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)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
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
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!
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!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
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
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
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