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

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
  

   

 

   

        

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

Strandberg Christmas Newsletter 2008

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Hello and hallelujah!! It is only a week away from Christmas and we are just beginning to write our yearly 2008 Strandberg Christmas Newsletter!

2008 has been an extremely eventful and transitional year. We have walked through many challenges and changes together and have hopefully safely made it out the other end…. There is a saying on a plaque that is mounted on our china cabinet regarding “Change.”

It says “A bend in the road is not the end of the road… unless you fail to make the turn.” Our journey this year took us through some major “Osoyoos Type Switchbacks,” but we made it home safe and sound – Praise God!!

The year at a glance….

January started out fairly normal. Deana was in Grade 9 (now in grade 10) at G.P. Vanier, and Mikayla finished Grade 7 at Comox Valley Christian School and is now in Grade 8. I (Debbie) was still working as support staff at Arden Elementary School, and from March to June, I also took on a position at Classic Printers as their Graphic Artist. My roll as President for Comox Valley Aglow has significantly subsided and I have just finished my four year term as Secretary on Comox Valley Christian Education Society Board of Directors.

We attend Northgate Foursquare Church here in Courtenay and the girls have enjoyed spending time in Northgate’s THRIVE Youth Group.

The girls (now both teenagers…yikes!!) are growing up fast and exploring new territory. They are both budding into independent, thinking, young adults. This, of course, comes with a few bumps and tears along the way, but all-in-all they continue to show hearts of love and compassion for the people around them. They are finding their voices and their way through peer pressure, school transitions, teenage relationships, family changes, and life changes in general… I spend much time in prayer, of course!!

Special Memories from the girls...

A Message from Mikayla....

So this year was pretty awesome. Made some great friends, and ‘bonded’ with my family (trip to the cabin) hahaha. It had its downs, but none as memorable as its ups.

I think I’m going to remember 2008 as the year that taught me most, about friendships, family and just life in general. It was a very memorable year.

I’ve changed a lot over the past year. And for now, I’m going to enjoy the rest of my teenage years!

Have a good 2009 everybody! I love you all! ~! ^KaylaXoXoX^!

Now Deana... is attending Grade 10 at G.P. Vanier - The Next Generation.... It’s a flash from the past – Debbie and Mike, (mom and dad) both attended as well as Deana's uncles Lloyd, D’Arcy & Brad! Vanier just celebrated its 40^th Anniversary this year and we can all say we had a part in Vanier’s history!

Deana has been focusing on school and ended up getting 89.5 % in Science "A" Yeah! (Maybe now we will consider letting her try for her Driver’s License in 2009… Please Pray!!?!!). She is also in the process of putting out part-time job applications around town.

Both girls attended the Thrive / Outloud Youth All-nighter with ~150 other teens. Deana stayed long enough for the swimming at the pool, while Mikayla participated through the whole night with Swimming, Games, Food, and just “Hanging out”!!! Mayflower (Worship band out of Victoria) was there as well as Jason Ballard, a dynamic gifted young adult who speaks all over the world! Mikayla did avoid the Annual Polar Bear Swim though - I wonder why?? :D

And Debbie...

A couple of very special memories that I have this year brought a true revelation of God’s faithfulness and presence in the fire. Our car had lost its transmission and we ended up stranded in the Kootenays for 6 weeks (I know, if you have to be stranded this was the place to do it, at the cabin with our family!!)

However, it happened to be at the same time that the Fort Steel Forest Fire was ablaze… only 15 kms away. We had been told to be ready to leave if the Fire Marshall gave the call. I am sure that we could have all piled into Grandma and Grandpa’s truck, but without our car, it would definitely have been tight! Fortunately, at the last minute, the wind shifted, the fire turned, and we were all safe! Praise God!

There was also a time when I had started to feel sorry for myself (even in that beautiful setting surrounded by family). It was a rainy day with just a touch of the sun. It was the kind of a day that you would expect to see a rainbow, but I was thoroughly disgusted that there was not a rainbow to be found! I had at least hoped to find some promise in these trials we had been going through, but NO, the promise wasn’t visible in the sky that day.

Fortunately, God has sense of humour and He is always faithful. The next day He gave me a double rainbow!! It was beautiful, and I grabbed hold of it as a double promise of my own!

(For the full story check out my "Summer Journey"
Blog from September)

2008 Wrap Up

The last few weeks of 2008 have been busy. We were at the Northgate Christmas Tree Decorating evening to hang our “Rainbow Fire” ornament and watch Mikayla sing “Silent Night”... Then the next week she also got the chance to perform in the Grade 6-10 Choir at the CVCS Christmas Pageant (By the way, very well done everyone!)... The Youth all-nighter as mentioned earlier... The CVCS kids have also spent the last three Fridays at the skating rink which has made for some interesting antics!

I had a bit of extra work as support staff at Vanier for the last two weeks (God does provide!) and I was also able to help at the Northgate Soup and Sandwich Christmas Luncheon by praying with people in need on a cold winter’s day!

The plans this week may have to change a bit because of the snow (It is still coming down!) but for now, it looks like the girls will be with me and the “G-Rents” (as Kayla calls them) for Christmas Eve and with their Dad on Christmas Day. Lloyd and his family are in Florida right now (and rubbing it in too!) and D’Arcy and his crew will be on the mainland. I think Brad is staying in the area, so we will still get to visit with them.

Well, we wish you all a Merry Christmas & the Best New Year Ever!
God bless!
Debbie, Deana, and Mikayla!

By the way... Our favourite Christmas Joke!

Three Wise Women

You do know what would have happened if it had been
three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?

They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

Author Unknown