Turning the Corner Today – Creative Leaders in Christ, Rise Up

I want to speak to creative leaders in Christ, those willing venture outside the box of nominal Christianity to discover Jesus, creatively in His journey for our lives. He calls us ‘out’ to walk with Him in an expression of ministry that will hit the hearts of many who want to know His love, His salvation, His goodness and mercy.

Do you see God moving ‘outside’ the confines of our current definition of ministry?

Let’s walk with Him, step by step in humility and grace. God SYNCS each of us in Christ and into our creative expression. This by itself, moves us out and away from any box of comfortable Christianity. I like to call it creative expression in Christ, walking a true prophetic lifestyle in Holy Spirit.

As I move out, I immediately feel resistance. I face the choice of drawing back or to keep on walking with Him.

After years with this message stirring inside me, rising up and being shut down, today I am turning the corner. I can’t go back into what was. I press ahead. Join me on this journey as I turn the corner into the next phase of my glorious life. I write the story and perhaps you can glean something for yourself in all of this in the months and years ahead.

About 1 year ago, I attended a conference in Flower Mound, TX called ‘Limitless’. Focused on creativity in life, the revelation and impartation was amazing. There were deep times of worship, expression and waiting on God in an environment filled with His presence.

During one particular time, Jesus began to speak to me about the next phase of my life, my creative call.

I heard this……

Travel Scribe

Follow me in this okay? I want you to see yourself in this story.

When God said ‘travel scribe’, my natural mind kicked in and I found NO understanding as to what it meant.

Over the next year, God slowly showed me that it is a creative call, out of the box, defined by Him. It involves moving as Holy Spirit moves, involving travel, photography, speaking and writing. Along the way, we hope to establish a base in Raleigh, NC where a creative culture will be built. (Still mediating on this one as the attacks come telling me I lack everything to do this.)

This ‘travel scribe’ thing? The more I thought, the more my heart resonated with the very idea even though I had no complete understanding. Here’s my spiritual resume:

Travel – all over the world the past 20 years.

Writing through the eyes of Jesus prophetically

Love for adventure

Passion for  journey.

Still thinking how uniquely and creatively this revelation fills the very core of my being.

Next steps – a connection came with a glorious ministry out of Atlanta, GA. Check out the Scribal Conservatory Arts and Worship Center.

Something starts to form on the horizon, so small but something that draws me ever deeper into Christ as I follow along in this journey. He writes the story so I can’t stop to figure out the steps right now or I will be stopped dead in my tracks. I follow Him into what is on this horizon. He does this so as to keep me in sync with His Spirit, not my good ideas.

God wants to move outside the box and overall, change is resisted by the church at large. But, God will change His people and change the church as we know it in the process. I am part of that change? Are you?

God keeps talking about travel scribing, travel, and so much more. Places Iceland and Portugal on my heart. Opens up a trip to the San Francisco Bay Area for 2 weeks in July (my dearest home and a place I love). It’s my test trip out to see with the eyes of Christ, taking my family who live there along for the ride. I go with new lens for my IPhone 7 and fresh passion beating in my heart.

Do you see how God leads us one step at a time? Can you see a picture forming? Look for it in your own life.

I attend a Scribal Mentoring Course for 8 months, beginning in July.

Joined Tribe Writers with Jeff Goins.

I am reading, reading reading Creative Books.

Co-Creating with God Lyn Packer

Born to Create – Theresa Dedmon

I pray and worship daily as He downloads His revelation into my life.

Off I go…………..like many others, I like conclusions, a final picture or clarity but then I realize that God loves journey, adventure, walking with Him in life, NOW.

I look forward to you following along with me. God is writing my story. What about you? How is God leading you? It may be just a whisper. Don’t miss it okay?

 

Living with Passion and Purpose In Christ
Debra

Looking Out, Looking In – A Spiritual Vision Unfolds – My Journal

Standing on the edge of a cliff, I look out over a beautiful panoramic view of a valley. I then look down at my feet, planted firmly in this spot.

Questions stir in me, shooting against the walls of my mind, each trying to one up the other in wanting me to make a decision…………apart from the Spirit of God. This internal conversation goes on and on and on.

Go………Stay
Wait……Move
There…..Here
Jump…..Stand

There is tension brewing within me between what is out there and what is right here. My heart cries out for adventure, yet the practicality of life’s day-to-days keep me anchored to my own fears in real-time. In the place that I stand right now, comfort and convenience can often become my best friends. Life can be lived through a lens of being too careful and too confined. Thank you Holy Spirit that you keep opening my spirit to see my life through an eternal lens of what it is in Christ not what it is in the world.

Is there a clear direction coming soon? Is there an answer to these weighty questions that I have been carrying for so long? I hope so. I don’t want to stand here forever. I like a change of scenery. I want to move within that sweet spot called destiny, called purpose.

Change is good. Change is in my DNA, or at least that is what I keep telling myself, over and over and over.

Yet why is it that at times, I fight this overarching storyline of my life? Why is it that I won’t always accept my own joy in spontaneity, travel and change? The voice of regret likes to remind me about what this has cost me, the price paid over years of travel. Lost time. Lost memories. Lost friendships. Sigh……….wait a minute. If I buy into this, regret would have its way and tell me what my life should have been like…….like this, like that. And if regret had its way, I would never ben standing on the edge of this cliff.

Lost in my thoughts, I smile and look up again to see this beautiful expanse of valley. Something occurs to me. I can’t stand here forever and at some point I have to shorten the distance between here and there. How? Jumping. There’s no way back. The distance between here and there must first be reconciled in me before any new step of adventure is before me

“Define yourself,” an inner voice whispers.

I think for a brief moment before words start flowing out of my inner being.

Travel
Journey
Places
Inspiration
Color
Nature
Oceans
Mountains
Cities
Museums
Art
Coffee shops
Writing Dreaming Photo this Photo that Creativity Originality Movement Intentional Spontaneous Sound Music Worship Vision

I could go on and on and on but at this point I sense Jesus is smiling. I have been brought to the edge of this cliff for such a time as this. All these words are open-ended. They come alive within action and action involves faith and faith always involves risk and cutting against the grain of what is normal or acceptable. These words integrate my purpose and infuse my being.

So, why am I still standing here, frustrated at times? I am the one holding me back. True reconciliation must take place inside myself in order to move. I have to come to terms with who I am. Not the terms of what anyone says but who God says that I am, how He is forming my life.

I must look at me, the ‘me’ Jesus forms, Holy Spirit breathes into and Father God loves. I am my biggest obstacle to my own well being by allowing so many others to write the script of my life at times, while I passively look on and accept their terms.

What’s next? I don’t know. I’m still standing in this place, on the edge. Been here for a while but I perceive it won’t be for long. This place? It’s been about 4 years now. Preaching about the edge. Talking about faith. Out of the box journey and adventure yet…..I am still here on the edge. Why?

God is doing something so deep in me that it goes beyond anything I have ever been through up to this point in my Christian life. I can’t always define it. I don’t always know exactly what it is. I only know that at some point I will be asked to jump. I hope that what Scripture says is true. I know it is but again….faith in action? There’s always a few questions asked by even the most spiritual of us.

 

But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40:31 Message)

 

This is all preparation time for me into the next phase of my life. One thing I do realize. We never arrive. We are always in journey. And there will be another time that I find myself at the edge of a cliff in preparation to jump once again.

For now, I wait, looking out, looking in. As these two perspectives are reconciled, I will jump into my next place of glory and faith. Christianity is exciting. Or at least I see it that way. Enjoy the journey!

In Christ,
Debra
About Me
Rivers of Eden Ministry

To See the Ordinary as Extraordinary

The extraordinary flows through the ordinary. Quite often the starting point for the manifestation of the miraculous begins in something quite simple. It could be right in the hands of a child and we may miss it unless the Lord directs our attention that way.

Jesus has a great crowd of people following Him and they’re hungry.

Jesus asks Philip,  “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

Seeing through natural eyes, Philip says,

“Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.’ (John 6:7 NKJV)

Not quite a faith filled response considering that Philip had seen Jesus turn water into wine.

Then, Andrew notices someone, a boy standing nearby.

“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many? (John 6:9 NKJV)

This answer is also a bit ridiculous to the rational mind. Anyone can see that 5 loaves and 2 fishes would hardly feed five thousand people.

Yet the hands of this child hold the manifestation of a miracle.

Jesus reaches to take the loaves and fishes from the hand of a child. Then He turns and hands the food to His disciples, saying,

“You give them something to eat. (Mark 6:37 NKJV)

Whoa! I thought it would be easier than this. He wants me to merge my faith IN Him WITH Him to do the work that He calls me to do. AND with only a meager provision of 5 loaves and 2 fishes?

In my imagination, I engage with this Scripture as if it is my own, now.

I look at what is in my hands. I feel what is in my heart. I sense that tension again – the fear that rises between what I see as real in the natural and what I know to be real looking with spiritual eyes.

While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things, which are, seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV)

I am determined to see with eyes of faith. I want to be trained in the Spirit to SEE extraordinary supply flow through ordinary means when touched by the hand of Christ.

It is not enough to just see the extraordinary hidden in something ordinary. I must move out in faith to see its miraculous manifestation.

I have spent time wondering, concerned as to how the Lord will finance our dreams, our destiny. In my prayer time, I have often complained with some indignation, “Lord you gave us this dream and yet we lack the finances or the resources to accomplish what’s burning in my heart.” That seems to be a bit of an accusation hurled towards a wonderful faithful God. But, I get moments like this and His grace is indeed sufficient in my weakness.

“Debra, you give them something to eat. Here, you feed them. Stretch your faith to know I am faithful. Stand on the truth that what I start in you I will finish. Believe that He who calls you is faithful and will do it. Give them something to eat.”

In that moment, there is really no choice for me. I choose to walk by faith, move out, and believe that what He has placed inside of me will CREATIVELY MULTIPLY as I trust, obey and move out.

Can anyone relate to this? Do you have a God-given dream that seems incapable of being fulfilled? Not enough resources? Not enough time? Well, Jesus takes the insignificant reality of our lives and resources, hands them back to us and says, “Work in Me, With Me.”

He hands you a potential miracle that just needs to be activated in faith. He asks you to reach out and take it and then walk in faith and believe it. You are enough in Christ. You have enough in Christ. Be faithful in what is little and watch it multiply right before your eyes.

In Christ, Debra

I would love to speak at your conference, gathering, church or home group. Contact me here, on Facebook or on Twitter. Enjoy reading about Rivers of Eden and the Timeline of our Life!

Rivers of Eden Ministry – Creativity! This Is It!

Rivers of Eden Ministry…..Creativity Abounds in Christ Jesus

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. (Psalms 46:4 NKJVS)

Rivers of Eden – helping people live outside the box, calling them into their unique creative identity and expression in Christ Jesus.

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (Psalms 18:19 NKJVS)

Rivers of Eden – leading people into a broad place of identity and freedom, where Christ Jesus brings deliverance, healing and restoration.

As a creative force, Rivers of Eden imparts wholeness into the lives of people who have a creative bent given to them by God. Currently, we accomplish this vision in several ways.

Discipleship – Prophetic teaching focused on living, moving and having our being in Christ Jesus. (Acts 17:28) This discipleship is based on 4 distinct sections.

1. Being in Christ– Establishing people in a clear revelation of their salvation and transformation in Christ, prophetically teaching on the beauty of the finished work of the cross of Christ.
2. Living in Christ– Focusing on the reality that as new creations in Christ Jesus, we are seated in heavenly places giving a fresh perspective in how we live our lives on earth.
3. Moving in Christ– Living our life in the Holy Spirit, supernaturally manifesting heaven on earth.
4. Creative Expression in Christ– Each of us are the creative expressions of Christ in us, the hope of glory. Through revelatory prophetic teaching, people will rise up to BE creative in whatever sphere God has placed them in the earth. As we teach on creativity and its importance in the Body of Christ, people awaken into destiny.

Prophetic Gatherings – Expressing heaven’s creative flow, we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us in prophetic preaching and worship. Our heart is to establish creative teams that flow and move in distinct creative ways under the orchestration of eternity.

Mentoring, Prophesying, and Encouragement – Each of us has a creative bent whether that be in the arts, in teaching, in business, or in administration. People need to be encouraged to BE in Christ in whatever sphere He places them in the earth. Our call is to bring creativity back into the Body of Christ so that the world sees Jesus in His glory and splendor. Each life, gathering, or church service should respond to heaven’s directive. As Holy Spirit creative orchestrators, we hope to establish a creative flow wherever God sends us through the presence, glory and power of God flowing through our lives.

In Christ, Debra & Marvin Westbrook

I would love to speak at your conference, gathering, church or home group. Contact me here, on Facebook or on Twitter. Enjoy reading about Rivers of Eden and the Timeline of our Life!

Warfare Precedes Promotion

WARFARE PRECEDES PROMOTION
Verna Brown

Many of you have felt a vehement wind of accusation come against you. Some of you have felt like you’re suffocating, or drowning.

Satan is familiar with your fears and weaknesses and he is trying to breathe his lies of death to your dreams and destiny. Don’t let him play on your fears or weaknesses.

Run into the presence of God. His strength is made perfect in your weaknesses. This will be your strongest season!

Satan will always try to suffocate the word God gave you with doubt, unbelief, and a myriad of cares and troubles. He wants the pain and sorrow to choke out the truth of what God has said.

He’ll always try to cause you to get stuck at a place of pain, instead of coming into a healed place. PRESS FORWARD.

He’ll always try to get you to rehearse your pain over and over until any memories of the victories God has given you are erased from your heart and mind. Don’t rehearse your pain, start rehearsing your victories, and declaring the TRUTH of what God has promised, regardless of what you’re currently seeing or feeling!

He’ll always lie to you and tell you God doesn’t care about you or your circumstances. He is a liar!

He’ll always try to get you to blame God for your circumstances, instead of thank God IN your circumstances, knowing that He is going to use it for your good!

He’ll always try to get you to believe God has abandoned you. That His promises cannot be counted on, or they’re not for you because you are struggling. He is a liar!

If he can’t get you to turn away from God and blame Him, he’ll always accuse you of sin, magnify your mistakes, and tell you that you deserve to be sick, bound, oppressed, because you’re such a sorry Christian. You’re not worthy to be used, or to go to the next level.

He’ll always tell you that your problems are to big for God to solve, or to small and that you’re wasting God’s time. He has bigger and better things to do than help you. He is a liar!

He’ll always tell you that your prayers are not heard, won’t be answered, and that you’re wasting your time praying, being persistent, and waiting around for God’s timing. He is a liar!

What he fears most is when you say, “devil you’re a liar. What He said is true. I trust God. I may not be able to avoid your fiery darts, but I have a shield of faith and I WILL EXTINGUISH THEM WITH IT. I’m not quitting. I’m not giving up. I’m going for the gold. I embrace His fiery trials and I’m coming out pure gold.

“Quit” is not in my vocabulary. See, He gave me a finisher spirit. He gave me HIS SPIRIT! He disarmed you at the cross, defeated and overcame you, and gave that same power to me. I’m not waiting for the victory, I’ve already got it.

Devil, just the fact that I’ve got your attention, proves that I’m a threat to you. You can’t stop me, you can’t block me, and you can’t keep me from what God has for me. I bind you, render you impotent, and command you to flee in the name of Jesus!”

My loves, God loves you, and satan hates and fears what God loves. God is watching over His word to perform what He has spoken. Don’t waiver in unbelief.

Your promotion is at hand! Gird up the loins of your mind, put on your helmet, breastplate, and belt of truth. Pick up your sword, and shield of faith. Stand up in your shoes of peace and FIGHT! You’re a victor and not a victim. You’re not overcome, you’re an overcomer.

The greatest battles always come before the greatest blessings! You’re about to be blessed and promoted! ONLY BELIEVE!

Verna Brown
https://www.facebook.com/verna.brown.165

In Christ, Debra

I would love to speak at your conference, gathering, church or home group. Contact me here, on Facebook or on Twitter. Enjoy reading about Rivers of Eden and the Timeline of our Life!