Dance Step "C"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas  A Springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" Discussions 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)

Last week's Dance Step "N" had each one “take notice” of God’s hand in all aspects of life. Once the "noticing" had one really looking to see the Lord's participation, there was cause to segue to the next step----"C" for celebration. 

Intentionality, in looking for God's hand often results in Glory Bumps.  The more we see His involvement in life, the more prevalent those "bumps" become.

Glory Bumps are similar to the goose pimply feeling that you get when you read a Hallmark card or hear a story that touches your heart. But “glory bumps” are more than that. Glory bumps are precipitated by an awareness of God’s involvement--a “God thing” a "God wink"---those incidences in our lives with a spiritual connection.  Glory bumps might result from seeing a miracle or a moving of God’s hand or just from experiencing the grand sense of LIFE that is beyond our comprehension. 

One's circumstances and situations might not change but an attitude adjustment can give a new perspective. Thanksgiving follows and a thankful heart is always a cause for celebration!

An "attitude of gratitude" helps to make even the seemingly "small" steps toward a life of abunDANCE seem worth celebrating! Dance Step "C," a dance of celebration, goes hand and hand with gratitude! 

D eciding, Delving, Discovering  (Psalm 119: 139 & 160)

A ccepting & being Attentive (1 Thess. 2:13)

N oticing God’s Hand in ALL Circumstances (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28)

C elebrating God’s goodness and being thankful (1 Thess. 5:18)

E 

Finding great summation notes in the front of a "used copy from Amazon" of a study book, could cause "glory bumps" if one was prepping for a test!

Dancing with Daddy

According to my journal, 6 years ago today I danced with Daddy at my 45th class reunion.

Between cancer surgeries. Unmasked.

What a privilege! What a memory!

Fond memory brings the light of the days around me. (Thomas More)

Green Light "GO"

I don't think there is a traffic light in Gallaway, TN but I, along with Urban Spoon, give the town's sole "lunch" restaurant, Sling Shot Charlie's, a "green light" for it's southern cuisine.

Greens served there are "the best yet" in my book. Fried green tomatoes were tasty as well----but.....isn't every thing "southern fried" pretty tasty! 

A Green Light "go" to the corner of TN Hwy 70 and TN Hwy 196 to choose from the menu board of daily entrees and veggies, green and beyond.

Celebrate Life

Celebrate life and "dance in the rain." If there's no rain, go to a spray ground with your child or grand child. Celebrate and dance today.

YES---that's Lucy dancing..... a dance of summer celebration!

Dance Step "N"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas  A springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" Discussions 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)

**Because you asked for info--- "Dancing in the Chips" story is from And God Said...Let There Be Laughter by Mary Hollingsworth.

Dance Lesson --N

D ecide (Joshua 24:14) Delve (Psalm 119:169) & Discover  (Psalm 119:130) 

A cceptance and Attentiveness (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

N otice God's hand in ALL areas of life (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28)

C ....

E ....

Noticing involves intentionality. It seems that the more one “notices”, God’s hand in her life situations, the more God allows her to really see. Awareness becomes more constant/consistent. 

“Notice” verse--Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! (Psalm 66:5) Begin to LOOK for it!

Noticing involves focus and sometimes even positional change can give a new perspective.

Focus and position are essential in our "dance" especially in times of struggle when the "closed position" is needed, both in stance and time away from distractions. Focus on your "dance partner." Time in His Presence. Remember the One who is leading. See self as the "follower."

• ·      Close contact is employed as two dancers face toward each other.
• ·      A sense of connectedness occurs as the “leader’s” right hand is on the “follower’s” back, offering “step” security.
• ·      The “follower's” left hand is on the “leader's” right shoulder or upper arm near the shoulder, allowing an extra sense of directional change.
• ·      Palm to palm in an upper-hand clasp, the “follower’s” right hand is in the “leader’s” left hand, providing guidance.
• ·      Feet are often positioned slightly offset so that the right foot of either partner can step between the other partner's feet, aiding in transition.
• ·      Eyes are lifted thus the focus is away from the feet and ears are open for “whisper” clues.

D2D Dare to Dance

Faithful Fathers

A Daddy's love is immeasurable. I had a loving dad; I watched my husband be a loving dad and now I watch my "boys" be loving dads. Daddies who show up. 

Swim school. Bike rides. Times in the park. Daddy days. Ball games. Lunch at school with cafeteria food. Scavenger hunts. Emergency room visits. Neighborhood adventures. Beach trips. Farm trips. Ski trips. Pumpkin picking. Strawberry picking. Carousel rides. Fishing events. Naps. Storytimes. Campfires.

Dads who show up----early---late---and times in between. In a child's eyes "showing up" counts.

How blessed are all my grands----each has a GREAT DADDY!

Sweet friend Mary Flo Ridley said it well on her Daddy Factor entry---The blessing of a faithful father is so important, that God made sure everyone could have one in Him, so that even when our earthly fathers don’t show up….He does. What a double blessing for my grandkids to have both!

"A" Girls

3 "A" Girls + 1 "B"  (for boy) = G (Gone from the neighborhood)

Three precious little "princess" girls growing up on our street in two separate houses are gone. Their homes are empty.

What fun it has been to "watch" them grow---two since their birth. And now.....within the last month both families have "moved on." More children added, or to be added soon, and more "space" was needed.

Glad for them, sad for us. 

All three girls' names started with A so there's an "A" section on my Saturday prayer list. 

"A" #1 a self-proclaimed queen with "A" #2 princess is being shy in the background...

.....so here is a close-up.

"A" Princess #3 is already feeding deer at her new Collierville home. (pic to follow)

"B" for a precious baby brother---just look at those eyes.

They were certainly easy neighbors to love. (Matthew 22:37-39)
Both families will be sorely missed but the prayer privilege will continue. 

Signage

Signage communicates. Visual/graphic messaging.

Banners flap with messages all over Memphis. Selling cars. Heralding new art exhibits. Promoting festivals in the park.
Wine Tastings. Sunrise Yoga.  Twilight Tuesday Free Movies.
Text and graphics = more than visual redundancy. It triggers remembrance.

Celebrations of all kinds.

But..... 80 years of faithfulness. Now that sign speaks volumes.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God  who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 

(Deuteronomy 7:9)

"Great is Thy faithfulness"...........for 80 years and beyond. An eternal celebration!

WACKY WEDNESDAY at The Brooks

So much fun at The Brooks Art Museum----
Somehow I never considered video games graphics as art----silly me.

The new Art of Video Games at the Brooks is worth the drive to introduce the youngsters in your life to the museum. It might be the only way if they are averse to such experiences. Plus----it's FREE on Wednesday!
It could be a memory walk down the "video game highway." Nowadays dubbed an expressway. Atari Pong, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and the first Nintendo system.
From the fabric art displayed at the entrance----think "knitted" Pac Man banner........

.....to the ongoing wall murals and video gaming machines painting by artists in residence and a LARGE Mine craft game,

based on a favorite from the Brooks collection, The Grand Canal fron Campo San Vio.

It might be the best way to introduce a grand child to visual art---as indicated by the presence of LOTS of boys at the gaming stations, from felt boards to wall size game visuals and post-it note creations by the kids----so interactive.

A morning at the art museum followed by an afternoon at the BIG Bass Pro at the pyramid---

----a Wacky Wednesday indeed!

Dance Step "A"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas

A springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" discussions. 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)

It is always time to dance with the Lord---when dance means living a life of fullness/abundance w/ Him. It’s that dance/life that gets us through the "mourning’s"(griefs) of life---loss, disappointment, regret, fears, etc. 
Dance steps include the acceptance of the truth from John 10:10b where Jesus (our Shepherd) said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance” (to the full, till it overflows)(AMP) (abunDANCE, mine) The fullness or abundance of the Christian life is exhibited, according to Westcott, in three elements—safety, liberty, & support.
Jesus gives--thief takes!

In comparison, the first part of the verse reminds us, "..the thief comes in order to steal and kill and destroy." 
Identify the thief or thieves in your life. Ask self, “What have I allowed him to steal, destroy or kill in my life? John 10:10 is a new verse to hang our dance shoes on---shoes of acceptance and attentiveness for a life of abunDANCE.

ACCEPTANCE --For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. (1 Thess. 2:13) ACCEPTANCE--of one's life situations and acceptance of what God’s Word shows you about those  circumstance. ATTENTIVENESS---Along with life situations, there are often verses that do just that---GET MY ATTENTION Ps 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
A recent NP ranger's forest fire story illustrated that verse for me---a bird found dead, feathers scorched & burned from flames of the fire....but when ranger turned her over with a stick, 3 little chicks waddled out. Secure. Safe from the fire by the covers of protection from the feathers of one who was trustworthy. 
ATTENTIVENESS to God's Word is always NEEDED because truth is NOT revealed to idle spectators! (C Huffman, 6/13/15)

Dance Lesson --A

D ecide (Joshua 24:14) Delve (Psalm 119:169) & Discover  (Psalm 119:130) 

A cceptance and Attentiveness

N ....

C ....

E ....

Acceptance of life's situations & attentiveness to God’s Word require a choice......just like a dancer chooses the "correct" shoes for each dance. 

Dances may change and shoe choices may vary but our Lord is steadfast, unchanging and His truth endures to all generations.
 If you’re wearing the wrong shoe, you’re asking for trouble. All of us need a shoe that FITS her own dance/ situation for Dance Step "A."

Dance Step "D"

Book: When Wallflowers Dance: Becoming a Woman of Righteous Confidence

Author: Angela Thomas

A springboard for "Dancing with the Lord" discussions. 

There is….a time to dance….Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 (NKJV)
When the stresses of life have you not knowing which way to turn....turn to the Lord and ask Him to lead you through this "new to you" life dance.

Lesson #1 w/ insights from the foreword and the afterword

Dance Lesson --D

D ecide (Joshua 24:14) Delve (Psalm 119:169) & Discover  (Psalm 119:130) 

A .....

N ....

C ....

E ....

• Step #1---Decide you want a life of abunDANCE. Turn to the Lord as your dance partner.
• Step #2---Delve---dig to discover the truth that is available about your struggle or hard place. Determine that the Lord has you there for a reason or season, as Robert Morgan teaches in his diminutive book, Red Sea Rules. Rule #2 states, " Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief."
• Step #3---Discover what God' Word says about your hard place----fear, (Isaiah 41:13) disease/poor health, (Psalm 73:26) disappointment, hurts, or rejection (Psalm 55:12-13) Consider word searching for abide, trust, sustain, belief, hope, refuge, protection, salvation, .

Remember godly living, aka "life of abundDANCE,"  is possible even during_________________(fill in your own difficult time or struggle) as your "dance" will be unique.

Allow the Lord to turn your mourning into gladness in the midst of your struggle----that you might "dance" with HIm. (Psalm 30:11)

Zumba "GOLD"

"Gold." We all know the true connotation of the euphemism "golden years." It is just an expression for _ _ _   _ _ _.  

GAC zumba classes are separated somewhat by abilities----but the participants in the “gold” zumba have several obvious characteristics. List below only includes today’s glaring differences.

• Wal-Mart matchi-matchi apparel out numbered UnderArmour 
• No mid-driff flesh visible
• FitBits worn by a few but not a single Apple Watch (What Medicare gal has the eyes or finger dexterity for that??) 
• Knee brace, ankle brace and wrist brace all seen, on the 2^nd row alone. 
• Uptown Funk blares, but it’s the “clean” version. 
• Toes tap to “all the right junk in all the right places….but the places are a lot closer to the floor than they once were. 
• More smiles than sweat---just making it through the door each week is a feat.

from a birthday card received a few years ago

When one is closer to the end of their life than the beginning, the truth of Psalm 73:26* resonates in a Zumba Gold room. It’s what keeps me going and smiling.

* My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

I Could Have Danced All Night....

I Could Have Danced All Night.......but I didn't want to. I wanted to sleep. Why is it when one is trying so hard to sleep that those musical thoughts "throb" in your head---like a broken record. 
Instead of "spreading my wings to do a thousand things I have never done before," I think of a thousand things I need to do----and at 2am, who is going to be awake to respond?

I know God is awake, so I ask Him again---to lull me to sleep. But....it was if I had slipped my "tap shoes of impatience" on and was"tapping away" on the sheets.
I know "impatience" is not one of my strong suits, as my kids have reminded me, but the wee hours seem a hard time to begin to practice that virtue.

But God.......in His perfect timing brought thoughts to mind needed for tonight's teaching---which as any teacher knows---lessons are mainly for her.

Hopefully, I will "dance" tonight as I teach His truths.

It's all about the........

For "most" women "it's all about the shoes." Designer Shoe Warehouse makes sure we know, "Shoes Say a Lot About You - Say Something Great." In line with my lone pair of Skechers I was welcomed as the "next shoe lover" in line, though all the ladies behind me with their teetering stacks of 6+ shoe boxes, fit the bill better than I. 
Shoes. So many styles. So many specifications. Athletic---running, racquetball, golf. Dress--stilettos, pumps, flats. Casual---wedges, flip-flops, boots. 
OK, so I don't "do shoes"---I "do comfort" and most styles, especially new ones, are beyond me. Regardless, shoes are "all about" an individual's choice. Some more important than others.
"Dance" shoes are important choices, especially in the "dance" of life. Some shoes are better left in the closet. 
Today's choices....

• ballet---white silky slippers of grace 
• tap shoes---black patent capezios of impatience
• zumba gray laceups---for pounding out frustrations
• walkers---with pink laces for pounding God's truth into my head to keep me spiritually "in the pink"

....which will I choose? Actually, before noon today, I had tried on all of these and had to make myself throw a pair deep into the back of my "cluttered" life closet. (I like neighbor Lynda's reminder, "gallimaufry--an exhuberant hodgepdoge." (CA 5/10/15)

The dances may change and the shoe wear may vary..... but our "Partner" is steadfast, unchanging, eternal.  (Lamentations 3: 22-23, Jehovah the Eternal One) Because....it's NOT all about the shoes, it's all about Him!

Dance 101: a primer

I knew as 2015 began* that not only would I be "dancing anew" with the Lord but that I was somehow going to share this unique, "new to me" dance. That "many might see." (Psalm 40:3)

Thus, a Summer Refreshment class for women seeking to "Dance with the Lord"---a book study of When Wall Flowers Dance by Angela Thomas to blend with our own lives as we don our dancing shoes.
For me, each "new" dance can require a return to the ABCs of a life of abunDANCE. (John 10:10) or the basics of Dance 101---

How basic is this "chocolate reminder" to "Dance with your heart" or as I interpret it---"Dance with the One who holds your heart."
* Blog References click here to check out 1/31 Dance to the Music or 2/28 A New Dance

Signposts

Signposts. Sometimes they are hard to see, aren't they?
God's word offers so many signals, signs, and guidance for life. Yet, sometimes in a hard place, I'm not quite sure of God's will on that particular situation.

I would like signs as clearly posted as the ones offering directions for this week's VBS kids at First Evan. Wouldn't you?
Maybe the answer was reflected in the entrance sign.
Enter here.

Entering into His Presence is the "signpost" for the best place to start---His Presence is base camp for the Christian who seeks to gain strength and power to move on up in his/her spiritual life.