It’s good to remember everything isn’t equal in this world of endless options.
Artificial isn’t the same as Real.
Success isn’t the same as Meaning…

Our culture has fully embraced the mantra: "Fake it till you make it." But there are two big problems with that approach. 

When a new opportunity comes up, how do you decide whether to take it or not? If you pass, will you miss your one chance? But if you say yes, what if it turns out to be a costly mistake or time drain?

Beware the self-proclaimed experts who tell you there’s only one way to accomplish your goals or why your ideas will never work. 

A good gauge on whether we’re pursuing our creativity from our own strength or with God is whether we’re mostly expectant…or exhausted. Because God doesn't give us more than we can do in a day. We give ourselves that burden.

Have you ever considered that your creativity isn’t mostly something you do—but a relational journey you’re on? It doesn’t begin with you and a canvas, but you and God.

God is primarily a good Father who teaches his sons and daughters—not a teacher who occasionally fathers his students.  When we get that mixed up, it muddies our view of who God is and who we are.

Why is it so hard to feel at home in this world? 
Maybe it’s because our desire for a place where we can be fully seen, known, and loved is simply beyond what this world can provide.

Rather than seek popularity, seek to make a difference. Fame isn’t necessarily bad. But craving it is. A good test to see where your heart is on this matter is to ask God for hiddenness.

No one likes to play the fool. We seek the world’s respect. We long for the gatekeepers to applaud our efforts. And we desperately want to be relevant.

We all long for our lives and our art to make an eternal impact. Yet often our best efforts burn bright for a moment only to then burn out. We give our all…only to give up because it’s just too much.

Discoverability is a huge need for creators. Because how can people buy or engage in something they don’t know exists? But we miss the main thing when we think the only time for discoverability is at the end of the creative process.

In the last reading (C. S. Lewis is Waiting), I talked about how we can spend time with C. S. Lewis whenever we want to focus on almost any topic we choose— through the pages of his books. He’s a good person to invite into our homes for this purpose. But there are many writers, filmmakers, and music artists I won’t allow in my home.

Imagine having C.S. Lewis as a guest at your home. The fireplace is crackling with logs, there are no distractions, and plenty of time to ponder the deeper issues of life, faith, and story.

In 2011, at a gathering in the Redwoods of California, God rocked my world by speaking these words over me: “Your new mission is going after the hearts of creatives.”

The art of creating well begins with the art of living well. Trueness in your art doesn't just magically appear on the canvas. It flows from a trueness in you first.

Being wise and being relevant aren’t the same. Our world has convinced us nothing is more important than staying relevant.

There’s a saying I’ve posted in my office with this simple encouragement: Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.

A really good prayer to start your day:
God, go before me…

You need to quit feeling guilty or apologizing for your need of regular creative time. If you postpone your creative pursuits until everything on your (and everyone else’s) to-do list is checked off, what you were born to create will never be born.