Well hello again! Yes it has been quite some time since I have been behind the keyboard adding a blog post... but I have been encouraged to take up the reigns again! I actually came across a couple of inspiring blogs lately (both are listed on those that I watch to the left**) and I have also just grabbed ahold of this latest one to encourage journalling. http://www.createwritenow.com/websites-about-journaling
Soooooooooo I am going to rededicate myself to putting pen to paper, fingers to key board and brush to hand. Yes, I know that doesn't look just like journalling, however, God convinced me long ago that a picture is worth a thousand words and that He can teach and talk and create along with me with whatever tool I am using!!
Last week, the Northgate Worship Arts team gathered together for fellowship, a team building exercise and a Creative Expressions Night. It was a great evening and it definitely stretched my boundaries. One of the activities was a Song Hook brainstorming list and then gathering in groups of three to actually write a hook or the first touch to a song. Janah decided to select one of the song hooks from my list (yeah lol!) Now I am not normally considered a musician (except for two short stints learning Piano and Base Clarinet as a kid) but rather a worshipper, prayer team and creative arts person... so this definitely kind of stretched me... but I do like songs and I do like words... so as I was brainstorming a song hook, the phrase "One Glory, His Glory" popped into my head... Thank You Holy Spirit!!
It was a start. One of my favourite verses is Isaiah 60. The picture of "His Glory" rising upon all the earth and even upon the DEEP Darkness has touched my heart often! Anyway, this formed the ground work and we built it up from there. Crystal suggested changing "His" to "Your" to make it more personal and then the three of us just started to add bits and suggestions until we actually had a pretty sweet chorus put together! It is still a work in progress and at some point I may actually post it on this blog... Fortunately, both Janah and Crystal are incredible worshippers with a musical gifting so we have a good chance on this one!
Of course, the other teams also came up with some pretty amazing song hooks... and one even had a rap from the up-and comers "Busta Latte" as well... It is definitely going to be interesting to see how this little exercise develops over the next month or so! Anyway, it was a good way to start out the year and I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2016!!
Deliberations from Deb's Den!
P.S. If you also would like to focus on God's words in Isaiah 60 please read on...
Isaiah 60New King James Version (NKJV)
The Gentiles Bless Zion
60 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
5 Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,
And I will glorify the house of My glory.
8 “Who are these who fly like a cloud,
And like doves to their roosts?
9 Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me;
And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
To bring your sons from afar,
Their silver and their gold with them,
To the name of the Lord your God,
And to the Holy One of Israel,
Because He has glorified you.
10 “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls,
And their kings shall minister to you;
For in My wrath I struck you,
But in My favor I have had mercy on you.
11 Therefore your gates shall be open continually;
They shall not be shut day or night,
That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles,
And their kings in procession.
12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish,
And those nations shall be utterly ruined.
13 “The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,
The cypress, the pine, and the box tree together,
To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
And I will make the place of My feet glorious.
14 Also the sons of those who afflicted you
Shall come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet;
And they shall call you The City of the Lord,
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15 “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,
So that no one went through you,
I will make you an eternal excellence,
A joy of many generations.
16 You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles,
And milk the breast of kings;
You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
17 “Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
Instead of iron I will bring silver,
Instead of wood, bronze,
And instead of stones, iron.
I will also make your officers peace,
And your magistrates righteousness.
18 Violence shall no longer be heard in your land,
Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders;
But you shall call your walls Salvation,
And your gates Praise.
God the Glory of His People
19 “The sun shall no longer be your light by day,
Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;
But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light,
And your God your glory.
20 Your sun shall no longer go down,
Nor shall your moon withdraw itself;
For the Lord will be your everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning shall be ended.
21 Also your people shall all be righteous;
They shall inherit the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.
22 A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.”
Deliberations from Deb's Den
A list of rules for nurses…from 1887 (via http://scrubsmag.com/)
