Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, break out in a song! (Judges 5:12a ESV)
Last Saturday I traveled 70 plus miles to Minnesota lake country. There I attended an afternoon and evening conference hosted by Firestarters, a group we had fellowshipped with when we lived in lake country ourselves from 1999 to 2003. They were a youth group then—most in high school.
Now they’re young adults. Many married and some with children.
This was a conference for gals—Young Debs between the ages of 16 and 35. I knew the focus would be worship—the signature message of Firestarters’s. I didn’t know it would be worship through the arts.
Now, just a week ago I’d gone to a poetry workshop in Fargo. It was interesting—but I came home depleted. Although the intent was to encourage aspiring poets, I felt discouraged.
To think that God knew ahead that the two Saturdays were a unit. The young Firestarters brought teaching as good as I’ve heard. This Saturday I came away inspired, energized. I’ll provide just a glimpse of one specific teaching below.
In it entirity, the focus was tapping into God’s creativity: whether in writing, in the visual arts, in music, in dance, or even in prayer. I wanted to take pictures of each of the gals as they presented their material, but I couldn’t make myself do anything that would distract from the message.
They weren't overly impressed by themselves, however. There were breaks—some to practice what we learned. But there was a silly break, too. Approximately one hundred young gals (I was included only because of my long-time association with Firestarters) divided into groups of ten to eight. Then each group selected one member to dress as a Deborah, using newsprint and TP—to compete for a prize.
I'm sharing this because that's when I took my one and only picture!
Now they’re young adults. Many married and some with children.
This was a conference for gals—Young Debs between the ages of 16 and 35. I knew the focus would be worship—the signature message of Firestarters’s. I didn’t know it would be worship through the arts.
Now, just a week ago I’d gone to a poetry workshop in Fargo. It was interesting—but I came home depleted. Although the intent was to encourage aspiring poets, I felt discouraged.
To think that God knew ahead that the two Saturdays were a unit. The young Firestarters brought teaching as good as I’ve heard. This Saturday I came away inspired, energized. I’ll provide just a glimpse of one specific teaching below.
In it entirity, the focus was tapping into God’s creativity: whether in writing, in the visual arts, in music, in dance, or even in prayer. I wanted to take pictures of each of the gals as they presented their material, but I couldn’t make myself do anything that would distract from the message.
They weren't overly impressed by themselves, however. There were breaks—some to practice what we learned. But there was a silly break, too. Approximately one hundred young gals (I was included only because of my long-time association with Firestarters) divided into groups of ten to eight. Then each group selected one member to dress as a Deborah, using newsprint and TP—to compete for a prize.
I'm sharing this because that's when I took my one and only picture!
When the final message closed, I realized I wasn't tired. Interesting, because I was so sure I'd be tired as I had been the week before. I planned to stay overnight with a friend.
Instead, as the miles passed on my way home, I didn’t sing or engage in obvious praer. I simply rested in the soft, gentle, explosive Presence that filled the car. Resting with Him in total confidence was the final blessing on a powerful day.
Teaching Tidbit: In Writing by the Spirit, a young woman named Heidi said we write from the body, the soul, or the spirit. None of these are necessarily bad. Writing from the body concerns secular work—the type she does for the local paper that employs her as a reporter. I did it for years with a farm paper. The concern is clarity, volume, and time—meeting deadlines.
Writing from the soul releases emotions. Much poetry stems from the soul—that had been the focus a week earlier. I have no problem with poetry that reflects the ecstasy or agony of the soul, but I don’t want to live there.
Writing from the Spirit comes from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This teaching—fairly early in the afternoon—turned me on and tuned me in. I knew I was where God wanted me.
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