In his book "Pure Pleasure, Why do Christians feel So Bad About Feeling Good?", Gary Thomas discusses how we derive enjoyment from what we do.  He writes," Perhaps it should not surprise us that many believers find pleasure in making things; after all, we're made in the image of the creator God.  The wild variety of creative arts reflects the enormous diversity of God's people.  Our mass-production culture assaults this pleasure.  To embrace creative pleasures, we must overcome the crass "legitimization of commerce."  Some painters refuse to see themselves as true painters unless they can sell their paintings.  Others think they're not really photographers unless they market their services or prints.  The beauty of being make in the image of the creator God is that we can freely celebrate creating for creating's sake.  If you enjoy it, it can even become a form of worship.

So go ahead, make something just because you like to make it-even if you never want to sell it.  Go ahead-write the poems, compose the songs. paint the paintings, and weave the tapestries!  Make a prophetic statement against a culture that reduces the fine and profound act of creating, to a means of economic enhancement.  Be a rebel-make something because you consider it beautiful, and because you can!"

Have you ever given yourself permission to think about what really brings you pleasure?   What leaves you feeling refreshed, renewed, revitalized? Have you ever considered that that brings God pleasure, to see you enjoying pleasures that He gives you?

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