Life
Creative
By Wendy Speake & Kelli Stuart
Kregel, 2016
Summary
What was God thinking when He created you creative
and then gave you children?
Creative
moms often feel as though they must lay their passions down. But God had
something special in mind for the creative woman during this intense season of
mothering.
In
this Pinterest age of handcrafted children's parties, Instagram photos of
beautifully decorated homes, and blogs filled with poetry and prose, it is
clear that we are in the midst of a brand new artistic renaissance. Not one
born in Italian cathedrals or Harlem jazz clubs, but rather in kitchens,
nurseries, and living rooms around the world. Mothers, working in the cracks
and crevices of each hectic day, are adorning the world with their gifts, and
they're showing all of us the beauty of this Life Creative.
In
this book, you'll learn:
-Why
the world needs your art
-How
this Life Creative begins at home
-When
art can turn a profit
-Your
part in this modern day Renaissance
Life
Creative paints the stories of moms, just like you, who are
fitting their inspired lives into the everyday, ordinary places of motherhood.
Women like home decorator Melissa Michaels and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard,
author Angie Smith, recording artist Ellie Holcomb, and many more.
Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/2bDsqfz
My
thoughts
Take my painting and let it be . . . take my camera
and let it be . . .
take my baking and let it be . . . take my designing . . .
my crafting . . . my writing . . . my mothering . . .
and let it all be ever, only all for Thee.
Life
Creative is so encouraging, a book that any mom would find
inspiring and very beneficial in living day-to-day life. Maybe not in all
cases, but I do know several moms who have set aside their creative talent or outlet
when children came along – and felt frustrated as a result, whether they wanted
to admit it or not. Wendy Speake and Kelli Stuart have literally become
advocates to moms in this book of hope, encouragement, and application.
Although my children are grown, it was easy to reflect
on my personal experiences as I read Life
Creative. This book helps moms find ways to honor their artistic side that
don’t require abandoning the people around us. Children bring a major change
into life’s routines, but adjustments can be made with equally satisfying
results. Some of my fondest memories are when my children would come into the
room where I was practicing the piano in preparation for Sunday worship. I also
loved how this book brings out many less obvious forms of creativity, so there
is something for everyone.
A couple of chapters were especially meaningful to me.
Chapter 6 talks about abiding, something that I found very difficult with young
children. The authors talk about the importance of having three areas of
sanctified time in our lives – for God, for family, and for creating – and give
helpful ideas for implementation. Chapter 7 focuses on worship, how our roles
as mom, wife, and creative artist combine in one giant act of worship. I loved
how the authors illustrate this through the Hebrew word avodah, which has “three diverse meanings braided together in real
life: work, worship, and service.”
There’s so much in Life
Creative that will benefit any mom, an abundance of Scripture, application,
encouragement and ideas that I would never have thought of on my own.
Recommended to all moms.
_________________________
Wendy Speake is a trained actress
and heartfelt teacher. She ministers to women's hearts through storytelling and
life applications, utilizing drama, comedy, poetry and the study of God's Word.
During her career in Hollywood, Speake found herself longing to tell stories
that edify and encourage women. She is the author of Triggers: Exchanging
Parents' Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses (BRU Press, 2015).
Speake is a wife and homeschooling mother of three boys.
Kelli Stuart is a writer and a
storyteller at heart. She has written for several websites including The
Huffington Post, 5 Minutes for Mom, The MOB Society, (in)courage and Compassion
International. She is the author of three books, including Like a River from Its
Course (Kregel Publications, 2016) and a noted speaker.
Stuart her husband live in Florida with their four children.
Website | Instagram
Litfuse author page:
http://litfusegroup.com/author/SpeakeStuart
Disclaimer: I
was provided a free copy of this book through Litfuse Publicity. The opinions expressed
in this review are entirely my own.
