The Freezy Dance

Today I have a really mini testimony to share.  It has to do with ballet too - here goes:

Yesterday my two year-old little brother was privileged enough to receive a freezy.  It was bright red.  He proceeded to bring it down into our basement.

I didn't take much notice of this occurrence until I went downstairs to practice ballet.  (We have a hard floor downstairs and we have some mirrors that I got from my Grandma's house set up.  A ledge along the wall serves as a barre - I am so thankful for the set up!!)  Anyways, I was about to slip my technique shoes on when I noticed that sticky red drips covered the floor.  It looked as if my brother had sprinkled his freezy all over the floor.... I sighed, grabbed up a wet paper towel, and wiped up the mess.

It only took a few minutes, so I was soon running through plies and tendus.  When I get to degajes, I tried to make myself really push against the floor.  I have had many teachers tell my class to pretend that something sticky is on the floor and we need to try to work through our feet before they leave the ground.  Guess what?  Pretending that something sticky was on the ground became really, really, easy, because now there was something sticky on the floor!  As I began to degaje side, my foot came in contact with a bit of freezy that I had missed.  Sssliiddeee!  My foot pushed against the stickiness, through the ground and lifted off the floor.

The moral of my story??  (yes, there is one :P)

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

God used my two year old brother to help me with my technique by spilling his freezy all over the basement.  Maybe you think it's just a coincidence - God didn't do anything.  I don't think so.  God is always working - you just have to look for His loving hands.

How has God worked in your life lately?

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Mandy

Picture found at: http://www.classicalballet.com/

{love me through the trial}

I know that You are always loving me.  I know that everything that You do in my life is a reflection of Your love.

This doesn't seem like Your love.  I can't see how You will show me Your love through it.  It's not what I want right now.

But somehow you are going to love me because of this.  So even though I'm really confused and frustrated and sad, I'm going to hold on.  Because I know that you'll love me through this trial.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

WANTED!

God, I give you my desires and trust in YOU.  Thank you for hearing me.

If I Succeed Today

I am tired:

all the better to give You the glory...

I am weak:
All the better to give You the glory...
I have failed countless times:
All the better to give You the glory...

If I succeed today.

"We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us."
-2 Corinthians 4:7

{Picture found at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/shiriny/images/17955810/title/beautiful-ballet-pictures-photo}

Strength

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

It's true.  "But," you say, "I do all of the work when I'm dancing!"

Well, in a way, you do.  Your body extends it's own leg into arabesque.  Your body uses its own head to spot corner one.  Your body pushes you into the air for a royale.

So yes, it's you who does all of the work.  Right?

Wait. Who made you?  Who keeps your heart beating?  Who opened up the door so that you could study dance?  Who gave you the love for dance in the first place?

I think this is so cool: God designed you so that you would love to dance (or do whatever it is you are passionate about)!  He knew you, and He knew that this particular form of praising Him would give you joy.

Yes, in a way, you are doing the work.  But really, God is present and alive all of the time.  He is giving you life, perseverance, commitment, and passion.

So thank Him!!!  Jesus loves you, and even when things are difficult and seem impossible, He is there for you, holding you up, giving you strength.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

{You know that Feeling?}

You know the feeling that you did a good job?  The very last minute of the dance, when you just know that it was good?

I really like that.  

Or the time when your teacher tells you that you did a great job?

I really like that, too.

I love feeling like I'm a good dancer.  It's fun to feel amazing and awe inspiring and fantastic.  But is it true?

Imagine that you just completed the best pirouette of your life.  You've worked so hard, and finally all of that hard, grueling work payed off.  It's all because of you.  You worked, you sweated, you tried, you failed, and now you succeeded!  You did it all, right?

Nope.  God did.  God worked in you.  He sweated in you.  He tried in you.  He allowed you to fail.  And now He just allowed you to succeed.  

Wipe the sweat off of your brow and give your creator a hug.  Tell Him thank you.  Show Him what you've learned.  Thank Him!  God, the creator, the lover, the healer, did it in you.  You have Him to thank.

That is humility.  

"To be humble is to walk in truth" -St. Theresa of Avila 

If you ever feel like giving up....

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Note: I did not create this photo, but I'm not sure who did.  Thank you pinterest!