God's creativity

3:30 p.m. Today's project was to organize the summer session of Heart to Home with three home arts offerings.

"What's old is new again," the saying goes, or, as Solomon stated, "There's nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9). "Chocolates Galore," "Rosie's Mexican Cooking" and "Acrylic Painting" were huge hits in recent years. As church administrator Marianne and I agreed, once we have a template for the year of Tuesday night classes, it's easy to prepare the Sunday bulletin insert.

On my way out of the church office, I was stopped by Pastor Sammy and his wife Ivett, telling me about the fun they had being the decoys for Pavel's surprise marriage proposal in his and Heidi's 5th & 6th grade classroom. They had called her out of class and kept her busy with small talk while Pavel and the kids prepared the event. Can't wait to see the video shot by Pastor Mark's son! Ivett also gave me the names of three ladies who can create artwork for my pre-school VBS Bible Center. That's a relief, since neither Heidi nor I have a talent for backdrops or prop creation!

Heidi's friend and bridesmaid is at our computer, getting advice on the curriculum she'll be using to teach English in China. Seems to be similar to the Language! program both Heidi and I taught in Jurupa Unified. What a glorious opportunity to share culture and maybe even her life experiences with her students! That's one long trip...but the Lord put it on her heart to go, and has made all arrangements and finances come together. "Where God guides, He provides," Calvary Chapel founder Chuck Smith always says!

I continually marvel at the way God gives remarkable creative skills and desires to individuals, from gardening and building, like Pavel's family does on their 2 acres, creating intricate gourmet food and desserts, teaching academics to children or adults, writing, composing and playing music, painting or preaching--it's all God's creative handiwork!

As I take in the colors, aromas and anticipate the taste of the vegetables pictured above, enjoy fresh eggs from the Ilies' hens, and will soon slather their bees' honey on cornbread, I look forward to joining with the worshipers in Revelation 4:11 who sing,

You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.

AMEN!