Creative Expressions Night - Back to Blogging in 2016

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 True Miracle!!

I am so blessed to have witnessed a miracle today.  I was able to meet my new Grand-baby via ultrasound! They are a God given blessing from our Heavenly Father and they are truly loved!

• Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I consecrated you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5 MKJV) God's word says that even before babies are formed in the womb, God knows them!!  This little one is a wonderful gift from God! I feel so privileged to have had a small glimpse of who God already knows, and even now, I can feel my heart bursting with love for them.
  
• Lo, children are a heritage of the LORD; And the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:3-5 ASV)
  

A Prayer Of Thanksgiving!

My heart felt prayer is that Deana, Rory and their baby would know how truly Loved they are by God!  LORD, enable them to become the parents that You have ordained them to be and guide this little life into the Kingdom of God. Prepare them all for a life of TRUE LOVE and fulfill the purposes that You have ordained for each one of them!  Thank you that Mikayla was able to share this incredible experience with us and bless her in her roll as Auntie as well. THANK YOU LORD for this little glimpse into what You already know and bless each one of them abundantly! I pray this in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ! AMEN!"

Incredible New Christmas Songs... Inspired!

Where's the line to see Jesus - Becky Kelley

A Baby Changes Everything - Faith Hill

Christmas in Heaven by Sarah Scheider

Utilizing My Creative Giftings To The Glory of God!

Here is a small sampling of my artwork and designs over the years…. Enjoy and let    the LORD be praised for His creative giftings within each of us.
All designs © Deborah Strandberg 2009
  

   

 

   

        

My Personality Patterns

I just took the Personality Pattern test. It seems to be, pretty much, an exact reflection of who I am. Here are my top 10 traits, what are yours?

Aesthetic

You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.

You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.

Original

You are constantly coming up with new ideas. For you, the world as it exists is just a jumping-off place; what's going on inside your mind is often more interesting than what's going on outside.

You don't feel that the road to success is to be a realist and stick to the program; you never stop yourself from coming up with new ideas or telling the world what you're thinking about.

Calm

You rarely become irritated, generally accept people as they are, take things as they come, and feel relaxed in most situations.

You do not let a minor annoyance escalate to a confrontation. You don't regularly snap at those around you or fly off the handle with little provocation.

Innovative

You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn't work out, there's always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You're practically a one-person brainstorming session.

You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.

Competent

You strive to master everything you undertake. You tend to learn quickly and do not shy away from challenges.

You are not a "que sera sera" type of person, nor do you go easy on yourself when attempting to master a new skill or get a job done.

Accessible

You're comfortable expressing yourself in words and actions, with no self-censorship. You believe that if someone doesn't like what they see it's not your problem, but theirs. A high score on the "accessible" trait suggests that you have a lot of friends, socialize often, and enjoy rap/hip-hop music.

You don't see the need to keep your thoughts to yourself, or to have a zone of privacy that encompasses only yourself and a small circle of friends and relatives.

Slapdash

You believe things will turn out fine even if they don't go precisely according to plan. As far as you're concerned, it's not the end of the world if a project falls short of perfection.

You don't feel compelled to dot every "i" and cross every "t."

Introspective

You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.

You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself.

Upbeat

You enjoy being around others and others enjoy being around you. You have a "live and let live" attitude; because you know that no one's perfect, you are forgiving and happy to give the benefit of the doubt.

You don't feel the need to be controversial or express contrary opinions all the time. You see no reason to go around rubbing people the wrong way.

Tender

You are gentle with others, both physically and emotionally. You are careful not to upset people and go out of your way to find the nicest way to say something. You naturally focus on the fact that the world is full of wonderful people, places, and things. More often than not, people with a high score on the "tender" trait enjoy spending time with children, love romantic movies, and are enthusiastic about making the world a better place.

You don't think of yourself as tough-minded or gruff, nor do you need to be seen as some kind of objective source of truth and rationality.