HAPPY DANCE DAY!

Today is Happy Dance Day! Who knew?! K-LOVE!

What a blessing to hear others share of God's goodness in their lives.

They know how to "happy dance" with gratitude from their hearts without even moving their feet.

But.....for me I can at least tap my toes knowing the One who has "turned my mourning into dancing, girded me with joy" and gladness and sees my dancing as worshipful gratitude.

MercyMe has a "Happy Dance" praise song! My "Happy Dance" contemporary worship praise song is Sydney Carter's "Lord of the Dance" with the melody of Simple Gifts.

A Happy Dance as K-Love dubs it!

SING-SING A SONG!

SING! From "10,000 Reasons" to old fashion hymns---okay if off-key.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me! (Cokesbury Hymnal #172, 1923)

photo by Anne Brewer

SING FROM YOUR HEART----even a new song!! (Isaiah 42:100

Dancing DANCING AGAIN

To all my prayer warriors & encouragers, I want you to know that I appreciate your prayers, love, wit, puns, Encouragement and concern! I am dancing again but this time it is at Baptist East Hospital ICU room 215! Once again the Lord has turned my mourning into dancing! I am just doing it while I am all wired up—figuratively & literally.

Next test will be at 4:30 PM central standard time.

🥰 & hugs to all! I hope you dance! It’s the life of abunDANCE. I know that for sure!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways  acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

   And......if your name is Dotsy, you can dance all seasons of the year!

49th ANNIVERSARY ARRIVALS

The day began with appropriate verses.......may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18) 
I'm so grateful God's Word didn't say young wife as one celebrating 49 years of marriage is no longer young.

Ecclesiastes goes on to remind us the importance of enjoying moments because life is fleeting. "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun;"  (Ecclesiastes 9:9)

It continued with cards, emails and text messages from friends and ended with "cooper" (for 49 years) gifts  from daughter's family and dinner at their house. Plus, 2 copper 2018 pennies---one for our 49th being celebrated and one for our NEWST GRANDCHILD born this year and a BIG part of the celebration!
Another BIG part was "THE GIFT!"

On this our 49th wedding anniversary, how grateful I am for a hubby who shows his love through "our" anniversary gift. A gift for "us" that he let me commission based on "the sculpture "I" wanted."  A "praise" piece by my favorite Papier-mâché sculptor, Heidi Walter. Each is covered with the sheet music of one of my favorite hymns! (Hymns that will be sung at my funeral one day.

The titles & even my favorite phrases are visible on each. See if you can guess the hymn!

---front...grace my fears relieved, back left...then He appeared and the soul felt its worth, back center...and I'll lead you all in the Dance said He, & God and sinners reconciled, back right...sing like never before, O my soul.

It's more than I could even have imagined. As she said, "there is so much more at play here!" I see something new each day!
Check out the process and read what Heidi had to say. 

Drying in the Memphis heat.

....and kindred spirits because we both love the LORD! Thanks for all hubby & Heidi did to make 48th & now 49th anniversaries so special!

Generosi-TEA

"Giving" is often skipped over in sermons as pastors don't want to "upset" the congregants.

But God....in his word has lots to say about giving.

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of re-living many of the familiar rituals of my childhood church. However, this time it wan't at the large First United Methodist in Hopkinsville Ky, but at a small church, Berlin Methodist in Lewisburg, TN. 

• The Apostles Creed. 
• Doxology. 
• Lord's Prayer in unison. 
• Responsive Reading. 
• Offering Plate passed.

Berlin UMC is a church where a few seek to serve many, even with their tithes and offerings, "sowing bountifully and giving cheerfully." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

I was impressed by their generosity, as most were widows or "senior" couples---you can do the math! "Doing good and sharing generously with others pleases the Lord." (Hebrews 13:16)

Plus, they sang my old time favorite, "Lord of the Dance," p.261 in the Methodist hymnal!

CHOOSE: THE LORD OF THE DANCE AS YOUR PARTNER

CHOOSE: THE LORD OF THE DANCE AS YOUR PARTNER

Thanks to my friend, JH who sent me this picture. 

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He.

Some verse of scripture "sing out " to me of dance positions with the Lord of the dance.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. (Psalm 73:23)

Even when I stumble in my life dance with Him, His words from Psalm 37:24 comfort me. 
If they stumble, they will not fall, because the Lord holds their hand. (NCV)

For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Psalm 41:13)

Who wouldn't want to dance through life with the One who holds you close and calms your fears.

That's why I choose the "Lord of the Dance" to lead me.

CHOOSE: MY OWN LANGUAGE

Music, as termed by many is the universal language. For me, "dance" is a language of its own!
It's my language! Analogous for my own life's journey language. My dance with the "Lord of the Dance." 
My beautiful Ukrainian friends use "language of dance" in their worship movement. Sweet Lynn H. uses "language of dance" in her art.
I use it in my faith based writing as I reflect on the One who leads me as I put my (the follower) right hand in His. Looking up. Focusing on Him---not my feet. (circumstances)
Can your visualize the "closed" position of dance?  The leader puts His right hand on the follower's back and uses it to guide her so that she does not stumble and fall head-long. (That is so biblical-- Psalm 37:24)

Whatever is one's chosen language, may it clearly express praise in His name. (2 Chronicles 5:13)

Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He,
And I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He.

Just click here-- Choose the language of children and dance in your heart! --and listen.

Dance, anyone?

6/29/13 As a mom, as a grandmom (aka Shug) as a teacher, my desire has been, and continues to be, to live a spirit-filled life. Not just that those whom I nurture or come in contact with at church, at work or thru my blog hear my words and see my, hopefully worthy "walk," BUT also are encouraged to "follow suit." To pursue a life filled with the vitali-TEA of Christ. To not just walk but to "dance!"

To dance with the "Lord of the Dance."

I keep calling out because I want everyone to "join the dance." "My" Ukraine ladies dance. Thru them the ladies in India are dancing. I want Memphis to dance.

But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance..." (Matthew 11:16-17) 

Our lives matter. Our days matter. Won't you join me in the dance? 

Dancer's Delight

1/19/12 Psalm 87:7 says, "They that sing as well as they that dance shall say , All my fountains are in thee." (ASV)

---Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.” Psa. 87:7 (ESV)

May I be one who, though she can't sing a lick but loves to dance, recognizes the LORD as the source of living water. May I be one who declares, "springs of spiritual peace and refreshment are available to all who believe." May my delight in my "Lord of the Dance" overflow to others.

GOD'S ENCORE

4/15/11 A repeat affirmation. A lyrical avowal. It was just for me. The music spoke to my heart and worked its way to my feet. The melody* from the Quaker song, “Simple Gifts “ was being “practiced” in the gym lobby by the Houston High orchestra. My plan was to take pictures in the gym for “Career Day.” God’s plan was for me to hear HHS kids playing “our” song.

The chorus on the score sheet reminded me of those words of truth that we experience when we are right where God’s plan takes us---to the place we “ought to be.” And when we’re right there in that place, the middle of His will, it’s delightful.

It’s a gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,

It’s the gift to come down where you ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

Will be in the valley of love and delight.

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! …..for that reminder.

*The melody is the one used by Sydney Carter (1963) in “Lord of the Dance.” Mr. Carter stated, “from one of these hymns, (Simple Gifts) I adapted this melody. I could have written another for the words of 'Lord of the Dance'but this was so appropriate that it seemed a waste of time to do so.” That’s a blog with in itself.