Tuesday, October 16, 2012

BALANCE


As dancers, one of the first elements we learn is how to balance. As a young student, it begins with a game - balancing on one leg. In elementary ballet, we learn to balance on our tip-toes in releve while our arms are in first or second position. Learning to balance in dance has similarities with being spiritually balanced as well. In order to balance for any length of time, one must be focused on a specific direction - and most usually straight ahead or where you want to end up. Even moving one's focus another direction for a moment and losing alignment can cause an imbalance. The scriptures tell us to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ and His plans for us. We fix our eyes on what lies ahead, in front of us - not behind or around us. “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8

Another quality in balance is finding your "center" and having the strength in the surrounding muscles to dance from your "core". Although audiences enjoy the movements of the arms and legs of a dancer, students learn quickly that it is the core of dancer that makes all other movements a possibility. The "core" muscles not only give strength to hold on to center, but balance and stay there. Scriptures encourage us to find strength is God's Word (Psalm 119:68), His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) , His love (Psalm 32:10), and His joy (Nehemiah 8:10).

My final thought on balance is a picture of a pas de duex - a duet. When one desires to go further than where his/her body can take them - to balance longer for a specific movement of task – a partner is needed. Having a partner gives a ballerina the ability to turn multiple times, extend the leg, or sustain a leap in the air and defy gravity. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 The scriptures tell us that Jesus is with us as well as His Spirit. We are never alone on the stage of life. God is always with us, giving us the ability to do far more than we can ever do on our own. Many times movements in contemporary dance involving two dancers is referred to as "weight sharing". Likewise, He gives us relationships that bring us "weight sharing" capabilities when needed. As we join the dance of life with other believers, we can move and travel on life's stage in ways we never could alone. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:10

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Gracious Words



"Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."
Luke 6:45



Just a dance is a language for others to watch and capture a glimpse of our hearts, so are our words. Luke 6:45 reminds us, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." We live in a country that encourages us to speak freely. For this right, I am grateful. However, God's Word, the Bible, instructs us otherwise. We are to be thoughtful with our words, honoring the Lord with our conversations, comments, and even small talk or chats with friends. Here are some pointers that helped me in my teen years:


1)Girls, don't engage in discussions about another girl in a negative fashion while she is not present. If you have a friend who is stirring up this type of conversation, graciously change the subject. If she has a genuine concern or hurt,encourage your friend to go to the girl directly and discuss the problem. When it comes to gossip, what you say about someone will almost always get back to them eventually.


2)Be an encourager! Your words have the ability to strengthen, heal, and comfort those around you. You don't need to spend money to give some of the greatest gifts to a person you love. Words of encouragement are priceless. Seek out relationships that encourage you as well. Everyone needs encouragement.


3)Times to be silent. There are times when we are to be silent and still. This gives our spiritual ears moments to hear God's voice more clearly. Our opinions don't always need to be heard about everything that comes our way. It is okay to answer at times, "I have not formed an opinion on this." There are times when our best answer or verbal response is the actual word of God. Passing along a scripture to a friend can be as valuable as a thought out opinion or answer. As we direct others to listen to God's voice and trust His word, we can be confident in our advice.


4)Times to express. There are times our words are desperately needed to express how we are truly feeling. As Christians, we are raised to be led by God's Spirit in all we do. However, we are human. The Lord has given us emotions, desires, laughter, dreams - which give the passion and love for life He wants us to enjoy. If you need to express your heart to a person about a matter, it is okay to go to them. "Talking it out" in privacy and love can save friendships, keep yourself or a friend on track towards a dream or goal, and so much more.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Are You a Sold Out Show?

Growing up in Christian circles, I had heard the phrase “Are you sold out for Jesus?”. While recently buying tickets for a performance, I thought about being “sold out” in greater depth. Before a large theatrical performance or sporting event, tickets go on sale for each seat. Once the seats are gone, the only way to get a seat for the event is to find someone who already has a ticket they want to sell. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 reminds us “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Jesus gave His life and blood on the cross in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. If we accept him as our Lord, we are no longer our own, we belong to Him—every last place of our heart and our steps we take daily. At times, some seats may look vacant, but if the show has been sold out, you can rest assured a price has been paid for the seat. It was left vacant by the purchaser for some unsaid reason. If we give our lives and hearts fully to Christ, He has purchased each and every place (seat) in our hearts. There is nothing which has gone unpurchased or taken care of in our lives. If you are at a place in your life where you feel devalued or empty in a place or corner of your heart, consider this, “Are you sold out?”. If you are, then every part of your life, heart, and future are surrendered to God’s will. You walk in obedience to His Word. When you fall short, His grace is enough. You can rest in knowing that all of the places (seats) in your life are occupied by the Lord or His guests. Allow God to fill your life with His desires, callings, relationships, timing, and destiny.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Scriptures for Competition Season

I AM NOT ALONE “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them (your opponents), for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."- Deut. 31:6 I WILL KEEP A SMILE OF JOY AND BE CONFIDENT “the Lord will be your confidenceand will keep your foot from being snared.”- Proverbs 3:26 "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face"- Proverbs 15: 13 I AM STRONG Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."- Joshua 1:9 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" -Ephesians 6: 10 MY FOCUS AND THOUGHTS ARE ON BEING A LIGHT THIS WEEKEND "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”- Matthew 5:16 I WILL REMEMBER TO ENCOURAGE THOSE AROUND ME “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." - Ephesians 5: 1-2 I WILL BE FRIENDLY TO EVERYONE “If one falls down, hisfriendcan help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” - Ecclesiastes 4:10 “Dearfriends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone wholoves has been born of God and knows God.”- 1 John 4:6-8 “He who lovespurity of heart and whose speech isgracious, will have the king for his friend.”- Proverbs 22:11 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:35 I GUARD MY WORDS AND USE THEM WISELY "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." - Colossians 4:6 I WILL KEEP A THANKFUL HEART "Be glad in the Lord you righteous ones; and give thanks to His holy name."- Psalm 97: 12 MY VICTORY COMES FROM CHRIST, NOT A COMPETITION WIN. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:2 I WILL STUDY MY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND RESUME DILIGENTLY "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."- Colossians 3: 23 I OPEN MY HEART, BODY, AND SPIRIT TO BE USED BY GOD IN EACH STEP THIS WEEKEND: TALENT PREVIEW, INTERVIEW, AUDITIONS, SOLO DANCE FINALS, AND OFF STAGE EVERYWHERE I GO. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus , giving thanks through Him to God the Father." - Colossians 3: 17 LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN MY HEART. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful"-Colossians 3: 15 MAY ALL MY ACTIONS,THOUGHTS, AND THE ATTITUDE OF MY HEART BE PLEASING TO GOD. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19: 14