PAIRINGS - Untitled Hymn

The first time I heard this song, it instantly grabbed my heart. It's one of those songs that just takes my soul aflight. I can't wait to DANCE for Jesus!

I've been at ALL of the stages depicted in the verses below... well, except the last.  And, it is the LAST that shall make everything here on earth meaningful.

Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) by Chris Rice 

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Yep, that last verse makes my spirit soar! I want to DANCE for my Lord!!

Take a listen to the song (under 4 minutes long) and GIVE THANKS!!

NOTE: The pic I paired the lyrics with is from the dock by the Miller Bell Tower at Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. The Little, her Mommy & I spend 8 weeks there - summer of 2014. 

I Dance Before the LORD!

I dance before the LORD -- in my home, in my heart... even though...

I was born & raised in the Anderson, Indiana Church of God movement -- not denomination - LOL! The movement began in the early 1900's, out of the Wesleyan Holiness Movement. We reach our hands to every blood washed one. We believe in the Trinity. We believe in salvation & sanctification. We take of the bread & the cup. We wash feet!! But, WE DO NOT DANCE!  

Since my younger days being raised in the Appalachian foothills, I was told that WE DO NOT DANCE! My parents were fine with me whirling about at home - singing, clapping and celebrating. However, that was NOT to be taken outside of the home -- even into the backyard, for that matter. Can you imagine the issues my father - the pastor of that little country ChoG - faced when (unbeknownst to him & my mom) I appeared on the stage of the local elementary school enthusiastically dancing to the latest secular tunes as our community-wide PTO assembly began. Needless to say, I received a little talking to when I got home. And unfortunately, my father received several calls & notes about my serious infarction!

I continued to be a rebel with the dancing -- not understanding in my heart what the problem was if I was just dancing out of joy. In college, my roommates & I hosted an illegal off-campus dance at a local State Park out-building. We raised enough money to send all of us girls to Florida for our Spring Break. (That trip might have been a little outside of my parents' view of appropriate, as well!)

Since those days, my church movement has made leaps & bounds (figuratively) in the area of dance. I cherish the sight of little ones waving palm branches & spinning about in sheer joy. I'm incredibly blessed by our youth dancing to the latest from Mary Mary, Toby Mac & other artists. However, I still haven't quite been won over to watching middle-aged women (like myself) dressed in unattractive smock-type dresses with sashes over their shoulders leaping about the church platform to music. Just give me a little Ballet Magnificat! & I'm a happy camper :)

And so... I continue to dance before the Lord...

KARAR...
I dance before the LORD

with all my might... 2 Samuel 6:14

MACHOL... 

He has turned my mourning

into dancing... Psalm 30:11

I took this photo in Sept of 2013 when the haze
over the fields from the harvest of the soybeans
filtered the setting sun just perfectly.
It always reminded me of dancing before the Lord!

I'm posting this on the Wednesday of Holy Week. In this week, we reflect upon the last words spoken by our Lord in those final days as the cross drew near. We think about whether WE would have been the one to deny knowing the Lord. We bow in awe as we consider the great sacrifice paid for OUR sins. And, on Easter morning, we joyously celebrate the power over the grave & over death which comes through our Lord, Jesus Christ. I can't think of a better reason to dance! 

This Sunday I'll be saying, "He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!!" ... and I'll be dancing!

#JoyDare No. 2490 dancing

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

Silent Music

The other day my attention was caught by the following quote:

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane

by those who could not hear the music.”
Friedrich Nietzsche 

My mind immediately went to my life! There are so many things happening lately that could easily steal the joy (aka the music) from my life. Many of my friends have questioned if I'm in denial about reality. They say things like, "You seem to be doing so well considering... " That's a fair question. Most days it makes no sense to me! 

But, I've chosen to hear the music & keep dancing regardless of what's happening in my life and even harder sometimes - what's happening in the lives of my loved ones. 

When I read the Nietzsche quote, I thought to myself, "Wow, what a great quote to pair with a scripture." First, as is my custom, I decided to see who this "Friedrich Nietzsche" was before I shared the quote. 

Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a German philosopher of the late 19th century who challenged the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality. He was interested in the enhancement of individual and cultural health, and believed in life, creativity, power, and the realities of the world we live in, rather than those situated in a world beyond. Central to his philosophy is the idea of “life-affirmation,” which involves an honest questioning of all doctrines that drain life's expansive energies, however socially prevalent those views might be. Often referred to as one of the first existentialist philosophers along with Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), Nietzsche's revitalizing philosophy has inspired leading figures in all walks of cultural life, including dancers, poets, novelists, painters, psychologists, philosophers, sociologists and social revolutionaries. (source, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

It's a bit puzzling how someone who challenged the foundations of Christianity says something that speaks directly to how I view my relationship with Christ. 

Another part of the above cited article read:

That Nietzsche was able to write so prolifically and profoundly for years, while remaining in a condition of ill-health and often intense physical pain, is a testament to his spectacular mental capacities and willpower. Lesser people under the same physical pressures might not have had the inclination to pick up a pen, let alone think and record thoughts which — created in the midst of striving for healthy self-overcoming — would have the power to influence an entire century.

I see myself as having ill-health and often intense physical pain. Most of the time my "pain" is from struggling with mild anxiety & depression (worse in the winter months) or battling the insecurities of my youth which attempt to haunt me as an adult. However, despite those "ailments," I feel I'm accomplishing good things & sharing honestly with those who would listen. I totally believe that my honesty might bring hope & encouragement to another with similar struggles. Oh yeah, I'll admit, I get frustrated that I don't accomplish as many things as I think I should in most days. I'm far below the standards of others. But, I rarely ever wonder if I've not accomplished just what I should have done in that day!

My favorite dancing partner!

I give myself no credit for... let's say: "spectacular mental capacities and willpower... inclination to pick up a pen, let alone think and record thoughts which — created in the midst of striving for healthy self-overcoming — would have the power to influence." I give all credit to the One who created me. I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "When I am weak, he is strong." 2Cor12:10  I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world." 1John4:4 I totally buy in to the scripture that says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil4:13

Perhaps it's a case of "I say poTAYto & you say poTAHto." If so, I'm still at peace & joyful about my outlook on life. I love to dance when there seems to be NO MUSIC at all :)

God gave each of us the opportunity to choose freely how to believe. Regardless of whether their views are in line with mine, I am grateful that there are people on this planet, from all walks of life, who are dancing when there appears to be no music :)

Are you a dancer?

FOLLOW UP NOTE: The day after I posted this, a good friend & local poet/writer, Chuck Kellum, posted the following poem. I think it's AWESOME...

Joy and Sorrow

Lively we the dancing do

Throughout the full night long.

A vestal sprite plays sweet the song

That buoys us ‘til the dawn.

And glumly he

Who cannot sleep

Does curse our merry way,

As all the while he’ll toss and turn

Until the break of day.

We in our glee

Know of him not,

But he in turn knows well

How he himself was once, like us,

Rapt in nocturnal swell.

And as our hearts rise light with bliss

His falls in dark despair,

Deaf to the tune

That lifts us now

Into the nighttime air.

©2013 by Chuck Kellum

Crazy Relevancy! - 31 DAYS OF CRAZY - 22 October 2012

oops... forgot to POST this yesterday... sorry

I've been volunteering at my church for over 20 years now.  I began working with the Worship Arts ministry & added the Women's Ministries to my volunteer list a few years back.  As church-goers know, the format of worship is constantly changing - as is the marketing, advertising, service format, etc.  When I was a little girl (in that North Carolina country church), we sang hymns & a few choruses and the children sat with their parents through the entire service.  

Just yesterday on Twitter, a national organization posed the question: 

"Churches are often painfully irrelevant... Your thoughts?"

One of my local acquaintance's replied to the question: 

"People in a church are relevant. The culture within a church can be irrelevant if we can't relate to it. (i.e. choral music)". 

Being that I attend the same church as that person & I sing in the choir (aka choral music), my attention was caught immediately!  And my mind was filled with questions:

• What makes what we do at church relevant?  
• What is and isn't worshipful in God's eyes? 
• Is it dependent upon styles of music? 
• Have all these things changed for God as our cultures have changed over the centuries? 

The actual word worship means ascribe worth to God -- to show Him through our thoughts & actions that we value Him above everything else. 

• Is that the same for everyone? 
• Is there a right or wrong way to worship Him? 
• Does some one's worship offend God? Does the song sung by a talented vocalist reach the ears & the heart of God better or quicker than that of an aged saint with a wavering voice? 
• Does God really like those old, slow songs full of "ancient" history or would He prefer a joyous, energy-filled current song? 
• Is He tired of the choir now? 
• Does He like the beating of drums & the sound of guitars? 
• And, what in the world does He think of those "sacred dancers"? 

Ballet Magnificat worship with Women of Faith
AND, you have to admit, most church "sacred dancers"
aren't with a national ballet group.

So many questions related to relevancy in what we do!

What makes worship relevant?  As I process numerous thoughts about WORSHIP, I find it hard not to believe that God is blessed by ALL types of worship, when offered up to Him in true sincerity, love & adoration. 

His Words: 

(got this idea from Chase Tibbs' blog; using it because i love the words of God)

• Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLT
• "But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23&24 NLT
• "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17 NLT

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