Tag: dance

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Stop Adding Laws

The scripture tells us that, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, were the leading citizens among the Jews. They knew what God’s law said, and they could tell people how to apply it. But they were hypocrites. They added 615 of their laws on top of God’s laws, thinking that would “protect” the law of God from being disobeyed. But in doing so, they violated the spirit of the law, which is love.

Today’s Christians can do the same as the Pharisees if they add their social and religious standards to God’s law. “Surely a Christian would never listen to that, or wear those clothes, or dance, or eat that meat…”. We might think we are being especially zealous for the law of God by adding such restrictions when the bible doesn’t – but God desires love, not legalism.

Today, following human standards while ignoring God’s call to love, can lead to terrible results – “hypocrisy”. It has led to racism like apartheid. It has led to sexism with statements like “she should have known better than to wear that”. It has led to nationalism where we look down on immigrants and refugees. Such hypocrisy will condemn us on the day of judgment. Laws that do not aim at love for all people are not God’s laws. The Ruler of Heaven and Earth is not fooled by distorted rule-following and fake self-centred Christianity.

“Do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, forgive us when we set up false standards. Father, forgive us if we have judged others unlovingly. Help us to follow your laws and not add our own trying to protect yours. Please show us how to love everyone as you do. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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Let’s Celebrate God

Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Godly Parent

While traveling I get confused by Christian congregations who look sad and miserable as if the have hope. Even in worship our time to celebrate our God for who He is and what he has done we take the non biblical stance of silence, uniformity and in action. I remember after Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan scored a goal against Germany in the 2014 World Cup, he and his teammates did a coordinated dance step. When Germany’s Miroslav Klose scored a few minutes later, he did a running front flip. “Soccer celebrations are so appealing because they reveal players’ personalities, values, and passions,” says Clint Mathis, who scored for the US at the 2002 World Cup. Not suggesting that we celebrate as if we are at a football match.

In Psalm 150, the psalmist invites “everything that has breath” to celebrate and praise the Lord in many different ways. He suggests that we use trumpets and harps, stringed instruments and pipes, cymbals and dancing. He encourages us to creatively and passionately celebrate, honor, and adore the Lord. Why? because the Lord is great and has performed mighty acts on behalf of His people, He is worthy of all praise. These outward expressions of praise will come from an inner wellspring overflowing with gratitude to God. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” the psalmist declares (150:6). Which is why we were created.

Today, Though we may celebrate the Lord in different ways, our praise to God always needs to be expressive and meaningful and should show personality, passion and value. When we think about the Lord’s character and His mighty acts toward us, we cannot help but celebrate Him through our praise and worship. How has this psalm challenged you to be more expressive in your praise to God? Spend some time thinking about the greatness of the Lord’s mighty works. Then give Him your praise. Remember praise is the song of a soul set free.

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe. —Psalm 150:4

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, I lift you up and magnify your name with my mind, body and soul. Father I apologies and ask for your forgiveness for my lack of personality, passion and power while praising and worshiping You.  For allowing the things of this world and the enemy to still my praise for You. God today I pledge and declare that sin will stop and I will praise you with my whole heart as you created me to be. I come in agreement with your word “let everthing that have breath praise the Lord” in Cr name Amen.

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62 Reasons Why I Love My Mom

“...May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.” (Ephesians 3:17, AMP)

My mum is a lovely person — she’s kind, fun to be with and very supportive. Se runs fast for a 61-year-old. She’s small – 5.2 ft – and clocks in at just over 100 lbs. She’s been a wonderful mum to me and is a fantastic grandma. My mom is about to turn 62 this year, so here’s 62 REASONS WHY I LOVE MY MOM AND SHE IS AMAZING.

  1. You have always supported me.
  2. You are preceptive.
  3. You persists in prayer at all times.
  4. You keep it real.
  5. You have helped deter me from making bad decisions.
  6. You taught me to dance like no one is watching.
  7. You always find the good in people around you.
  8. You let me follow my dreams and always support everything I want to do.
  9. You cultivated a joyful environment when I was a kid.
  10. You taught me patience.
  11. You show me how to treat a woman.
  12. You taught me how to love myself.
  13. You’re strong and taught me to stand up for others.
  14. When life gets so stressful that I practically forget who I am, your always there to reminds me.
  15. You’re independent.
  16. You’re honest.
  17. You take my call no matter what.
  18. You make me laugh.
  19. You-always tried to give me honest answers to the hard questions.
  20. You’re humble.
  21. You’re selfless when it comes to your children.
  22. You exhibit steadfastness in the Word of God.
  23. Your always my No. 1 fan. Ya!
  24. You work hard.
  25. You taught me compassion.
  26. You had to carry me around for like 9 months.
  27. You took me to church every week so faith would be a part of my live.
  28. You always believed in me.
  29. You are obedient to God.
  30. You make the lives of everyone you touch happier.
  31. You give me a kick in the ass when I need it.
  32. You-always made sure I knew I was loved.
  33. You have showed me how to be the best version of myself.
  34. You always pick me up when I’m down.
  35. You still wake up early just to warm up my breakfast when I visit you.
  36. You have a great taste in music and know how to get a party started.
  37. You have supported me when I didn’t know what I wanted for my future.
  38. You always call me to make sure I’m OK.
  39. You’re always thinking of what’s best for my future.
  40. You taught me humility.
  41. You’re intelligent and direct.
  42. You raised two amazing children.
  43. You let me choose my path in life.
  44. You take your responsibilities very seriously.
  45. You always tell me to be happy and look on the positive side.
  46. You have taught me the power of giving and receiving advice.
  47. You make amazing cakes.
  48. You find fascination in the little things.
  49. You call me silly nicknames.
  50. You give me love but also enough space.
  51. You listen to me when I have problems.
  52. You have shown me what it takes to make a good marriage work from experience.
  53. You embraces a spirit of contentment.
  54. You gave me life and brought me into this world.
  55. You love me just the way I am.
  56. You love me unconditionally.
  57. You taught me to go above and beyond in my career and personnel endeavours.
  58. You trust in God and have kept the faith.
  59. You taught me how to preserve through the toughest of times.
  60. You always try to bring order to chaos in the family.
  61. You generally hold to what is right and are generous as well as lovely and kind.
  62. Most of all”¦ I love you for who you are and who you’ve helped me become”¦ you’re my role model, my mother and my friend. I love you more than life itself and would do anything for you! You’re the best Mom and deserve so much more than I can give you. Happy 62th Birthday!

My mother was crazy about us.  And that unconditional love was expressed by helping us to engage in many, many shared, complex, and flexible activities that helped us learn, express ourselves, and play well with others.

Of course there are still many other reasons why our loving, caring, forgiving, and very supportive mothers deserve our love more.

So what are you waiting for? Go and tell your mom how much you love her.

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Doin’ the Bible Dance

Doin' the Bible Dance

Some of us are natural-born dancers. You might be thinking, “Not me. I have two left feet.” But let me explain. Those of us who read the Bible dance through God’s Word, and each of us has a preferred style.

Steady, methodical dancers 
They read each verse carefully, because they don’t want to miss a thing! You never know, God might have a golden nugget hidden in the middle of those genealogies or descriptions of ceremonial law! (This is my style of reading most of the time, by the way.) But methodical dancers just about go into cardiac arrest if the Holy Spirit whispers to skip over a few hundred pages and read something out of sequence temporarily.

Spirit-led dancers
They follow whichever way Holy Spirit’s wind blows. They read in Daniel one day and Deuteronomy the next. But some spend the next two years reading Psalms and nothing else, and their biblical balance gets a bit tipsy after a while. (Maybe we aren’t all as Spirit-led as we think!)

Hopscotch / hot coals dancers 
Some of us dance through the Bible as if we’re on hot coals. We become very uncomfortable when God puts His finger on areas of our lives that aren’t in line with Him. So we take a quick hop over any verses that bother us and move on to safer territory. This may be a giant leap: “You know, I’m just not getting much out of Romans today. I think I’ll read Isaiah for a while. Isaiah always builds me up.” It doesn’t take long for  the hot coals dancer to figure out where he’s most likely to get his feet burned. He quickly learns to avoid that chapter or book altogether! (After all, who said we have to read the whole book from Genesis to Revelation?)

Victory dancers
These are the prayer warriors. They are intensely serious about their dance moves. They stand on the Word part of the time and swing it the rest of the time to accomplish the purposes of heaven. They do “mighty exploits” like Daniel spoke of (Daniel 11:32).

So, how do you dance through the Word? Do you even read it? Are you dancing lightly to avoid the hot coals, or are you planting your feet firmly in a victory step? Are you letting Holy Spirit lead – really lead – in the dance, or are you doing your own thing, all by yourself, and finding it’s kind of a drudge?

Dance with the Lord through His Word. Whatever method of steady reading you use, if you’re listening to Him and applying what He says, your dance will be awesome!

If you are interested in teaching on intercessory prayer, the prophetic gifts, or practical Christian living, visit Lee Ann’s Out of the Fire blog or her website, Character Building for Families.

 

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