Dance And Be Glad

Watch Us Rock The House!

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:26:00 +0000

The h2 unlimited dance team! From L-R: Lydia, Robyn, me, Tatyana, Alexis

Front: Zoie, Melissa (also our wonderful teacher!), Olivia, Josh, Shameer, and Nick

Yes, it's true. God moved through us yesterday and not only did the church really seem to enjoy the experience..we had a blast! I am so grateful to have been part of this, and hope you'll enjoy watching the video. I think all of our hard work was definitely rewarded!

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Effectively Dealing With Difficulties In Dance Part 1- Physical

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 17:58:00 +0000

Two of my dancing "sweet"hearts :)

*For those of you who have followed my blog in the past, thank you for bearing with my "jumping" back in where I left off over a year ago. I have my reasons, and I will share them in God's time. For now, know that I am glad to be here and even more so to have you with me!

No good thing comes without a set of challenges associated with it. Dance, while a tremendous blessing, is no exception! Especially when you are just beginning, or you are sorely out of practice [ahem] you can expect to have to deal with a little physical "opposition". My hope in writing this is that you can laugh at (and learn from) my mistakes along the way- making your own transition into the dancing lifestyle a smooth and enjoyable one.

Most of the "data" compiled for this post comes from the time spent these past several months working on a few dances to present during church this Sunday. Never before have I been part of a dance-ministry team, and I'm excited for God to use us to awaken creative desires and impress His spirit into hearts. Today I'd like to share some of the physical difficulties I've faced during this time of preparation and what has worked to press forward in my commitment to serve in this way. In an upcoming post I will share some of the spiritual/emotional struggles I have gone through, along with tips for persevering in those areas.

Stiffness
It took me a few mornings of waking up and literally crawling out of bed to realize that I wasn't the spry young gymnast I used to be! I needed to s-t-r-e-t-c-h before practice, and not just a little toe touch and arm lift either!! Of course, if I would have always arrived on time, this would not have been an issue, but..that's a different issue entirely (wink)

Stretching not only protects your muscles from being pulled and other injury, but it also allows you to feel more loose and limber as well-which makes motions more natural and less forced. For example, certain jumps and kicks I do would not even be possible for me if I didn't take the time to put in a good stretch first. Here are some basic stretches I would recommend, though I would also add a neck stretch to each side: 15 seconds is a good basic time to hold each stretch, but if it takes longer for you to feel more loose and relaxed, feel free to hold up to a minute or so.

Side note: Wouldn't it be fun to do some stretches with me to worship music? I'm feeling inspired!

Stamina
Let's face it: unless you are used to regular physical activity, a 2 hour long dancing session is NOT going to end as pleasantly for you as it starts! In fact, unless you want to end up like I did, prostrate on the floor, dizzy and wondering why you ever got yourself into this mess, I recommend avoiding it!! Even a fast paced dance lasting over a few minutes without slowing down is enough to get your heart beating scarily fast and may best be worked toward over a period of time.

I recommend setting realistic goals for yourself based on where you're at right now. Set aside a certain amt. of time for dance each week, and split it up over several days. If you're thinking of joining a dance team or taking any classes, it's not too early to begin warming up your body and improving your stamina and overall health now. You will be glad you did. Even 10-15 minutes 3 days a week spent moving to your favorite music (after a good stretch) will offer surprising benefits. Try alternating between a fast praise song that inspires you to jump around a bit followed by a song you can move to with slower, more graceful movements. Adding in two or three spins each time and increasing this amount every few weeks will slowly get your body used to the motion and help to prevent dizziness. The spotting method is also worth a try if you find yourself using a lot of spins in your dancing.

Space
You probably do not want to have to replace light bulbs from your overhead lights due to a dancing mishap. I know I will be avoiding it in the future... Nor do you want to find yourself moving to the music while holding your toe after stubbing it on the corner of your computer desk. Ask me know I know!

Even in most small apartments, you can make room to dance. It may involve getting rid of your coffee table, or using an uncommon area like a hallway or kitchen. In my house I have an open area about 8x8 which I use to practice, but dancing is always taking place throughout the rest of the house, as well. It does help to have an area where you feel comfortable that is relatively disaster-proof for freedom of movement. However, I've made do with much less. In fact, my ceiling fan light is still in place over my practice location. I do hope to replace it very soon with something further away from my hands and (sometimes) feet!!

Children who want to join in the fun pose an interesting dilemma to the dancing mama. I know mine are quick to accompany me any chance they get, and I hate to stop them. For the most part, I've learned to embrace it, and keep any more "serious" practice time reserved for when they're sleeping. Sometimes, though, I have said something like, "Give mommy five minutes to practice, and then I can dance with you", or something along those lines.

Another terrific option for dancing is the great outdoors. Especially this time of year, the temperature is just right in the morning and evenings and there something about worshipping God with dance out in the beauty of his Creation that adds a whole new element of joy. You've got to try it!!

Well, I hope this has served to inspire and equip you. I have been feeling a bit under the weather and plan to spend the rest of the day resting up for my performance tomorrow. I look forward to posting a video of our dance for you shortly!

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My personal testimony- Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Tue, 29 May 2012 04:24:00 +0000

(If you'd like to catch up, you can read part one here and part two here.)

The day I knew I was responsible for a life other than my own was truly a pleasure I can not put into words. Instantly it was as if the Lord impressed upon me my own personal worth, along with this amazing love which embraced me like nothing I had ever felt before. I was giddy, to say the least. (I was also dirt poor, and basically homeless, but that was not important at a time like this!) Several hours later came the call. They had made a mistake with my labwork- I wasn't pregnant.

How could this be?! To me, my entire life had just become meaningful. I had felt love for a precious new life that I never dreamed possible. This could not be the end- we were over-comers. Nine pivotal months and one marriage later, our first son would be born.

During my pregnancy and early marriage, the Lord worked in our lives in the most miraculous of ways. As we began attending regular worship services and meditating on His word, He would slowly reveal truths that would change the way we had been thinking and behaving, and by grace, we began to conform more and more into his image. I traded in Marilyn Manson and my books on the Occult for Christian music and the Bible. I quit smoking, and instead God sparked in me a new flame- a passion for Him. The high I used to depend on marijuana to provide was nothing compared to the rush I felt when lost in worship with the Holy Spirit!

One day an old friend called to tell me an ex user-friend of ours was rumored to have HIV. I was speechless. In some of my darkest hours, I had shared his needles. There was nothing I could do now but wait 6 months for my own blood test results. Wait, and pray. I can't tell you the hours I spent on my knees crying and praying to God for a healthy baby and a chance at a new life, but they were many. I was desperate; needy for a Savior to wash me clean, to cleanse my baby of any dirty remnants of my filthy, sinful past. The months rolled by slowly, yet I drew so near to God that His great peace sustained me until the day I received the beautiful news- we were both HIV negative. Praise the Lord!

Life as a new wife and mother was a wonderful experience at first, but unfortunately things began to go dreadfully off-course. It soon became apparent that my husband's past had a stronger grip on him than either of us had realized, leading to a broken trust which I felt may be irreparable. I packed up my stuff, took my son with me, and went away to college- filing for divorce several months later. When the school year ended, I packed up my bags once more and moved back home. I thought I hated it there. Maybe it was just too much, too fast.

My faith-walk had taken a bit of a nose dive toward the end of my campus days. I was now your average single mom, trying to make ends meet, taking some college courses, and trying to re-enter the dating arena- all while caring for a boisterous toddler. I was lonely, confused, and stressed-out. Instead of running to Christ, I began dabbling in worldly pleasures once again, only to find myself feeling worse than before. This wasn't the mama my little boy needed, of that I was sure. Still, it seemed so hard to make another turn around without someone there to do it with me. I did not have a church family to call home, nor did I have any Christian friends who I felt could understand what I was going though. After a few bad experiences and failed romances I willed myself to shape up, but my true heart condition did not improve much. I even attempted a "real" relationship again, but without Christ as its center, it did not last.

One evening, I came across an ad in the newspaper for a new church in town which sparked my interest. I decided to go check it out, and felt instantly welcome. I even ran into an old friend of mine! As I returned weekly, the word of God once again seeped into my spirit and I was hooked- this time He even began to fill me with the desire to dance for his glory, and to remove the spirit of fear which bound me (and my feet!) Of course, it didn't hurt that I thought the lead musician was just about the hunkiest man I had ever laid eyes upon. We were introduced in March of 2006 and had our first (perfect) date on April 1. By May we were engaged in Detroit, MI and we were married on June 25, just 6 weeks later! Breaden (now 6) was thrilled to finally have a daddy in his life, followed by 3 siblings in the 4 years to follow! Life was wild and beautiful and filled with the awesome presence of God- I could not have asked for more.

***Fast forward 6 years later***

Life has been beautiful. Life has been hard. Same with marriage, motherhood, and my walk with God. Each day brings its own challenges and blessings, and I am still learning to take them with joy. Through it all, though, our passion for worship remains unchanged, and watching as our children get excited when we praise Jesus together is one of the most precious gifts I have ever received. I have so much to be thankful about. God is so good!!

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My Personal Testimony- Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Note: Part one is posted directly before this, but you may also click here if you don't feel like scrolling :)

Slowly, I was able to transition back into normalcy, which for me meant returning to the same user- boyfriend (though often in jail for I-can't-remember-what), drinking and partying binges, and the typical rock and roll lifestyle. It was all in good fun, I thought, and I made a promise to myself that I'd never let heroin get its sticky fingers on me again. Its destructive power was still fresh in my mind, and I was on a mission to take charge of my life once and for all.

Unable to restore a healthy relationship with my father and step-mother, a friend and his family invited me to come and live with them in their house/church, as long as I attended their services each week and promised to "keep things legal" at the homestead. I agreed, and signed up to begin 1/2 days at the high school that fall, in pursuit of graduation. Things were going well. I even enjoyed church for the most part, though I kept a low profile and still didn't really "get it." Soon though, the days grew cold. Without a vehicle or even a license, I had been walking almost 2 miles each way to school most mornings, and it didn't take long before the warmth of my covers in the morning convinced me that they were the smarter alternative. Once again, I dropped out of school, deciding a GED would be the way to go.

A lot happened in the months to come, and I share but a hazy (yet thankful) recollection of it here. Not surprisingly, I did not hold up my end of the deal with the pastor's family, and so I packed my bags yet again and moved in with another friend of mine. I was now 18 years old. I had managed to secure a part-time job, a car, and a terrible fixation on LSD, to name a few. Still, I was able to keep it all in stride for the most part, and even managed to pass my GED testing with flying colors. This pleased my father, who allowed me to return home several months later and even bought me a guitar. I played that guitar until my fingers almost bled. Until the pain and suffering of my past seemed to fade into melody, and the heroin beckoned me a second time. I told no one, secured my "packet" and snorted in secret, feeling like I was queen of the elite. Until I got sick. Really sick. Everywhere. This would not be enough to thwart most from the heavily addictive nature of this drug, as I myself can attest. Yet by God's grace, it did the trick for me this time, and I didn't go looking for it again..at least not right away.

Then I met a boy. A front man in a band, with dreamy green eyes I could stare into for hours. He was an ex-heroin addict himself, and we quickly fell in love and became inseparable. One day we got talking about our past, and somehow convinced ourselves that we should try heroin together, just once. So we scrambled up some money and headed to a buddies house who I knew could help us out. I should have gathered from the room full of zombified flesh and pin-prick pupils that we'd never see the exchange go through. Instead, we walked out that night with profuse apologies from a poor, addicted friend and a collection of some of his most prized personal possessions. But no drugs. Our talk that night was that of destiny. God intervening. I wasn't so sure, but you couldn't sway him an inch. We promised each other that we wouldn't do it again, though I wasn't as pleased with the sentiment as he was.

It was only a few weeks later I was told I was pregnant...

for part 3, click here

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She Speaks: My Personal Testimony ( Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:07:00 +0000

I am a well that runs deep. Beautiful but to One. Valuable as the Lord's holy presence flows through the very waters I choose to draw out each morning. His grace is the sustenance of which I feast. Without its Light and each molecule of oxygen which fuels my blood, there would be no story of tragedy and triumph. Only a cold, grey marker (if I would have been found worthy for such) would remain.

My shoulders quickly rise and fall and the back of my neck tenses tightly as I think back to those years. Years of desolation with a mother in heaven and a father who sought a new wife and business gain.. yet made no strides in understanding a daughter on the brink of destruction. It would not be many years later that I was marked by hopelessness and bondage, and the needles that punctured my flesh with their false promise of freedom. My heart ached hard and my hands trembled as I reached for whatever I thought would ease the pain, yet I was so disconnected with myself that I barely recognized my own reflection. I was a high-school drop-out. A user and dealer- "that" girl on the streets.

The day my battered body was pushed head first over the edge of a second story balcony foreshadowed the transformation that God was about to begin working in my life. The hands that grabbed me and planted my feet back on the ground took every last belonging I had before chasing me away, leaving me desperate and in need of rescue. Still unaware of my need for a savior, I agreed to solitary confinement in my old bedroom, shaking, sweating, and vomiting my way through the fierce aftermath of addiction for several weeks.

Somehow I made it through the withdrawal without physical intervention of any kind. I had asked Jesus into my heart as a little girl. Could it be that in His great mercy He sent his angels to keep guard over my healing body? I can imagine them right now, reaching out to steady me as I lay curled up in the corner, riding out the waves as they came. There is no way I could have gotten through that on my own.

Click here for part 2..

This post is dedicated to my sweet friend Kristy, who gently exhorted me to get started writing my testimony and informed me of the scholarship contest going on for registration to the SheSpeak conference- a place for women to grow in their ability to passionately serve God through writing, speaking, and ministering to the body of Christ as an act of spiritual worship. Update: Kristy's post was one of two chosen, which entitles her to a free scholarship to the conference. I could not be happier for her!!

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Worship 101: A Passionate, Non-Expert Shares

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:52:00 +0000

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12: 1

I've considered myself a "worshipper" for several years. Yet, so many times I have found myself wondering, "Just what does it mean to worship God? What should it look like in my life?" As I read, consulted, and sought the Lord for these answers lately, a funny thing happened. He answered! (Isn't that just like Him to do what He says He will do?!) This post is an attempt to flesh out the hurriedly scratched early morning words as I woke to receive them.

*****

Reverance. Adoration. Willful submission. These are all common terms used in the definition of worship. According to Ellen Taricani in her book, Worship In Freedom, "The English word derives from a conjunction of "worth-ship"- a celebration of the "worth" or supreme value of God."

There Is Only One Who Is Worthy

In 1 Cor. 2: 2-5, the inspired words of Paul read as follows (emphasis mine):

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Where our faith lies determines where our worship lies. Think about the message of the cross. God sent his only son Jesus to die for us that we could be freed from the eternal bondage of our sin. This is unconditional love, and the root of our true joy and hope as Christians! There is nothing/no one that is holy or righteous in all the earth except through the power of the cross- Jesus' shed blood. (1 Cor. 1: 26-30) We should worship God alone because He alone is worthy. If anything else is truly good in our lives, it is only because God made it so!

Because we know Jesus to be the object of our hope, we also must devote ourselves to learning more about Him through spending time in His word. As we do, we will develop a deeper personal relationship with Him, which will strengthen our ability to keep our eyes on Him alone. The more we know Him, the more we will want to worship Him!

Worship Is A Heart Of Surrender

image by callissa

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galations 2: 20

When we chose to make this truth a reality in our lives, a lifestyle of worship will follow. It is beyond the ability of our sinful nature to come before the Lord and enter into His holy presence.  True worship is a supernatural experience- a gift afforded us only by God's amazing grace.  It is not confined to any particular activity or event, and it is rarely able to be planned.  (See Proverbs 16:9)

It's Not About Us

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. Psalm 29:2

It seems like a no-brainer, right? Yet, commiting to worship God without our "selves" getting in the way is a lot harder to do than it sounds! For an example, think of the lyrics to one of your favorite "worship" songs. Chances are pretty good that there are as many references to you as there are of God! Now don't get me wrong- there is nothing wrong with praising God for all He's done for us, or proclaiming our love for Him. It is the natural response of a thankful heart, and it is pleasing in His sight. However, I believe we are missing a foundational element of our response to Him if we do not extol God simply for who he is.  Psalm 145 is a great example of the type of God-centered worship that I'm talking about. I will share a few lines of it here:

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
   his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
   they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
   and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
   and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
   and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Notice that while David does mention himself here, it is only to bring God further glory, not to detract attention from Him. The focus is still clearly on God. A great book which illustrated this for me so clearly is Teaching Kids Authentic Worship: How to Keep Them Close to God for Life. Kathleen really drives the point home that we need to keep the focus on God alone if we're to paint an accurate picture of what true worship is all about. I would recommend this book even for someone who doesn't have kids. It's full of practical ideas and eye opening.

Nothing Short Of Everything

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth, that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. 2 Chronicles 16:9

Anyone who is truly thankful can (and should) praise God, and as their interests and talents present themselves, they can create a physical expression of that thanks. Dance, drawing or painting, drama, or writing are just a few examples. True worship, however, is different. Even with all the artistic ability in the world, it takes practice and hard work to get it right. The practice required to experience worship lies in learning to yield our hearts- our everything, to His control.

As we move from praise into worship, our thoughts and actions become uncluttered by "technique" and we simply are His, allowing Him to move as he pleases. We are no longer thinking about the limitations of our physical bodies, but are caught up on the spirit of the Lord, instead. What a glorious transition this is. This is breakthrough to the Kingdom of Heaven!

"Taken", by Juliet Dobson

Our God Intercedes On Our Behalf

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:23

When we are yielded to Him (having casted all fear aside!), we are vessels overflowing with His glory. He creates beautiful expressions through us by His spirit, and we reflect the truth of who He is. It's important to expand our worship repertoire into new areas of expression while also allowing every other aspect of our lives to be saturated in Him. In doing so, we can most accurately portray the depth and width of our God. Bringing Him glory, and welcoming others into His presence is our goal. Joy is a result!!

Likewise, His wisdom pours into (and out of) us, and we have no need to worry about how to handle any situation we may face. We trust that God will come to our aid with the perfect words, at just the right time, according to His word. Consider the following verses:

Romans 8: 26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Matthew 10: 19-20
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Kingdom Bound

One great idea I came across to help us center ourselves on God is to take 5 minutes to write Him a love letter- without a single personal pronoun to be found. List His amazing attributes; lift His name on high!

Another option can be to sing/ meditate on a song which truly does keep Christ at the center. I have listed a few links to some I found on youtube which fit the bill. If you know of others, please feel free to share! Most of these songs are more contemporary in nature, but many hymns would be well suited as well.

You Are Holy- Jason Upton
King Of Glory- Performed by Jesus Culture
Jesus Name Above All Names-
King Of Love- Hillsong

God showed his great love for us by giving His only son. We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Therefore we must freely lay down our own lives, as Christ did, for the joy set before us. (Hebrews 12: 1-2) An earth-shaking experience awaits! True worship is some powerful stuff :)

I saved this video for last. Maybe it's the hip-hop in me, but this song tore down my walls almost instantly. The spirit is moving, and it's all about God's glory. Give it a chance..you may just love it!

I pray you would experience a new level of worship today. Thoughts? I'd love to hear them!

Coming up:
A review and giveaway of Worship In Freedom, by Ellen Taricani. Love it!

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How It Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:22:00 +0000

Since I'm horrifically tardy in doing so, I'll start off by announcing Sarah M. as the winner of the Art And Prophecy giveaway. Congratulations Sarah and thanks to all who entered!

For those of you who may have wondered what in the world I've been up to lately, I'll give you a quick run down: I was sick for almost 2 weeks straight, busy revamping my son's entire homeschool plan based on the Charlotte Mason approach I've fallen in love with, dealing with feelings of sluggishness and insomnia (adrenal fatigue perhaps?) and preparing to lead worship for the first time for a weekend retreat with my husband. (Awesome by the way..more on this very soon!!) I would be remiss not to mention one of the key factors that has held me back from popping in though, which is separate from (but a direct result of) the many things I just shared with you, so here it is:

Since I changed focus here at Dance And Be Glad awhile back, I began feeling like I did not have a solid foundation to build from, in the sense of really conveying just what true worship is all about and why it is so important. Writing a post to this effect would serve as a heartfelt and (hopefully) spirit-led attempt to answer some of those questions, and in turn, would release me to continue writing about other related topics once again, something I've very much been looking forward to! Ok, so I am in the midst of pouring into this post, plan to complete it by weeks end, and then on we'll go.

Just had to give you a quick update, and I will be back soon. I promise! Love to all :)

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Image by Amy Guth

Art And Prophecy

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:51:00 +0000

Today I have another delightful post brought to you by my dear blogging friend, Barbie, a new monthly contributor here at Dance And Be Glad! If you'd like to read the story behind her original art work pictured above, read this! A long overdue post by yours truly is in the works..

Post by Barbie Swihart

I was so honored when Leah at Dance And Be Glad asked me to guest write on her site again. I hope to encourage you as you grow in the creativity that the Lord has given to you.

I have been asked several times about my prophetic art. You can find it here. I have never had any training in drawing or painting. But as a person who often sees pictures, given to me by God during times of worship and prayer, I began to wonder if maybe God would give me the ability to paint what I saw. Over the last few years, the Holy Spirit has been doing a work in my heart and has given me so much freedom as I embrace my creative side. Many have been encouraged through my art. It's all for His glory!

The church that I attend has an ongoing Prophetic Arts ministry. Do not let the word "prophetic" scare you. Although I do not feel qualified to teach about the prophetic, I love to share my experience with what God reveals to me and how it transfers to art.

Prophesy. In simple terms, prophecy is a message from God meant to strengthen, encourage, and comfort others. Most often, prophesy comes through divinely inspired words, spoken to breathe life and hope into another individual, though it can also be expressed in various other artistic forms as well.

But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 1 Cor. 14: 3

I have been privileged to serve on the prophetic team at my church, and it always amazes me how God will meet me when I am obedient to step out in faith with what He gives to me. I remember one time the Lord showed me a picture of a flower. I was ministering to a young girl and I asked her what her favorite flower was. It was the exact flower that the Lord had shown to me! From there, I was able to share with her God's heart towards her; how He saw her. It was very touching.

It was a simple picture, given to me by God, yet combined with my act of obedience, it was used to bring hope and healing.

Art. Art is a universal language. I love that art can convey different meanings to each person who sees it. I have had the experience of walking by a painting and bursting into tears as God brought healing to me through it. I believe that God desires to use art in the Church to bring hope, healing, and encouragement to His children.

So how to prophecy and art work together? Simply, the Father desires to express His heart to His children. We serve a creative God who is always speaking. God desires to (and does) speak through art. As an artist, he desires to open our eyes and ears to see and hear what He is saying, and then transfer that onto canvass. We do this for the Glory of God first and foremost. If no one said anything about any of my paintings, it wouldn't matter. I do it for God. Do I want others to be blessed by it? Absolutely. But I do it out of obedience to what God has put on my heart, and leave the rest up to Him.

Before I paint, I spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit what He desires to show me. God will often give me a picture. I then ask for the Holy Spirit to help me to transfer the picture onto canvass. Since I am not as skilled as some artists, I must surrender and rely 100% on the Hoy Spirit to move through me. And there are times when God doesn't show me anything beforehand. Imagine walking up to a blank canvass during a Sunday morning worship service and being completely oblivious as to what direction to go. It's a humbling experience as I take God's hand and say, "Okay Lord, You've got this one." I love to feel His presence moving through me as I paint.

My desire is that God would use my art for His glory!

I would encourage you to begin developing your gift at home during your private worship times. Or quietly in your seat during a worship service. Maybe the church you attend is not yet at a place where they can be free to express themselves through art. It is very important that you come under spiritual covering and leadership before attempting to develop an arts ministry in your church, or any ministry for that matter. But what is stopping you from bringing a sketchpad and colored pencils with you to church? Developing your gifting as an artist takes time, commitment, patience, and practice.

God created us to partner with Him in releasing His glory on the earth! He has given each of us a measure of creativity. If you have a desire in your heart to begin drawing or painting, invest in some simple, basic tools and go for it. And do not become frustrated if you do not see doors opening for you right away corporately. Be faithful first in your own private life. Cultivate your gift when no one else is watching. God will be faithful to bring it into the light at the right time.

Below are some great resources if you would like to find out more about art in the church:

Theresa Dedmon Ministries

Theresa is a very gifted artist. She has visited our church with her team on several occasions. Take a moment to view her gallery, and read the testimonies of hope and healing that have been released around the world through there art listed there.

Awakening An Arts Renaissance

A very reasonably priced mp3 download of teaching and encouragement about prophetic art by Theresa Dedmon.

Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

A great book about using your artistic talent for the glory of God. Written by Philip Graham Ryken.

Leah here: Would you like the chance to win your own copy of the last two resources? (Of course you would!) Simply visit Barbie's worship arts site, Expressions Of His Beauty, and subscribe by email to receive updates of new posts (or let me know if you already do.) Though infrequent, they are beautiful encouragements for the body and spirit. You may receive additional entries by tweeting, posting on FB, following her (or me) via GFC or on facebook, or by following Barbie's main site, My Freshly Brewed Life. Please leave a separate comment for each thing you do. Giveaway ends this Friday at midnight (est). Best wishes!

***GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED***

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The Power In Connecting With Christ: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Are we being His hands and feet?

Lately the Lord has been speaking to me as I discern how we can respond authentically to His Holy Spirit, and I realized a big question had been left unanswered, even in my own heart: Why is it so very important that we as a body connect with Christ in such a personal way? I want to share with you today one major reason as it was revealed to me, and plan to share again shortly of a few more.

God's people are suffering. All over the world, there is hunger, disease, poverty, and demonic oppression/ deception which grieves His spirit. Many are living a life which holds nothing but the promise of eternal damnation. There are those we see on a daily basis who are hungry for truth (even without knowing it) and would willingly accept prayer and the good news- yet we share it not. At least, not often enough.

Here is where really connecting to Christ can make such a difference. When we give Him the best of ourselves, really drawing deep from that inner well of creativity He's placed within us, we begin to naturally grow in our relationship with Him and produce fruit that can feed others. Boldness of spirit, purpose, and a greater love for the lost are natural responses to feasting on His presence. Not only that, but we will allow Him to be seen, felt, and tasted as well, as we physically display Godly qualities through our various art forms. Most importantly though, the power that is released through these acts of worship is actually able to tear down walls and bring deliverance, healing, or other anointings as the spirit chooses (more on this in another post).

The caution here is to be mindful of the balance between moving through him and moving for him, as well as remaining in complete humility at all times. While a rich and satisfying relationship with God is wonderful, it is not the movements of our hands and feet that matter, but rather, if we are being the hands and feet of Christ, serving and blessing others in His name. This should be our ultimate goal.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Galations 5: 13-14

Please understand I am speaking with humility (and from experience) when I say that as good as it feels to be dancing, worshipping and experiencing the manifest presence of God, though it is pleasing to the Lord, it is a selfish and an incomplete offering if I do not go out into the world loving and blessing others as a result. My heart is being challenged in this area now more than ever, and I have a long way to go. Still, each step we take towards this goal is like incense before the Lord, and will radically affect the course of history as the children's hearts are returned to their fathers. The lost will be saved, the hungry will be fed, and the chain of events to follow will be unstoppable.

Let us be bold to step out and shine the light He's placed within us, giving of ourselves, our talents and resources, even to the point that it hurts. The reward is so much greater than the sacrifice.

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Top image by roe_jessie

A New Year..To Be Free!

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 07:10:00 +0000

These past few days I've been burning in my spirit after the things of God with a fiery passion, unlike what I've ever experienced before. However, I know that this kind of victory won't come without opposition, so I'm preparing myself for battle. Devil, stand back. Jesus is doing a work in me and you will NOT be having your way!

I just recently finished two books on Christian dance and the arts which the Lord really spoke to me through, and attended two dynamic worship concerts over the weekend which drew me deep into the presence of the Holy Spirit. I am truly desperate to remain in Him. Though I can't put the feelings into words, my expression of who He is through dance has been being shaped and stretched as I step out in obedience to the calling He's placed in my heart.

Last night, Shawn and I had the amazing opportunity to hear Stephen Roach and his band, Songs Of Water. (Seriously. They were phenomenal...you MUST check them out!!) They call themselves a folk orchestra, with over 40 instruments dedicated to releasing the sounds of Heaven: including hand drums galore- my weakness. I was moved, literally. The burning in my chest when one of the musicians called for the dancers to come forward was undeniable, and I knew I had to do it. In fact, when he pointed his finger out toward the crowd, honestly, I think you could have drawn a straight line from it to my chair. Why me? I thought. No one else is dancing!! I mumbled something to Shawn about hating the awkwardness about to come and proceeded to stand up and make my way to the clearing at the front of the stage. Then I danced like there was no tomorrow.

Apparently, something broke loose in the atmosphere because when I began to look around me, I saw others dancing, too. YES!! I don't know what I looked like up there or what anybody thought, but I do know that I did what God wanted me to do in that moment...and it felt so free.

This is what I was created for..to be a vessel used to usher in the presence of God. And guess what?!! You were created for this calling as well. Wow. I'm speechless.

The previous evening, Sean Feucht led an incredible time of worship and shared a word with us that 2011 was to be a year that we would truly mean what we said. As we sing our songs of praise to God, that each word spoken would resonate in our spirits and release us into walking in the freedom and liberty of Christ. I can tell you firsthand that this message has a powerful anointing on it, and I pray that each one of you will receive it right now as you read this post.

Each day, I am becoming more and more passionate in my calling to encourage the artistic heart of God's people to be drawn out, and I welcome your suggestions on topics for the upcoming year! But first, be on the lookout for some stripped down fundamentals all about the area of worship, including (hopefully) a debut here by my wonderful honey :) In the meantime, in case you didn't see this from the facebook page, here is a song that simply took my breath away as I reveled in the glory of God. And..he dances!

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Top image courtesy of Ben Bachman

Dance Comes From The Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:05:00 +0000

My husband recently bought me Heather Clark's book Dance As the Spirit Moves. (Review to come, I hope!) As I began reading it tonight, I took a break and did a quick search for some of her dance pieces. What I found was not what I expected, but it brought the tears to my eyes and inspired me in a new way. Get some tissues handy and watch this beautiful video of Heather Clark dancing with Valerie Nunziante, a young girl with spina bifida. Truly God does make a way for his children!

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A Prophetic Art Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 05:01:00 +0000

Today's post is compliments of my sweet and talented blogging friend Barbie, who I would highly recommend you get to know! The painting featured here is one of her own, and you can read more about the story behind it here.

Post by Barbie Swihart

I was so honored when Leah asked if I would share my journey of prophetic art. I pray that you will be blessed by what you read and understand that you are beautiful, artistic, and creative.

My journey in art began several years ago. I am privileged to belong to a church community that embraces the freedom of expression in various art forms such as worship, media, dance, drama, painting, or sketching. Although I have been involved on worship teams and led a worship dance team, I never really considered myself an “artist”. I did not have an understanding as to what true creativity was, but desired to be creative. I began to pray and ask the Lord to release His creativity through me.

A few years ago, I traveled with the leadership of my church to the Kansas City International House of Prayer. I remember as I sat in the room, overwhelmed by the worship, that God began to give me some amazing pictures of what was on His heart. My prophetic gifting is as a “seer”, which means that God often shows me pictures during worship, or during my prayer times, both for me personally and for my local corporate body.

While I was in Kansas City, I had an opportunity for the first time to sketch some of what the Lord showed me, and although it wasn’t perfect, it was very freeing. I desired more.

In my local church, there are artists of all different abilities- from beginners, to those who have been formally taught, to those like me, who have no formal training but have a burning desire to express God’s heart through the arts. Because I never considered myself an artist, by the world’s standards, I had to overcome some obstacles. The fear of man and the need to compare my art to others were two of my biggest challenges. Also, I had to learn to accept and cultivate my unique bent as an artist. I don’t use brushes. I use my fingers, and for a while, I thought that was weird. But one day God said, “use your hands and do not pick up a brush”. So to this day, with the exception of texture or background color, the majority of my artwork is painted with my fingers.

It took me a while, but I am finally at a place of freedom in my creativity and it doesn’t matter what others may think or feel. It only matters if I allowed God to move through me.

The more I step out in obedience and allow God to cultivate my gifting, the more I am amazed at what I can do.

The Holy Spirit has been the best teacher!

When I paint, I first pray and ask the Lord if there is a particular scripture, word or picture He would like to show me. I then ask Him about color – what colors should I use and how many? I seldom receive anything concrete from the Lord until just before I paint. And it’s normally just a sense or a feeling. I then pray and ask the Lord to anoint my hands for worship as I begin to paint. As the Holy Spirit comes, I often feel as if I am in another time and place, like it’s just Him and me in the room. When I paint, I feel in complete unity with the Lord and close to His heart.

My desire is to be used as an instrument for His glory. It is not about wowing the congregation, or having someone want to purchase my art. It’s about being obedient to the Holy Spirit. I believe we were all born to create. We serve a very creative God.

"In the beginning God created..." (Genesis 1:1)

If you have never “created” in the presence of the Lord, give it a try!  Turn on some worship music, grab some colored pencils or watercolors and ask the Holy Spirit to move through you. What are you seeing? What are you feeling?  Let Him guide your hands and do not get caught up in technique.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about your heart connecting with God’s heart. And I guarantee you it will be beautiful because it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. You cannot fail. God gave you the desire. He is waiting for you to create so that the entire world can see His beauty!

Barbie lives in Northern California with her husband and four children. She works full-time as the Pastoral Administrator of her church, and desires to be used by the Lord to express his heart through the arts. To see more of Barbie's art, visit her blog at http://www.myfreshlybrewedlife.blogspot.com

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Merry Christmas And Some Upcoming News

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:43:00 +0000

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Happy Birthday Jesus!!

The Hoffmaster Kids- Dec. 2010

Wishing every one of you a rich encounter with Christ and memorable times with loved ones this holiday season. Don't forget to stop back tomorrow or over the weekend as time allows for a special guest post.

As for the news- I'm approaching 100 posts AND my one year blogiversary this coming month. Look for some great giveaways and special features in the weeks to come. Scroll up to the top of this post to subscribe to my posts so you don't miss out on any of the fun!

A holiday challenge: Take some of that wonderful free time you've got coming and get creative!! I'd love to hear what you get into :)

Prying Off The Monster

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 02:28:00 +0000

Perfectionism. One simple brush and it latches on like a weed, making your path all the more difficult to travel. If I'm seeking the Lord first, and His glory, shouldn't He be making each of my steps beautiful, each turn graceful, each word from my pen or stroke from my brush burst with creative flair? Maybe I'm not cut out for this "arty" stuff.

WRONG!

In Him we live, and move, and have our being. (Acts 17: 28)

The enemy knows how powerful God is, and what we are capable of when we submit to His leadership in our lives. He also knows just what tactics we as humans are most susceptible to, and employs them at just the right times when our confidence in approaching the Lord is wavering. Namely, when we are stepping outside of our comfort zone in order to offer a sacrifice of praise. There is almost always an element of doubt during times where we are doing something we are unfamiliar with, or when it comes to doing it within the public's eye. Why? I think it's because we are on the path to experiencing a breakthrough of God's anointing in our lives (and as a result, into the lives of others), and that goes against the enemy's plans to steal, kill, and destroy us. So, there's struggle- warfare, if you will. The doubt comes bubbling to the surface, and we start feeling like we aren't good enough.

I don't know about you, but it makes me MAD when I think about this kind of bondage God's people are under, and I want to do everything I can to pry off the monster and restore freedom to the body, to worship Christ unashamedly, with all that He's given me.

God may put a desire in your heart and give you complete and total ability in that area instantly. There are times when it is necessary for this to be the case, for whatever reason, and God knows what is best. Then there are other cases (which I believe are far more likely), when His gifting will come to us gradually, as we pursue Him and give Him our efforts, our time,...you name it. It is a growing into Him.

Each of us should strive toward excellence, but not in the way that requires a flawless routine, word sequence or color scheme. If you don't remember anything else from this post, remember this one thing: Our excellence is already complete through Jesus and the sacrifice that He made for us. All we need to do is keep Him at the center of all that we do, and gradually, He will refine us and make us the instruments of His glory that He sees fit.

Let us then approach the throne with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4: 16

Don't underestimate the spiritual battle that goes on each time we make the decision of when and how we will make ourselves available to the Lord. Take every thought captive, and meditate on the truth of who we are instead of making yourself a target for the enemy's attacks. When you feel them coming on, as the popular slogan goes, "Just Say NO!" Tell that nasty devil you won't be listening to his lies anymore and shake him off in Jesus name. Even my 3 year old daughter will tell you, "When you say Jesus' name, the devil runs and hides like a little tiny cat" (ok, so she got a bit mixed up with the "scaredy-cat" thing, but you get the point!)

As Christmas quickly approaches, it is the perfect opportunity to focus on the great gift that Jesus truly is. His name alone is power! Call on Him and know that He will answer. Our willingness to come to Him is excellent to Him, and He will bless it, for sure.

One more thing..I have a special guest post from Barbie in store for you this Friday, so be sure to grab a warm beverage and stop back. I promise, it's good!

A Lifestyle Of Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:41:00 +0000

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I came across this video last night and my husband and I both thought it was worth passing along..so here it is! Great message with a challenge by Kim Walker- Smith. I love how she explains that, "Worship is simply our connection to Him..that's it." What do you think?

What Defines You?

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:48:00 +0000

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photo credit

When I began this blog almost one year ago (wow!), its primary purpose served as an outlet for my bottled up emotions. Over time, it has worn many hats- and has evolved into a richer, more defined "place" as I've discovered which ones were the best fit.

Likewise, in my personal life, the road to where I am now has been full of colorful new experiences. Opportunities to learn, grow, embrace, create, and become part of something bigger than myself have been overwhelming! Not everything I have tried to do has gone smoothly from the beginning, but as I've moved along, I've chosen to let the Lord shows me which things are worth working toward. This leads me to the point I'd like to share with you today:

When it comes to serving Christ, there are many, many titles one may go by. Homemaker. Bread-winner. Parent. Spouse. Worshipper. These are just a few of the words which give a glimpse into the hearts of His servants. They're undeniable. Still...each one of us are full of creative potential which is just waiting to overflow into all aspects of our lives as we submit to God's leading.

If I were to ask you what you "do", what would your response be? I'll admit..my typical response would be, "I'm a stay-at-home-mom", or something like that. Yes, this is an enormous task (and blessing), but does sharing something as basic as this really allow God's creativity in you to shine though?

I want to know that you love Jesus, and your family, for sure. But...what I really want to do is to talk about your passions! What are your gifts? How do you use what you've been given to bring glory to God, and to be drawn deeper into his presence? What kind of fruit is being produced as you carefully tend to the seeds He's placed in your heart?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

John 15: 5-8

Do you like to write? Then you're a writer. Dance? You're a dancer. Paint? Well, you get the idea. It's OK to claim these gifts, and it doesn't even matter if you don't think you're any good at them or not. If the desire is in your heart, then the ability is right there with it, just waiting to be put to good use! Just as being a child of the King (our true identity) is a growing process, so is developing our creativity in serving Christ. It takes patience and diligence to gain skill at something, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it's sure to be an exciting and enjoyable journey!

One more thing..Don't be afraid to experiment with new ways to worship and honor the Lord creatively, and continue to be open to the Lord's leading as you do so. The true desires of our heart come from Him alone..and only He can take them and allow them to grow and multiply into something bigger and more beautiful than we could have ever imagined.

Hope Has Come

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 04:12:00 +0000

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photo credit

Today's post is compliments of my friend Kelly, of Domestic By Design. I am honored to have the privilege of sharing her inspired words with you at Dance And Be Glad! Prepare to be blessed! Oh, and it's a blog swap! You can read the post I wrote for her blog today by clicking here.

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As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of our Lord, I see it as no accident that the Lord has been weaving the theme of hope and adoration in my heart over the past few months. Just in time to celebrate the One who is Hope!

It might sound silly, but I didn’t really understand what adoration was until just recently. Yet this year, through a few painful events, He has helped me understand what it is, and that my adoration has been misplaced. And that my Hope therefore, had yet to really take root in the True source of Hope.

I absolutely love how adoration is described by Bob Hartley in his Adoration Prayer Book. Here is a man who shares my warm affection for Mr. Webster (though I don’t think his definition is from the 1828 dictionary that I’m so fond of) J. He begins his definition of adoration with Webster’s own definition:

1. To honor and admire profoundly and respectfully, implying love and stressing the notion of a personal attachment.

2. To worship or honor as a deity or as divine.

3. To show devoted deferential honor to; regard as worthy of great honor.

4. Synonyms: revere, reverence, venerate, worship.

He goes on to explain that adoration is not about asking things of the Lord, but giving all of our affections--all of our heart to Him. Treasuring Him more than gold or silver (SOS 1:2, Phil 3:8). “To appreciate and value Him for who He is and to give Him the love He is due in all areas and seasons of life.

To adore is to give Him honor and receive His love….to focus on Him appropriately with faith in Who He is….to see that He is more than enough, and that every obstacle and challenge of life is an opportunity for an encounter with Him…”

Honestly, I was blown away and humbled by what I read. As I began seeking to have more focused times of simply adoring God, I began seeing and understanding Who He is in a whole new way. That is what’s so humbling. As I truly understand Who He Is (all the time—fixed and unchanging), my adoration of Him grows.

Words in Scripture that I have read hundreds, maybe thousands of times have leapt off the page. The cry of my heart for the past many months has been that He would take me deeper. And He is, but it’s not been easy. As I’ve seen Who He Is by the help of the Spirit, I’ve been challenged by my own unbelief. My sin has revealed the depths of my unbelief and I have been in a real battle to overcome it as I seek to pursue Him. Especially because my tendency is to sink into despair over how miserably I’ve failed. But here's the kicker:

As I adore Him, I am slowly beginning to see and know Him Who Is Hope.

My words have failed me as I’ve sought to put it into writing. I have known that He is our Hope--that our hope should be in Him, since I came to know him 15 years ago. But somehow, He is helping me to see that this infinite God, who is closer than I understand, is Hope for me in a whole new, deeper, moving way. And it is slowly (very slowly) starting to penetrate down to the deepest fibers of my being.

And it’s affecting everything. I am tasting life!

So as I begin to see and believe Who He Is (adoration), see my unbelief and sin, He is showing me that He is Hope. “Do not despair over your sin! Yes, confess and repent, but don’t sink into despair—Hope in Me! Look at Who I am, how I can help you, who I am for you… at what I’ve done for you.”

I stand in adoration (which is still feeble) at our Lord Jesus Christ. I am small. I am weak. I am wretched. But He came to this earth, died as a ransom for me, and rose again that we might have life through Him. All for the Father’s delight. And now, the Father delights in me…in you who call Him Savior.

Truly, hope has come.

***********************************************

My favorite Christmas CD is Sovereign Grace Ministries “Savior.” The songs are laced with Scripture, truth about Who Jesus Is, and hope. I love music, and I always listen to the words in a song the very first time I hear it. One of the best songs of rejoicing on the CD is called, “Hope Has Come,” which was the inspiration for what is on my heart today.

Hope Has Come

Let us join with the angel voices

Let us join their happy song

All of heaven and earth rejoices

For the Lamb of God has come

He has come to rescue sinners

Come to meet our desperate need

He was born to bring forgiveness

Born for Calvary

Chorus—

Alleluia, Hope has come

Alleluia, Christ has come

We once were slaves in misery

Till You appeared and set us free

Alleluia, Hope has come

Let us lay our gifts before Him

Let us magnify His Name

With our thankful hearts adore Him

For the Lord has come to save

He has come to break sin’s power

He has come to set us free

Hope was born that glorious hour

Christ the mighty King

Chorus

About Kelly:

Kelly and her husband, Blane have two children and are praying for more. She adores her husband, seeks to delight in her children, and regularly cries out for help in her roles out of a desire to please the Lord and to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Kelly regularly writes at Domestic By Design on all things domestic, but particularly loves sharing what's stirring in her heart.

Get Rid Of Your Coffee Table And Get Down!

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:14:00 +0000

photo credit

Preface: I am not trying to be bossy with the title of this post...just presenting a challenge that I believe is worthy of consideration!

Dancing is a beautiful, God-honoring way to worship the Lord...and the best place to get started is right in the comfort of your own home. However, it can be hard to find the room to move about freely with a big (though perhaps beautiful) piece of furniture sitting smack dab in the middle of the open space in your main living area!

Think about it...do you really need that thing sitting there idly, waiting to hold a beverage or a few remotes or maybe even just to display a pretty seasonal arrangement? I personally have found freedom from the need for a coffee table in my home, and the kids as well as myself have all benefitted from all the extra space it has allowed us! Not so sure you're up for that kind of commitment? Here are a few ideas you could try:

*Simply slide the coffee table straight up against the couch for a bit to free up some space, then turn on some of your favorite worship music and twirl around with ease!

*Try an end table instead

*Um..I thought I had another one...anyone?!

It is my plan to present a weekly challenge to all of you that will hopefully inspire and encourage you toward worshipping our God through dance. Some will be more light-hearted (perhaps like this one), others more serious. I'd love to know what you think!

Move For Him Monday: Just An Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 18:54:00 +0000

photo credit

Today I have a "Blogimony" featured at Gatherinspirt.com. Feel free to stop over and check it out! If you're stopping by from there today, "Hi!" Please accept a friendly "air hug" from yours truly :)

I had thought about making a video for today's dance movement, but decided that there really wasn't a need. Why? Because it's something we all know how to do (young and old alike), and each have our own unique style for. I find myself doing it often while worshipping, and it instantly seems to return that child like joy to my spirit. Any guesses? It's skipping!! I'm reminded of the following verse:

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19: 14

I tried to find the root for the word "come" in hebrew but I don't have a fancy program to do so and I finally gave up. (Any suggestions for a good one for macs?) Still, it seems to me to be a definite action word, don't you think? I can close my eyes and imagine the sweet children I used to teach at our old church, and see them joyfully skipping, running, and leaping across the room during our worship time. If this is how they naturally come to Jesus...shouldn't we do the same?!

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

Mark 10 :15

This week, why not kick off those shoes, put in some fun praise music and maybe grab a little ones hand. Then bring the kingdom of God right into your livingroom as you define those mad skipping skills you've long since put away. Let his creativity shine!

Walk Around My House By Sarah McMillan

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:08:00 +0000

I have loved Sarah and her music since stumbling upon her album several years ago. It makes me sing..makes me dance..makes me feel God's presence. Even though it hasn't gotten old, I was so excited to find a new song she had written a few days ago and wanted to share. I've listened to this so many times lately, and wish there was a way to download it on iTunes..but for now watching this will have to do. Hope you like it as much as I do! It has definite potential for some interpretive dance action...we'll see what happens!

Click below to watch the video, or click the link above to sample her album songs. Have a wonderful day of rest!

Worship Is The Key

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:50:00 +0000

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Today I was thinking of how sometimes life just doesn't seem to make sense. The rain falls in downpours; difficulties come crashing in as mighty waves. Nothing can quite prepare you for the unexpected events the days may bring, and yet when we commune with God, it quiets that restless, uneasy spirit within us and allows us to simply be His.

No matter what kind of chaos enters our lives, He remains unchanged. I believe that making the time to worship Him from the very essence of our being is the key to releasing the outpouring of His presence into our lives, and providing the truest sense of stability that we so desperately seek.

So...that being said, I'd like to present to you a challenge: to take hold of all that God-given creativity within each one of us and just let Him have it..whether you sit down to write a poem or story, create a beautiful piece of artwork, or offer Him a dance of praise. When you turn your passions and abilities toward Him, He will meet you and draw you in deep. Think of it as a jump-start for your spiritual journey. Just don't forget to read the road map (aka thebible) before you set course.

So, are you up for it? I'd love to hear from you how this plays out in your life...and I plan to share my own story with you soon. If you've had a deep encounter with God that you'd like to share as a guest post here, please let me know so I can get in contact with you. Blessings!!

Sharing A Bit Of His Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:37:00 +0000

Tonight I share with you some news. Before I do, though, please know that I have enjoyed the journey we've shared together over these past 11 months so much. And no, I'm not giving up the blog. *Insert toothy grin here* However, lately I've felt like what I really need is to focus more on the Lord and just be willing to surrender the things that make it difficult for me to walk in the path he's called me to.

As I've prayed and sought His direction in my life, one thing has been becoming more clear to me than I'd like to admit: (but here it is anyway, since I'm putting myself out there like that)

I think about this blog too much.

Returning to my writing has been so therapeutic for me in many ways. The problem is...I can write about whatever I want to here. That doesn't sound like it would be a bad thing, but for me, it gives me far too many opportunities to lose track of what is going on right now- in this moment. My mind tends to run on overdrive as it is, and then to constantly have these ideas popping into my head throughout the day about what would make a great topic for a post, or maybe a good category, or series....well, frankly it's just too distracting. I am blessed to have a wide variety of interests and abilities, but perhaps it was premature to think I could find the balance in sharing them all in this one place.

There's also been that instinctive writers "thing" creeping in where I start seeing the story in everything that happens rather than simply living it and allowing God to work that beauty into me on His own time. Have any of you ever experienced this?

So here's what I've decided to do (totally based off of the Lord's leading at the present time):

I will be streamlining Dance And Be Glad to be focused primarily on the "arts" of worship: with an emphasis on my growing passion of worship dance. Living a lifestyle of worship is something we should each strive towards, but I've got a really strong desire to encourage the body of Christ to experience God on a deeper level. By reclaiming the arts for His glory and creating our own passionate responses to Him, I believe we can do just this. Just thinking about this gets me excited..very excited!! Plus, the ideas I have for the topic seem to flow together seamlessly, while leaving my adventures with herbs, married life, motherhood and homemaking mostly off the hook. *Big sigh of relief* For those of you who would like to continue reading about these things, here are a few great sites worth checking out (A few of my favorites and some of the first blogs I started reading):

Domestic By Design
This girl and I share the same heart, I think! I also have a guest post here talking about dance.

Keeper Of The Home
Very helpful natural living blog. I have written two articles featured here, including Better Bedtimes For Little Ones and Making Mom's Health A Priority. Also, a collection of my natural remedy posts can be found at the Home Remedies Carnival here (numbers 31-37), along with many other posts worthy of your perusal.

Passionate Homemaking
All about the home, and living simply.

Inspired To Action
Intentional motherhood- I befriended this girl, and she is legit :)

A Holy Experience
The way this woman reflects on life is life changing.

Meanwhile, I will ~~continue~~ start writing our own personal family journal, including filling the empty pages of my children's memory books with all the sweet, quirky, and wonderful things they do which are all too quickly forgotten. Maybe write some longer articles as I feel released to do so, in the forms of e-books, guest posts, or the like. Eventually I'd even like to write a book, but that is something I'm putting out of my mind at the present time as well.

I'd like to thank each one of you for being here and caring about me and what I've had to say these past months, and I do hope that many of you will stick around and see how God is going to revamp this site to bring Him deeper levels of glory!! You're support has been so encouraging to my soul, more than words could say.

Preparing For His Coming: The Best Resources For Advent (All Free!)

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:42:00 +0000

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In past years our family has struggled with how to celebrate the birth of Christ in a meaningful, sincere way. For us, that has meant reevaluating many of the common elements of our own childhood traditions. For a while, we even considered not celebrating the holiday at all, because of some of the pagan roots distantly associated. There were a few years where we chose not to have a tree for this reason.

This year, however, we've purposed a way to redeem the tradition (tree and all) and allow it to bless our family, all while bringing glory to God. Rather than getting our children excited about Santa coming during the weeks that precede Christmas day, (this article explains why we've decided to discard the tradition of Santa in our family), we will be focusing on His Coming by celebrating the season of advent, starting today!

How We Are Going To Do It:

Using a Jesse Tree, we will be having morning devotions each day till Christmas which will guide us from the first prophecies of His coming all the way through to His birth. Read more about the spiritual significance of a Jesse Tree here. Each day you hang a symbolic ornament which corresponds to that day's scripture/ story. (This can be done once a week instead if your family has the time/ attention span!)

I was excitedly anticipating the re-release of Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional book yesterday, in which all proceeds would be donated to Compassion International. Her devotional includes full color print outs of each ornament symbol, and also has a daily activity for your family to reach out and give to others: such an important aspect of the true meaning of Christmas! The best part of this wonderful resource is that Ann has decided to offer it for FREE!

Here is the link where you can subscribe to her blog and receive the 80 page e-book immediately. I am blessed just to be able to share this information with you, and I know you will be blessed to receive it.

For some more in depth discussions with our older son, (11 as of 12-11), we will be going through this free advent devotional in the evenings, as recommended by John Piper.

We'll also be doing an "advent calendar" of sorts...similar in theory to many of those Christmas calendars you see everywhere, but with an added bonus: Each day a verse/ part of the story of Jesus' birth is read, slowly adding more each day until the entire story is recited by Christmas Day. This will be of particular benefit and enjoyment to younger children who will easily learn the story by repetition. Noël Piper used to produce advent calendars like this with the accompanying story, broken down into daily readings. Although it is no longer available for purchase, permission has been granted for the story to be freely distributed, and I am now in possession of it- thanks to this sweet missionary girl. Leave a comment if you'd be interested in receiving a copy, and I would be glad to pass it along!

Noël Piper's book: Treasuring God In Your Traditions, offers valuable insights on the importance of traditions in family, gives instruction on how to keep them Christ centered, and shares many great ideas her family has benefited from. Last night I happened to stumble upon a FREE pdf file of the entire book (holla!)

Click here for the free online copy of Treasuring God In Our Traditions.

For those of you who homeschool or just want to incorporate additional spiritual nourishment (and some fun) during the season, you should definitely check out Sheri Graham's blog post which is full of links to unit studies, crafts, gift ideas, and more (all FREE).

Can I mention just one more free thing I'm looking forward to using?! Kids 4 Truth offers some great stained glass style coloring pages which are each accompanied by a scripture verse. If you scroll to the bottom of the coloring page list, you will find their 6 scene "Arrival" collection. Wouldn't these just be beautiful painted or colored?! You will have to select "scale to fit" in your printing option if you want the images to fit the paper. See if you can resist printing out an extra for yourself..I dare you!

I hope to share with you how our advent calendar is going to look once I figure it out myself. I really like the idea of the manger scene, so we'll see how it goes! We have a few more days left till December, right?!

I'd love to hear your thoughts, feelings, or ideas for purposeful holiday celebration. What does your family do to "keep it real"?

In His Presence: A Poem

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:13:00 +0000

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Inspired by my recent encounter at The Relevant Conference. Many more stories of His moving to come...

Moved to tears

Brought to my knees

Restless spirit quieted

Callouses gone

Inspiration found

Joy and faith intertwine

His truth revealed

My identity restored

Shame left behind

Truly yours

Deeply blessed

I will ever praise you

The Little Girl Who Loved To Write (A True Story)

noreply@blogger.com (Leah) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 03:24:00 +0000

There was once a sweet little girl who loved to write words. As she grew, the sweetness waned, yet her ink pen continued to flow. And so she would sit, writing from the depths of her being, words which would become increasingly soaked with despair and bitterness as the years rolled by.

It came to pass that the girl unwittingly stepped into the path of utter foolishness and lost her way for some time. At last, she managed to find herself (or rather, be found) before it was too late, and began a new way of life. A better way, yet unlike any she had chosen to live before.

A child was born, and her life was not her own. Nor had it ever been, but it took this precious child growing within her to realize such a profound truth. She embraced life with joy and the words returned: joyful, thankful words; flowing out like precious oil before her new love, the one who rescued her from her miry pit. Her beloved Jesus.

Yet again, trouble came. Years of it, and in fact, though she experienced much happiness and growth during this complicated journey, things never did quite clear up like she thought they should. The unsettled dust seemed to linger in her heart and mind, and distort her view. During this time the words came and went, but to the girl, they never really seemed to be worth saving. It was as if she felt she wasn’t worth saving. If only she could have seen herself through the eyes of her Heavenly Father!

One day, as if by accident (yet knowing this could not be), the girl found herself face to face with a new friend. An older, wiser woman; one who had been carefully dusted off and made to shine the true light of Jesus on a broken down vessel like her. It was also no coincidence that the Lord had been preparing and softening the girl's heart for days beforehand for this very meeting. As they talked, the girls spirit became lighter and filled with the knowledge of who she was in Christ. Not simply what her story had been through all those years, but what really mattered the most: God’s unfailing love for her, as a child of the King!

That day, a well of healing sprung up inside of her. Though hardships continued to present themselves in the days and weeks ahead, she felt she had overcome the biggest obstacle of all: the enemy that was herself. She began making her way slowly back to the things that meant the most to her, as she learned to listen intently for the Lord’s leading.

And the Lord led her back to her words (His words), and renewed her enthusiasm for the gift that it was: to bless, encourage, and love others into His presence. She knew it would not be an easy task; simply that it was one she would gladly continue. In His grace, her imperfections would be used for His glory.

As she planned for the moment those words would flow again, she knew that this time the words that she wrote would matter. Because she knew that she mattered. Even if only one person read them. Even if no one ever read them.

She would not bury her treasure anymore.

A special thanks to Ann of A Holy Experience for shedding light on what it means to Live Life in the Upside Down Kingdom.