Our Young Woman Graduates (but she will always be my baby!)

Grad Cap Tassel 2014

Debbie Mom and Kayla Daughter

Mikayla's Men - Rory, Daddy Mike, Bruce, George

Principal Murray McRae presents Mikayla
with her Graduation Certificate.

PRINCESS GIRL!! in Graduation Cap

My Brilliant Blue Bird is ready to fly the coup!

Group Picture - Debbie, Bruce, Mikayla, Deana, Dante,
Leanna, Rory, Mike, Deanna, George

Mikayla and Bruce at the Old Mill for pictures

Grad Mikayla has caught Bruce's attention!

Newspaper Clipping from the Comox Valley Record with Mikayla
being presented a bursary from Hugh MacKinnon of the
Comox District Teachers Association for Academic Excellence.

Deliberations from Deb's Den

Vortex - God is at the Center!

Vortex - God is at the Center!
I have been watching the devastation in Oklahoma over the last few weeks and was reminded about a CD Cover that I had designed (with God's inspiration) while on Digital Design for Print and Web Course.  As I had been preparing the image I came across this definition for the word Vortex:

vor-tex (vortks) n. pl vortexed or vortices (-t-sz)

"A spiral motion of fluid within a limited area 

especially a whirling mass that sucks 

everything near it toward it's Center"

 

I felt the Holy Spirit tell me that "A Vortex Draws Everything To Its Center." Then I heard this song... "Jesus Be The Center." God wants to be at the Center of our lives... He is calling us to let Jesus be our Center. Can we hear Him?

Jesus Be The Center

I am praying that God will draw everything to
Himself through this tragedy in Oklahoma!
In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ!
AMEN!

Prayer

 Today's note on my perpetual calendar goes like this:"In my view... the greatest need is for husbands to begin guiding their families, rather than pouring every physical and emotional resource into the mere acquisition of money." James Dobson: From Straight Talk to Men and Their Wives, Page 64.

I have come to see this as one of the major factors in the struggle with rebellion in the youth at this time.  I read a poll back in c2002 that said that 40% of children grow up in homes without a father.   Separation, divorce, pride are all factors in this.  And then their mothers work full time to pay even the basic bills. The opportunities for sharing quality family time together seems less and less. 

Who is raising our children?  I work as the administrator in a Christian daycare and I can see where today's children are being "institutionalized."  Babies and toddlers in childcare, pre-school, earlier kindergarten ages, "Latch Key" kids... Don't get me wrong; our teachers at Little Lambs Christian Daycare are of the highest quality; nurturing and caring women who go above and beyond the call of duty to love these little lambs into the Kingdom of God.  However, I also recognize that this is still not God's highest for these children.

Luke 1:17 says that "He shall... turn the hearts of the fathers to the children."  God knows the answer to the problem... and He SHALL work in the heart of FATHERS!!!!

I had been reading the October Newsletter from Covenant Keepers where women are there to pray and call forth MEN who would become intercessors to stand in the gap. Husbands and fathers who are called to pray and become watchmen on the walls. (Isa 63:6) In Jeremiah 9:17-21 the LORD calls the mourning women: skillful wailing women, to pray so that repentance might come to the men… “that our eyes may run with tears and our eyelids gush with water.” Women must fulfill that call and pray for more men (their husbands and the fathers to their children) to take their rightful positions as heads of households,and to become the Watchmen on the Walls. Not just to pour all their resources into making money, but to protect their families from the attacks of the enemy!!! 

I had my heart transformed by this Covenant Keepers article… it was such an eye opener on how to pray into rebellion in our youth. The writer calls it simply the “outer manifestation of a broken heart.”  Divorce between parents produces a brokenness in the Spiritual “One Flesh” unity…. It produces broken hearts in our children and teens that many times results in open rebellion.
Rebellion is also a sign of lost respect for authority, and children often lose respect for their parents who are unfaithful in marriage and not true to their promises and their words.  This is characterized by rebellion to authority in schools and in the work place.. and ultimately in the cities, provinces and in the nation...

How wonderful it would be for men to see the need of their children for quality "Family Time."  How valuable it would be for men to work on their relationships with their wives, so that marriage and divorce would not be an option... "NO BACK DOOR!! from day one of the marriage." 

The best avenue to acquiring this... PRAYER.  

Women, cry out that our men will get back up on "The Wall" and intercede for our families as only they can!! 

LORD, men would die in wars past for our freedom and liberty... make men aware of this same need to lay down their lives for their  families now... and battle and intercede in prayer.

Women pray that men would answer their calling to be "Watchmen on the walls" protecting their families from the attacks of the enemy!

AMEN!

Deliberations from Deb's Den

Call forth the MEN!

I am up now… 3:52 am just praying and interceding for the next generation. I have such sadness in my heart for what the girls and their friends are going through right now. A lot of these teens have been on their own, being raised as latch key kids while their moms are out working…. Some of them have dads in the home, but a lot are raised by single parents…

They have such peer pressure and one country song in particular is breaking my heart for the battle that we are in. One song keeps going through my mind regarding one girl in particular . The name of the song is “Whiskey Lullaby.”  Her mom works and is away on the night shift fairly regularly. She is home alone a lot… so she parties and has people stay over a lot).  Anyway, they have a nice house, but I don’t think they have a “home”… home is where the heart is… and she certainly doesn’t have a faith to help her through. 

God keeps asking me to “just be a mom to these kids.” They just need to be loved and shown the heart of Jesus through His people. God bring each one of them to You. Bring teens to “Consumed” this weekend and touch their hearts with the “Father’s Love.”

Thank You LORD, that you are bringing close to 100 teens out to Thrive on Wednesdays and we hear of salvations on a regular basis… but LORD, please deliver these young people from the lies of the enemy. Give them the Father that so many of them need and give them back their mothers who have been taken away through working and slaving away to live a solitary life outside of family… You promise “to place the solitary in families,” LORD, so bring these young people (and their parents) into family and help us to be You to them. Show us how to truly LOVE as You have LOVED!! Equip us LORD, revive us LORD, prepare us LORD for YOUR HARVEST!!

I have been reading in one of the Covenant Keepers newsletters where women are there to pray and call forth MEN who would become intercessors to stand in the gap. Men who would pray and become watchmen on the walls. (Isa 63:6) In Jeremiah 9:17-21 the LORD calls the mourning women: skillful wailing women, to pray so that repentance might come to the men… “that our eyes may run with tears and our eyelids gush with water.” Women must fulfill that call and pray for more men to take their rightful positions as heads of households, to become the Watchmen on the Walls, protecting their families from the attacks of the enemy!!!

I had my heart transformed by a Covenant Keepers article… it is such an eye opener on how to pray into rebellion in our youth. She calls it simply the “outer manifestation of a broken heart.”  Divorce between parents produces a brokenness in the Spiritual “One Flesh” unity…. It produces broken hearts in our children and teens that many times results in open rebellion.

Rebellion is also a sign of lost respect for authority, and children often lose respect for their parents who are unfaithful in marriage and not true to their promises and their words.

Anyway, my heart is more at peace after I have been “gushing with water” and interceding for them. 

LORD, men would die in wars past for our freedom and liberty... make men aware of this same need to lay down their lives for their  families now... and battle and intercede in prayer.

Women pray that men would answer their calling to be "Watchmen on the walls" protecting their families from the attacks of the enemy!

AMEN!

Trailer for Bloodmoney... Planned Parenthood Corruption...

A friend just sent this movie trailer via Facebook and it is revealing ... check it out.

Deliberations from Deb's Den <><

Preparing to CRY OUT for our Nation at TheCRY Vancouver… August 15th

I received a promotions package for TheCRY Vancouver last week.  Since then, the desire has been steadily increasing and growing in my Spirit to see the people of British Columbia and especially those of us  here on the West Coast and Vancouver Island take a STAND for Righteousness in the Name of Jesus! 

Standing - TheCRY Vancouver * August 15, 2009

So yesterday I opened up GOD.TV on my computer and selected the On Demand Section.  The LORD lead me to choose TheCRY St. John’s.  I have had it on all day… listening and watching, joining in their CRY, praying and battling worshipfully for this nation.   

I joined with them as they prayed as ONE Nation… joining with Jesus in His prayer that we would be ONE with the Father, just and the Father and He are ONE.  All the diverse cultures in Canada coming together as ONE under God!

I joined with them as they prayed for marriage in our Nation as God intended.  One man and one woman… MARRIED FOR LIFE!!

I joined with them as they prayed for the deliverance of those caught in Human Trafficking here in our nation and beyond.

I joined with them as they prayed SILENTLY for those who do not have a voice…. For the babies who have had their CRY and their lives cut short through abortion.  To give a voice to the voiceless.

On August 15th, we have an opportunity to STAND for OUR NATION in prayer and worship, to STAND for a GENERATION  yet unborn through prayer and worship, to STAND for THE WORLD as Canada fully walks in Her GOD-GIVEN DESTINY to bring HEALING TO THE NATIONS!

Join with me as we go to Vancouver and join in TheCRY Vancouver 2009.  For more information go to www.thecry.ca

Join in TheCRY

for Canada!

The Glory Cloud of His Presence – Aglow Part 2

I have been trying to sum up in my heart what the LORD imparted to me during this NI Aglow Retreat.  His Presence and His Favour was definitely with us and I could see His divine appointments as well.

A while back Pastor Scott shared a message at Northgate Foursquare.  It was on Exodus 33:1-18  where Moses is being asked to lead the Israelites to take the Promised Land.  At first God wasn’t going to go with them because they were a “stiff-necked people.” (Aren’t we all at times?)  Fortunately, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”  Moses was able to intercede for His people.   "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. ¹How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" Finally God agreed to let His Presence go with them.

This message awakened something within me and I also began to intercede for my friends and family.  God gave me the promise that He would go with us ALL as well.

Then, on the Friday Evening, Diane Fink taught from the same scripture.  Yet another confirmation of God’s Goodness…“the Loving-kindness of God.”  It is His loving-kindness that brings us to a point of repentance unto salvation.  Rom 2:4 God allowed His Goodness… His Glory to pass before Moses (and now He offers it to us).  His Goodness is His VERY Best for us.  It is His beauty, His salvati0n, His welfare, His Joy, His Prosperity… It is His Glory.   “The Glory of the LORD will cover the earth” And, as Christians, we are to be the reflection of that Glory in the earth…  Pretty Awesome when you think about it!!

It is truly about HIS PRESENCE!!

More to come… :)

The Glory Cloud of His Presence… (Aglow Part 1) Our Island Prayer Journey

Why was I there?   Was I ready?  Was I there for His Presence; or was it for our Island Prayer Journey, or the anointed speaker, Diane Fink… or the awesome worship lead by Leah Robertson… or even just the fellowship?

Olivia challenged me this weekend.  She sooooo wanted to be in His Presence and experience the Glory of God!!  The time is NOW and she knew it!! 

We (Olivia, myself, Penny and Laurie) had our Island Prayer Journey planned for the drive down to the conference at Qualicum Beach and we were going to stop at several places along the coastline.  We prayed at Royston, Craigdarroch Beach, Buckley Bay, Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Oyster River and Qualicum Bay among other small little hamlets...  to claim the FAVOUR of the LORD for that area.  Our trip was to bless others and to bless the land, but inadvertently, God poured out His blessings upon us!  The weather was glorious, the fellowship was awesome, the presence of God surrounded us and we saw eagles all over the place.

Olivia wanted to be READY and she wanted OTHERS to be ready along with her.  She had her oil lamp full!  She wanted God’s presence and she wanted to honour Him and Him alone!!  Fortunately for us, the love of God permeates all those around us and we all found our heart for the journey too.  He gave us his “Eagle Eye” from which to pray His prophetic prayers for the  various areas.  It was a powerful time of worshipping our creator in His glorious creation! 

If only we could live like this 24/7.  I know that I fall short way too often.  I desire that the scripture Psalm 84:2 would represent my live on a DAILY basis…  Not just every now and then.  I want my heart and my flesh to CRY for the LIVING GOD!!   I want to Live in His Glorious Presence EVERY DAY.

My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  (Psa 84:2 ASV)

How often do I let myself get to this point with my Beloved?   I wonder….

Our Quiver is full! We are truly blessed!

Our Quiver is full and we are truly blessed!  This weekend my daughter, Mikayla and I joined Grandma and Grandpa Dean as they journeyed down to Ladysmith for my nephew Ryan's birthday party. 

Ryan had some of his friends at the party of course, but what I noticed was the power of family.  There are now 8 grandchildren for John and Marnie with Ryan, at age 5, being the youngest.  Of those 8 kids, Mikayla, Samantha, Sierra, and Jacob were there to celebrate with Ryan.  

Add to that two grandmothers, a grandfather, two aunts, an uncle, a mom and a dad and you can see that the place gets FULL pretty quickly! The bible tells us that this is a blessing.... it a quiver FULL of arrows ready to take out the enemy!

The older kids and some of the adults took this imagery a step further.  While the young kids were inside playing an exciting game of "Pin the Hat on the Martian," we were outside with the Bow and Arrows taking aim at a make-shift balloon target.  Those balloons didn't stand a chance when they came up against the Deans!!

I'm declaring this to be a prophetic act.  As the mighty Dean's hit our targets  (those menacing balloons!), so too will we hit our targets in prayer!!  Our enemies will be put to shame and they will be swept right out the gate!!  The Message Bible puts it this way; "Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep!"

It's our mighty inheritance to receive!!

Lo, children are a heritage of God; 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 hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.   (Psa 127:3-5 ASV)

 

A Person's a Person No Matter How Small... UPDATE

For the full article http://bound4life.com/blog/2009/02/06/y-o-p-p

I was totally amazed at the wisdom and courage that this 12 year old girl displayed as she stood up for God's Truth.

While doing a school project on persuasive speech, Lia chose to speak out on the issue of abortion. Her teachers encouraged her to change her topic; they even tried to convince her mother to get her to change her topic; but Lia stood firm on her convictions and God has shown Himself faithful.

She had been told that she would NOT be able to enter the competition because her topic on abortion was "too controversial." However she won... first in her class competition; and she won in her school competition, and now after a disqualification and a God-ordained re-qualification, she is headed for the regional competition. I will prophetically state that I believe God will enable her to win in the regional's also. Her speech is powerful, filled with the truth of God and totally anointed of the LORD. Check it out above.

UPDATE 2/17/09 12:00 PM EST: Lia has advanced to the next round of competition with her speech. She will delivering it TONIGHT at 7 PM EST. Please pray.

UPDATE 2/18/09 11:00 AM EST: I heard from Lia’s mother that she did an outstanding job last night. "Her presentation was flawless and she was poised and passionate throughout." She did not win the competition however. Two teachers and others present felt that she was the strongest speaker and should have won, but they suspected that her topic of abortion is what kept her from winning.

Read this excerpt from her mother’s email:
Lia wasn’t really that upset though, especially when she considered that the only difference between winning the competition and not winning was having a couple extra pictures taken and being given a small trophy. Lia has a much bigger trophy – somebody commented to us on our YouTube account that her aunt watched Lia’s video and decided to NOT have an abortion because of it. Yay God! Others have commented that they either never thought of the issue before or were pro-choice – but now they have changed their opinions. So, having a life saved is the best trophy ever!

We’re thrilled with Lia’s courage and conviction. And YES, the best trophy is a life saved. Please join us in continuing to pray for her YouTube video to spread virally and impact countless lives.

For a full article at: http://bound4life.com/blog/2009/02/06/y-o-p-p

Astronomy meets the Almighty! Sermon By Louie Giglio

You just have to check this one out!  Amazing details and facts!!  Sermon series called "How Great is Our God" by Louie Giglio.  (I found this on Mandy's Blog and was totally blown away so I did some more checking! Thanks Mandy)

Louie Giglio, has been at the forefront of collegiate ministry for over twenty years.  Prior to becoming the Director of Passion, Louie was Founder and Director of Choice Ministries, where he worked in the campus setting with students at Baylor University.  Louie travels the world challenging this generation to a passionate pursuit of God, inviting them to join Him in His unending Story.

Louie and His wife, Shelley (Chief Strategist, Passion Conferences and Director of Label Operations and Artist Management), live in Alpharetta, GA, and are active members of North Point Community Church.  Louie is the author of The Air I Breathe: Worship As A Way Of Life and I am not but I know I AM.  http://www.268generation.com/ 

 

Christmas is coming....

Christmas is coming....

How does your family celebrate Christmas? 

While at an FSS group the other night we all shared ideas on how we make it through the holiday without going crazy or ending up terribly depressed.  What do we focus on and what occupies our time during the Christmas season?

Christmas is usually always a time for families to get together and enjoy each other's presence.  Others, like single parent families are left on their own during this time.  Some people focus on what they don't have rather than having an attitude of gratitude for all that they do have.  Ultimately, our focus should be on enjoying God's presence, but so often we turn to the presence of  PRESENTS instead.  I snagged this video clip from Jason Eliason's Thrive Blog.  It really gets me asking questions... and hopefully answering those questions too.

Lord, I pray that you help all of us look at Christmas with a different perspective!  With Your perspective.  I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.... The reason for the season!  AMEN!!  Merry Christmas!

Memorial to a Sister in Christ - Colleen Jack

Somewhere over the rainbow....

I am dedicating this video clip to a dear friend who recently went to
be with the LORD.

Colleen Pendleton (Ne: Jack) was a First Nations princess here on earth as the daughter of Chief Gerry Jack, but she was more importantly a Princess in the Kingdom of God.... a Daughter of the KING of kings. She was a prayer warrior and a woman of faith who wore her love on her shoulders & who stood for righteousness.

She had a powerful testimony of God's restorative power in her marriage and in her entire life. She honoured and exemplified faith and God's promises to her two boys; Gerald and Alexander, (now grown) and to her people, the Mowachaht / Muchalaht Nation.

There are so many stories that I would like to share about this wonderful woman.

When we lived in Gold River, Colleen would always invite her "Christian Sisters and Brothers" to help on the reserve during Potlatches or Kids Clubs. She could have kept us all in the back and remained hidden in her faith in a place of culture and tradition. However, Colleen would always call us forward and introduce us, her Christian family to her traditional family. She always made a place for God during these gatherings.

One powerful story came when God, literally, delivered her from the fire. It was early one morning when I heard a bounding knock on the door. I opened to find Colleen standing there in tears saying that her home was on fire. As we ran back down the road, we were crying out to God and praying "LORD, let nothing PRECIOUS be destroyed." By the time we got there the Fire Department had everything under control. They had arrived within 7 minutes from the time of the 911 call!

Once they had given the all clear and we were able to re-enter the place, we went over what had happened. Her son, Gerald, had had a friend over for the evening and they had fallen asleep with candles burning in the room.

Fortunately, God stepped in powerfully. Where Gerald usually slept like a log, the friend came to easily and woke everyone up. Colleen was able to get the boys and her second son, Alex, out of the house safely. Then, with the leading of the LORD, she had rolled a towel and placed it at the base of Gerald's door. This had blocked the flow of oxygen into the room and had suffocated the fire.

When we re-entered the bedroom itself, we could see where the flow of the fire and smoke on the ceiling had charred the tiles and there were items all over the room that were burned to molten blobs. CD's had exploded and were stuck to the ceiling.

Then we looked on the bedside table. The lamp was wilted and the clock radio was a blob of plastic. But God, right beside these charred items, had saved a "precious" photograph of Gerald's father.... It was untouched by the heat and was totally intact. God had answered our prayers that nothing "precious" be destroyed. They were all safe and this precious photograph was still intact. God had kept His promise to her to protect her and carrying her through the fire....

LORD, we lift up Colleen's family to you; Steve, Gerald and Kathy and their three kids; Alexander and Flora; Leander (Jerry Jr) and Bev, and their kids, etc. You know each one by name. Be their comforter and help them to understand the power of your love... even in this.

Praying to a Healing God!!

Please lift my girls' paternal Grandpa; Ken, up in prayer. Mike's dad ("Grandpa Santa" to the girls) is in the hospital.  They had to do a blood transfusion yesterday, and it looks like his white blood cell count is extremely low.  I am not sure of the exact situation, other than he has had heart and circulation problems in the past.  
 
LORD God, You are a mighty God!  You are the Great Physician and You are able to heal and use this for Your glory!  Praise You LORD, that all Your plans are perfect even in these circumstances.  Bring healing to Ken and use this for Your perfect purposes in his life and in the lives of all those around him.  AMEN!

 

·        But He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed.  (Isa 53:5 MKJV)

 

Deana and Mike are heading down to Ladysmith this morning, and Mikayla will be staying here with me here at the Foursquare Consumed Youth Conference until they get back.  Please cover all of us as well… SOSO Healing, & travelling mercies for them and the protection of the LORD during a powerful move of God in the youth.

Be blessed as you pray!
 
Dancing in Daddy's Arms,
Debbie Strandberg <><

 

·         Psa 91:1-16 MKJV  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty.  (2)  I will say of Jehovah, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust.  (3)  Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying plague.  (4)  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.  (5)  You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;  (6)  nor for the plague that walks in darkness, of the destruction laying waste at noonday.  (7)  A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you.  (8)  Only with your eyes you shall look and see the reward of the wicked.  (9)  Because You, O Jehovah, are My refuge; if You have made the Most High Your dwelling-place,  (10)  no evil shall befall You, nor shall any plague come near Your dwelling.  (11)  For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways.  (12)  They shall bear You up in their hands, lest You dash your foot against a stone.  (13)  You shall tread on the lion and adder; the young lion and the jackal You shall trample underfoot.  (14)  Because He has set His love on Me, therefore I will deliver Him; I will set Him on high, because He has known My name.  (15)  He shall call on Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with Him in trouble; I will deliver Him, and honor Him.  (16)  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.