When Should I Rejoice?

A couple days ago, my dance teacher told my class, "It doesn't matter if you're good at dancing or bad at it. What matters is how you show God through that dancing. If you say 'woe is me, I am a terrible dancer!' or, 'Look at me, I am an amazing dancer!', neither is right." By bemoaning how awful you are or rejoicing at your gifts, you aren't showing Jesus--you are giving a wonderful example of how selfish you are.

So, how do I find a mediator between "I'm awesome" and "I'm terrible"? First, find your bible and look up Psalm 149 verse 3, which announces, "Let us praise His name with dancing!" We aren't supposed to praise our name with dancing, we are supposed to praise His name. Next, remember Luke 1 verse 39, which states: "Nothing is impossible with God." Even if you feel like an awful dancer, nothing is impossible with God. He can help you through even the toughest times. Even if you never improve, He will get you through.

"For is anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he is deluding himself. Each one must examine His own work, and then he will have reason to boast with regard to himself alone, and not with regard to someone else; for each will bear his own load." -Galatians 6:3-5

The next time that you dance, remember that God gave you your gifts for a reason, not just to show off. Dancing is a way of showing Jesus to others, so don't let that opportunity slip by! Each time you dance, thank God that He gave you the ability to dance. Ask Him to work through your abilities.

Dear Heavenly Father, I give you my talents and shortcomings. Please help me to use them for your glory. Please give me the strength to trust in your un-abounding love and forgiveness. I want to praise you with dancing!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy

Afraid of the Light

I had heard of this Jesus fellow, but his whole story sounded far fetched to me. I have always been decisive, and quick to show my opinion. My father encouraged my coming to many trials over the years. He believes that woman should do more things--I agree with him on that. Ever since I was a little child I have enjoyed watching trials. I had never taken part in such a huge crowd as this, however.

Jesus said he came to testify to the truth. I began to jeer as soon as the words “truth” came out of his mouth. I wanted to yell those words away, make sure that they would never bother me again. I have often wondered when the Messiah will come, and I know that when He comes he will reveal all, he will reveal the truth. I was to afraid to find out the truth, so I yelled and yelled at the afflicted man. I didn’t want to stop yelling.

The first time Jesus fell, a woman next to me cried out. Someone whispered to me that she was the mother of Jesus. I glanced at the woman. The pain in her face made me yell all the louder. I yelled “What do you think now, king?!” I will never forget the look on that woman’s face.

My yells increased as a young woman rumored to be called Veronica wiped the face of Jesus. I saw her veil. The face of that man, that Jesus, was there on the cloth. It was an image too pain full to look at. Anger bubbled up inside of me. I will not change! a voice inside of me yelled.

I had chosen that Jesus should die. I had helped make the decision. If I was wrong, and that man was the Messiah, it was partly my fault. That is why I yelled and screamed. That is why I taunted and sneered at this man. I felt as if my shouting would make it true that he wasn’t the king. He couldn’t be the Messiah, could He?

For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For every one who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives in the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done by God.

John 3:17-21

Homeschooling!

This picture practically explains my whole life! Well, not really, but it's pretty close. :) Ah, the joy of school at home!

One of my friends made a startling discovery the other day: If a homeschooler wanted to ditch school, they would have to pack up their books, walk to the bus stop, and go to a public school.

Home-schoolers do school work. Public-schoolers do home work. :)

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy

Full of Grace

Mary, The Mother of God, is the pinnacle of grace and beauty. Everything she did, was good and beautiful behold. Beauty is the goal of dancing. That is what we work for day after day, straining our muscles until they shake. But it's hard. So many times I never let go of the barre. So many times I decide to stop. Mary never stopped. She worked and worked, and I'm sure she ached too. She was always grace-full, full of love, pushing temptation away, never resisting God's love, balancing perfectly.

Hail Mary, full of grace!

You are full of grace, Blessed Mother. That's why, as a dancer, as a human, I come to you. You understand my trials. So every time I don't want to let go of something, I'll look at you. I bring my life to you, bring me to your son. Please give me the grace to dance well and the grace to live a holy life.

I am broken and patched. I follow Mary. She brings me to her son, to dance a dance of everlasting joy.

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen!"

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy

Yes. . . . It is Possible to Patch Ballet Shoes!

This is a little trick that I figured out so that I could go to a ballet workshop with out holes in the toes of my shoes (yes I am a bit of a nerd :). It has helped my shoes stay intact longer than they would have, and it really isn't very noticeable. Note: My ballet shoes are canvas- I don't think it would work on leather.

Step one: Choose the Correct Fabric. Make sure that the canvas's weave is about the same size of the weave of your ballet shoe. The fabric in the picture is a little too patterned, but if you have a pattern that isn't extremely colorful or busy, you can use the wrong side.

Step Two: Cut, Pin and Sew. Cut a circle out of your fabric that has a half of an inch extra all around. Fold the fabric under and pin it onto the shoe. The more pins you use, the easier it will be! Use as small stitches as possible, making sure they are close together. Don't sew on the leather sole of the shoe. This part can be difficult, but it's doable.

Tada! The canvas will stretch a bit and mold to your foot. It is much easier to dance in un-ripped shoes- believe me! It is a pretty simple project that is quite effective!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy

Counts

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! One, two...... Coupe on six, remember?

Lord, Sometimes I feel like I can never get the counts right. Somehow I slip and then I have to fumble to the right spot. Lord, I want to stop fumbling. I know I can never stop totally, but please give me the strength to keep on. I realize my misteak too late. I fumble. But You never fumble. So I come to You. I'll follow You, Lord, because you're the only one who ever gets all of the counts right.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

The Climb

She looked up to the mountain high,

and began ascent, feet on the fly.

She swiftly ran up yonder hill,

quenching all anguish with her will.

She now began to climb the slope,

her heart so full of joyous hope.

And quickly passing all the rest,

she climbed up to a higher test.

Sweat rolled down her work-tight face

And carefully she slowed her pace.

“I don’t see need to hurry hear,

my courage daunts all far and near!”

And turning with defiant glance,

her eye caught a girl up yonder path.

So then, in haste she climbed again

sure not to lose, too sure to win.

She climbed up higher and tried to trip

this girl who made all of her dreams slip

With faster pace and stronger lead,

she felt that she just must succeed!

As higher climb slowed her quick trod,

a hand reached down from that coveted spot.

“Just a bit more and then we’re there.”

Said this strange girl with motherlike care.

And then together, both in lead,

They were humbled to succeed.

So when you feel your sure and true

to be the best at what you do,

just follow those who take the lead

and that is the key to succeed.

For to aspire to be their best

is God's humbling improvement test.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!