This is awesome. It will forever change the way you think of the word Guidance!

Dancing With God - Laraine Turner
When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "U" and "I"."God, "U" and "I" dance." God, you, and I dance.As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.May you abide in God as God abides in you.Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.

If God has done anything for you in your life, please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive. There is no cost but a lots of rewards; so let's continue to pray for one another.

And I Hope You Dance!!!!!!!!

I loved this when I got it in my email I shared it with a wonderful woman from my congregation who is originally from Japan and she wrote me back to say she loved it and "I love to dance with God" - and I know she does

This is rather amazing...this was the theme of my minister's sermon last Sunday. The scriptures were about following the Good Shepherd, i.e., "come follow me". He substituted the words "Follow the Leader" (which he used in the children's storytime), and then from there substituted the words "Shall we dance".

Come follow me...follow the leader...shall we dance...sounds rather intriguing and inviting, doesn't it?

The rest of the sermon was about seeing our faith journey (ie, following the Leader) as a dance, with God leading and us following His lead. It was so inspirational and evoked lovely imagery. I especially liked how he wove in the possibility/reality that the dance will be different for each person, because no two people dance alike in real life (he attributed that to everyone having different legs, different hips, different rhythms, different arm lengths, etc), so why would we expect everyone else to dance to the same beat and music as we are called to dance to.

I've always loved the image of myself dancing with God; it's so joyful to hear it being affirmed through other sources like the Sunday sermon and this sharing here.

An added thought: our choir used to sing a song by Carey Landry called "Dance in the Darkness"...that imagery of dancing even in the midst of darkness has often helped get me through some terribly dark nights of the soul, especially when going through depression. It helps to think that even then, God continues to dance the dance of life with me, slowly, gracefully, at whatever pace I'm capable of moving at the time...it helps me to remember to "surrender to the rhythm of redeeming grace" (those are Carey Landry's words).

[ January 19, 2006, 08:06 PM: Message edited by: Eagle Heart ]

"dance then wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance said he"...

We also sing another beautiful one "Dancing in the Snow"

hmmm - a book I need to pull off the shelf and read again, "May I Have this Dance?" - Joyce Rupp

"I do not wrestle anymore,
only wait, only wait,
for you to bring my dry bones
into dancing once again." Joyce Rupp

Evie, I've missed you. It's such a joy to hear your voice again.

Eagle, you have to send your pastor this post. Now don't you think that's a God-incidence? How cool is that?

Evie, I love that song, Lord of the Dance. Here are the lyrics for those who don't know it. You can find them at this link too:

http://www.users.on.net/~arachne/lotd.html#sing

Lord of the Dance
Words by Sydney Carter

I danced in the morning when the world was begun
I danced in the Moon & the Stars & the Sun
I came down from Heaven & I danced on Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth:

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced for the scribe & the pharisee
But they would not dance & they wouldn't follow me
I danced for fishermen, for James & John
They came with me & the Dance went on:

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced on the Sabbath & I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame!
They whipped & they stripped & they hung me high
And they left me there on a cross to die!

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body & they thought I'd gone
But I am the Dance & I still go on!

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!
(...lead you all in the Dance, said He!)

They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the Life that'll never, never die!
I'll live in you if you'll live in Me -
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!

Dance then, wherever you may be
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He!
And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said He!

Dotsie, thank you : )

I just can't imagine how some people that we all
know, can live a live without God. All we can
do is pray for them.

Dotsie, it is a beautiful thought. I've never danced in my life, but I certainly aim to be dancing with God! And what a joy it is! Thanks for sharing it!

Eagle- I agree-Godincidence!
Evie, beautiful words from Joyce Rupp!
Dotise, thanks for the lyrics to that song! Inspiring!

Diamond, many still don't know what they're missing! It's up to us to show them by our testimony, how good the Lord is! Let's continue praying for them and us, that we may be a reflection of God's love!