I Hope You Dance...just don't be a Dancing Monkey!

I know it is shocking to hear but there is this song that truly touches a parent's heart. The title is I Hope You Dance and the lyrics are beautiful. Here is just a taste:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

Even before I was a mom, I totally identified with this song. There were times in my life when I wish I had been more of a risk taker. I wish I had stood up for myself but then again sometimes I wish I could have just shut my mouth. Now Fast forward about 15 years...I was reading a new Bible Study book by an amazing speaker, Jen Hatmaker. (On a side note, she was phenomenal at our Women's Retreat and I highly recommend her!) The title of the book is MakeOver and my dear friend Daneen bought it for me over a year ago and I just have not had the time to read it.

A few weeks ago, I stopped by to ask my friend Tracie to pray for me. When she asked what about, I expressed some feelings of "overwhelment" and frustration of an inability to say no. I found myself not being able to do the things I really enjoy because of things I commit to out of a desire to feel accepted and needed. (Anyway, that is a whole different counseling session.) Tracie prayed over me and then recommended this book to me. So, I made the time and began reading.

Let me just say, Thank God for friends that buy you books a year before you will need them and friends that bring something to mind!!!

The title of one particular chapter is Dancing Monkeys. It talks about all the ways we "dance" for people in our lives for just the reasons I mentioned earlier.

There are times we dance for our parents...

Times we dance for our family...

Let's be honest though, whenever we dance and whoever we dance for, we end up tired!!! Makeover quotes a verse in Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Wow! I just love that. That verse tells me that in all we do, God never intends for us to grow weary...he wants us to run...to HIM but not grow faint.

All of that being said, I do hope that Curly and Moe (and all those I love for that matter) Dance but never, ever become Dancing Monkeys.

That is unless it causes somebody to give a good, heartfelt belly laugh...and then I guess it's okay!!

Peace Out!

"Who wants to be a STUPID Tinker, anyway?"

For those of you without small children, small female children to be exact...the new Tinker Bell movie was recently released on DVD. Now, I have to be honest with you, I am a cartoon NUT! I started collecting Disney DVD's and any other animated movies long before we had children. I just love them. The fairy stories about being a princess, saving a country, being the hero...you get the point. That being said, of course, I went out and bought it for me, oops I mean the girls, the day it was released.

We suffered through dinner and dishes and all cuddled up on the couch for a family night of movies. (I will say that Other Guy did try to make it through, but let's be honest here and say it's just not a Dude flick!)

Strange as it may sound, I was moved by this movie. There seemed to be a hidden agenda to the story line.

In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells the parable of the Talents. It tells a beautiful example of using your talent wisely. By investing our time, money and gifts for the kingdom so that when the Lord comes again, we will hear his words, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

The book of 1 Corinthians speaks of our spiritual gifts. 1Cor 12:4 says There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working but the same God works all of them in all men.

This is all the example of how we are blessed with talents and gifts. Some of us may only have one or two and some of us have a whole basket full. However, it's not about how "special" your gift or talent is...it's how you use it for the glory of the kingdom.

Without giving too much of the movie away, upon her creation, Bell learns that she is a Tinker. (hence the name, Tinker Bell) At first she is really excited until she finds out exactly what being a Tinker involves. There is no glamour of painting beautiful colors or making beautiful music. The Tinker's aren't famous for any one thing, but the things they create help all the other fairies with what they are created to do. In the end, she answers her own question..."Who wants to be a stupid Tinker anyway...I DO!"

So, what talent has God given you? What spiritual gift have you been blessed with? Are you using them for the one who gave them to you in the first place?

If you are unsure of your gifts, (and yes you have one, we all do!) check out a SHAPE class at Grace Church or another church in your area. It will totally change how you look at ministry when you are doing something you were CREATED to do.

Peace Out!