Shopkins are little figures in the shape of things you would buy. They range from clothes items, shoes, accessories, to food and household items. They are all smaller than an egg. That is it. That is what they are.
What is the purpose, you might ask? (I have asked myself this too.) They encourage imaginative play. If you are like me, you get that. Sure, it's great for kids to use their imagination. It's awesome. But as an adult, it is hard for me to imagine how you could even play with them. What could you even imagine with a little boot and a skirt with eyes and names? (Yes, they all have names. My daughter was playing with Penelope Pleat the other day, a skirt.)
Isn't that just like adults? We are not very good at using our imagination. We just can't see what our kids can see. We work hard as parents and teachers to encourage the imaginations of our kids. However, somewhere along the line, our own imaginations just quit. They stop growing, and in some cases, they are never used again.
I have been reading Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest for my daily devotion each day this year. One recent day got me thinking about imagination like I never have before. The title of this particular day was, "Is Your Imagination of God Starved?" The entry pointed out that nature is full of evidence that our God has a huge imagination, and we should too. Nature, such as a beautiful sunset, should really get our imaginations pumping as we consider the character and abilities of our God.
Chambers states that if your imagination is starved, "when you are up against difficulties you have no power, you can only endure in darkness...Do not look back on your own experience; it is God whom you need. Go right out of yourself."
We do that, don't we? When faced with a problem, we tend to limit God's response and His ability to help us. Sometimes, our prayers lack imagination, which to me means they lack real faith. We must "go right out of ourselves" because our human minds are so great at limiting God's awesome power and His unfathomable plans for us. We really have no idea what God can do in our problem situation.
The Bible does not call us to stop being imaginative. It encourages us to use it and to have faith without human limits.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!" (Ephesians 3:20-21).We are to give our God glory for ever because He is more than able to accomplish great and mighty works, no matter what our situation! He can do even more than our wimpy, adult imaginations can muster. We are encouraged to dream big and believe with a faith that knows no limits. His boundless power is at work. Amen!
Let's be more like our children. Use our imaginations when it comes to God. He has given us evidence time and time again that He is bigger than what can ever dream up. Each sunset is different. Every snowflake that ever falls is unique. Each and every person He creates is one of a kind and known by Him. What a big God! Just imagine!
**This may be my last blog for awhile. Baby #3 is set to arrive any day now! I will return to blogging as time allows. While I feel called to write, I know that I am also called to be a mom first!
Linking up (usually) with these great sites:#soulsurvival, #intentionalTuesday, #RaRaLinkup, #threewordWednesday, #livefreeThursday, #belovedbrews, #dancewithJesus, #fellowshipFriday, #graceandtruth, #coffeeforyourheart, #TellHisStory, #Reflect, #livefreeThursday, #thecozyreadingspot
