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Focus

focusWhat do you spend your days focussing on?

A big question.

Many people I meet who are struggling to recreate into the future focus a lot on the negative.

Many people I meet who are struggling to see potential into their future are stuck in a place of why haven’t I?

What we allow our imagination to focus on, creates the paths we travel on.

Do you keep driving around the same roundabout in your mind?

What are you focussing on?

Do you struggle to turn down that road that leads you to a new day?

Where is your focus?

Focus is a necessary part of our everyday life.

What you focus on, will lead you towards or away from the things you desire.

Our imagination is powerful, because our imagination is the engine room of our minds.

See you tomorrow

A

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the power of imagination

Most mornings at the crack of dawn, I hear a sound coming from my sons bedroom. Some days it is emotion filled, others it is inquisitive, some days it’s ‘come and get me now’ and the next it is explorative and adventure packed.

My favourite part of our morning routine, is when I lift him out of his cot and he smiles expectantly at his toys and runs towards them. Most days he will pick up anything, a remote, a toy, a mobile, a brick and straight away lift it to his head and start to talk as if it is a telephone. We never taught him this, he has watched and discovered that when we lift something to our ears we can talk to someone in a far away place.

Although this may be an indication of how much mummy is on the phone, it also shows me the power of imagination. From a young age we have the capacity to model and imagine that something is possible even if it is not present. Imagination is powerful.

The more I slow my heart and head down to a more manageable pace and I accept the season I am in, the more I am awakened to the potential of the present.

We can so easily be stuck in the past and that power that pulls us into retrospection can inhibit our possibilities for the now and future.

Are you stuck in a backward glance?

Are you re-reading what could have been?

Are you forever drawn to regret and why?

Are you stuck creatively in the past?

I believe that every day is a new day. Every day holds the possible potential for something new. There is an innovative, prophetic calling to something fresh and honest, something that is authentic and true to who you are.

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things that escape those who dream only at night.
Edgar Allan Poe

Creativity and imagination has a power that is potent with possibility.

You are more than your past.

You are more than what people have labeled you to be.

You are more than the box that someone has closed the lid upon.

Somedays it is the potential of something new, it is the power of imagination that can take us to a new land.

A land of fresh possibility, innovation and new.

Don’t waste your potential and imagination on what could have been?

Lean towards what can be?

For the month of July I am going to write everyday about the power of our imagination.

Adventure is awaiting discovery.

Come on a pilgrimage with me.

Amanda

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the art of worship

In the next few months I have lots of creative projects I am working on. From Conferences, to speaking engagements, to workshops, to producing a short film, running a fundraising concert for women in Africa and more.

In the midst of it all, I am most excited about creating opportunities for people to encounter inspiration in many different ways. In essence to experience a creative God, through beauty and glory that promotes Him.

I am the creative director for an upcoming conference that is all about encouraging and inspiring people in the creative industries to live out their dreams.

Its called SPARC; HAND MADE for faith and culture.
http://www.sparc.org.au

SPARC-Conf2-640px

There are many parts of this conference that I am really excited about. I am producing a short film about the life of Phil Baker, the author and artist. Sheryn Hack from http://www.sherynfilms.com is a part of the project and Bryce Green former journalist from the ABC and current Program Director for 98.5fm is directing and helping produce the short film.

Another part of the conference that I am so looking forward to is hearing via live link from Mako Fujimura http://www.makotofujimura.com/

Mako is an artist, writer, and speaker who is recognised worldwide as a cultural shaper.

I think our understanding of what worship is in contemporary culture must change. The quote below really challenged me this week. I believe creativity and culture has the capacity to be deeply affected by christians who are walking out their faith with depth and light. Worship is a lot more than music.

In fact there are very limited references to music being a form of worship in the new testament.
What is in your hand?

A paintbrush?
A pen?
A video recorder?
A computer?
A thought?
A song?
A poem?
A smile?
Use that to shine light. Use that to change and impact culture.

writings for winter

Interesting days.
Amanda

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ruminating

In our age of fast food, quick satisfaction, one click purchasing, it is easy for us to think that all things come fast and cheap.

Not so.

In fact the things that take the longest are those most savoured. Although mountain top experiences inspire us, it is through the valley’s that we truly learn what we are made of.

Lately I have found my life slowing down even further and I think I like it.

My ego doesn’t but my spirit and soul does.

Opportunities are coming my way lately that I am finding myself ruminating on. Wanting to say no, much more than yes. I find myself wondering if this is a great opportunity for my family, rather than just myself.

I have a new found respect for parenthood and the intensity of every decision when we are fostering foundations for the future.

A quick opportunity now, has the potential to leave devastating absence in the future for our children.

A hurried purchase now, may mean mortgage stress in the future.

A trip that was so easy and daring in a past life, now becomes more dangerous for a little person whose tagging along.

Life is not enjoyed by quick momentary decisions.

I think it is savoured by deep contemplation.

Ruminate with me.

Love

A