CUSHION OF CALM!

A "Cushion of Calm" prevails before the predicted storm filled with gusts, ball-sized hail and tornadoes hits! 

How special to await it on our front porch with

a devotional book, a new book and a cuppa in my Lake Junaluska mug. The cushion in the chair, for the physical comfort I needed, even included the reminder. 

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS. IT'S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.

In times of storm His sovereignty gives us His strength and peace, aka a "cushion of calm".!

A time of God's peace to rule in our thankful hearts. So we dance.

CHOOSE: TO DANCE

Dance Lesson to follow...............

Sometimes its hard to even take that first step on the "Dance floor of Life" especially if the tune is unfamiliar or the lyrics to the song are ones you don't want to hear.

If first step hard to take, just hold out your arms and your dance partner will meet you more than halfway because He is already on thence floor. He can give clear direction----more than once, if needed. Many dancers have to revisit this first step often in order to clearly learn the lesson the Lord has for them.

But....when the "Lord of the Dance" is your partner and you are allowing Him to lead your steps, it's easy, not only to choose to dance with Him, but to be the first one to hit the dance floor.

DANCE OF GOD

10/6/11 "Dance of God," the final chapter in Timothy Keller's book, The REASON for GOD: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, caught my eye for a very obvious reason----Dance. Having begun my "dance with the Lord" in new ways with my '09 cancer diagnosis, I was drawn to read what a scholar had to say about what has been "my" way of experiencing trust and intimacy with the Almighty God as He leads me in "our" dance---the one chosen just for me.

Keller sums up God's dance in several steps. Step one included understanding God's own personal dance, "The Divine Dance" as he explains the doctrine of the Trinity. Starting with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit glorifying one another, he stresses that such a "divine dance creates a dynamic, pulsating dance of joy and love." Perichoresis is the Greek word for this (think choreography) "meaning literally to dance or flow around." (Keller, p. 215)

Whereas self-centeredness is static and demands that others orbit around us, the inner life of the triune God is utterly different as it is characterized by self-giving love. (Keller, p. 214) The first few pages had so much food for THOT, I'm still digesting it.

But God....has me realizing that the "dance" starts and ends with God and when I join Him in the dance, He can teach me to delight and serve others and center on their desires and interests. I know that I'll have to stay in the "closed" dance position with Him in order for Him to have complete access to my ear so that He can continue to teach me these truths.