Introducing Vibeke Kiiskila, founder of Unity Dance Center and host of Worship Dance TV. I had the wonderful pleasure of spending some time talking with her about my journey in worship dance, embodied prayer and creative ministry. You can listen into our conversation here:
Worship Arts
7 :: “Into your hands…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 7
Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
Enough
Here I am, my son.
Your struggle is over.
It was near impossible
to keep from turning
toward your cries.
I felt each lash,
wailed as they
drove the nails.
I blacked out the sun
so as not to see
your suffering.
Come to me now,
let me bandage
your wounds. Drink
from the spring
and rinse clean, rinse
until the water
runs clear. This part
of the journey
is finished. Continue reading
7 :: “It is finished!”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Day 6
“It is finished!” John 19:30

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
The Antique Rocking Chair
The carpenter is not disappointed
by the ruined finish or the broken arm,
loose spindles, failed glue joints.
He checks the chair for its rhythm,
rests carefully in its solid seat and tests
the sway, hums an ancient hymn,
feels the wind that wore away the finish,
drove the rain between the grains
and diminished the lacquered polish. Continue reading
7 :: “I am thirsty”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 5

Cup of Blessing by Matt Durbin (C) 2011 http://www.mattdurbinart.com
“Later, knowing that
all was now completed,
and so that the
Scripture would be fulfilled,
Jesus said,
‘I am thirsty.’”
– John 19:28
Drink
The fount of living water
bellows drought. I want
to lift a ladle, cold and pure,
so you could be relieved.
But I’m deceived with ease.
My cup is sour, dilute
the wine from dirty
cisterns. Nothing I
can offer satisfies.
Are you glad you chose
to filter septic water,
offer your body to be
my purifier? How I love you. Continue reading
7 :: “My God, my God, why…?”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 4
“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned (forsaken) me?” Mark 15:34

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
Fear
I taste the juice of forbidden fruit
dripping from Adam’s mouth.
And in my hand, the dagger
that killed Cain’s brother. My arms
are sore from building Babel.
Abraham’s fear rolls in my gut.
I cling to Sodom as it burns, connive
for the birthright at Isaac’s bedside,
stand by as my sons slaughter a city,
hear the roar of weeping women Continue reading
7 :: “Dear woman…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 3
[Jesus] said to [Mary], “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” John 19:26

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
Mary at the Cross
I am not old. A bewildered mother
since conception who stored up
each moment. Now I will recall
the way you reached for me, a babe,
and only see your outstretched arms. Continue reading
7 :: “Today you will be with me…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 2
“I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Matt Durbin (c) 2010
Breath
Jesus, why are you
up here
with me, why
is our blood
mixing with dirt,
why do our lungs
heave out as if
we have
the same spirit
in us
begging to be set free?
Why do we keep
breathing,
each inhalation,
a gasp.
All I want to do
is breathe out
a final time. Continue reading
“7” :: “Father, forgive them…”
Standard“7” Last Statements of Jesus
Spoken from the Cross: Week 1
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Matt Durbin (c) 2014
The People Stood Watching
Come, see a man who told me everything
I ever did. A man who healed my eyes,
fed me bread he multiplied, poured my cup
of wine, washed my feet, called me out
onto the sea, cursed the unfruitful tree,
received my kiss on his way out of Gethsemane.
Come see a man who raised me from death,
beckoned for me from my tomb, knew me
in my mother’s womb. See him, how he saved me?
Let him save himself, if he is the chosen
one, the Son of God, of Man, a Nazarene.
Come draw lots with me—which piece
of clothing do you need?
~ Sarah M. Wells (C) 2010 Continue reading
Poem ‘She dances’ ~ Lilly Hope Lucario
StandardMy next book is all about healing from trauma using the creative process. This poem is a perfect example of it. And it is…
So incredibly powerful… so trUly BEaUtiful….
From blogger Lilly Hope Lucario at
https://healingfromcomplextraumaandptsd.wordpress.com/
Healing From Complex Trauma & PTSD/CPTSD
Ballet, dancing – was my saving grace, while enduring child sexual abuse by an old man paedophile, for several years ending at approx age 12.
She Dances ~ Lilly Hope Lucario
Childhood
In her garden
Of evil
Of gods and monsters
Evil presides
No safety
No protection
No rescue
Scared
Frightened
Silenced
Deep pain
Seared into
Her fragile soul
Unable to cope
Verbally suppressed
She dances
View original post 140 more words
An Open Letter to the Other Side of the Aisle: a meditation on John 4
Standard“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (John 4:19-22)
Dear Hymn-Singer on the Other Side of the Aisle, Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #251 — Nativity Shadow Dance
StandardWe are nearing the end of our Create-A-Day 2015 posts. As we wind down, I want to leave you with a shadow dance to “O Magnum Mysterium” sung live for CHRISTmas Eve 2013 at Northland Church in Longwood, Florida. Such BEaUty!!
“O Magnum Mysterium” written & arranged by Morten Lauridsen
Original Text:
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #244 — More Advent Resources!
StandardDirecting you to LEAD: Living Every day As Disciples to yet another creative Advent resource! Look for Advent & Lenten Resources (under the “Resources” tab) which includes contemplative prayer liturgies and accompanying creative experiences for your use during Advent. Free printables for coloring, downloadable liturgies for bulletins, links to videos — everything is there for you! This is an amazing resource for use in your church, ministry or family!
Another resource added 2018: a free online resource from Brenda Warren of Saintsbridge. 40 Days of Advent devotionals called “Celts to the Creche” is inspired by Celtic and Anglo-Saxon saints. This pilgrimage to the creche in Bethlehem begins November 16. Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #239 — Powerful Drummer Boy Dance
StandardSo, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this CHRISTmas dance to The Little Drummer Boy! First, Mickye Castillo’s Freedom in the Dance (FITD) Ministry is a powerful and anointed dance ministry out of Dallas, so that alone tells you this will be good!! But then…. they added a drum corps to the dance!!
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #236 — Worship Groups on Facebook
StandardIt’s our last Facebook Friday for the year!! And we have two groups featured today!
Our first group is At His Feet Ministries and is administered by Kristina Collins, Founder & Director of her ministry of the same name. Here’s the group description:
This group is for the arts! If you are a dance instructor, choreographer, dancer, artist, designer and you would like to network, advertise conferences, exchange advice and ideas, and get to know other artists, stay in fit condition in the journey God has you on… We welcome you to participate, and encourage each other. If you have art share it! A conference coming up… share it! Health tips… share it! We just want to expand the tent pegs!
A little about AHF: At His Feet Ministries is a non-profit 501-C3 organization founded by Kristina Collins. Rooted in the arts, AHF is a unique ministry geared towards creative outreach. Through music, dance, drama, art and teaching, AHF strives to train, equip and release the creative giftings of God into the hearts and lives of many.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #235 — Pastors’ Day Off
StandardCreate-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #233 — Music & Memories
StandardToday I’m sending you over to Dave Weiss’ blog at AMOK Arts to a post he did for CHRISTmas last year called Tell a Better Story: Mark Schultz… Different Kind of Christmas.
May you be blessed by this BEaUtiful song and the story behind it. And may you remember to reach out to those who’ve lost loved ones this past year with love, grace and compassion.
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #227 — Benediction Dance
StandardAs we have focused on Advent resources, let us keep our eyes fixed on Christ
If any of you want to walk My path, you’re going to have to deny yourself. You’ll have to take up your cross every day and follow Me. If you try to avoid danger and risk, then you’ll lose everything. If you let go of your life and risk all for My sake, then your life will be rescued, healed, made whole and full. Listen, what good does it do you if you gain everything—if the whole world is in your pocket—but then your own life slips through your fingers and is lost to you? Luke 9:23-25 The Voice
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #226 — Advent Media Resources
StandardNeed Advent and CHRISTmas resources for your church or ministry this coming season? Don’t forget Worship House Media, Sermon Spice, or Share Faith for everything from still images to whole video packages for Advent! Search “Advent” or “Christmas” and you’ll find tons of great resources to add creativity to your worship! Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #225 — 52 Weeks of Prophetic Art with Grace Bailey
StandardGrace Bailey is a prophetic artist on a mission! Ministering out of her home church in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia) and at a variety of conferences, she has set herself a goal of 52 Weeks of Prophetic Art. Yes! 52 weeks of live painting during worship! What an amazing goal and ministry. I have been following her since I first found her last Spring on her Facebook page and have been deeply blessed by the artwork she is painting. You can also follow her journey here on her website.
The painting on your right is “Valley of Dry Bones? Ha! piece of Cake!”
Won’t you take a moment to consider? What are the dry bones in your life? Are they dreams and visions that seem to have died? Are they broken, wounded places in your spirit? Are they mistakes from your past that still fill you with shame? While you examine this painting, won’t you slowly and prayerfully read this prophetic prayer adapted from Ezekiel 37 with me and other fellow artists praying this prayer with us today? Continue reading
Create-A-Day: your daily dose of creativity #224 — Advent Ideas from re:think Worship
StandardThere’s quite a bit to explore today so I’m sending you right over to Re:think Worship today to check out Creative ideas for Advent with all kinds of ideas for your worship services or ministry! Continue reading