the-22-best-aretha-franklin-quotes/
***Precious Lord, Take My Hand, by Thomas A. Dorsey. Public Domain
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Bea is 14 and she lives in Hampshire, in the UK, with her family. Her favourite football team is Manchester United, even though she lives a loooong way from Manchester. Bea likes horse riding and running, and when she’s older, she wants to become a vet, or a professional horse-rider.