Mary's Story

Once upon a time…there was a princess who loved to be in God’s house. She was single with a job that was very flexible that allowed her to be in God’s house and volunteer a lot, but her desire was for a source of income that would no longer restrict her from being there. Even though she had lot, she knew there was more.

So she started praying for a source of income that was not a job and would not take up her time. She prayed for about a year and God gave her the idea to start a nanny agency. She procrastinated for about another year, until God kept opening doors and putting nannies and parents across her path that she could no longer procrastinate any longer. Soon a good friend told her that she had, had this idea for over a year and she needed to put some action behind it. The final push was when she went to research nanny agencies and found a ‘Nanny Agency Conference’ (who would thought those existed) right in her own city. Sooooo there began the journey…

She continued to pursue this idea, laying a foundation, learning patience and diligence, but most of learning to rest in God even in the midst of busyness. When finally the idea had come to fruition, she had more parents and nanny matches than she could process and lots of employees were hired in the office. From the beginning she was able to delegate positions in the office of the agency to bless, not only nannies, but wonderful employees she could provide with amazing jobs. These employees loved their jobs and had a heart for what they did. There was order in the business in every area spiritually and naturally. Each employee and nanny was in the right position at the right time, with the right heart.

God prospered her and allowed this business to be run so efficiently and so well by her employees that she rarely had to be there. Her nannies loved their jobs and families were coming to the Lord as a result of these nannies influences in these homes.
As a result of this idea from God, many people were blessed with wonderful jobs that they prospered from. As a result the princess was prospering not only in her finances, but also her time. This allowed to pursue her real passion to be in her Father’s house and beyond that she was finally able to take a real vacation to Italy to lay by the Mediterranean and eat lots of pasta and gelato.

And there is a happily ever after…she did finally meet her prince who was amazing. He was very prosperous himself, however this prince was not her source, her Heavenly Father was. …And this was just the beginning of one of the many billion dollar ideas God would put in their life…

Mary's Expectations

My Expectations

Myself
· My life is in order
· I am compelled by His love – I am able to receive His love
· I am moved with compassion – able to feel
· I love expansively – no walls

· I am strong and carry out great exploits because I know my Father
· I am always in the right place at the right time, serving in the right position with the right heart and motive.
· I know how to rest in God and have a quiet confidence in Him
In returning and rest you shall be saved. Quietness (rest, settle, be still) and confidence (fully trusting in Him) is my strength. Isaiah 26: 3 NKJ

My Business
Mission Statement

My business has a strategic purpose in the Kingdom of God. I have nannies who are full of Your presence who works as unto the Lord. As a result they stand before kings they do not stand before unknown men. They have great influence in these homes. As they influence these children, these children influence these parents. The little one’s will lead their parents to you. Many families are saved as a result of the strategic placement of these nannies in these homes.

· There is order to my business and God is directing my steps
· There is no confusion. I hear the voice of the Lord, saying this is the way walk in it
· I do not get overwhelmed by new challenges in my business, I listen to the voice of the Lord, keep my mind set on Him and how He is telling me to respond. My business plan is in order.

Admired Leader by Mary

Aarron Feuerstein was the CEO, of Malden Mills, a textile mill in Malden Massachusetts. His leadership as a CEO exemplified having a heart for people that went way beyond money. Feuerstein was third generation to run this textile mill, which produced polartec. The mill was a significant source of employment for many families in the town of Lawrence and the surrounding community.

On December 11th, 1995, two weeks before Christmas, a fire devastated the mills by burning it to the ground. This was the largest fire, Massachusetts had seen in centuries. In an interview with 60 minutes, Feurstein is quoted as saying, “I was proud of the family business and I wanted to keep that alive, and I wanted that to survive. But I also felt the responsibility for all my employees, to take care of them, to give them jobs.” Art Bouly, is quoted in his news letter for Quality Monitor Newsletter, as saying, ‘Feurerstein had a conviction that the employees were the most critical asset and lived by it.’

I think for myself, I see that Feurerstein never allowed money to become the motivating factor in running his business, but always saw people as his priority. It was a love for God and people that motivated him in doing the right thing in a difficult time.

In the days following the fire, Feuerstein made a choice to take care of his employees and pay ideal employees, who were literally of no profit to him at this time, there full salary for the next three months. In all he paid out 25 million dollars in salary to his employees. When asked by 60 minutes if this ‘great moral gesture, was a wise business move’, his response was, “I think it was a wise business decision, but that isn’t why I did it. I did it because it was the right thing to do.” When asked why he did not take the $300 million in insurance money and retire, Feurstein’s response was immedietly, ‘And what would I do with eat more, buy another suit, retire and die. No that did not enter my mind. It was not an option. Not for a second.’

In the end I would love to say that the mill turned, profits increased and they were able to recover from their loss. However ultimately, in 2001 and 2003, they filed for chapter 11. Feuerstein is now 82 and owns 5% of the company. In 1996, Feurerstein is quoted as saying to Parade Magazine, "I have a responsibility to the worker both blue-collar and white-collar. I have an equal responsibility to the community. It would have been unconscionable to put 3000 people on the streets and deliver a deathblow to the cities of Lawrence and Methuen. Maybe on paper our company is worthless to Wall Street, but I can tell you it's worth more."

In Aarron Feuerstein's inheritance to his children may not be handing them down a fortune 500 company, however he is passing to them an inheritance of love for people and integrity that will be passed down through generations to come and in eternity the only thing that lasts forever is love.

hey folks! i just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your kindness and support and smallgroupness during inspire smallgroup. i loved every second of it.

...and here is the fruit!:
my first show as lluminer! you are all invited as my personal vips!
it is saturday, december 6, 11:00 am - 4 pm.
located at "the mercer" condominium / retail bldg 7650 se 27th st mercer island, 98040. it's a benefit show, hosted by sherry-anne coleman and our very own karie! each artist donates proceeds of their sales to different charities. i will be highlighting the need to support the children of northern uganda.
please feel free to visit my website for any more info www.lluminer.com.

i just love ya, therese

Admired Leader...Joseph Mohr, Author of "Silent Night, Holy Night" - JP

A leader that I greatly admire in history is Joseph Mohr, the author of the famous Christmas Carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night".

Joseph grew up in a mountain Alpine town (think Sound of Music type of town), and thier family was incredibly poor. The priest of the town recognized Josephs giftings for music and passion for God at a young age and offered to give Joseph a scholarship for schooling. During that time he was trained in the word and music. Joseph journaled often and enjoyed writing poetry.

During his service in the Alpine village, Joseph produced a poem, "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!".

Due to poor health, he was sent to Salzburg for hospitalization and when he recovered, was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf (1817). It was there that the assistant pastor met and became friends with the Arnsdorf schoolmaster and church verger, Franz Xaver Gruber, who also served as organist at St. Nicholas. On December 24, 1818, Fr. Joseph Mohr, took a 20 minute walk to Arnsdorf and changed the tenor of Christmas musical celebrations forever.

On Christmas Eve of 1818, the unfortunate situation happened...the church organ would not play. The reason for this was unkown, but in a Catholic Church, the church organ is the main instrument of accompanyment. Upon hearing the grave news, Father Joseph Mohr took his little acoustic guitar over to the house of Franz Xaver Gruber and together they added music to the beloved poem.

That evening, as families from all over the town gathered for evening mass, the first public performance of "Silent Night, Holy Night" was made...

It took a few years for the popularity to grow, but as we all know, it grew and grew and grew. A few years later, Joseph Mohr and Franz Gruber were assigned to various parishes, faithfully serving in ministry. Thier friendship is said to have continued through the years. Joseph spent all he had in time, energy, and resources, pouring into the youth of his region, just as one man poured into him as a young child.

I admire Joseph Mohr for his lifelong dedication to the Lord, his humility in collaborating with Franz Gruber, for his church planting heart and for his committment to raising up the next generation.

Burning Bush - JP

From the moment I became a disciple of Jesus Christ, worship was everything to me. My revelation in moving from a “follower” to a disciple happened at the Gorge Amphitheatre during Creation Festival while worship music was being played, and from then on worship seemed to be a hallmark in my relationship with God. I would often come home as a young bachelor (beyond broke), eat my top-ramen and just pace in the living room of my little apartment praying and worshiping God for hours. Then the day came when I decided to pick up the guitar. I sat down to learn how to play the song “Jesus Lover of My Soul”. It was an anthem to me at the time that fully depicted my new found life in Christ. I remember getting so frustrated that my fingers couldn’t communicate to the guitar the correct notes that needed to be played. I prayed in the spirit and begged the Holy Spirit to help me learn this one song. Once I calmed down, I was able to play the song. Beyond that, I was able to sing and play at the same time.

Fast forward a few years, and doors began to open up to assist with worship for church services, small groups, and minister in a few churches around the US. Then during a Sunday morning service at The City Church in Belltown in 2007, while Pastor Wendell was preaching, God told me that there was a Worship Revolution that would spring from the Northwest and flood the world with fresh anthems of praise and worship. This revolution would bring incredible unity to the Body of Christ, which in turn would bring about the blessings of Signs, Miracles, and Wonders. God specifically spoke to me that I was to be part of the “fore-runners” for this movement and that I would also assist in raising up the future generations in worship.

Poem

Oh what joy!
Jumping, Leaping
To fill that hole in someone's life.
To solidly anchor down that stone.

Leadership-Phil Vischer

Phil Vischer was the co-creator of a very well known and successful children's video brand - Veggietales. When he and his partner began they didn't necessarily have all their ducks in a row. They just knew had some fun, crazy ideas about creating computer animated vegetables that taught children biblical values. As they took each step forward God provided the exactly what they needed, even if they didn't know they needed it. They didn't really do any market testing or research (which isn't necessarily the best approach) but went with their idea anyways. It was bold and risky but it paid off! Veggietales became a huge success - at one point being #1 in video sales for all videos (not just christian). Along the way Phil got distracted by things that were not his gifting - managing a large company, payroll, etc. He made some bad management hiring choices which ultimately drove the company into bankruptcy. Fortunately the company was bought an outside investor who would run the company and hire Phil and his partner on to be in charge of the writing and creative aspects for future videos. This allowed Phil to once again focus on what his giftings were which he realized is where he'd find God's grace to accomplish what he was called to do. I can relate to him not only because of the mistakes he's made trying to be good at everything and learning how to live by grace but I can relate to having silly, crazy ideas and not knowing what God could possibly use them for. I love Phil's story because he was bold enough to run with his ideas whether other people believed in them or not.

Karie's expectation confession

God is my source and I receive His grace to be who I’ve been called to be. I humble myself and He will promote me in His timing. He opens doors for me that no man can open. I know His voice and I immediately obey Him. My value comes from God and people feel valued by me. I am overflowing with enthusiasm and love. Blessings and grace are chasing me down.

I courageously step out in faith to take the creative risks God leads me to knowing He is the one who brings the harvest. He chose me long ago and I receive his special favor and mercy. I speak hope into people’s dreams and help them cultivate their creativity. The gift of God in me is being stirred up and I don’t allow fear to lock it inside my heart.

Those who cling to worthless idols, forfeit the grace that could be theirs. Jonah 2:8 NIV

Karie's Short Story

The little Deerguin was a curious sight. She was quite rare and hard to find but she had one gift that made her worth the hunt. Common things that never would relate in the minds of most became a thing of inspiration and beauty after Deerguin was done with it. It seemed so obvious to her and yet when asked how she does it she says "I was born this way." She doesn’t like to bring too much attention to herself for her joy is in the creations that are birthed. Each one is completely unique – sometimes it’s a new relationship between people who didn’t understand each other or a new design that unleashes an undiscovered fountain of personality. Her methods are peculiar for she is a quiet and easily distracted artisan. A woosh of her antlers whittles something in the ice. “Interesting,” she says. Then she’s off to go watch her friend Otter (whom she likes to call a water squirrel) play in the water. After some coaxing she joins her friend in a game for she knows that play is the spring from which her creations flow. Finally she sits down to continue her work and in a momentary burst of smartness stumbles upon the solution. She presents the finished work to her client and they gasp, “why it’s so simple yet obvious.” With that she slides away and determines to teach people how to tap into their own springs of originality for she believes everyone has been born with this power. Her students are always amazed at the simplicity of the methods. “Is it really that simple,” they exclaim. “Pretty much,” proclaims Deerguin, “pretty much.” Then she slides away on her warm little belly, aglow from the joy of helping someone discover their own creativity, to go find a new game to play. Eventually her creations allow her to flee the annoying polar bears of Alaska to snowboard all day in the swiss alps where she'll be found by a creative, cute deerguin boy to play with. THE END

Leader

Warren Buffett is an American investor, businessman and philanthropist. He is one of the world's most successful investors, and the largest shareholder and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
Buffett is noted for his adherence to the value investing philosophy and for his personal frugality despite his immense wealth. He lives in the same house in the central Dundee neighborhood of Omaha that he bought in 1958 for $31,500, today valued at around $700,000.
Buffett is also a notable philanthropist. In 2006, he announced a plan to give away his fortune to charity, with 83% of it going to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Burning Bush

I am not quite sure whether God has spoken directly to me with a vision or idea like he did with Moses and the burning bush, but I do know that many visions and ideas come across my mind. I struggle with them as some of these visions/ideas I believe are my own wishful thinking and personal desires. If an idea comes across my head and the magnitude to accomplish it seems too large then I quickly put it away in the back of my head. If it is something doable, I do it with constant worriness and stress. Call it my lack of faith, fear of failure or inability to use my talents, but I find myself confused at times with what I think God wants me to do versus my personal desires.

Pastor Wendell once said in a sermon that if we desire what God desires then all things will come to pass. I guess the trick of figuring out what God desires for me and understanding how to differentiate the visions/ideas he sends to me from the rest of the stuff in my head is a skill I have not yet mastered and would like to work on. I struggle with understanding the things we are supposed to do (having a good job, being successful, etc.) and doing God’s will. I know there is something larger and more rewarding out there, and that we are made to do greater things. I believe there is a higher purpose for my life other than just going to work, making money and doing my best to live morally and as a good faithful Christian.

My hope is that in this eight weeks Bible group, I will find my calling and to be inspired and have the courage to do what God wants me to do. Sometimes it takes a leap of faith and creativity to be inspired to do God’s will. In the meantime I will start with my personal character. My vision is to be a better person and have a more meaningful faithful relationship with God. Some of these things are:

Be more loving to all people and slow to anger / speak.
Have an open mind, be open to ideas and listen
Have confidence, have courage, don’t be afraid, trust in God, and enlarge my faith.
Expect things to come and believe in it. Pray and listen to God’s calling.
Be positive, speak positively, be optimist with life.
Allow the Lord to lead me.

Scriptures:
Prov 16:9 – In his heart a man plans his house, but the Lord determines his steps.
Prov 20:24 – A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Expectations

Short Term:

I see myself spending more time walking with God, including more time in prayers, more time in worship and more time reading the Bible.

I see myself spending more quality time with Thuy and appreciating her more. This includes not working too much at home, putting my blackberry away, and talking to her more about her wants and needs. We will also pray more together.

I see myself having less stress at work, and not be to worry about things that I cannot control.

Make time to exercise daily 3-4 times a week.

Intermediate Term:

Isee myself being able to run and walk without any problems.

I expect to run in the next Seattle half marathon.

Thuy and I to buy a new house.

Pay Increase at work.
To be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit allowing the Spirit to guide me with my decision making. This includes our investments and our jobs.

I see myself being more open to people needs and having the time/finances to help them out.

Long Term:

Thuy and I to have many kids 2-5, but we will be happy with one child next year.

I see our marriage with a stronger Christian foundation and that each day we grow to love each other more.

I see myself being able to communicate better with Thuy and understanding her more.

I see our marriage as a model to all of our non-Christian friends. As most have marital issues, we would like to be a model and to give them God lovely support.

Parker's Expectations

…Short Term
I see myself walking in the perfect will of God

…Intermediate Term
I see myself with obedient peaceful kids
I see myself seeing my dreams beginning to come to pass
I see us led by the Holy Spirit making no debilitating mistakes

…Long Term
I see our kids following hard after God
I see myself living out the fulfillment of my dreams
I see myself with more than one vacation home

A Revolution by Parker Benthin

A revolution: from me to you
Change the way you see
yourself – selfless
others – focused
Change the way you act
selfish – give all of you
destructive – build it up
Change the way you are
deaf, dumb & blind – aware of surroundings
full of hate – love others as yourself
Change the world.

A Revolution by Parker Benthin

A revolution: from me to you
Change the way you see
yourself – selfless
others – focused
Change the way you act
selfish – give all of you
destructive – build it up
Change the way you are
deaf, dumb & blind – aware of surroundings
full of hate – love others as yourself
Change the world.

Stevey Wonderfu!'s Sculpture

Mary's Sculpture

Karie's Sculpture

Parker's Sculpture

Instead of seeing the Dodgers, see the city of LA. LA is a cultural center, so what not a better place to have a cultural revolution. Effect those that are shaping our culture and change culture. Like the cultural revolution of the 60’s we will challenge the belief system of the cultural epicenters and cause a nation to be changed. Influence the influencers. A revolution of a focus from me to a focus on you (others).

Nick's Sculpture

Therese's Sculpture

The statue of liberty represents artists being liberated. But the statue is in parts. The arm represents holding up light to the world and the angel being a light to the world. The real heart wrapped in a generic heart was to represent what happens when I think of iluminer. My heart beat accelerates.

Derek's Sculpture

Vu's Sculpture

Inspirational Leaders

There are many entrepreneurs whom I admire, including Russell Simmons, named “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 20 Years,” by USA Today.

In 1984, Simmons launched "Def Jam Recordings" creating a cultural revolution with hip-hop.

Russell "Rush" Simmons has a familiar story of growing up in a middle class neighborhood, spending many years as a street hustler in Queens, New York.

Deciding to take a different turn in his life, he enrolled at CCNY-Harlem, and began using his spare time to promote early hip-hop block parties and club shows around Harlem and Queens.

In his book: "Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God" he talks candidly about being a promoter in the mid-1970's, his groundbreaking work with Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and his wild partying in the Caribbean with celebs like Naomi Campbell and Robert De Niro.

He described his life as full "of decisions and danger with deep moral and emotional consequences."

Russell Simmons has truly brought hip-hop culture to the mainstream with successful ventures such as: Phat Farm, Argyle Culture, Atman clothing, and HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam.

I admire his business and entrepreneurial mindset by continuously branching out and finding other sources of revenue to generate a true empire. Even though his highly promoted

web venture "360 Degrees Hip Hop.com" failed, it didn't stop him from moving forward.

His former wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, has also been an inspiration to me due to her success, vision, and never giving up. Having a black father, and Japanese/Korean mother, Kimora has faced her own identity issues of being 100% American, yet of a mixed racial heritage, which I can not only relate to and identify with, but like her, struggled though the insecure years of adolescence.

Kimora described her being called her "chinky giraffe"because of her height and Asian ancestry, since she was 5'8 by the time she was ten years old. With no Asian population in her community, she had difficulty fitting in with the mostly black student body who shunned her because of her Asian ancestry. After her mother enrolled her into a modeling class, she was scouted, and quickly found success due to her height and unique looks. At the age of thirteen, Kimora was offered a contract with Chanel.

I remember seeing Kimora in the mid 1990's, while I was entering into my teenage years as a kid model. The modeling agency I signed with as a child stopped sending me jobs due to my height; race was always a factor with booking modeling jobs, which as a child, made me greatly aware of my "ethnic looks" yet I was frustrated with being viewed as "different" since I was just as American as anyone else.

Kimora's persona is over the top, cutting edge, and at times outrageous; yet her ability to overcome and achieve success through branding her image is inspiring.

Currently, her reality TV show airs on E! TV and the Style network. Russell Simmons can be seen on MTV's "Run's House" staring his brother, "Rev.Run" and their family.

here's my short story...

one october day, a girl sat in her office on the 12th floor of the office bldg she’d given her life to. the phone rings, and the front desk says her mom is on the line. her mom says the girl’s dream had died, her vision had died, her purpose had died. the funeral was in three days. the girl got up, walked to the elevator, and found herself on the sidewalk, waiving down a taxi.

he asked “where to?”. the girl said “drive east.”. after 3 hours of picking people up, and taking them where they wanted to go, in an eastward direction, the taxi asked her again “where to?”. the girl numbly revealed that she’d just found out her dream, vision, purpose had died. she had no idea it was even sick. she’d been meaning to live it for so long. she’d thought about it… but her job had always taken up so much time. and now it’s all dead. the girl was now letting tears drop onto her knees. she said to the taxi “i just have to get out of here. life does not make sense anymore. can you just drive?”. the taxi felt for this woman. he could almost feel himself mourning the loss along with her. he agreed “i will drive east.”, and they continued on.

along the road the taxi and girl picked up and dropped off many different people. some old, some young, wise, dumb, confident, quiet. the girl sat, and contemplated why. the taxi comforted her, by driving.

leaving a south dakota rest stop, the girl thought about missing the funeral. she reached down in the back seat of the taxi to inspect a brown paper bag. what she saw inside shocked her. the taxi said to climb up front so he could take a look. they peered into a lunchbag full of rolled-up $100s, held together by rubberbands. the girl said “here, this is for the ride.”, and they smiled. she rode in the front from then on.

the girl’s mind whirred while she talked with all the people who got into and out of the taxi as they made their way east. some of them she could trust, some she felt were giving her ill advice. she thought about where she failed her dream, vision, purpose. the girl thanked the taxi and explained she was beginning to feel like she could still live.

as they pulled into long island, new york, the taxi said they were making a pit-stop. the girl read the sign as they parked… “skyline city church”. “kind of akward to pit-stop at a church, isn’t it?” she asked the taxi. “let’s go to church.”, he said. inside she learned of a truth based on perfect love. she learned her dream, vision, purpose could be born again. she desperately cried in the taxi’s arms, and was never the same.

today she lives down the street from that october day office bldg, but has not stepped a foot in it since then. she lives her dream, vision, and purpose.

Historic Inspirational Leaders

Martin Luther King Jr.
Born January 15th 1929. To me Martin Luther King Jr. is the closest thing we have had in modern times to an Old Testament type prophet, a Moses if you will. King inspires me because he was a reluctant leader who bridged, as if a delineator did not exist, the secular and the sacred. He was a fire starter the ignited a cultural revolution, not for personal power or glory, but for and on behalf of others. He utilized the spoken word, the written word, and the new media of his time, T.V. His “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” is, what I believe, a prophetic manifesto of his revolution. It was written in response to an advertisement that was taken out in the newspaper after a Birmingham rally where King was arrested. The advertisement was taken out by eight fellow clergymen from King’s home state criticizing the demonstrations as extremism. King had no paper to compose his letter on, so he began the letter in his cell in the margins of the very advertisement that was invoking the response. He continued the letter on scraps of paper supplied by a friend, then later finished on a pad that was allowed to be supplied by his attorney. He wrote this letter with only the resource of his heart to draw from and nothing else. He drew from the deep waters of his soul and showed a visible manifestation of the investment and sacrifice that he had made prior to that moment. One cannot call upon something that is within himself that is not there. He was a man who fulfilled his call wholly. He did not play it safe. He did not try to protect his reputation or preserve his power. He put others first. He is the only civilian with a bust in the Capitol Building. King’s footprint forever made a mark on the way this world is because he loved God, loved people and did something about it.
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Born June 14th 1928. Died October 9th 1967. Died April 4th 1968. Che had an upper middle class upbringing and went to college to become a doctor. Right around graduation Che went, with a friend, on a motorcycle trip around South America. What he saw on that trip forever changed the coarse of his life and that of countless others. He saw “his people”, a revolutionary thought as South Americans saw themselves in the light of their own individual countrymen, suffering from over bearing dictators or capitalist occupiers. Upon completion of his motorcycle tour he could not go back to his comfortable life that he had been building. He wanted to help unify “his people” to throw off oppression. He joined Fidel Castro in his revolution to oust the U.S. puppet president of his nation, Cuba. The Cuban revolution was one of the only revolutions that worked. Albeit it was the wrong answer, at least it was an answer and action to a problem. What inspires me about Che is that he was moved with compassion, an idealist to the end, he couldn’t go back to his life after seeing others suffering. Unfortunately his answer was Communism instead of God. After the Cuban revolution and occupying the number two spot in that government he saw the suffering of others and left to help revolutions in the Congo and others in South America, where he died in the field fighting for other’s countries, his was Argentina. His vision in the end was to start thirteen different “Vietnam Wars” in South America to overthrow oppression and unite the continent.

day three...

the three leaders i chose are donny johnson, creator of the non-profit gallery "art/not terminal" in downtown seattle, the group who started the all-ages venue/art center "vera project", and pastor phil pringle. out of these three leaders relevant to my field, i picked pastor phil pringle as the leader who most inspired me. his vision is to build a growing church and a movement of churches that are relevant to today's world, through bringing salvation to lost people and teaching people how to be disciples of Christ. pastor phil pringle inspired pastor judah smith to start painting seriously. he has inspired a generation of Christians in australia to embrace the arts. their artistic efforts are inspiring a world of Christians. i want to be a leader like that.

pastor phil pringle attended the ilam school of fine art in christchurch, new zealand, in the seventies. he has painted for over 30 years, and actively exhibited in the past eight years. his art is consistently in demand in australia and overseas. currently, paintings by phil pringle are held in collections in australia, usa, china, singapore, new zealand, papua new guinea, saudi arabia, philippines, europe, and the uk. he speaks at a varitey of conferences and churches around the world, mostly on:

• faith
• leadership
• the ministry of the Holy Spirit
• church building

he has authored 10 books, including:

• you the leader
• leadership files
• faith
• financial excellence
• leadership excellence

the Christian church at oxford falls, which he started, runs several colleges:

• school of ministry
• school of creative arts (including dance, drama, music, song writing, singing, visual arts, film, video)
• school of pastoral care management

pastor phil pringle co-hosts the weekly 'cctv' program with his wife. it airs worldwide, being one of very few australian produced Christian programs to air on public television. in 2000 the government of australia awarded him the order of australia medal for services to the community. he has earned a doctorate in Biblical philosophy.

The Pink Princess

Pink Princess is a half hour animation pilot designed for the ages of three to five that aligns perfectly with a art based curriculum featuring numerous colors and textures and of course an amazing adventure. Here's a little snippet from the pink universe.

Lily is the only person in her family that is pink. Tormented by her four older brothers she goes on a quest to find the Silver Knight who grants whatever you request. On her journey she comes face to face with an evil Candy Peddler who has a habit of finding strays turning them into slaves and putting them to work in the candy mines. Rescued by a colorful crew, Lily joins Tye, the Tye-Dye prince, Dottie, the Polka Dot princess and Tad, the Plaid prince on many adventures.

Jeff's Painting

Day Three: Earth

A leader that embodies a part of my vision is Millard Fuller "I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need."

A Life Changed by God
From humble beginnings in Alabama, Millard Fuller rose to become a young, self-made millionaire. A graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Ala., and the University of Alabama Law School at Tuscaloosa, he and a college friend began a marketing firm while still in school. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire at age 29. But as the business prospered, his health, integrity and marriage suffered.

These crises prompted Fuller to re-evaluate his values and direction. One weekend his friend took him and his family to Koinonia Farm, a Christian community located near Americus, Ga., where people were looking for practical ways to apply Christ’s teachings. His soul-searching led to reconciliation with his wife and to a renewal of his Christian commitment. The Fullers then took a drastic step: They decided to sell all of their possessions, give the money to the poor and begin searching for a new focus for their lives.

The Seed is Planted
Working from a passage in the Bible that says someone lending money to the poor should not act as a creditor and should not charge interest (Exodus 22:25)

With Koinonia founder Clarence Jordan and a few others, the Fullers initiated several partnership enterprises, including a ministry in housing. They built modest houses on a no-profit, no-interest basis, thus making homes affordable to families with low incomes. Homeowner families were expected to invest their own labor into the building of their home and the houses of other families. This reduced the cost of the house, increased the pride of ownership and fostered the development of positive relationships. Money for building was placed into a revolving fund, enabling the building of even more homes.

Testing the Model
In 1973, Fuller moved to Africa with his wife and four children to test their housing model. As missionaries with Disciples of Christ, their housing project, which they began in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), was a success in that developing nation. Fuller became convinced that this model could be expanded and applied all over the world.

Upon his return to the United States in 1976, he met with a group of close associates. Started off as Partnership Housing they expanded into a larger scale housing ministry called Habitat for Humanity International.

My other two leaders are Apostle Paul and Mother Teresa. I chose these 3 leaders because they all gave of themselves for the betterment of others.

The Light

This is the vision God's given me in lluminer. To seek out His Light and bring it to the world through art.

Mary's Painting

Nick's Painting

Revolution Records

A full-service record label that mentors young artists with an orientation of helping others to create and promote their product. A "give-first" production company for young aspiring music artists who want to impact their generation positively through music.

Vu's Painting

Volunteer Foundation for God's House

This picture is depicting the idea of what I want the volunteer group to be like. I want each volunteer event to be like setting down stones to lay the foundation for God's House.

Parker's Painting

My painting/drawing represents taking an iconic image and flipping it on its head. It causes people to question (in a good way) when they see something that they automatically think they know what it communicates but then it says something different. What are you saying to the world?

Karie's Painting

Stevey Wonderfu!'s Painting

therese's expectations

I see myself exemplifying a dream-come-true life found only in JC. I see myself desperate for Him in every area and every relationship. I see a deeper, wider, more trusting and intimate faith, than has ever walked this earth (besides JC!!!). I know that’s a bold statement. yeah, I know, but hey, why not? the Word says we’ll do greater things than these. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I see my relationships/family: I see my future husband of God finding me and marrying me and fathering children with me and helping fund our family in pure joy. I see myself having close friends in seattle. I see my mom depending her life on God and making sane choices. I see my dad making healthy choices and surrendering his heart, mind, will, and emotions to the Lord. I see my sister, Christy, depending on God for understanding rather than herself. I see my sister, Steph, experiencing the presence of God in the fullest most encompassing way. I see my bro choosing to serve God and everything about him and his wife cleansed in the grace of God.

I see my work: I see doors opening that people never pushed on before.I see opportunities presenting themselves in areas that would usually be unattainable. I see hope, inspiration, success, and salvation as a normal element of interaction with lluminer on every level. I see art that is outside the box, but inside the heart, hugging the mind, and feeding the soul.

I see my finances as a supernatural faith stronger than the supports holding up the golden gate bridge. I see my finances as not mine at all, but God’s $ flowing through me. I see God’s continuous desires being fulfilled through the life that He blessed me with because I am in tune with His exact direction for lluminer. I see supporters who find what they’ve been looking for, and a pure joy in supporting what lluminer is doing.

I see my vision for my life being so in tune with JC that His will is continually accomplished through the life He blessed me with. I see myself embracing the role of a leader, and expecting liberated lives as fruit of that. I see lives freed. I see people excited about their passionate relationship with the Holy Spirit. I see liberty. I see salvation.

I see my goals for this year beginning with a successful outline for money coming in to lluminer. I see a cemented partnership of artists showing work on lluminer.com. I see the atheist and Christian artists collaborating in art. I see lluminer harvesting where others have planted and tilled. I see unexplainable contacts, fame, popularity, word spread, advertising, understanding, awe, and interest in lluminer. I see miracles on an expected basis. I see lifetime friendships being formed. I see intercession, warring on the behalf of souls who misunderstand the unconditional love of God.

Day One: Light

Hi Inspire Group!! Vu and I are so sorry we missed the last two small groups. We miss getting the chance to hear "live" others' stories and ideas. Here is my Day one homework, and I also posted my burning bush story. Any feedback would be appreciated. God Bless!


In spiritual life:

I see myself as a faithful servant of Jesus. Daily discipline in reading the Word, reflecting on it, and how I can apply it to my life today.

33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6;33-34

I will grow more comfortable with God’s word and speaking it openly from my own mouth. My faith will sprout out without resistance or reserve. And I will wear it as a cloak to shine, not as a cloak to cover.


In marriage:

I see myself striving to be a Proverbs 31:10-31 woman. One who takes care of her family, household, and husband. But, also a Godly woman who others can turn to.

As we enter our 2nd year of marriage, we strive to be more interdependent, to be more one. To communicate and reach decisions as one vs he/she wants to do …To put aside time alone and together to reach that decision.

I would like to see ourselves setting an example for our family and friends as a loving, Christian couple. One that has their doors open for friends and strangers alike.


In career:

I sees myself working to bring affirmation to myself as a woman, and one who can provide care and knowledge to those in need. In serving in the workplace, I am also setting an example to others. And they will see what a difference being a Christian is in attitude towards work!


In future:

We see ourselves having the home we desire, filled with God-loving children. Working to provide the income we need to maintain our lifestyle, but still allowing time for God and also His works that we need to do.

Thuy's Burning Bush Story

I’d like to tell you a glorious story about “that word” that I received or some prophesy that I was told, but my spiritual life’s been pretty unspectacular. No lightning bolts, no thunder, no fireworks. This story has been hard for me to write. I’ve racked and racked my brain and my heart and I can’t really come up with a fantastic moment I could relate to you. So, instead of a burning bush I tell you, I’ll have to describe to you a glowing ember instead.

I didn’t grow up as a Christian, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t believe that there was someone more infinite out there, someone better than all of us, someone pure. And I grew up believing in that goodness, trying to live like that goodness, and in turn believing that that goodness was inherent in all of us and if given the chance and opportunity, it would manifest itself. I went searching down several roads, before finally turning onto the “true” road, the one that leads me to a personal relationship with goodness Himself – Jesus.

I am a servant. I serve my family, friends, co-workers, community and strangers, but especially I am a servant of Jesus. I believe He calls me to serve goodness, kindness, and patience and in doing good, I would know Him more. For the past several years I have toyed with the idea of starting a volunteer group. Many young people today don’t volunteer on a consistent basis because of jobs, family, or other commitments; not for a lack of desire. I would like to get people together and volunteer, but make it social and fun also. My thought is to create a calendar of events and one could sign up for an event without a weekly or hourly commitment. After the volunteering, the group could go have coffee or food, and this would be the time to debrief, socialize, talk, and a chance to disciple. I believe once given the opportunity to serve, one will be exposed to goodness, and in being exposed will come to know God and His call. I guess I believe in that line “open hearts, open minds.”


Scriptures pertaining to this idea/vision

8 The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:8-17
26 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20: 26-28


What has God put in my hand to do right now?

I believe God wants me to be planted at the City, start setting down stones for the foundation for me to move forward. I have the time now to be more involved, although I have to do it creatively since my schedule fluctuates so much.

Stevey-Wonderfu!’s Burning Bush Story

From about the age of eleven I battled, what is diagnosed as, a chemical imbalance/severe depression/bi-polar 2. I had the luxury of trying to develop self-esteem in the vacuum of depression in a city where no one looked like me (children don’t try this at home). In spite of that, I was given the gift of exhortation/a cheerleader & lover of people, with the ability to find something good about most everyone. In watching my mom over the years, I developed a fearless ability to approach strangers and developed a habit of finding opportunities to compliment people. I noticed that people are starved for affirmation, and irrespective of how we appear on the outside, have something in us that longs to be acknowledged.

During high school, I had a friend tell me “you love Stevie (Wonder) so much we should just call you that!” Then in February of 2002, I was reading Psalms 139:14 and God highlighted the Words “I am…wonderful”. He began to minister His Daddy heart towards me, which was critical to me since I always felt like I was supposed to be daddy’s little girl, but grew up in a single parent household. First, He began to change how I saw myself, so then I could begin to effect change within my sphere of influence. In August of 2004, I trekked down to the courthouse to legally change my name, but as I handed the clerk my documents asked if I could have punctuation in my name, and had her write the “L” in wonderful as an exclamation point, changing my name to ‘Stevey-Wonderfu!’. It seemed rather random to me at the time, but over a short time God revealed that He wanted me to live my life as an exclamation rather than the tentative, purposeless question I had lived for so long.

Around that time I had one of those years where the answer to every prayer, complaint or question was “it’s not about you.” God began to show me that the blessing for so many others is on the other side of my instant & complete obedience to His promptings (Matt 8:13 I go, He does). In June 2007, reading Philemon verse 6, God revealed it to me this way: “the sharing of my faith in God, in people, and in His purposes for our lives may become effective because I acknowledge* every good thing that is in me in Christ Jesus!” It has became my personal mandate “to affect people I do not know and will never meet, by inspiring the greatness in the very few, out of 6+ billion on earth, that I have the privilege of encountering.

I met, my now husband of 14.5 years, Lyman during my sophomore year at the U. He is what I call vanilla covered (white) and I am chocolate (black/African+ American). We seem to attract, or are ‘set up’ with, couples that look like us. In seeing these couples get married and have children, I noticed that it was very difficult to find a gift or greeting card with people that looked like us. Then God gave me the idea for a greeting card company that would target this specific audience and a company name based on a childhood passion. Since I was in young I have loved pandas and thus began to collect them, which means pretty much every gift I received had something to do with pandas. > Every gift I received from God has something to do with my destiny in developing my business, “Panda-People”; the adorable black and white bear representing the unique, God-kissed, patchwork beauty of their amalgamation, as surely is God’s heart for all peoples.

As I began to ponder the concept in my heart, God began to give me a supernatural confidence in His ability to perform a great work through me. He reminded me that in developing a healthy self-image, how important it is for children, and even adults, to see themselves positively represented in cards or toys they may purchase or receive, as well as in visual images in society as a whole. My spirit was stirred and creative ideas birthed to incorporate other products that would build self-esteem based on a God perspective of the value of each individual. It was then that my company name changed to “Panda-People Greetings & Inspirations”.

The next facet of the vision for my business, in doing His business, was revealed to me by hearing some of the business people at the Prosperity with a Purpose Conference express a desire to live off a fraction of their income and give the rest away. It was reinforced around learning of my friend JoAnne’s annual ministry trip to a Ugandan church and orphanage. Although I had NO desire to make the trip my(germ-freak)self, a burning desire to finance such trips was birthed in me. God gave me an idea for a non-profit organization to which 51% of my business’ profits would go. I would serve as an example to the world that success isn’t based on what one gets but on what one gives; that I could be wildly successful by giving away more than I keep. The proceeds of my business would go to both secular and religious organizations, with a focus on children’s charities in the USA and abroad. Other businesses would also be able to contribute at whatever percentage or dollar amount that seemed reasonable to them. The foundation would have two distinct divisions, so that no one would miss the opportunity to participate in giving based on their beliefs.

Scriptures pertaining to the vision:
*Psalms 139:14* “I will praise You, for I AM fearfully and WONDERFULly made”
*Prov 13:16* “every prudent (wo)man ACTS w/knowledge, but a fool LAYS open his folly”
*Prov 3:26* For the Lord will be your confidence, And keep your foot from being caught (stuck)
*John 9:11* “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.””

What has God put in my hand to do right now?
*A smile, from the inside, that people can feel that I love them, which opens the door for me to share His surpassing love with them
*Freedom of not being tied down to a traditional job; Time
*Unlimited creativity and fresh & new, soul mending ideas --I AM a seamstress of the soul!

Karie's Burning Bush Story

My parents love to tell stories about how creative I was as a kid. The one about how I refused to draw a spider with eight legs and made mine with six is usually a crowd pleaser. This incident (along with many others) earned me the label of ‘stubborn’ by my kindergarten teacher and parents. Thankfully I was able to channel that creativity in high school by taking some commercial art classes. I loved to draw and I was fascinated by art as a means of communication. There was even a period where I sat under a professional photo touch up artist and learned the basics of airbrush techniques. Interestingly I was also taking some college level writing and marketing classes as well. My best grades came from these two classes. It was at a DECA marketing competition that sold me on the idea that I wanted to do something in advertising.

So I went off to art school down in San Diego thinking I was there to develop my skills as a graphic designer. What I didn’t realize was that there was another side of advertising that required writers – copywriters! My first copywriting class was so much fun that I changed my mind about pursuing design and turned my focus on writing. I had loved my writing classes in high school and even excelled in them. It just never dawned on me to pursue it until then.

Things happened and I moved back to Portland without finishing my degree. After several years in sales and taking business classes at PSU I couldn’t get rid of the desire to be a copywriter. I moved to Seattle to take some portfolio classes and then the Lord led me to go back and finish my degree (which is still in progress!) A fellow copywriter suggested I start looking for freelance work until I have my portfolio built up. This changed my focus and I began seeing what a need there is for copy writing services by small business owners.

Now the wheels were really turning and I started thinking about an ebook that could help small businesses tap into their creativity and mold their companies into strong brands. This was about the time that I became a member at the city church. Right after I mentioned the idea at a small group I realized one thing holding me back was time and knowledge of how to sell an ebook online. I didn’t want to pay to have someone design a simple website. A few weeks later my next class in school was, you guessed it, website design! I was able to get the skeleton version of the site done.

During this time I had also gone to a service where Rachel Hickson spoke on hope. In the middle of it the Lord spoke to my heart saying, “I’ve called you to speak hope into people and teach them how to develop their creativity.” Shortly after that I was at the YP retreat. One of the nights I stayed and lingered in His presence and began writing in my journal. He again began to speak to my heart and said “you are a writer. I want you to write and I will speak through you and people will be set free.” These two statements are what I believe I'm called to do. Not too long later I was encouraged by a friend to join the inspire group and immediately knew this was where I needed to be.

What do I have in my hand? Knowledge! My heart is bursting at the seams with what I’ve learned in the area of advertising, branding, and creativity. I can use that to help people not only with their marketing but to also speak into their dreams and help ignite some hope in their ideas. I am also active in using my gifts at the church by creating signs, flyers, and helping with other design and writing projects. Plus I’m still in school and beginning to set aside time to focus on writing for my portfolio again.

The two websites I’ve begun for my business are:

www.catinadryer.com (this is where I’ll sell the ebook on creativity/advertising). I was inspired to use this name at first simply because I enjoyed it! But then I realized there was some meaning behind it. Like cats we all have natural curiosity within us and we’ve all heard stories about cats jumping into dryers. The trick is to stay away from the cookie cutter dryers (businesses or marketing ideas) that leave us hot and dizzy. But the dryers teach us something - they show us what taps into the curiosity we all have. This is one key to effective marketing and branding. I want the ebook to help develop their creativity and either start a business or create a strong brand.

www.deerguin.com - for my freelance marketing projects – it stands for the definition of creativity: to create something new from things previously unrelated. I even thought of making a line of greetings cards and tshirts with this name.

Verses the Lord has given me surrounding these ideas:
Romans 4:18 – against hope, he believed in hope
Hebrew 6:19 – hope is the anchor for the soul
Ezekiel 37:11 – speak to the dry bones
1 Corinthians 13:13 – these three remain: faith, hope, and love (hope is connected to creativity and it will always remain!!)
Proverbs 15:23 – it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time (NLT)

parker's burning bush

I can still remember the first time I received a prophetic word spoken over my life. I had been saved a little over a year and was attending a 100th year church anniversary at a country church in Mississippi not too much of a drive from where I was going to college at the time. The meetings had been going on for a succession of nights and the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully. I had pretty much just been sitting on the back row being blessed by watching this one hundred year old church community being blessed by God. On the last night toward the end of the evening the preacher was winding down and people were simply waiting in the presence of God, and the preacher was led to tell the crowd, “I feel like there is someone here who is saying there has to be more than this.” Everyone started looking at each other in wonderment as God had been moving strongly night after night. The preacher pressed further, “If that is you come down to the front.” No one moved. It seemed incomprehensible to this congregation that someone was thinking this, but that was precisely what had been going through my head like a cd on repeat. I stood up from my seat on the back pew and made my way down to the front. Upon my arrival to the altar the preacher, forcibly, laid his hands on me and delivered a powerful word into my life that has never left me and still lives in me today. That word formed the foundational cornerstone of my vision. Everything that God has shown me since makes this its context.

About a year later I found myself back in Seattle, an intern at The City Church. It was the start of interns and we were attending the Prosperity with a Purpose conference. The afternoon session had just broken for lunch and God began to move on me. I sat in the pew (we hadn’t remodeled to chairs yet) with my eyes closed and I began to see three ropes shooting in the air up towards each other. They met tied themselves together in a knot and then continued upwards in three different directions. I felt the Holy Spirit directly prophesy into my spirit that the ropes were Media, Ministry, and Business and that God would bring these three things together in my life and shoot them out to the world.

Right around my 26th birthday I went for a drive to get a word from the Lord as a birthday gift, as I like to do often around my birthday. That day the Lord spoke to me saying that I would have “my father’s anointing for business and benevolence on my multiplied” and that He “would use our (Jen and my) parents as a platform from which he would build us up from.”

The vision of my heart is to be a builder of men and women. I believe that God will use business in my life to build men and women’s lives, God will use ministry to build men and women’s lives, and God will use media to build men and women’s lives.


Here are some scriptures that go with my burning bush experience

10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:10 NAS

23"Then I will set over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. 24"And I, the LORD, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I the LORD have spoken. 25"I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26"I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. 27"Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its increase, and they will be secure on their land Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28"They will no longer be a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them afraid. 29"I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not endure the insults of the nations anymore. 30"Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people," declares the Lord GOD. 31"As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God," declares the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:23-31

therese's burning bush experience

while answering the questions from moses' burning bush experience in exodus, i kept feeling myself pulled back to how time after time, the Lord has encouraged me to speak even though i have simple words. i often feel myself inadequate to address groups because of my simple speech. however, it seems like every time JC rescues me in the situation, and any fear is dispelled in His presence.

i love how after we had all gone through our burning bush experiences, jen, you said the burning bush was never just for moses, but ultimately for God's people. how beautiful is that, to remember that no matter what kind of crazy or cool things are going on in our lives, God wants to use these situations to set His people free!

...on to my paper...

once upon a time there was a book, "chazown", by pastor craig groeschell. "chazown" is either hebrew or greek (i forgot which) for purpose-destiny-vision. pastor joanne took us through it at ladies Bible study. i took my smallgroup through it. then pastor joanne took us who were in her mentoring smallgroup through it. yeah, after reading the book 3 times and doing the exercises in it, i finally began to let it read me. "chazown" asks questions to figure out where you are in life, and if that is the purpose God intended for you. one day i slowly began to see... that it was a problem that my life did NOT match up with who God designed me to be. i was scared to let myself think about that before because i knew i was too physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted to do anything about it. BUT the reason i was so tired was BECAUSE i was working on living a life that the world told me was secure, rather than trusting God would keep me secure if i lived how He designed me. i really have known what that design was all along. i just believed the lie of the world, that i shouldn't try to be an entrepreneur.

my first art class was in 8th grade. i was thrilled to paint a fish jumping out of the water in all kinds of neon paints. however, i did not have confidence that i was actually talented in the area of art. in 10th grade i took a photo class. i loved it so much i continued photo through hs and ended up in charge of the photo dept. i continued photo in college. after taking all the photo classes, i wanted to keep hanging out in the art building, so i took ceramics, painting from life (nudes), and drawing. i realized (slowly again) during each critique (which we had instead of tests), that my paintings were always the professors' example of how to do it correctly. i struggled to get "c"s in any other subject, but "a"s came naturally in painting. still, as a woman in a man's world, my thoughts were on providing a secure future for myself (and hopefully a family). i thought it foolish to put all my eggs in one art basket. i majored in communications, minored in art, and set out into the world of broadcasting.

i was a dj and produced at a radio station and worked in audio at a television station. after 2 years, and deciding to live for JC, i started interns at the city church. i continued working, but also started a sewing/art cadre (which blayne walsh from project runway attended!!!). the summer between my 2nd and 3rd year of interns, my department had been out-sourced, so i decided to just do art. i worked under the business name "the art girl", making pieces and showing them. i had a show at yp that summer in the foyer of belltown. the venture was extremely invigorating and successful while it lasted.

while a 3rd year intern at hope church in tokyo, 2 things happened that caused me unimaginable pain and heartbreak. i left japan after only 6 months and spent a year doing nothing but healing, attending church, and working. needless to say, art fell by the wayside. in 2006 i felt like it was time to begin living again. ...and here we are.

the vision God's given me is to own my own business.
-a business of art that will bring a community of christian artists together to integrate with and inspire the already thriving community of annoyed-by-christians artists.
-an art company that will encourage the artist in everyone.
-an art company that will lead by pure standards and give back to the community, being salt and light. an example of this is that in the future i would like to be able to hold classes that are free for foster parents to bring their foster children to.

honestly, i know that out of this, a bigger opportunity is going to come to me, and i am going to take it. that is what God's shown me. this is a step in His plan, and i am so totally stoked on it!

here are the foundational scriptures for lluminer llc:
philippians 4:13 i can do all things through JC who strengthens me.

romans 5:3-5 we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope.

jeremiah 29:11-14 and romans 8:28-31; for i know the thoughts i think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope, then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, said the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which i cause you to be carried away captive. we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. for who He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. moreover who He predestined, these He also called; who He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

the life of elisha is a constant inspiration to me. i need to position myself to receive the mantle of the great servants of the Lord who go before me. and then i will do even greater things.

i also find inspiration in psalm 84 which speaks of living in the house of the Lord always.

and in ezekiel 47:8-12 which speaks of the river of God, and how everything in it is healed and thriving.

right now God has put in my hand to have faith in things i cannot see. i had $7k saved up especially to pay closing costs on buying a loft. it felt more important to get on the right track in being who God created me to be. i believe that all along He had me saving the $, knowing i'd get on board with His destiny eventually. =) i've rented a super cheap studio, which i'm solely using to create art, and hold art smallgroup. i made a website, which i'm working on right now. i'm working on building up my pieces to where i have many different themes to choose from, when showing. i'm making contacts and leading an art night 2x/mo at my studio.

i've NEVER felt so satisfied, at peace, and (dare i say it...) SECURE! yes, this is a risky venture, but it is God's! this is who He created me to be. i'm EXCITED to create original art ideas that draw the world to Jesus Christ!

Welcome to Inspire Small Group

What is Inspire?

A small group designed to provide a creative environment that will inspire the idea, thought or vision that the Holy Spirit has placed on your heart and take it to the next level.

Is Inspire only for “creative types” only?
No. We fully believe that each person on the planet has the ability to be creative. Whether it be in business, chemistry or parenting. We believe that everyone who has a vision can be a part of this group.

What if I don’t have an idea or particular vision or idea?
No problem. This will be a perfect opportunity for you to really seek God and find out what He has for you to do.

What do we actually do in the small group?
Each week coincides with one of the seven days of creation found in Genesis 1. There is a simple explanation of each day along with a project that prepares you for the following week.

What is the purpose of the Inspire projects?
This provides an opportunity for you to explore the Scriptures, enlarge your own creativity, share with the group your revelations and further develop your vision.

What is the size of the small group?
The group is limited to 14 people. If you are interested, you should email jen@inspiredstar.com.

What happens after I go through the eight weeks?
You graduate into Inspire Creative Arts monthlies. The inspire monthlies serve two purposes. One: Accountability. It provides a place for you to share and update what is happening in your vision and dream. Two: Create. It provides an opportunity to brainstorm, create and execute special projects for services and events for Young Professionals.

What happens when the monthly group gets large in numbers?
Each graduated group will be divided into small groups inside the large one. Even though the group grows there will still be a small group connection to pray and share with.

What is the 2009 schedule?

These dates are tentative, but we will hold three inspire small groups next year.

Winter
Week One - January 22nd
Week Two - January 29th
Week Three – February 5th
Week Four – February 12th
Week Five – February 19th
Week Six – February 26th
Week Seven – March 5th
Week Eight – March 12th

Spring
Week One – April 2nd
Week Two – April 9th
Week Three – April 16th
Week Four – April 23rd
Week Five – April 30th
Week Six – May 7th
Week Seven – May 14th
Week Eight – May 21st

Autumn
WinterWeek One – September 3rd
Week Two – September 10th
Week Three – September 17th
Week Four – September 24th
Week Five – October 1st
Week Six – October 8th
Week Seven – October 15th
Week Eight – October 22nd