A letter to creatives from Kory Miller (Red Rocks Worship)
Why what you make today could matter more than you could ever imagine.
What if the small thing you do today echoes far beyond you?
This month, we’re focused on pastoring creatives. If you’re a creative, we hope to encourage and inspire you. And if you’re a leader or pastor of a worship and creative team, we hope to equip you. For more context, check out last week’s post -
Meet Kory Miller - singer, songwriter, worship leader, and all-around nice guy.
He’s the kind of person you want to sit across the table from at dinner and chat and laugh with. He’s a church kid, a creative soul, and a generous friend.
A while back, we were on a retreat together and had the privilege of sitting, chatting, and sharing stories. More recently, he was involved on a project with our friends at CXMMXNS DoorKeeper (which is such a sweet song that has been blessing our community lately).
Today, he’s put pen to paper… (or keys to an iPad for you 😊). We hope it brings some fresh life as you ponder what this week holds in store for you.
As you read, why not let Kory lead you in a moment? Here’s one of his songs, LOW.
Hey Creatives,
What an honor to say hello.
I’m typing this 30,000 feet in the air after 12 days on tour. My clothes are gross, I’m wildly sleep-deprived, and I fear I might eternally smell like this. 😅
Honestly, if we were in a room together, I’d be way more interested in hearing what you’re learning, reading, and making than in sharing anything myself. But after spending most of this 3.5-hour flight asking the Lord for His heart for whoever reads this, I’ve landed (as I always seem to) in the same place:
I just want to rave about and remind anyone who’ll listen how precious and important the presence of God is.
I was reading 1 Samuel a while ago and stumbled on a gem I haven’t been able to shake.
The prophet Samuel had remarkable parents who don’t get nearly enough attention. In chapter 2, after God opened Hannah’s womb, she kept her promise and brought her son to serve the Lord under Eli’s care. When she arrived at the temple in Shiloh, she sang a song before the Lord. Her own beautiful, poetic response to His goodness, praising His strength, glory, and reign.
I finished reading and realized… I had no idea Hannah was a songwriter! And I’m so glad I looked at the footnotes.
In my Bible, I saw that her song was later quoted two other times in Scripture:
once by Zechariah (Elizabeth’s husband) and
once by Mary, the mother of Jesus.
What struck me was this:
Hannah wasn’t writing with the motive of a legacy. She was simply responding to God. She encountered a good, kind, and just God, and she had to get her gratitude and love out with a song.
She had no idea that a thousand years later, her words would shape the worship of others. She had no idea her song would echo into eternity.
So if I could encourage you in anything, it would be this:
Please, keep creating. Paint, write, sing, play, craft - just make what is honest. And for those of us blessed to create in partnership with salvation and the Holy Spirit: do it unto Him. And just watch what He does with it.
What you make matters. It shapes people’s daily lives. It scores and gives language to their biggest wins and their hardest moments.
I’m praying that you fall in love all over again with the presence of God today
and
that everything you create flows from that place.
Keep going. We’ve got so much to discover together… for such a time as this.
Kory (with a K) xx
Don’t you feel like Kory’s words are a reminder for us all that small acts of obedience can have a ripple effect? Even though that wasn’t Hannah’s motivation. When you go after God and respond to Him, he’ll bless you, but also use your humble creativity in unimaginable ways.
If you’re creating from that kind of place, let us know what you’re working on, feeling, or needing this week. We’d love to support you in whatever way we can. One way we can do that is through our community here at the Rhino.
Grace and peace,
Cass and Rich
P.S. - If this letter encouraged you, why not forward one to a friend?