Determined to Dance Podcast

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Stay Determined to Dance, encourages everyone to move out on the dance floor of life. Show Notes: Stay Determined to Dance I need to step back for a moment, back to March of 2021. The year when this podcast began. Its creation has involved study, learning tech stuff, lots and lots of it, and perseverance. Think back with me to the first episode. I said, “I'll never forget the day that the thought, the God-nudge flooded my mind in that deep, quiet part within. God whispered that I had marched for Him and that was good but now he wanted me to dance with him instead. Dancing, the kind I knew God was talking about, would be very different. I was being asked to join and not take the lead. I wouldn't know exactly where on the dance floor I might end up. Maybe a quiet corner, or in a group of other dancers, or even in the center of the room, drawing every eye to us. I would follow God's dance, His lead, His music, and go to the part of the dance floor where He led. At times, I could be asked to sit out a dance and rest.” I didn't know how true those words would become. God has taught me so much through the creation of the podcast. I have learned to dance better and freer than ever before. Even though many circumstances for me, probably for you too, have been so difficult since March 2021. For me, it's time to sit out for a while. Not from life or God but from podcasting. About halfway through this season, God impressed on me that it's time to take a break. Rest. Recharge. I've dealt with health issues this year, more than usual, and I need time to recover. Focus on me. So hard for a driven person to do. But God is helping and I'm trying so hard to listen to his voice. Follow his lead. And quit running off on my own. You can enjoy all three seasons of the Determined to Dance podcast on my website. Just check out the label “podcast” on the menu. And share the episodes with your friends. They are short, encouraging, and certain to brighten your day. I'm also so excited to mention that my YA novel, Smoking Flax, will be released in January 2024. I can't wait to share Reed and Talitha's story with you. With interesting characters like Mamaw Cora Belle, Poppi, and Aunt Lula to round up the book's cast, how could we not be entertained? Think Southern time-shifting. Yes, that's a thing I made up but it's still a thing. DISNEY'S THE KID MEETS BACK TO THE FUTURE. Southern-style. My story takes place in 1984 and 1978. Here's a little more: Almost nineteen-year-old Reed Anderson wants to belong in a world where he hasn't always fit. Three days after graduation, he decides to ride a bus back to Louisiana and deal with the events of his thirteenth summer once and for all. Back then, he'd stood up to his abusive Pa, protecting Momma and his sister, taking control of his life. But who was the faded image of the child he saw that day? Aunt Lula predicted his life would shift and change. Something about space-time-continuum and the fourth dimension. He tucks her words in his heart. If he survives the shift, this could be his chance to start over. But the ghost child still haunts his dreams. Even though six years have passed, does he want to confront the lies he's always believed? Do you want just a little more? Let me share the first scene in the story. (Subject to further edits) Chapter One A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench; He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. (Isaiah 42:3 KJV) May 27, 1984 I turned Aunt Lula's Dodge Aspen off the gravel road onto the driveway leading to Golden Marais Baptist Church. The mimosas had grown tall since I'd last been here, the two magnolias missing entirely. The sun peeked above the horizon, but daylight was not my friend.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Too Tired to Dance, looks at what to do when we're exhausted from dancing. Show Notes: Too Tired to Dance Okay. I admit it. I'm too tired to dance. After all, this is episode 31 of the weekly podcast. I've edited my novel which will release in January. Working hard on book two of the series. And then there's church, kids, caring for Mom, and six grandkids under the age of fifteen. I have a house to clean, yard work, had a garden… Oh. My. I'm too tired to foxtrot. Too weary to do the macarena. And much too pooped to even try a tango. What's a Christian to do when they reach the end of their energy? Jeff Walling shares his thoughts by looking at Elijah. “The prophet was tired—bone tired. With the Almighty's help, he had brought fire from heaven, ended the drought, and nuked the prophets of Baal—it had been a busy day. He had danced with God until his feet ached and his sides burned. But he had also made Queen Jezebel mad enough to lose the little religion she had. In her anger, she had sworn to see Elijah dead, and Jezebel was not a woman of idle threats. So; he did what any sensible man would do: he went to a quiet place and lay down to die. He was through with dancing, praising, and anything else that took more energy than breathing. ‘Stop the music!' he pleaded. ‘I can't dance anymore!' That's not exactly what he said, but it's awfully close: I Kings 19:4: ‘I have had enough, Lord,' he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'” NIV I'm glad God had given examples in the Bible of people who have felt like I feel. David shows lots of emotions in the Psalms. Jeremiah is sorrowful. Mary ponders things in her heart. Paul wrestled with life and his ministry. And I'm tired. Sure, a lot of my problem is my own fault. Not setting boundaries and listening to God, not even asking Him at times if He wants me to engage in another activity. I'm a helper and it's hard to get off the hamster wheel of drivenness that I've fought against my whole life. But God doesn't leave us without aid. He gives Elijah two reminders in I Kings 19:11-13: “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, after the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper…Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'” NIV I've never thought of why God showed all the great, mighty forces before the gentle whisper. Walling hints that God is simply reminding Elijah that God is greater than anything. Especially anything that fights against us. whether it's a true enemy or ourselves. A reminder of God's greatness. Perfect. The second reminder is of our purpose. We can rest but not lay down to die. We can take a few days or weeks or months to regain strength, but not quit altogether. God has a purpose and plan for each of us and if we're still on planet earth he's not done with us yet. I'm going to take more time in the months ahead to rest. To reflect. To enjoy. I hope you do too. Dancing, remember, is not a duty but a joy. We get to whirl and twirl with Father God every day of our time here on earth. And beyond. Let's pray: Father God, I've overdone it again. Haven't taken time to hear your voice and I've overcrowded my life and overwhelmed my soul. Help me to recover. Show me the right way to rest and enjoy You and Your presence. I want to continue to fulfill my purpose on earth and I can't do that when I'm burned out. I lift my hands to You in praise and in worship. You are good beyond measure. In Jesus' name, we pray,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Is Death a Mystery? looks at what God's Word has to say about death. Show Notes: Is Death a Mystery? Today's episode brings us to myth number 3 in Jeff Walling's book, Daring to Dance with God. He says: “Death is a mystery we can never understand.” I have found throughout my life that few people like to discuss death. If you want to clear a room, just make dying, hospitals, and funeral homes the topic for conversation and people will ease their way to the front door. Death is a difficult discussion. Could that be, as Walling points out, because there is such a mystery associated with it? People have seances to try and speak to the dead. They pray for loved ones who have passed away. They try many ways to find out what exactly lies at and behind death's door. Except they don't look at what the Creator of the universe says in the Bible. God's Word is full of scriptures giving us a peek behind death's door and if you've given your life to Jesus and are following closely after Him, you're going to like what you see. John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We are promised eternal life if we believe in Jesus. (NIV) John 11:25-26 confirms this: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'" Jesus said we will never die. (NIV) John 14:1-4 goes a little deeper: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus is preparing a place for us and He will be there. (NIV) Luke 23:43 is reassuring: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" This verse in reference to the thief on the cross is very comforting when you wonder if people can get saved when at the point of death. Revelation 21:1-7 shows the end: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty, I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” Wow. Everything will be new. Fresh. Clean. And no death, sorrow, crying, or pain. And it's true. I'm ready for no more death. This past week, our dear sweet puppy we'd had for two months got away from us and took off after a truck. He ran under the wheel, and his life ended. I was so angry at death, stealing such a joyful life away from us. But one day, death will no longer have a say. Life in heaven will be eternal. Are you prepared to meet God today? If you're not sure, why not stop by my website at https://www.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Death and Priorities, looks at another myth associated with death. Show Notes: Death and Priorities Last week, we started looking at myths about death. Myth number two: Thinking about death will spoil your life. Most people, including me, don't like to talk about death. We'd rather focus on positive conversation and sweep the “D” word under the rug. But God feels differently about the topic. He says in the book of Psalms: “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NLT Father God actually wants us to consider death. To look not only at heaven and the afterlife but to reflect on the last few years, months, days, and moments of our existence. Why? So that we may grow in wisdom. Hmm. That's a new angle for me. Reflecting on death may make me wiser. But how? By teaching us the value of time. If we pretend that we'll live forever in these earthly bodies, we'll procrastinate. Why not play the video game for twelve hours? Or binge-watch television all weekend? Or put off visiting your relatives or friends? I mean, we've got all the time in the world, right? Wrong. Our days are numbered. I remember when I turned fifty, how I began to realize life was short. This year, I turned sixty and really wrestled with this birthday. I can't believe I'm this old. But time has become easier to prioritize because I know there are far fewer days ahead than there are behind. Jeff Walling says: Though death is an enemy of God, it has a wonderful power for highlighting what's truly important. The statesman Samuel Johnson said, ‘It's amazing how it orders a man's thinking when he discovers he is to be hanged in a fortnight.'” Priorities. That's the greatest lesson we learn when we look at death. What are some questions we should contemplate when it comes to end-time thinking? Am I right with God? Do I have a relationship with the Father or is it just religion? Am I right with people? Do I hold grudges or unforgiveness against anyone that I need to deal with? Are my core values—what I believe—in line with God's word? Does what I do conflict with what God says? Is what I'm doing in life lining up with God's plan for me or am I just drifting through? Have I asked God if I'm in His will? Am I enjoying life? Saint Irenaeus said: “The glory of God is man fully alive.” (ear a nI is_ Have I prepared for the end of life? Have I created a will, considered my last wishes, organized my finances and possessions, and talked to those closest to me about these preparations? Now, I realize if you are thirty years old or so, number six might not have entered your mind. But the other five questions are ones we should look at from time to time, no matter what our age. When my father passed away, I wasn't even thirty years old. His passing was sudden and horrible in every way. But it did teach me some of these important lessons early in life. I learned not to take life for granted, that it was short. Much shorter than I thought. And it helped me to deal with the first five questions more fully than ever before. And that is something I've never regretted. One last word: Don't become obsessed with death. Reflection can be healthy but obsession never is. God has not given us a spirit of fear but power, love, and a sound mind. If you are struggling in this area, find a safe loved one or therapist to talk over your feelings with. Don't go it alone! Let's pray: Father God, thank you for the life You've given us. Please help us to consider death in the right way. Not dwelling morbidly on the negative but prioritizing our life day to day. You alone know when our time on earth will be over so show us how to number our days. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Reflecting on death in a healthy way will genuinely help us to...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Dance at Our Funeral? looks at myths associated with death. Show Notes: Dance at Our Funeral? For the next three weeks, we'll discuss a difficult topic and I want to do it with grace and love. But death is not something we can look at lightly. Death of any kind—whether the death of a loved one, pet, dream, business, marriage, etc.—affects us deeply. Jeff Walling ends his book, Daring to Dance With God, with a chapter titled “Save the Last Dance for Me.” Walling says: “It is God's desire that we face our own mortality with courage and confidence. Through learning to trust in God's love and Christ's grave-defeating resurrection, we can gain the knowledge that allows us to dance at our own funerals. But three myths about death must be banished so these truths can shine through.” We'll examine each of these myths on the podcast. Myth #1: Death is a blessed gift from God. We've all heard it and maybe even said it. God needed another angel in heaven. God called them home. Words that sound “right” but are they? How come we have death in the first place? Death did not come about until Adam and Eve sinned. Their action brought death into our world. Walling said, “…the Garden of Eden had no cemetery.” We were created to be eternal and through the shed blood of Jesus and His resurrection, we can once again be eternal if we give our lives to Jesus, making Him our Savior, Lord, Master, and King. But death is still a river to cross, even though it was not part of God's original plan. Death is not fair. I hate it. I didn't want my father to die when he was only fifty-three. Or to miscarry my first pregnancy. Or to lose my best friend when she was only fifty. The good thing is I know I will see them again for they loved God as I do. But it doesn't make my absence from them any easier to swallow. What is a better way to look at death and share comfort when someone passes? Be a good listener. Most people want to talk so let them. Resist the urge to tell too many of your own stories. I'm guilty of this. Don't be corrective. Now is not the time. When people are hurt, they don't always know what they are saying. Choose love. Show support. Send a card or text. Make a phone call. Carry food and maybe a gift card to a restaurant. Offer to help. Study the situation and do something tangible. Don't say the wrong thing like God needed them, At least they're older, better off, their own fault, or Be strong. All of the above ways are important, but it's crucial not to say the wrong thing. At my father's death, someone told me I needed to be strong for my mother. They meant well but it sent me in a bad direction. To me, being strong meant not showing emotion or grief. So, I tried not to. Four months later, I broke down and cried for three days. All because I was trying to be strong the wrong way. I found out it's okay to grieve and be mad or sad or even unsure of everything. Find someone to talk to who is safe and release your emotions as you are able. Lean heavily on God, His Word, and prayer. Listen to soothing music and surround yourself with beauty as much as possible. God heals, but it takes time and not all healing occurs on this earth. I will always have a place in my heart that hurts for my dad, my child, and my friend. And so many others. But one day, it will all be over. Revelation 21: 4 says: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” NLT Now I know I use this verse a lot in the podcast but it means so much to me. Let it bring comfort when you are struggling with death. Let's pray: Father God, we love You but despise death. Our sin brought it into the world but one day we'll join you in heaven and death will be banished forever.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Show Notes: An Interview with Jeff Walling Part 2 Today I'm honored to share part two of my interview with Jeff Walling: author, speaker, and the Director of the Youth Leadership Initiative at Pepperdine University. We've spent this season learning from his wonderful book, Daring to Dance with God. Now on to part two… Jennifer: One thing I wondered about because it's something as a fiction writer people ask me is what is your favorite quote in the book? And I know there are probably tons of them. But is there one that really stands out? Jeff: I may have to get back to you on this. That's kind of a frightening thing after thinking back all those years. I know there are some quotes in that passage on letting the Lord lead, you know, the importance of doing that and how control is the hardest thing for us to let go of. Ideas, yeah. Quotes? As a writer, you're just busy trying to get it from your brain out through your fingertips. You challenge me to go back and say is there a passage where I say, “Oh, God, you did a good job on that one.” I'll get back to you. Jennifer: My favorite story in the book is the one about you manning the record player. That one stood out to me more than any of them. Jeff: Yeah, a few years ago, quite a while now, I found a time in my life where I was burned out, tired of marching, I knew it was because I was tripping over stuff I shouldn't be tripping over. And I remember going to a therapist, a Christian therapist, and telling him about that experience and about the record player. And he gave me a new perspective. He said, “Wow. That was your way of hiding and coping. That was your way of making a joke out of it. Let's somehow make this fun. And you talk about a quote, he said, “Jeff, you like many people don't enjoy sitting in pain.” We learn so much more, I know this, through pain than we ever do through pleasure. And yet we try to eradicate pain just as quickly as we can. I have probably eight different kinds of Advil or Tylenol or aspirin in my cabinet because why should we hurt, even for a moment? Spiritually, oh my goodness, to be able to just listen to the voice of God in the pain. That's the only reason that the prodigal son got home. If he had managed to make himself some kind of pig slop taco, he'd have stayed where he was. But the pain, the agony of man, this is not what God wants for me is what helped him make the turn. Jennifer: I totally agree. It seems like, especially when I'm frustrated when I finally get to that point of saying, “Okay, God. I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing here. He says, “Okay. I've been waiting for you to say that. Now let me tell you what you're supposed to be doing here.” Pain, aggravation, frustration—all of it brings me to that point. Jeff: Amen. We need to be like the woman who had spent all her money on the cures, right? Who was still bleeding. Who'd gone on the misery-go-round over and over and over again, and finally, she was willing not only to go out in public in a crowd—where she wasn't supposed to be—but to just reach out and touch the hem of his garment. I love that picture. I hope your listeners will hear the voice of God saying, “Don't be ashamed. You might not dance like somebody else, and somebody may look at you like you're goofy but just look into my eyes and dance with Me. Let me guide you in celebrating life, using your gifts and skills even when dancing through the pain.” Jennifer: That was a good chapter. And we have about six or seven more episodes on the podcast. I plan on doing some filling in and at the end, I'm going to deal with the last chapter. We've already been touching on a lot of trust and faithfulness. This week's podcast was on the end. The end time. Getting ready to meet our Savior, tying on to where I'm going.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Show Notes: An Interview with Jeff Walling Today I'm honored to welcome Jeff Walling: author, speaker, and the Director of the Youth Leadership Initiative at Pepperdine University to the podcast. We've spent this season learning from his wonderful book, Daring to Dance with God. Jeff, I'm so glad you've joined us today. Jeff: Well, thank you, Jennifer. It's a blessing to be with you and so encouraging that your podcast listeners have been walking through the book. I do pray that God used it to bless them. Jennifer: It has. This has actually been my best season yet as far as downloads and stuff. I think a lot of people have listened to it and also the podcast is heard on internet radio, Christian Mix 106, in over fifty-five countries. So, there is no telling who all is hearing it. Jeff: Wow. I wasn't nervous about being on your show until that moment. Thank you. Jennifer: Anyway, so who knows? Someone over in Ethiopia or China could be listening and buying your book right now. Jeff: Well, God has a way of putting us where we need to be, and in this wonderful day and age something I wrote—oh goodness, I hate to even think of it now—twenty-plus years ago continue to resonate and has people reach out to me about it. God deserves all the praise. Jennifer: Amen. First, go ahead and tell us a little about your ministry and your family. Jeff: Sure. Sure. I am blessed to have been a preacher for forty years now. And my sweet wife, she and I are celebrating forty years together also. We have three sons; one of which is a minister himself, Taylor. He is about to start a new ministry out here in California: a church focused on reaching young people here on the Pepperdine campus. My middle son and Taylor will both be living here in Southern California and my youngest son is in Denver. They are all married and I am blessed to have four grandkids and two granddogs. It's a lot of fun. I work here, trying to raise up the next generation of young Christian leaders. I preach as a teaching pastor for Shepherd Church about eight to ten times a year which is a church here in the Los Angeles area. Jennifer: Okay. That sounds really interesting and like a much-needed mission in that area. Jeff: Blessed to be involved with it. Jennifer: Going back to the book—as I was telling Jeff earlier—the book meant so much to me when I was younger and I read it. I'm so excited to do a podcast about it. Can you explain to my listeners the central idea discussed in Daring to Dance with God? Jeff: Well, I'll give it a shot. The very first chapter of the book tells about how I was raised in a home that believed that dancing was not a thing that Christ would want us to do. And it was a big shock to me and I immediately called my mom the first time that I really took a look at the beautiful parable called the parable of the prodigal son. When the father comes out from the house, where there is the sound of music and dancing emanating. And the scripture uses the word there for dancing. And that father has always represented to me: God. So, here is God coming out here to this older son, who doesn't want to come in and celebrate what has happened to his younger brother. To think that God would come out and say, “Come dance with Me. Come dance with us.” This idea that God invites us, not into a drudge march or inviting us to get in line. But this idea of dancing. Dancing to me has always carried a sense of joy and getting connected with something bigger than yourself. I mean, if you've been to a wedding recently, right, you see a lot of people who never dance any place else dancing at a wedding. And quite frankly, I'm one of them. It's wonderful to see folks who are all connecting in different ways to the same piece of music. And I guess that idea of trusting God enough to step ou...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Our Temporary Life, focuses on what's really important in the world. Show Notes: Our Temporary Life I struggled to open this podcast. I mean, life is temporary? That's deep, to me anyway. Probably to you also. If you are a Christian and you've given your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, your life changes. Christians believe that life is eternal. Once life is over on earth, our spirit moves to heaven with a new body to spend eternity with Father God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, angels, and all the other believers who have gone on before. We live on the earth and our existence in earthly bodies is limited. One hundred and twenty years is about the maximum, though the average would be more like seventy to eighty years. And considering the rapid pace that I'm moving toward those ages; life seems very temporary. II Corinthians 4: 14-18, Paul says: “We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” NLT That is such good news. God is planning to raise us with Jesus. His grace will spread and God receives more glory. Our bodies might die but our spirit is constantly renewed. We don't have to focus on our troubles all the time. We can gaze toward the unseen through the eyes of faith. Jeff Walling says: “One family I know wrote down their ‘core values and displayed them on their refrigerator door. One of them read: ‘People are always more valuable than things.' I certainly agree with that statement, but Paul would attach another clause to it: The invisible is always more important than the seen. Anyone who chooses to dance with God knows this instinctively because the unseen universe contains the eternal treasures that will never fade or depreciate.” Walling goes on to say when we focus on Jesus, we see three eternal things: The love of God. The words of Christ. The life of the soul. What wonderful promises. We might not be able to load our pickup truck for our heavenly journey but we don't go alone. The love of God which lives in us and the words of Jesus stay with us through death and beyond. Our soul, the deep inside part that is truly us, will travel too. And we can witness to those around us and see many believe and follow the journey to heaven. Praise God. By faith. We see the invisible by faith. We ask God to help us each day to walk by faith and strengthen our faith walk by the Word and prayer. Sometimes I'm frustrated when I look at my life. I have so many books inside me I need to write and such limited time. But if my life is eternal, who's to say I won't be writing in heaven? So, I turn my back to frustration and focus on the unseen and my eternal future. Let's pray: Father God, we turn to You as we examine our lives and admit our time on earth is limited. You alone can help us see the unseen and focus on what's really important here on this earth. People. You love people and want them to spend eternity with You. We do too. Strengthen our witness each day. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. As we keep our focus on God, we remember what is important in life. I'm excited to announce that I have a new young adult novel, Smoking Flax,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Reflect on God's Goodness, discusses how to fight despair, disappointment, and apathy. Show Notes: Reflect on God's Goodness The last three years have been difficult, to say the least. A pandemic, masks, businesses failing, a faltering economy, and gas and food prices on the rise daily. It would be easy to find ourselves fighting despair over the world we live in. Disappointment with life in general. And a feeling of apathy, that it's all downhill from here. But God is still good. His goodness, kindness, mercy, and grace still abound if we only take time to look. To take our focus off of all the negative around us, and focus our eyes instead on the God of the universe. The Alpha and the Omega. My natural bent is toward being pessimistic and melancholy. I wrestle often with fear and dread, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But that's not how God asked us to live. He wants us to remember His Word: “I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NKJV “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 NKJV “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for His is good! For His mercy endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34 NKJV “I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.” Psalm 145: 5-7 NLT His Word is good and true and full of wisdom. As we immerse ourselves to study and remember scripture, our natural bent can become positive and our focus true. God has taken a person like me, prone to depression and fear, and molded me into a person of encouragement. I still struggle but have many more good days than bad. All because of God and His unfailing love and goodness. What has helped me most? Reading His Word often. I use study guides, read different translations, and listen to sermons to help me understand what His Word is saying to me. Listening to uplifting music. I listen to Christian music, and also to positive secular music, including classical and movie soundtracks. Surrounding myself with uplifting people. One thing I cannot do is stay in the company of people who are always negative or gossiping or downing others. It pulls me down and hurts me emotionally. Communicating with God constantly. I need Him every moment of every day or I quickly sink into being overwhelmed. Writing down my feelings. Often, I journal the good, the bad, and the ugly. But I focus on what He's done that has made my life worth living. Jeff Walling says: “So what about you? Can you make your own list? Reflect on the good things God has put in your life. Don't overlook past experiences and precious memories. Consider faithful friends and loving family. And when your list is done, don't hide it in a drawer; keep it handy for emergencies. Post it on your bathroom mirror. Tack it on your dashboard. You never know when the crowd may attack or the day go sour. Then make a commitment. Take a solemn vow that you will dance with God even when you don't feel like it.” Just last week, I found myself experiencing that sinking feeling. Nothing was wrong. It was rainy and the writing wasn't coming easy and I just felt a little frustrated. So, I drew a deep breath and began to list all God was doing in my life. Before long, I was okay again. One last thought. If life is hard and I can't seem to find any good, I can focus on my future. A wonderful time that will be spent with God. Throughout eternity. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Trusting God's Lead, discusses how to follow God when the path leads away from our own. Show Notes: Trusting God's Lead Sometimes, I get a tiny bit aggravated at my husband when he is driving. Now I know that none of you ladies out there, experience this but try to imagine. We are shopping, say at the sporting goods store. We then decide to go across town to the grocery store. The best way to get to said grocery store—in my opinion—would be to take the winding path through obscure lanes and back streets driving slower but avoiding the traffic and loooong traffic lights. But no. He'll follow the main roads every single time, and wait through all those lights. It makes me want to scream. I mean, if he'd only listen to me… Hmm. Kinda ties in with today's topic, huh? How many times has God asked me to stay on the boring main roads and follow His direction? I occasionally listen but often get lost on those side roads, experience a breakdown, or even find myself in a really bad place. All because I couldn't follow God's lead. Jeff Walling reminds us why it's wise to trust God and not ourselves: “Having put the steering wheel and our trust firmly in the Father's hand, good things will happen. Old habits will be conquered and new challenges will be met. Opportunities will knock, and doors will open.” I love the thought that God can and will help us deal with habits, challenges, and opportunities. Doors will open. Have you ever been in a large medical complex trying to figure out where a specific doctor's office is? First, you need to find the right floor, then the right hallway, and finally the door. Depending on how well instructions are set up along the way determines how fast you find where you need to go. God is saying to us, “I'm the guide above all guides, including yourself. I'll not only show you the pathway, but I'll be with you every step of the way. I'll constantly find ways to garner your attention so you won't miss anything that I have for you. Follow me.” Isaiah 58:11 tells us: “The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” All because we trust the Lord's guidance. What else does God say about following His lead? God will make our path straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 God will uphold us. Psalm 37:23-24 God makes sure we hear him. Isaiah 30:21 God will give us peace. Luke 1:79 And these are just a few of the many promises in His Word. So, the next time I want to take a shortcut and skip the path God is so clearly pointing the way to, I'll recall the words in the Bible. Maybe the red lights won't last quite so long. Let's pray: Father God, thank You that You love me even when I struggle to follow Your leading. My way seems to make sense but You are the ultimate Guide. I'm tired of being lost and stranded on my own. I'll wait for You, Your will, and timing. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. God will lead me along the best path if I'll only follow Him. Today's featured author is Jennifer Hallmark, the author of Jessie's Hope, a Southern family novel. Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith's mobility. It also stole her mom and alienated her from her father. When Jessie's high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, she worries that she cannot hold on to those she loves. Determined to heal from her past, Jessie initiates a search for her father. Can a sliver of hope lead to everlasting love when obstacles–including a spurned woman and unpredictable weather–hijack Jessie's dream wedding? Learn more at jenniferhallmark.com/books Next week, we'll learn how to reflect on the good. Until then, stay determined to dance. Click to tweet: Today's episode of the Determined to Da...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, God's Faithfulness, focuses on finding safety in God's hands. Show Notes: God's Faithfulness This week's episode could be considered the second part of the dance of trust. God is faithful and longs for us to trust Him. In Daring to Dance with God, Jeff Walling tells the story of his family visiting the ocean when he was a boy. He was afraid of the big waves. His father convinced him to walk into the ocean while holding his hand. He felt fear in the beginning but ultimately enjoyed the ocean and its waves. Walling then says: “Those memories are so much like the way God deals with us. He offers his hand, and we fearfully take hold. But our lack of faith and trust keeps us from enjoying the water. What might happen tomorrow? What if it brings a really big wave? (In Psalm 139) David reminds us that God's hand is strong and sure. There is no wave that can tear us from his loving grip.” God is faithful. But even the strongest Christian can struggle at times to believe this. Here are four ways the enemy tries to pull our focus from the Father. By temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” NKJV By trials and tribulations. 1 Peter 4:12-13: “Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” NLT By distraction. 1 Peter 5:8: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” NLT By fear. Psalm 34:4: “I sought the Lord, and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.” NKJV I'm sure there are other ways but I find these four rank pretty high in my daily life. In one day, I might be tempted to bad mouth someone, take care of a sick grandchild, binge-watch a TV show, and fight against fear over an unexpected bill. Am I the only one who's had a day like this? I didn't think so. Sometimes my focus remains on God despite the ploys of the enemy, but at times I lose my train of thought. It's like when I start to say something and forget right before I get the words out of my mouth. One minute I know what I'm going to say, the next the words are gone. Into thin air. The main lesson I've discovered through it all is no matter how I react to struggles, positively or negatively, God is still faithful. If we run into the waves by ourselves and find we are floundering, we just need to reach out a hand and God is right there. Every single time. Let's pray: Father God, we love You and thank You for being faithful. No matter how the enemy tries to turn us away, You never leave us. Your hand is outstretched and You are waiting for us to call. There is nothing greater than being Your child. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Today's featured author is Fay Lamb, author of The Ties that Bind romance series. Looking for some good summer reads. Take a trip to Florida and fall in love with four Florida natives, Charisse, Libby, Hope, and Delilah. These books, and all of Fay's books are available on Amazon and at all book retailers. Learn more at FayLamb.net. Next week, we'll talk about trusting His lead. Until then, stay determined to dance… Click to tweet: Today's episode of the Determined to Dance Podcast, God's Faithfulness, focuses on finding safety in God's hands. #ChristianPodcast #faith Links: My website My debut novel, Jessie's Hope Determined to Dance Podcast Video of the week:

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, The Dance of Trust, focuses on the secret of dancing in the dark. Show Notes: The Dance of Trust Have you ever struggled to trust people? I have. People are very human and sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose, they lie, manipulate, scheme, and we are left broken, afraid to trust again. As a child, another kid I hoped was nice teased me for crying during my first day at a new school. As a teenager, a pastor told me to join his church if I wanted to see my dad healed. And as an adult, I've met people in the community, school, family, and church who were not who they pretended to be. It left me jaded. Bewildered. And most of all, afraid to trust anyone again. I believe you totally understand where I'm coming from. Some of you listening are nodding your heads, an image conjured in your mind of untrustworthy people. How can we trust in a world with crooked politicians, business leaders, and even church leaders and people in education who go astray? What does God say? John 2:23-25: “Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person's heart.” NLT Jesus knew all about people. Some might be evil, but many were probably just weak, shy, nervous, or busy. Just like us. Jesus still loved people. But He put His faith in God, not those around Him. Here are three verses I love to read when I have trust issues. Psalm 56:3: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” NKJV Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” NKJV Isaiah 26:3: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.” NKJV God says don't fear or be dismayed. He will strengthen, help, keep, and uphold. In other words, we can trust Him. It's found again and again throughout the word of God. God is trustworthy. So, what can we do to twirl and whirl with God, trusting Him with everything in our lives? Spend time with God in prayer. We learn to trust as we draw closer to Him. Spend time in God's Word. We study and learn what a mighty God He is. Surrender our will to Him. We follow Him, who knows us best. Remember the ways God has shown up when we needed him. Find wise counsel when you struggle. A trustworthy friend or family member is worth more than gold. Understand now that there will be struggles. People have disappointed me before and it will probably happen again. My focus is to love people the best I can, separate from those who have violated trust and are not repentant, and find wisdom and discernment through prayer, the Word, and honorable people who love the Lord. We must make sure to take time and heal after trust has been broken. Many relationships can be mended if the other person is willing to change. We should seek any fault we may have ourselves so the relationship will be whole and fulfilling to both parties. We'll never find a perfectly trustworthy person on this earth, but Jesus lived a sinless life and is ever interceding for us in heaven. The Holy Spirit resides in us and can help us avoid unfaithful people if we seek His wisdom. Let's pray: Father God, we come to You today and thank You for being a trustworthy God. We've been hurt and disillusioned by unreliable people and need your healing touch in our lives. Show us our faults so we can repent and move on. Thank you for Jesus who prays for us daily and the Holy Spirit who helps us along life's paths. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. People can disappoint us, but God is always there,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, The Storms of Life, looks at times when our world falls apart. Show Notes: The Storms of Life Life is tough. Bad things do happen to good people. You know it and so do I. And I believe the storms of life are hardest to take when they immediately follow a good season. You know, when everything is going right, the grass is greener on your side of the fence, and dreams are being realized right and left. You've fought the good fight and won. In his book Pursuing the Will of God, Jack Hayford said: “Spiritual warfare will culminate in victory when we war in the will of God. But you will always find that after the victory there will be another subtle approach of the enemy—in a very different sort of attack…while we're wrapping up with our victory lap, waving at the cheering crowds, the serpent slithers in again from a totally unexpected angle. While we're celebrating and feeling good about the outcome of the great battle, the enemy immediately sets to work contriving another—and usually very different—sort of trap. It's oh-too-easy to fall flat on our faces right after we have won a victory and our face is aglow with joy.” This is oh-so-true. And at times I find myself in the middle of enjoying life waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean, life is good, calm, and peaceful. Instead of relaxing and building up myself in the Lord, I'm worrying. Anxious. Stressed. No wonder God says that sufficient for today is its own trouble. Why can't I believe that? Maybe because: I trust in my ability to control my life. I find it hard to hand over the reins of life to God. I'm afraid if I don't handle it, who will? I mean, God's busy, right? I believe in the lies of the enemy instead of the word of God. Now I'm really depressed. How can I change? I can start by admitting my pride, and my need to control. It's a daily battle, but one I must fight if I'm to stop the anxiety. I can then hand my fear to God. Let faith answer when fear knocks. God is interested in every facet of my life, no matter how small. And get into God's word. The word is the sword and how can I fight lies if I don't know the truth? Jeff Walling says: “…He calls out to the Lord. And God's response is shocking in its consistency…He just does what God does best—he loves him forever…Like Jesus on the boat with his disciples, God stills the waves and brings peace.” I still struggle when the storms hit, especially when I don't see them coming. But I'm learning more and more to turn to God and watch him meet my needs. Let's pray: Father God, we love You and need You every day, especially when we are facing storms in our lives. Help us to remember to turn to you and not get caught up in pride, fear, and deception. You are our only hope. Thank you that you can handle every problem that comes our way. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Today's featured authors, Deb, and Bruce Potts, wrote Love on Life Support, a second-chance romance. Chris and Amy's on-again, off-again faith leaves them unprepared when the unthinkable happens. As calamity topples their world, Chris and Amy struggle to deal with the greatest trial of their marriage. Learn more at http://marriagementoring.info. Next week, we'll discuss how to whirl and twirl like a child. Until then, stay determined to dance… Click to tweet: Today's episode of the Determined to Dance Podcast, The Storms of Life, looks at times when our world falls apart. #ChristianPodcast #faith Links: My website My debut novel, Jessie's Hope Determined to Dance Podcast Video of the week: I absolutely love music and each week I'd like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together... https://youtu.be/6sqy1URx4mg

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Choices: Right or Wrong? focuses on how God loves us despite our wrong choices and helps us choose wisely. Show Notes: Choices: Right or Wrong? I am an adult. One of the things I never really considered when I married and moved away from my folks was making my own choices or decisions. As a know-it-all eighteen-year-old, (yes, I married too young) I felt ready to leave my mom and Dad and all their rules. I would be on my own, me and hubby, and do what we wanted. Except that's not how it works. With adulting came bills, a job, and lots of unsolicited advice from both families. I quickly realized that we had a lot of choices to make, decisions that would determine our future. And suddenly, I wanted to move back home, crawl into my four-poster bed, and pull the covers over my head. What had I done? But I stayed and together, we made decisions. Some good, some foolish. We made purchases that got us into debt. Like the quarter horse, we had to have when we'd only ridden horses a few times. A silly choice. Then when we struggled to pay our bills, we felt more than foolish. We suffered from guilt and shame. We didn't want anyone to know about our bad decisions. Proverb 13: 10-18 has so much good advice when you struggle with choices: “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise. Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction. Wise people think before they act; fools don't—and even brag about their foolishness. An unreliable messenger stumbles into trouble, but a reliable messenger brings healing. If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.” NLT Let's break this down and find out what advice the writer of this book, King Solomon, gives: Pride only hurts. It's okay to ask for advice from wise people who've already experienced much of life. But this doesn't mean advice from your friends who are making the same mistakes you are. Hard work is the way to go, not get-rich-quick schemes. Shortcuts in life usually lead to roads that you don't want to travel. Respect those who offer advice even if you don't agree. While thinking it through, you might change your mind. Think before you act. Ponder major decisions for days or weeks. It might save you a lot of heartache. Live a disciplined life. When making decisions, we want to ask, think it through, and make choices with the future in mind. Have you heard the expression, “Would you like a quarter today or a dollar tomorrow?” Kids tend to want what's right in front of them. As do we, adults. So, what do we do if we've already made a foolish decision? Or maybe a better question is what does God do? Jeff Walling says: “God is ready to forgive even the most foolish of sinners. If we will only be smart enough to call out to him in the darkness, he will restore hope and joy to a heart full of shame. It is this message that Christian families must embed in their children's minds. The love of the Lord endures forever! It's never too late for him to restore the prodigal who's willing to come home. And he will do it with the simplest of remedies. “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” Psalm 107:20-21 NIV It is the truth of God that the fallen fool needs to hear: his love never fa...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, God's Forgiveness, focuses on our failures, His forgiveness. Show Notes: God's Forgiveness Sin. Not my favorite subject for a podcast. That's probably why I named it God's forgiveness. I'd much rather focus on His forgiveness than on the reason I need it. We all sin. It says in Romans 3:23-26: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” NLT Made right by believing. What glorious news. Every year, I choose a word or phrase to focus on. I pray and ask God to point it out and at some point, in November or December, the word or phrase shows up. This past December, I was reading a devotional, and all of a sudden the word honest seemed to leap from the page. I cringed. That's my word for 2023? Some of you might say ‘No biggie,' but it is for me. I don't like to confront or upset people, so sometimes I might say a little less than is true to keep the peace. I can also exaggerate. I knew God was calling me to consider my words in a different light than ever before. It's been difficult and I've had to backtrack a time or two on what I've said but I'm learning an important lesson. Telling a little white lie or omission is just as bad as someone who is deceitful and always lies. Scripture says that Satan is the father of all lies. Yipes. Let's go back to my earlier statement. We all sin. Surely God is yelling at us for our mistakes, after all the blessings we've received from Him. But God… Jeff Walling says, “No wonder we try to crawl away and hide when sin brings us down. If that's the kind of response we imagine from God, we'd have to be crazy to call out to him for help. But the writer of Psalm 107 stands by his first verse: “The love of the Lord endures forever.” Even the willful sinner can dance in the dark if he will look to the Lord. And when he does, he will find grace, not disgust, in those eyes.” The blood of Jesus is such a beautiful truth in scripture. The fact that He loved us as sinners, died on the cross and bore those sins, and covered them with his blood is truly miraculous. He loved us when we didn't even acknowledge Him. Hallelujah. Our part is to believe. And to keep seeking Him over and over to grow so close to Him that we don't sin as often. We aren't repeat offenders, not caring how we live because if we ask, He'll forgive. We want to walk free from sin. I John 1:7: “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” We believe, we are cleansed, and we walk by His side, crucifying our flesh every day. We all sin but we can all be forgiven. Let's pray: Father God, we've all sinned and fallen short but You chose to send Your son to take our place. We believe in You and Your Son and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for a gift that is beyond our minds to truly comprehend. We love You, staying close so we can always walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. God forgives when we ask. Today's featured authors, Deb, and Bruce Potts, wrote Love on Life Support, a second-chance romance. Chris and Amy's on-again, off-again faith leaves them unprepared when the...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Tough Times, looks at what we can do when our world is rocked by pain and darkness. Show Notes: Tough Times Tough times. Calamity. Crisis. Trouble. We all long for a world free from suffering and pain, and those who surrender their lives to Jesus will one day enjoy a heavenly home spoken of in Revelation 21:3-4 NLT “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” It's hard to imagine such a place but it is God's promise. But what do we do in the meantime? I believe it depends on the severity of the tough times that you're dealing with. There are everyday troubles we deal with: a stomach virus, a broken appliance, a problem at work, or an upset child or spouse. A lot of the time we can handle these on our own or find help from our family or friends. What about when life rachets it up a notch? A cancer diagnosis, house fire, lay off from your job, or your spouse leaves you. What then? I've not always handled tough times in a good way. I tend to stuff everything, pretend it doesn't matter, and only when I totally fall apart, admit that maybe I need help. Here is what has aided me when trouble strikes: Admit my feelings to God, then to a counselor, trusted friend, or family member. I quit pretending that I'm not sad, angry, disappointed, troubled, anxious, or depressed. So, I start by owning my emotions. Think about the issue and see if there is a new perspective or way to solve the problem. Often, I overreact and overlook a simple solution. Ask for help from family members or friends. If it's a large problem, like extensive medical bills or natural disaster destruction, often local organizations, churches, and whole communities are willing to carry the load for you. Pray often. Two things I need during times of distress are wisdom and discernment. If there are multiple ways to look at the issue, I need God to speak to me and direct my path. Give myself and others time to heal. With major problems, we often have to trust God day-by-day, hour-by-hour, and minute-by-minute. Make self-care a priority. Make gratitude a way of life. Instead of always looking at the negative, try to see any nugget of good—no matter how small—and concentrate on it. Thank God that He never leaves us or forsakes us, no matter what. And there is nothing like scripture. I find so much comfort in Psalm 23. I've memorized it and I sometimes lay in bed at night and repeat it to myself. Six simple verses that bring calm and comfort to my heart. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jeff Walling says: “Maybe the best rule of thumb is that our cry of thankfulness to God today should be as loud and long as our cry for deliverance was yesterday. All the better for others to hear and God's name to be praised.” Ouch. I'm afraid my thankfulness is not as loud and long as my whining but I want it to be. When I follow the steps above, praying and showing gratitude, I find peace, even when my problems don't get better. Losing my dad when I was twenty-eight years ol...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, The Problem of Pain, focuses on how hurting can move us closer to or farther away from God. Show Notes: The Problem of Pain Pain. It comes in many forms: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I've dealt with it all at one time or another and I'm sure you have also. Pain can be a problem because it has a tendency to either push us closer to God or pull us far away from our heavenly Father. There is no neutral “resting place” when you are experiencing pain. Dealing with the hurt is like being in a dark room alone. Others could be in there with you but no one can know exactly where you are. Take a broken leg. Five people could break their tibia and each would experience different levels of physical pain from the break, mental pain from dealing with loss of motion and stability, emotional pain from lost activities and possibly job-related issues, and some could even note spiritual pain when dealing with the question of “why did this happen to me?” Pain is experienced by everyone but no one can truly understand what you are personally going through. Except for God.  Jeff Walling says: “…one of life's really big questions…comes in various forms, but the bottom line is always the same: “Will you catch me?” “Are you gonna walk out when the going gets rough?” “Will you love me tomorrow?” “Can I really trust you?” If anyone knew how to answer these queries, it was the psalmist. He understood the fears of little boys and big men who look down the dark passages of life and pray, “Father, will you see me through?” He understood the challenge of dancing in the dark, the struggle of trusting and obeying when things look bleak.” Psalm 34:18 is an example: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” NLT Isaiah 41:10 is one of those verses that helps me through painful times. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' NKJV The Message Bible says it this way: “Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” When I'm hurting, I need a firm grip. Strength. And the peace that keeps me from panicking. Don't you? When pain attacks, how can we make sure we turn in the right direction, toward our heavenly Father? Take all your questions and concerns to God. He is big enough to hear all you have to say. You can be honest with the Father. Take all your anger, sadness, and remorse to God. He is compassionate enough to bring comfort. After you've poured your heart to Him, listen. Take time to hear the directions He may give you in pointing to friends, remedies, and advice to help you in this distressful time. Back in December, I woke one morning with ringing in my ears. The doctor gave me antibiotics, figuring it was a sinus or ear infection issue. It didn't go away. Over the next months, I read everything about this annoyance that gave me mental and emotional pain. Many tests of my hearing (it is excellent) and an MRI of my head showed nothing out of sorts and there has been no explanation of why I have this problem. It is a day-by-day walk as I deal with the “cicada” noise in my head, sometimes soft and often very loud. My mind is slowly learning to tune it out for much of the time and I am grateful. I pray for healing and the ability to deal with the emotional stress that bothers me, especially at bedtime. For now, when I'm struggling most, I go through the three steps above. I want to cry out “Why me?” but we live in a fallen world and there will be pain of all types until we finally make it home. Dancing in the dark, and deciding to trust God is the only decision that brin...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Don't Give Up the Dance, focuses on sin and how it can move us off of the dance floor. Show Notes: Don't Give Up the Dance I am not perfect. In fact, I'm far from it in thought, word, and deed. Yes, Jesus lives in my heart, the Holy Spirit is within me as the helper, and God listens to my prayers, but I still mess up. Often. I sin. What is sin, exactly? The most basic meaning is to miss the mark. Fall short of a goal. Mess up. I have to admit that sometimes I'm jealous, I gossip, I follow thoughts I shouldn't, and I can hurt others with my words and deeds. I miss the mark. And what usually follows close behind sin? Guilt and shame. I believe God lets us experience a godly sorrow so we can turn back to Him, the only One who can forgive our sins. Jesus lived a perfect life, then died and was resurrected so we could experience forgiveness. We have only to ask. II Chronicles 7:14 shows us the right way to move past sin. “… if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. We have a part to play: We humble ourselves, admitting we need God. We pray to God, asking for forgiveness. We continue to seek God's face so we don't fall back into sin. We turn from sin and wickedness. We don't put ourselves in the position to sin again. God takes it from here: He hears. Our cries are never ignored. He forgives. He removes our sin as far as the East is from the West. He heals. He makes our broken parts whole. What a great God we serve. But sometimes the guilt and shame try to hang around. Jeff Walling explains what has been done: “Shame from sin doesn't just evaporate. It can't be expelled by wishing it away. In the court of God's will, someone must answer for the crime. Jesus was willing and able to be that someone. He allows me the chance to dance again, even after I sin—if I will give him my shame. Having faced and acknowledged my culpability, I hold out my guilt, which he graciously accepts … It is essential that once shame has been acknowledged, it be released to Christ. I must trust him with my shame. Only through allowing Jesus to bear our shame are we free to dance…” For the shame and guilt to disappear, we must first admit the sin, then give it to Jesus and refuse to hang onto the guilt and shame and the self-pity that tends to go along with them. To continue to dance with God, we must do this. No one can dance while carrying the burden that comes with sin. It's just too heavy. Let's pray: Father God, we humble ourselves before you and admit we have sinned. We have followed our own way instead of your way. We ask for forgiveness and will seek Your face daily so we won't get pulled back into wickedness. We turn from our old ways and follow your ways. Every day. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. I might miss the mark but God forgives me when I ask. Today's featured author is Rosemary B. Althoff (ALL'-TOFF), author of the Christian sci-fi novels in the Soul's Warfare series. Rosemary wants to show God is active in science and working for people who need recovery. In Book 2, THE CAVE CHAMBER, Lewis tries hard to stop the enemy from conquering two worlds—including Earth. Meanwhile, his little brother Patrick wants to be a hero, and his friends want to find and help him, but as for his sister Gracie, … how can a little girl save the universe? Rosemary B. Althoff's books are available to order from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and Target. Next week, we look at the problem of pain. Until then, stay determined to dance… Click to tweet: Today's episode of the Determined to Dance Podcast, Don't Give Up the Dance,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. On today's episode, How to Deal With Envy, we'll focus on being grateful for what God has given us. Show Notes: How to Deal With Envy When I decided to create a podcast episode on envy, I thought I'd better look up exactly what it means. Jealousy, envy, coveting: they all can get mixed together. Dictionary.com says that envy is a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc. That makes sense. Who hasn't been discontented over someone else's life at one time or the other? Envy is a tough vice to overcome. Just this week, I heard that a friend of mine had won a big award for her novel. And deep down, I'm so happy for her. But the first thought that jumped into my mind was “I read her book. I don't think it was better than mine. Why didn't I win?” Ouch. That's envy showing its ugly face in my thoughts. My next thought was “Okay, now how am I going to deal with this?” How do you deal with envy? Do you stuff it deep inside, praying it won't surface? Do you talk to three people about why it isn't fair? Do you whine? Whining is what I tend to do. But I want to change, don't you? Jeff Walling uses the example of envying others' gifts. He says: “God gives his gifts in the way he chooses. While I must never close the door of my heart to what God may wish to provide, I cannot spend my spiritual life trying to attain what someone else seems to have.” I didn't win that particular award. But that doesn't mean I won't someday. And if I spend my life trying to win that award instead of following the direction that God is leading me in, I'll miss his purpose for my life. And that would be beyond sad. Walling goes on to say: “Keep your eyes on the One who deserves your attention, and keep your attention from the ones who don't need your scorn. You will be helping their dance by honoring the freedom that Jesus died to give them. And you'll be aiding your own dance…” How do we stop envy in its tracks? Get close to God and find out what His plan is for your life. Then focus your energy in that direction. When the temptation to compare yourself to others attacks you, focus on what God has already done in your life. Remind yourself that you are an individual in His eyes. When envy is difficult to overcome, purposely bless the person you are envious of. A kind word, a card, a note of congratulations, or a job well done. We do unto others as we would have them do unto us. If you're still struggling, make a list of the many ways God has blessed you and the gifts and blessings He has bestowed on you. Gratitude can stomp out envy. There is still a part of me that wishes I could have won. Or placed higher than I did. I realize that is my flesh and for the rest of my life, it has to be put in its place. But I have God on my side, helping me in every way. I have only to ask… Let's pray: Father God, we love You so much and the blessings You've bestowed on us but we still struggle with envy. The grass looks greener on the other side, but it's not on our side. Help us to be grateful for where You have placed us and the gifts and talents we have. We want to focus on Your plan for us and not compare ourselves to others. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Envy will always be around, but we can overcome it with the help of our heavenly Father. Today's featured author is Lane Jordan, author of Evangeline, a historical romance novel. Take the beautiful, biblical story of Esther, change the lead character's race from Jewish to biracial, place the location in New York City during the 1960's era of turmoil at the time of the civil rights movement, and you have a modern-day parallel to the story of Esther. King and Evie beautifully portray this timeless tale of romance and righteousness in action.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. In today's episode, How to Face the Critics, we'll focus on how to deal with the people who aren't pleased with our dance. Show Notes: How to Face the Critics Let's get one thing straight right now. There will always be critics. I'm not talking about constructive criticism delivered with kindness and a genuine desire to help. I'm speaking of people who just enjoy being critical. Whether you're dancing with God in ministry, raising a family, working at your job, or even buying groceries, these people are lying in wait to ruin your day. They could even think they're doing you a favor, with words like: Why don't you pray an hour a day like me? Don't you think you should homeschool? Or go to public school? You aren't as efficient as our last secretary. You don't seem to be qualified to lead this ministry. Why in the world aren't you clipping coupons to save money? Does it drive you to distraction too? I want to scream, mind your own business instead of mine. How in the world can we face these critics that seem to be everywhere? First, we can keep our eyes on our dance partner. Jeff Walling says: “Training the eyes of our heart on God will free our dancing in more ways than one. First, keeping your eyes solidly on your dance partner keeps you from being distracted by onlookers. Hebrews 12:1-2 says: “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith.” NIV Distractions are endless and people will try to pull us from our focus on God. Keep the eye of your heart on the One who loved you enough to die for you. He is truly for you. Secondly, don't keep your eyes on others. You can doubt yourself if others aren't doing what you are or the way you are doing it. As a writer, I study and read a lot. Sometimes, I'll read a novel and think: this is the best book I've ever read. I wish I could write like that. Or I wish my podcast was as popular as so and so's. Or my website looked more professional. Maybe I'm too weird or subtle or boring or something. Before I know it, I'm depressed, throwing a pity party, and not following the path that God laid out for me. Jeff Walling says: “…we are judged by God alone. He is the only audience that matters. His opinion is the only one we should constantly poll.” It's extremely important to keep our eyes on Jesus and off of others. What else can we do to help us dance with abandon? We walk in love. God calls us to love Him and love our neighbor. That's not only our best friend neighbors but the grumpy ones too. We can pray for God to help us to be more loving. We walk in truth. God's word is true. If someone slanders the way we worship, we look to God and His Word. We pray. We follow truth and not what might be popular opinion. We walk in faith. We believe God has a plan and purpose for us and He will light our path. Sometimes we might have to sit and wait but we trust in the One who loves us most. We walk in hope. There is never a reason to abandon hope when the critics are harsh. “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40: 31 NIV Love, truth, faith, and hope. When we walk with these virtues in our hearts, we can face the critical with heads held high. Let's pray: Father God, we come to you with hearts often burdened by critics. We want to be teachable but many want to drag us through the mire. Give us the wisdom to discern what we should do. Fill us with love, truth, faith, and hope so we can follow your path daily. In Jesus' name, we pray,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. On today's episode, Avoid the Routine Rut, we'll focus on how to keep from getting stuck in a routine while dancing. Show Notes: Avoid the Routine Rut The Oregon Trail. A two-thousand-mile trail from Missouri to Oregon that covered wagons followed for many years. My kids used to play the video game of this event at school and we owned a newer version on my old Gateway computer. Today, the furrows left behind are five feet deep in places and you can walk in the ruts of history. Amazing. While these wagon tracks are a historical treasure, the ones we can forge in our spiritual life are far from good. Jeff Walling talks about staying spiritually awake. He says: Patterns of behavior that are familiar are comforting. That's why folks get really pushed out of shape when someone tinkers with the order of worship at their church. Yet there's more to ‘sleepy faith' than falling into a worship rut. Religion that becomes routine leaves the participants sleepwalking through their faith life with half-lidded spiritual eyes. Scripture, inspired by the Spirit to pierce their hearts, ends up bouncing off their sleepy souls amid thoughts of ‘Boy, my cousin Ed ought to read that verse. He really needs it.' Joy and exuberance are replaced with a soul-numbing lethargy; these sleepwalkers don't get too excited about anything, for they've seen it all before…twice. And effectively sharing their faith is hard to do while trying to swallow yet another yawn.” I so understand what he's saying. I've been pretty consistent in church since I was nine years old and sometimes, I feel like I've heard it all before. Which is unbelievably silly. God's Word is living and will become fresh every day if we allow it. Walling says like crossing the street, we need to stop, look, and listen when it comes to a boring routine. We stop and take inventory of areas of our life that we've let grow stale. Routine feels safe but it can damage our relationship with God. Look. See with a child's eyes. Hear with their ears and take note of all your senses. I've been taking time each day to listen to the birds sing outside our house. They're always there but I haven't always taken notice of the wonderful blessing of birdsong. Listen. Take time daily to listen to God. He speaks in so many ways and longs for us to know His heart, His will, and His wisdom. And I need that so badly. Don't you? You would think the people listening to Jesus in His day would be astounded and many were. However, in Matthew 13: 14-15, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees: “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” NIV The Oregon Trail. The pioneer wagon ruts can still be seen in all six states that once encompassed the trail. I'm sure many wagons were actually stuck in muddy places all along the road. We don't want to be stuck in the rut of religion. Ask God today what is next and don't be afraid to step out. Let's pray: Father God, we love You and worship You with all our hearts. Help us to see when we are falling into the ‘same old, same old' and deliver us from boring routine. We want to dance freely with you and not play it safe any longer. Protect us as we follow You. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Move away from any spiritual ruts while you can. Today's featured author is Dawn Shipman, author of Kingdom Lost, a YA fantasy novel. Princess Lyric doesn't know that non-human, intelligent beings—some of them savage—live in her world. When her kingdom is torn from her,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Judge or Dance? looks at how easy it is to judge others who don't express their faith like we do. Show Notes: Judge or Dance? It's easy to judge others, especially Christians who act, think, or worship differently than we do. Sometimes, I'll see someone at the store and catch myself judging their clothes, hair, jewelry, or tattoos. Pharisee would have well-described me in my early Christian years and I'm glad to say that God has delivered me from much religious judgmentalism. But it's easy to fall back into old habits if I'm not careful. I forget what Paul said in Galatians 5: 1-2, and 6: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” NIV Jeff Walling follows through with this thought. “Did you catch that last phrase? ‘Faith expressing itself through love.' There is something fundamentally wrong with a faith that isn't ever expressed. The meaning of the word connotes letting something out that is inside, as in expressing your feelings. Though the style may vary, expressions of faith and joy in Christ have long been part of the fabric of Christian worship. I remember growing up in a church where hardly a Sunday would pass without someone saying ‘Amen.' But in some religious circles, these spontaneous expressions of faith have become so metered and subdued that they are almost nonexistent.” My faith should be expressed through love. Looking down on or talking about others who don't act, think, or worship like me is the opposite of love. There is only One who has the right to judge and it's not me. Walling goes on to discuss how in Luke 7, Simon the Pharisee judged the woman with the alabaster box because of her extravagant expression of love toward Jesus. Simon had rules to live by and this woman was not following them. How could she embarrass him like this? How could Jesus not know who she was? Jesus did know who she was and accepted her worship. He said in verses 44-47: “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” I don't want to be like Simon. I've been greatly forgiven and you have too. We all need to bring our alabaster box; our expression of faith shown through love to Jesus and lavishly break it at His feet. God understands each of us—our past, our raising, our hangups—and He still accepts us. How can we not show our love to Him? Mother Teresa said: “Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” We can't judge others and dance. Let us pray for others and leave our questions to God. He's waiting on the dance floor for us with His hand extended. Let's pray: Father God, thank you for Your great love. we want to express our love and faith but we can't do it while we condemn others. Help us to see people as You see them. Through the eyes of love. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. God asks us to be faithful to love Him and others. Why not express our faith through love this wee...

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Dance of Stillness, focuses on our need to rest and relax. Show Notes: Dance of Stillness This week's episode is for me. I hope you enjoy it too, but I so need to learn to rest and relax. To dance the dance of stillness. To be quiet. Take a moment to rest. Psalm 46, verses 1-3, and 10 are words for a weary heart. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” NKJV Have you noticed that it's difficult to rest in today's world? There is much to be done in our busy lives, and many people that need us. And we have plans and goals we want to meet. Heavy sigh. How can we get it all done? Or maybe a better question is “Do we need to get it all done?” Is Father God waiting with crossed arms and a tapping foot for us to finally finish that mile-long to-do list? I think not. Most of the time when I'm overly busy and overwhelmed, it's because I'm listening to my wants and needs and everyone else's without taking a moment to ask God what His plan is. Yes, it's time for me to bow my head and ask for forgiveness. Again. I've run off and left God behind and can't figure out why my life is no longer working. God, forgive me. But let's not forget we also have enemies, demonic forces that do not want to see God's will accomplished on this earth. In John 10: 9-10, Jesus says: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” NKJV Did you catch those three words? Steal. Kill. Destroy. The devil is out to get all of God's children. Our Lord Jesus is so much greater. He gives life to the full. And that's what I want. But life to the full doesn't come without seasons of rest, times of relaxation, moments of deep conversation with God. Jeff Walling shares this thought: “Stillness of soul and body is hard to come by for those of us given to chronic busyness. Its value is hidden by our productivity-tinted glasses. ‘Sabbath' can sound so outdated and ‘meditation' too Eastern. Yet God patiently invites us again and again with that still, small voice to a place where, like Elijah, we will come to our senses in a moment of clarifying stillness. In that stillness, we can once again see the glory of God and bask in his power. We can be caught up in the blessed reality of his sovereignty and our servitude. But that place is not found without discipline…Prayer time must move from the ‘When Available' column to the ‘Must Do Today' list.” Wow. I want to learn but how? Set aside time for God's Word, prayer, and simply to sit and listen. God speaks every Set aside moments each day to catch our breath. We can't go at full speed all day long without paying the price of stress later in life. Set aside time in our schedules for what is relaxing for us. Whether it's reading, a manicure, tinkering with the car, a hot bath, or a long walk, figure out what works and pencil it in. Often. I've not done well in this area for a long time and am now paying the price physically. You can only push yourself so far before you crash. I'm learning the hard way the price of busy. One day, I will be myself again, but for now, I'm looking at every single thing on my list and ridding myself of a lot. I have no choice. Learn from my mistakes, my friends. Learn the dance of stillness today. Let's pray: Father God, we come to You today in repentance.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. In today's episode, Fear of the Unknown, we'll discuss how to experience boldness when we dare to move forward. Show Notes: Fear of the Unknown I like to have a plan and to be organized and prepared. All the time. Why? I admit that I do like order and find it hard to work in clutter. Deep, deep down inside, though, is that trepidation that likes to sneak up on me: Fear of the unknown. Mix that with a melancholy personality and I can start counting the ways why this new thing or that new event will probably ruin my life. It's easy to think of twelve reasons why I'll crash and burn. And I can't pull together a single thought on a positive note. But I am working hard to change. My hair has always been dark brown, the classic brunette. The problem with that was I started graying at twenty-three. So, I put rinses on my hair to cover the gray but by the time I was in my late thirties, I was adding blond highlights to blend in with the gray. My daughter was in cosmetology school and suggested I just go blond. Fear of the unknown attacked. I instantly had tons of reasons why it would look bad, everyone would laugh and point, and I'd be disgraced forever. While debating within myself, I heard a tiny whisper inside my soul, “But what if you like it?” Oh, my. Once again, I'd let fear take over and didn't consider even one good thought. I took a bold step (for me) and let my daughter fix my hair. I kinda liked it. On Sunday, I crept into my church, waiting for the criticism. Instead, three different people asked me if I had new glasses. Go figure. I tell myself this story every time I feel God calling me to a new place on the dance floor. Or a different dance. Or to just sit out for a while and drink a glass of punch. You might say, “Well, my problem is a lot worse than gray hair.” I totally understand. But the principle is the same. Jeff Walling says, “At its root, the problem for many is the fear of the unknown. When some say, ‘I can't dance,' what they are really saying is ‘I'm afraid of what will happen if I do.' They stand frozen, unprepared to turn loose and let God be God. Don't expect them to put it in those terms; but if given the choice, they'd take a safe walk with Christ over a surprising dance with him, any day. But miracles and life without limits are only available in the realm of the unexpected, the jubilant, the outrageous. As in music, the ad-lib sections are always the most exciting… if you're ready for them…God gives each of us moments to take the stage and boldly play our song. Whether in exultant praise or solemn testimony, the Christian must be ready for the unexpected chance to dance with the King. And he must step out with boldness to do it.” That is really hard, isn't it? Leaving our comfort zones for the unknown, the unexpected, and the unexplained. In the book of Acts, the early Christians understood this fear and prayed for boldness after being threatened by the religious council. Acts 4:29-31 says: “… Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” They asked and God immediately answered. And sometimes that is what happens, an immediate response. And other times we move slowly in faith and trembling. But God always comes through. Our part is to fill ourselves with God's life-changing word and to pray for boldness. Then we move in faith and trust. I have to believe that God is big enough to stop me from making a catastrophic mistake.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, I Can't Dance, focuses on how fear can keep us from stepping onto the dance floor. Show Notes: I Can't Dance Jeff Walling shares a story of how he went to the Senior Sock Hop as a teen. He'd grown up in a household that didn't believe in dancing so when asked by a girl to dance, he had to admit that he didn't know how. He left embarrassed. He goes on to say, “I share this to assure the reader that I understand the frustration and embarrassment that can flood one's soul when a fellow believer says, ‘Can't you just relax and celebrate your Christianity? Can't you just turn it all over to God and trust him? Can't you quit worrying and start praising? … Breaking the barriers that keep us from dancing with God in celebration of life is not for the fainthearted. Criticism and pressure will soon come to bear from without and within. When our hearts aren't warning us that our faith is just too much fun, our Christian friends will be. And the danger of losing our focus and allowing freedom in Christ to become a license for licentiousness is a constant concern. But if you'll brave those dangers, there are cures for the maladies that keep us from dancing with the King.” When I first started attending a new church, I noticed some people raised one or both hands during the singing part of the service. Why were they doing this? Was it okay? Biblical? I wasn't going to unless I knew it was all right with God. During a television sermon by one of my favorite pastors, he talked about all the ways in the Bible to praise and worship God. One was raising hands. Psalm 63:4 says, “Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” NKJV Since I knew it was all right, I started by bending my hand at the wrist where no one could really see. Fear tried to stop me right from the beginning. Fear will try to keep you from praising and worshiping God freely. Fear will also keep you from hearing what the Father is trying to speak to your heart. A low rumbling of terror will grip your soul and before you know it, you'll be shouting, ‘I can't dance,' whenever the opportunity to love, grow, and serve the people in your community arises. Opportunities like: Visiting the unchurched, sick, or those in a nursing home. Being part of a community outreach to the poor or homeless. Attending church regularly. Helping with VBS or church camp. Teaching Sunday School or life groups. Ministering to the people you work with. Fear says, ‘You can't. Don't even try.' God is holding out His hand, gently beseeching you to step out onto the dance floor of life. While opportunities like those above can make us uncomfortable and fearful, they will build our faith and in the long run, we receive more than we give. In II Corinthians 9:6-8, the Word says: “But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” We reap what we sow. If we step out, letting cheerfulness outweigh the fear, God says He'll give us an abundance of grace for every good work. Every single one. We need faith and a good attitude. God can take the little we have to offer and make much from it. At the age of 12, Mother Teresa felt the call of God on her life to be a missionary. I'm sure she had no idea that accepting this call would change the world, especially India. She began by teaching at a Catholic school in India and at the age of 38 felt led to minister to the poorest of the poor without any financial backing.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, The Steadfast Love of God, focuses on how unwavering His love is, especially when we can't see what is ahead. Show Notes: The Steadfast Love of God God's love never gives up, never slows down, and never backs away. No matter what I do. No matter what you do. His love is who He is so even if we run as far as humanly possible from God, He still loves. And this resonates in my heart deeply during the Easter season. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3: `6 NKJV God loved the world. That encompasses everyone. Not a single individual is exempt from the great love of the Father. We must, however, believe. An act of faith. To not perish; to share forever in eternal life, we step out in faith and believe His word in our hearts and confess this with our mouths. And once we do, we are His. I love the words of Paul in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NKJV I am a fairly nice person (now close friends, don't laugh) I really am. But start talking ugly about my children or grandchildren, and I'll get riled. Angry. Try to hurt them and I can become a Mama bear in a hurry. If you have loved ones, you understand exactly what I mean. God loves us a million times more than I love my family. Cares more. And has a plan and purpose for each of us. I still can't fathom that God has counted the number of hairs on my head. (Luke 12:7) Jeff Walling says: “Truly dependable love is a rare commodity, and no one offers it like the Lord. He never, ever gives up on us. His secure and abiding love gives the believer a solid platform from which to function, an unshakeable truth on which to stand. ‘My God cares for me. My God is committed to me. My God will never stop loving me.' With that verity written on our hearts, we can step out in faith to dance through circumstances that appear as impassible as the Grand Canyon.” We learn to dance this way by storing up God's word in our hearts. The ‘impassible' times might not find us with a Bible in our hand but we can still remember the words in our hearts. The Holy Spirit will help us recall the goodness of God when we ask. Whether I'm in a hospital room, praying for a prodigal, struggling with anxiety, or just feeling alone, the love of God never leaves me. And never leaves you. St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” Wow. This quote always leaves me breathless. As I near one of those “big” birthdays that end in a zero, I've realized that I will never be perfect. No matter how much I want to be just like Jesus, and never say a wrong word or think a wrong thought or act in a wrong way, it's never gonna be like I want it this side of heaven. And sometimes that makes me sad. Until I remember that God loves me anyway. He wants me to be obedient and live in excellence but he also understands that I came from dust. And dust is, well, kinda messy. Like me. The next time you're struggling, take a moment to bask in God's love. Read some scriptures, listen to music, and explore nature. Let His love, the steadfastness of it all, overwhelm you for the good. Let's pray: Father God, thank You for the everlasting love that You bestow on us daily. You gave Your only Son for us, and treat us as Your own. My heart sings its praises to You now and forever. When life is hard, show up in a mighty way in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. May the love of God abound in your heart, now and forevermore.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Dancing When It's Not Easy, is about dancing with God in spite of our circumstances. Show Notes: Dancing When It's Not Easy I'd had a difficult four months, starting in October of 2022. My husband had an unexpected surgery, the holidays arrived, then my Mother had a heart ablation. When February showed up at last, I was tired, down, and ready to give up. I mean I could barely keep up with it all. I woke up that morning and decided to play some music and worship God. I wanted to dance and sing with abandon to the One who'd been right by my side through it all. But as the first song ended, I struggled to even sing or clap, much less let go of all the weight. Thoughts attacked. What a failure you are. Can't even praise God. Why do you even try? As I sat on my bed, unable to persevere, a different voice whispered in my soul. “It's okay. I know your heart. I love you anyway. I still care, and I appreciate your effort. God embraced me in such a beautiful way. Paul and Silas understood what I was going through. In Acts 16, they were preaching the Word and seeing people come to Jesus. God had specifically called them through a vision to that area. So, what could go wrong? A woman with a spirit of divination constantly bothered them so Paul cast in out of her in the name of Jesus Christ. You'd think people would be happy when this miracle took place. Instead, verse 22-25 tells us: “Then the multitude rose up together against them, and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” Wow. Talk about dancing in the worst circumstances imaginable. Jeff Walling says in Daring to Dance with God, “They (Paul and Silas) had exercised one of the greatest abilities the creator has afforded us: they had chosen to rejoice and dance with God despite their surroundings. Let me be clear. This is more than making lemonade when life gives you lemons. It is the capacity to dance when you can barely crawl. It is the choice to sing when you feel like crying. And it is doing so not out of ignorance or blind faith but because of an awareness of God's sovereignty and your confidence in him.” Paul and Silas could dance because they knew God. He had proven himself over and over. We can dance too. By remembering what God has done for us in our past By believing He still has plans for our future. And by realizing we don't have to perform to a formula or routine. The way we danced in the past can change at times and it's okay. They probably had little strength and energy by the time midnight rolled around in the prison, but they did what they could. They lifted their voices to God. Didn't seem like much. But God knew their hearts and before the night ended, their chains were loosened through an earthquake and they led the jailer and his family to salvation. Something I forget over and over is that God is patient and full of lovingkindness, mercy, and grace. He is for me. And He is for you. When circumstances are difficult, dance the best you can. God is watching and will and can truly turn your mourning into dance. Let's pray: Father God, we praise and worship you for who you are. A God that understands, who doesn't place cumbersome burdens on us, and instead loves and cares for us where we are. A thousand years of praise, worship, and thanks will never be enough to repay you for giving Your Son for us. We want to know you more and more each day.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Following God's Lead, teaches us the importance of submitting to His will. Show Notes: Following God's Lead God is in the GPS business. No, we don't have an external guidance system that we can carry around with us, to help direct our steps in God's way. Or do we? God has given us His Word in the form of a Bible, full of wisdom and knowledge to light our path every day. Jesus mentions an internal GPS in John 16:13; “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Jesus says the Holy Spirit will guide us, tell us what He hears, and things to come. After we give our lives to Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, and we can pray and ask for wisdom, knowledge, and guidance. What a promise. What a privilege. There is one problem, though. When we receive wisdom, knowledge, and guidance, we must submit to God's will. I have a tendency to mention to God what I want and then hope He will line up His will with mine. I mean, I'm a Christian and if I have an idea, it's probably good. I'm not trying to make things difficult or go against what the Bible says. But when it comes down to it, I want my way. I don't need help. Period. Jeff Walling says: “…God wants to take our scheduling pen in his hand, but only when we admit that we can't handle it on our own. But once again, it is often my ego that stands between me and this all-important admission…But we will never be able to follow the lead of the Lord while believing we don't need his leading. Like a drowning swimmer who doesn't believe he's drowning, we can't be saved until we acknowledge our own inadequacy. And God refuses to force me to surrender. I must choose freely to do so, based on the knowledge that I am desperately in need of his hand on my rudder.” Ow. That's me. Self-sufficient. Sometimes, I sound like a toddler who yells, “I do it myself.” If I allow God or anyone else to “assist” me, then I don't get the credit and applause that I so crave. The truth is I am trying to receive confidence and worth through things I do instead of the One who is waiting to bestow confidence and worth on me that comes from knowing God and being His child. And that's what following His lead is all about: It's following His wisdom and guidance instead of what we think we know. It's surrendering to His way instead of following our own system. It's asking for His schedule instead of trying to figure out our own. What does it all boil down to? Trusting God. Believing that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. Knowing that He is good and longs to give good things to His children. No matter what we see. I tend to be so afraid of “missing” it. Missing what He says to me. The direction He's pointing. Sometimes, many times, my life is busy. Family. Caregiving. Job. Church. Writing. Podcasting. Life. Can I really hear when He speaks to me? Whether it is that still, small voice, or a message through a person, an event, or a song. There are many scriptures comforting us with the thought that God cares for us much more than we can imagine. Isaiah 49:15-16 is one of my favorites. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.” If we miss Him, He will find us. Luke 15:4-6 says: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home,

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, God Restores, focuses on the ways God reestablishes our lives. Show notes: God Restores The word restore has many possible definitions in Webster's 1828 dictionary. Among my favorites are: To bring back or recover from lapse, degeneracy, or ruin to its former state. To heal; to cure. To repair; to rebuild. To revive; to resuscitate; to bring back to life. I need restoration. The longer I live, the more I long to see God recover areas of my life. Ones I felt could never be brought back to their former state. When I was a child, around six years old, my father became very ill with a spinal disease that left him in a wheelchair for life. We moved to Alabama to be close to family and the distress changed me in many ways. Before we moved, Mom said I was a more outgoing, talkative child. In our new home and lifestyle, I became shy, timid. I poured myself into study, discipline, and rules. I gave my life to God a few years after the move but never seemed to be able to recover the way I danced through life before the trauma. God, however, had a plan. He began to heal, cure, repair, rebuild, revive, resuscitate, and bring me back to life. He understood my need to hide at first and step by step, inch by inch, rescued me. He used many ways, some you might relate to: My relationship with God. Through the Word and prayer, He beckoned me to His presence where healing is found. Family and friends. Countless people spoke into my life in positive, affirming ways. Church, sermons, conferences. Sometimes, I couldn't focus on much but one word of a sermon would sustain me in difficult times. Music, worship, and praise all played a part in my restoration. Repentance, confession, and receiving forgiveness. I needed to repent of my sin and shortcomings, then receive the forgiveness offered. And that brings us to Jeff Walling's quote of the day: “Our weaknesses and mistakes are what sent Christ to Golgotha. If we do not freely bring them to the Father and allow him to renew our soul and restore our balance, we rob the cross of its power. If your knees are bruised from stumbling and your shins are bloody from an unexpected tumble, don't let embarrassment or fear cause you to slink off into the bushes to mope. Reach out for the tender hand of one who knows and cares. He is aware of your every misstep and loves you anyway.” What a beautiful truth. And it's not just for me. Everyone can call on the name of the Lord for help. Psalm 145:17-19 says: “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.” Did you notice how the verse kept saying all? That leaves no one out. Now the path to restoration is not easy. I've tried to restore furniture before and usually made a mess of it. A person needs specific tools and skills to do the job right. It takes patience and a steady hand to strip a table, bench, or chair down to its foundation, then rebuild it, adding stain, paint, and repair. God steps into our lives when we ask and begins the same process. Sometimes, the pain seems too great and we don't think we'll ever be who God says we can be. But He never gives up, never gives in, never turns around. For He is God, the creator. And whatever He chooses for me, chooses for you, is good. So, step up and enter the restoring process. You'll never regret taking His outstretched hand. Let's pray: Father God, we come to You today in need of rescue, and restoration, to be brought back to life. We want Your life. We repent of our sins and ask You to cleanse us. Recover what we've lost. Restore us to the person you meant for us to be.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Our Security in Father God, focuses on the only One who can keep us safely on the dance floor of life. Show Notes: Our Security in Father God Security. Safety. Certainty. Words that can sound flat in our world filled with chaos: wars, pandemics, natural disasters, and lawlessness spiraling out of control. Is it even possible to feel a little safe when we leave our homes? I live in a farming community in rural Alabama. You would think we sit around on the front porch swing singing Amazing Grace and sipping lemonade all the live long day. And while there is much good around me and I love where God has planted me, bad things happen, even here. In the last year, our small county has dealt with more than one shooting, missing persons, lockdowns in the schools, flooding, tornado damage, and drug and alcohol abuse. And when I hear of people being shot at Walmart, in their cars, or in schools or churches around our country, I experience a tug of fear. I go buy groceries, see my children leave for work, and my grandchildren board the school bus and wonder how has our country drifted so far from its roots. Is there a way to combat the fear? It's time to turn to God's Word. Psalm 139: 7-10 says: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” NIV Jeff Walling quotes this verse and then goes on to say: “ … David finds a wonderfully comforting truth: The same God who knows everything and is everywhere will hold me and guide me, no matter where I am. ‘Your right hand will hold me fast.' How good it is to know that we are never far away from his guiding hand.” When fear strikes me the hardest, I can simply call out to God and receive His comfort. I can turn to passages like this in His Word and know that I cannot get away from God, even if I wanted to. He is guiding me, holding me, safely and lovingly in His arms. What a wonderful truth. But what about the times when I don't particularly want to go in the way He is guiding me? I tend to look for the easy road. I want to do my easiest chores first, and never do anything difficult. My biggest whining over the years has been: “I can't do that. It's too hard.” But God loves me so much. He knows if I only do easy, I'll never learn, grow, and stretch. I'll never realize the potential He's given me to love, encourage, and help those around me. Be the best me I can be. So, He reaches out His hand and though it looks totally terrifying, I take one step, then another, and suddenly I'm dancing on top of the waves, amazed at what God is doing for and through me. Because He loves me so much. And it is satisfying. Whether it's having children, taking a new position at work, writing a novel, finishing school, or planning your retirement, new steps are hard to take. But what rewards wait for us when we let God whirl and twirl us around the dance floor. My writing life had all but creaked to a halt by the end of 2022. I'd about given up. While I love what I do, the past five years have been hard. I released my debut novel right before the pandemic. My publisher then sold to another publisher. Two different books I'd written afterward received positive, but numerous rejections. I'd hit the ceiling, so it seemed, and I couldn't make headway. I doubted myself. Couldn't make decisions on what to do next. Floundered, whined, then stepped out again. Door after door closed. Was it the end? I sat one day and poured my heart to God. Asked if there was something I needed to do instead of writing. Was this season in my life over? Already?

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Learning to Let Go, focuses on the fear that says we always need to be in control. Show notes: Learning to Let Go How many of y'all like things to go your way? Like to row your ducks? A place for everything and everything in its place. You know, the job, the spouse, kids, grandkids, church. And let's not forget the house, neighborhood, and school. So many that need our help—uh—advice—our control? I'm raising my hand. I sure would like for God to ask me at the beginning of each day about my plans and how he could help them come to pass. But it doesn't quite work that way. I mean, where would find the faith that we need to please God if it's all up to us? “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV We are back to believing that He is God and big enough to handle our lives and that we are to be seeking, not taking the lead. Ouch. Again, I repent and give it all to Him. Often, several times a day. Here's our episode two quote from Jeff Walling. “Dancing with God is allowing him to take our breath away as he whirls us through the dark and light places that life leads us. It is relaxing into his embrace and trusting fully in his strong arms. It is releasing the power of the Spirit within us to give us joy beyond measure. It is reveling in the unexpected and celebrating the divine surprise that is each new day. It is rejoicing out loud at the grace and beauty God provides and ignoring the calls of the crowd to sit down and quit grinning. But above all else, dancing with God is learning to let go.” Why do I even want to be in control? Usually, because I feel afraid. Sometimes, because I feel guilty or ashamed for something I've done or didn't do. There are days when I'm afraid and guilty for sins I've committed and things I didn't do all wrapped up in one. Not what Jesus went to the cross and died for—this state of mind where my focus is once again on me, me, me. A couple of weeks ago, I had one of those days. I needed to cancel a family member's minor surgery and reschedule it again. Mainly, because I'd come down with Covid and they'd been around me. So, we had guilt right off the bat. I waited for the nurse to call me back but she didn't. Fear instantly attacked. What did I even say to them in my feverish condition? Did they not understand me and go ahead and set up for surgery because of my botched-up state of mind? Fear, guilt, and all kind of junk piled on me. I wish I could say that I stopped it right then, called on the name of Jesus and the power of the blood, and went on my way singing Onward, Christian Soldiers. That probably would have been the right thing to do but instead, I wallowed in self-pity for a few days, then finally stopped what was going on. God knew I tried to do right and I had to believe that he was in control. If I messed up, I'd apologize to whoever I could and try to make it right. But ultimately I needed to leave it in the hands of a mighty, caring Father who has my back. And yours. So, remember: Give your life, and your control to God, the only One who can truly make it right. Give your fears to God and watch Him turn them into faith. Give your guilt/shame to God and hear His sweet whispers of forgiveness. I find it much easier to dance when I'm not juggling the suitcases of fear, control, guilt, and shame. Grabbing hold instead of grace, love, peace, and faith makes more sense and is a much lighter load. Let's pray: Father God, we come to you with overfilled hands, minds, and hearts. We can't bear the heavy burden of control that we lay on our own lives. Take it all, Father. The good, the bad, the sin, the joy, everything we hold dear, and much more.

Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you'll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today's episode, Let's Dare to Dance with God, starts a thirty-episode season where we dig deep into what it takes to excel during the dance… Show notes: Let's Dare to Dance With God Stay determined to dance. On the podcast, season one, we learned what exactly it is to dance with God and how to persevere where we are, no matter what the circumstances. Season two was spent discussing prayer, since learning to talk and listen is essential when it comes to being in step with the Father. Season three will be a study in the book that started my road to God's great dance floor: Daring to Dance with God by Jeff Walling. While re-reading this book about stepping into God's embrace, I decided to take twenty-eight interesting points that Walling makes and bring them in for discussion. Only twenty-eight, you might ask? I thought you said a thirty-episode season. I did, my friend. Two episodes will be reserved for a special interview with the author himself. Jeff Walling has graciously consented to talk about his work in greater detail. You won't want to miss these two episodes, I know. Our first episode quote from Walling? “Don't you want to dance? I do. I want to be swept away on a cloud of music and laughter. I want to experience the sheer bliss of waltzing and gliding across the room to the sound of an orchestra in full swing. And not just with anyone. No, I want to dance with the one who invented dancing. I want to dance with God. And guess what? He wants to dance with me. And he wants to dance with you too.” As we dare to dance with the Father in greater ways than ever before, I'd like to share an example that stood out to me one day at church. During the worship music segment of the service, my eyes were drawn to a young mother and her three-year-old child. They were a delight to watch. The child jumped up and down, twirled in her dress, and waved her hands in the air. She clearly enjoyed dancing with God in her own special way. Her mother stood singing, eyes raised to the sky and hands lifted, palm up, at the waist. She worshiped in a different fashion. Do you think God accepted only one or the other? I believe God is equally pleased with our worship if it is from the heart. The Word says in Matthew 15:8: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.” NKJV God clearly states that He looks for a heart that is drawing close to Him. It's not the outer appearance that counts. I Samuel 16:7 says: “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” NKJV So, let's begin this season with a glimpse at our hearts. Not the blood-pumping organ in our body. The 1828 Webster Dictionary has several thoughts on the heart besides the physical: The seat of the affections and passions, as of love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure, etc. The seat of the understanding. The seat of the will; hence, secret purposes, intentions, or designs. The seat. When we look at that word, it says: The place where a thing is settled or established. When our hearts draw close to God, we seek Him with our affections, passions, understanding, and will. We don't do this once a month or once a year. We want our drawing close to be a settled, established part of our lives. Now, Father God is not looking for robots. Routine and order aren't bad as long as we are drawing near out of love, and affection, to be safe in Abba's arms. If I dare to venture out onto the dance floor of life, especially during difficult times, I need to know the outstretched hand of God is strong. Mighty. Safe. In John 10:28-30,

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Daring to Dance with God, focuses on season three and what happens when the dance and ministry join hands. Remember: Daring to Dance with God Twenty-five or so years ago, a guy at church handed me a book. “I think you need to read this,” he said. That book was Max Lucado's When God Whispers Your Name. I devoured every page, totally unaware that there was such a thing as Christian non-fiction books. For the next ten years, I read little fiction, my reading confined to the Bible and books by authors like Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Joyce Meyer, Tommy Tenney, Jack Hayford, Stormie Omartian, and Jeff Walling. Jeff Walling? You may ask. Who is that? He is a motivational and inspirational speaker and former pastor. He wrote three books, from what I can tell. And one changed my life. Daring to Dance with God. Honestly, all the books I read over that ten-year period were like pieces of the puzzle slowly fitting together to point me more toward who I was and the purpose and plan that God had for me. But, in my early thirties, dancing with God was something I'd never heard of. Never considered. Wondered if it were even possible. And slowly. One pirouette. One twirl. One faulty step and tumble on the dance floor followed by a flawless plie' followed by me whining to God about why in the world I ever thought I could dance. How could I flow and enjoy something so difficult at times as dancing? But Father God didn't give up on me. He still doesn't. On the very first episode of this podcast (which is a dance all by itself) I shared the initial analogy that brought me to this point: “I'll never forget the day that the thought, the God-nudge flooded my mind in that deep, quiet part within. God whispered that I had marched for Him and that was good but now he wanted me to dance with him instead. That analogy meant so much to me. I wept, then trembled with fear. It was one thing to march. If you've ever watched a high school band at a football game, you'll notice a set pattern. They've perfected their routine before the game. And practiced as often as they could. Got the steps down pat. Totally prepared. Like I tended to be. But dancing, the kind I knew God was talking about, would be very different. I was being asked to join and not take the lead. I wouldn't know exactly where on the dance floor I might end up. Maybe a quiet corner, or in a group of other dancers, or even in the center of the room, drawing every eye to us. As the orchestra played in the background, it would change and so would the dance. A fiery tango. A beautiful waltz. The Macarena? Even line dancing wouldn't be out of the question. Some parts would remain the same. I would still need the determination, the perseverance I'd learned over my years of marching for God. But it wouldn't be the determination to follow the patterns and stay in perfect line and timing. Instead, it would be the determination to surrender to God's will. Every time. Like writing a novel. Starting a podcast. Obedient, step by step. I would follow God's dance, his lead, his music, and go to the part of the dance floor where He led.” Dancing with God, following His will and way spontaneously, without thought for what others think hasn't been easy. But it has been the best decision I ever made next to asking Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I hope to take the next step in season three. For myself and for you, the listener. I plan to challenge us both to a deeper relationship with God, more chances to make a difference in the lives of others, and more joy. Who couldn't use more joy in our chaotic world? In the words of Walling, “He (God) demands that we open ourselves to the unexpected, the unpredictable, and even the unexplainable. The Bible is full of instances where God chose to work in ou...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, A Prayerful Podcast Season, wraps up the 2022 year. Remember: A Prayerful Podcast Season Next week's episode marks the end of season two but not the end of the podcast. I'm already in the planning stages of season three and we'll talk more about that next week. If you haven't already, please go to jenniferhallmark.com, scroll down to “Subscribe to My Monthly Email Newsletter” and sign up so you won't miss any information about the new season. You'll also receive three free gifts that I hope you'll enjoy. I'd love to connect with you on social media so please explore today's show notes for the links. Facebook Facebook author's page  Twitter Pinterest Instagram On social media, I share my faith, writing, fun memes, recipes, and my Southern life. And of course, this podcast. If you've missed an episode or would like to listen to any of seasons one or two, go to the Subscribe to Podcast page at jenniferhallmark.com and scroll down. I've so enjoyed this season of prayer and I hope you have too. The first five episodes covered the basics of prayer, while episodes six through ten talked about specific prayerful situations. Check out those show notes for printable resources you can keep handy at your favorite prayer spot. Then we talked about the benefits of daily prayer and the joy you receive when praying for others. Some of my personal favorite episodes came next when we examined praying like Jesus. The research I did in the four gospels pointed once again to what a wonderful Savior we serve. Then followed intercession and specific ways to talk to God when it comes to our family, community, city, state, nation, and world. A thought about praying in the Spirit ended this season and I can't thank you enough for listening. Three of my favorite prayer quotes from season two are: “Prayer can change anything. The impossible doesn't exist. His is the power. Ours is the prayer. Without Him, we cannot. Without us, He will not.” Pastor Jack Hayford “If some Christians that have been complaining of their ministers had said and acted less before men and had applied themselves with all their might to cry to God for their ministers—had as it were, risen and stormed heaven with their humble, fervent, and incessant prayer for them—they would have been much more in the way of success.” Jonathan Edwards “Spiritually, we have wandered far from the faith in our fathers… no nation which relegates the Bible to the background, which disregards the love of God, and flouts the claims of the Man of Galilee, can long survive.” Billy Graham Two beloved scriptures on prayer to me are: “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” II Chronicles 7: 14-15 NKJV “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Matthew 6:6 NKJV Season two to me has been a time to dance with God, twirling and moving to heavenly music while He patiently listens to me chat about the people, places, and problems nearest and dearest to my heart. My joys. My struggles. My pain. Times of peace which settle my heart. Made possible by the greatest Father of all. Let's pray: Father God, we are so thankful that You taught us to pray in Your Word and listen to our chatter the same way a parent listens to a toddler. We don't always know what to say but You still understand. Thank You for giving us Jesus as our Intercessor, ever praying at Your right hand. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. You are worthy,

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying in the Spirit, focuses on prayer and the Holy Spirit. Show Notes: Praying in the Spirit After thirty-seven episodes of prayer, you have probably figured out that I love to pray. To talk to God about anything and everything. He is truly the only one who totally “gets” me: my quirks, my weirdness, my pain, my joy. I don't know how I would get through one day without talking to my Father. I found through my study that the term “Praying in the Spirit” means a lot of different things to different people. Especially among various denominations. In Ephesians 6:18, Paul says: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” NLT Jacob Gregory said, “No human can pray without divine help.” I agree that we can do nothing in and of ourselves. We need God every second of every day. Praying in the Spirit is basically God enabling us to pray through His Spirit. I found three ways to pray in the Word: In your native language. In a spiritual language. In groanings too deep to utter. Here are scriptures I found to support this: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” Romans 12: 10-13 NKJV “Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.” I Corinthians 14:15 NLT “Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26 NKJV “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14: 39-40 NKJV My times in prayer are deeply personal and uplifting to me. I want to be as close to God as possible while on this earth and look forward to an eternity spent with Him. I don't understand life as much as I would like to but I know God loves me and is even pleased with me. Years ago, I thought of God more as a judge than a Father. I know now that He is both and his judgment is tempered with mercy. I really can't wait until the day when we will really know Him: “For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” I Corinthians 13:12 NKJV I'll leave you with this thought. When comparing prayer in one's native language or a prayer language, Jack Hayford says, “Each form of prayer is at a different dimension, and neither should be described as “less than.” How can the Grand Canyon and the Swiss Alps be compared? It's impossible and unnecessary to do so. Rather, be it languages we employ or creation we behold, let us all be humbled before all manifestations of His Majesty's glory. Let us rise together to praise the Creator of all prayer as readily as we worship the Creator of all things. To do so is to be open to experiencing the enjoyment and the blessing available in exploring the dimensions to which each realm invites us.” From The Beauty of Spiritual Language. Let's pray: Father God, we thank You for the Holy Spirit and the gifts He bestows on Your children. We love talking and singing to You in all ways and forms. You are good and love each of us as individuals, and that is amazing. We are never a number but are chosen, accepted, and deeply loved. You are awesome beyond words. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for Our World, considers the world we live in and how to focus our prayers. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our World “Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders, Let me walk upon the waters, Wherever you would call me.” The words above are to one of my all-time favorite Christian songs. What does part of the bridge from “Oceans,” have to do with praying for the world? When preparing for this episode, I thought, “God, the world is so big. There are so many people. So many needs. Besides people struggling, there are environmental issues. The continents. The oceans. The world is immense and so are its struggles.” Then, on Sunday morning, we sang “Oceans” at church. “Spirit, lead me” is the answer. We can't take on world prayer alone or even know where to start. It truly takes two to tango, waltz, or rumba. The Holy Spirit is our dance partner in prayer. When we give our lives to the Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us. John 14:26 says: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” NKJV The Holy Spirit will point the direction in which we are to pray for the world when we ask. Needs will be evident. Sometimes, we see these prayer focuses through: Watching the news. Prayer requests made at church. Social media. A missionary or visitor from another country. Dreams and visions. Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help which led to prayer and a mission trip. God uses many means, through His Spirit, to teach us and bring thoughts and ideas to our remembrance. I'll never forget a day trip we made to a major city in another state. We enjoyed the short holiday, then decided to return home a different way. We drove through the west side of town and what I saw broke my heart. We passed mile after mile of empty malls, apartment complexes, and shopping centers. Places boarded up. Not a soul in sight. We wondered what happened and it led me to pray for renewal in the west side of this city. Years before, we'd stopped for gas while driving on the interstate and saw an empty mall. Abandoned. The Holy Spirit pointed it out and I prayed. Will these sections of cities ever be repopulated and renewed? I don't know but I can still lift them up. We can pray, noticing the part of the world where we are and its needs. Remember in Romans 8:26 Paul says: “Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” He longs to help us but we must first ask. I love this quote from John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's Progress: “Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.” We pray to God, through Jesus, assisted by the Holy Spirit. How can we not succeed when praying for the world with their help? Here are a few ideas to think about: Pray for specific countries during specific seasons. Our church has focused a lot of prayers for Ukraine because of the war they are fighting. Pray for world leaders. Find godly leaders to lift to the Lord. Pray during natural disasters. Hurricanes, tsunamis, blizzards, earthquakes, and other traumatic events can affect nations for weeks and months. Pray for the peace of Israel. We are specifically told in scripture to remember Israel. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122: 6 KJV Praying for the world is possible when the Holy Spirit assists you. Today's featured author is Izzy James, author of Rita: A Yorktown Christmas Time-Travel No...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for Our Nation, looks at prayer when it comes to the nation in which we live. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our Nation In 2021, there were 694, 050 violent crimes and over 800,000 offenses in the United States alone. Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa boast the highest crime rates in the world. What can we do for our nations in the face of such evil? “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” II Chronicles 7: 14-15 NKJV When praying for our nation, this is a scripture often turned to and taught. What is God saying? If my people… Humble themselves Pray Seek God's face Turn from wickedness Then God… Hears Forgives Heals Many people miss the next verse 15 which states that God will be attentive to their prayers. I want Him to have open eyes and attentive ears to my prayers. If I repent, pray, and seek, He is there and hears me. What a peace-giving thought. Our nation needs God. We need to be heard, forgiven, and healed. But we all have gone astray like lost sheep, looking for fresh grass in the wrong pasture. How can we pray for a nation when so many people say they don't need or want God? Billy Graham said, “Spiritually, we have wandered far from the faith in our fathers… no nation which relegates the Bible to the background, which disregards the love of God, and flouts the claims of the Man of Galilee, can long survive.” The nations of the world are reaching a breaking point. But we can still pray. You and I have been strategically placed in our nation to make a difference. Peter said in I Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” NKJV We have a testimony of how we left the darkness of sin and shame and moved into the light of God's glorious grace. Hallelujah! Father God took us by the hand and led us onto His great dance floor and we can call others to follow Him too. How? We can: Testify to others of God's salvation and continued provision. Pray for God to send others to the ones we cannot reach in our nation. Live as children of the light; following the example Jesus set before us. Encourage, love, bring hope, heal, and forgive those around us. In other words, live like Jesus. As we read and study the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we learn about His life, the way He treated others, and the way he communicated with His Father. Jesus is our greatest example. Luke 13: 34-35 shows his intensity in prayer: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!"(NKJV) Our nations need God and prayer. Will we answer the call? Let's pray: Father God, we stand before You, entreating You on behalf of our nation. It is no longer godly and people no longer look to You. We repent and pray and mourn and cry for these people. Bring them back to You; to their senses like the prodigal son. You left the ninety-nine to save the one. Do this again. We praise You for who You are and all You do. We love you. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. No matter what nation we reside in, prayer is needed and we can pray today.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for Our State, explores different ways to lift the state, province, region, or republic you live in, to the Father. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our State I remember, years ago, a time when I carried my teenage children to a youth service in another town. Imagine a concert atmosphere with many youths, loud music, and special effects. We enjoyed the music, but what came next caught me off-guard. The leaders began to pray for our state, Alabama. And not a little “bless us” prayer either but a cry from the heart to God. Reminding Father God that our state had a plan and purpose in the will of God. Repenting for our past. Embracing our future. Everyone joined in interceding for a state that, in the past, had oft been belittled, mocked, and ridiculed. The place we lived. God sees differently than we do. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.” Psalm 33: 18-22 NKJV The people at the youth event were dancing with God exuberantly and my children and I became part of something beautiful. Whether we live in a state, province, republic, or region, God has a plan and it is good. How can we pray specifically for the area that we live in? Begin with repentance. Acknowledge the sins of our forefathers and the sins of today. Ask God to cleanse, renew, and heal. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51: 1-2 NKJV Move then to salvation. Many don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior. They have no clue what they are missing. Pray for laborers and outreach, then we make ourselves available to God's leading concerning our part in bringing salvation to our area. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” II Peter 3:9 NKJV Pray God's purpose be revealed. We need to seek God and ask for His will and way to shine strongly in our area. Ask for revelation knowledge so that we see our, our church's, and our communities' part in seeing His will accomplished. “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Mark 3: 35 NKJV Pray for safety and protection. Our enemies do not like to see people following hard after the heart of God. Pray for protection over cities, towns, and rural areas. Pray for people to have discernment concerning the plans of the enemy, especially people in government and emergency services. “So, you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety.” Leviticus 25:18 NKJV I want to pray for my region as we did at that youth service, lifting words of hope and encouragement over the place I call home. Let's pray: Father God, we lift our state, region, the place we live to You. We come first and repent of any former sins perpetrated here and for any today. Forgive us and bring salvation to the people who need You. We pray Your purpose is revealed and that You will protect us all. Lead us in the way everlasting. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. Let us continue to pray over the area where we reside. Today's featured author is Izzy James, author of The Woodcarver's Snow-Kissed Christmas, a Christian Historical Romance novella. Troublesome Reed Archer has come home claiming new-found faith.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for Our Towns and Cities, focuses on prayer for larger communities. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our Towns and Cities “If you gotta start somewhere, why not here? If you gotta start sometime, why not now?” These words from Toby Mac's song, “City On Our Knees,” often move me to tears just with these words. I've often prayed the words: God, start here. God, start now. And when we consider the towns and cities, we either live in or near, it's a great place to focus our prayers. Cities or towns can be small, like my nearest town's population of 3000 or the largest city in Alabama, Huntsville, with approximately 222,000 citizens. Regardless of size, we talk to God about our towns and cities like we did our small communities in some ways. We pray for our schools, churches, civic organizations, businesses, and families. We then add in: Government Transportation networks Housing Utilities Emergency services Sanitation Entertainment Retail businesses We could take one of these a week to lift to God during our prayer time. Let's look at emergency services, for example. We can pray for our fire and rescue teams, police personnel, ambulance services, and hospitals. Emergency services need to be fully staffed, with working equipment, and be well-connected within the town or city to the people. When it comes to large cities, we never run out of requests to share with our heavenly Father. In the book of Daniel, the king has had a dream and he wanted someone to not only interpret it but also tell him what it was. The wise men of the city cried that it couldn't be done. But Daniel prayed to God, along with others, and that night, God revealed it to him: “Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2: 20-22 NKJV Daniel realizes that he doesn't have to figure it all out himself. God has promised to be with him and reveal deep and secret things that he needs to know. God will do the same for us. As we develop a relationship with Him and speak with Him often, He will show us specific ways to pray for our city. And it will be different for each individual. He might lay on one person's heart to pray for growth in the city. Another might intercede often for the fire departments, while another could pray for homeless shelters and food kitchens. If you ask, believing, God will bring the needs to your attention. One specific prayer that's been on my heart for cities and towns around me is whenever I see an empty building or one that's went of business. I pray for God to bring new businesses into our area that are necessary and helpful to its citizens and not harmful or derogatory. I love the feeling of dancing with God that I get when He points out areas for me to pray in agreement with Him. Often, I'll mention it to others and we'll pray together, believing God will move. God is no respecter of persons. You have the same ability to pray as I do. God is always listening for us to intercede on behalf of others. Listen to how Daniel prays in Daniel 9:18-19 in the New Living Translation: “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.” What a beautiful cry for help from Daniel's heart for his ci...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for our Community, focuses on prayer for small communities. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Intercession for Our Community Paga. The Hebrew word for intercession. Last week, we learned that an intercessor is one who acts, pleads, or prays on behalf of another. We are all called to stand in the gap for others. Small communities need someone to lift them up. It's estimated that 37% of the people in the United States live in unincorporated locales. My family is one of the 37 percent. Our small community boasts of a school, two gas stations, a dollar store, several hair salons, a nutrition drink shop, and several other small businesses. Probably close to a half-dozen churches are scattered throughout. The biggest events we host are a homecoming and Christmas parade (which circle the school campus), a car show, and a fifty-mile-long yard sale that cuts right through the heart of where I live. I've lived here for forty years and want to do what I can to make it a wonderful place to reside. God's dance floor for me is in small community Alabama. Next week, we'll discuss towns and cities, but if you live unincorporated as I do, how can we pray and where do we even start? We can focus on specific areas when we pray, like: It can be an elementary, middle, or high school, a daycare, or homeschooling. Many communities have places to congregate and worship. Civic organizations. Even small communities can host local service clubs, veteran's posts, or volunteer fire and rescue departments, to name a few. People meeting the needs of customers in their area. Communities are made up of families. Another thought here is to pray for events when several small communities gather together for the greater good. Our church recently joined in with many communities in our county to host the Special Olympics, an event that gives children and teens in our county a chance to compete, thrive, to feel special. We came together to help with athletic events, run concession stands, work with specific athletes, and overall, make sure everyone enjoyed the day. Many banding together for a specific cause. Romans 12:9-13 in the New Living Translations says: “Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.” What great scriptures point us to how we should treat those around us. Now that we know what areas to focus on, what can we pray specifically? There are more than I can name during this podcast but here are my top five: We want to see every person who makes up our community come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Loved by God. People need to feel loved and when a person discovers the love of God, it truly changes them from the inside out. Servant's-heart. We need the people in our area to have a servant's heart so they can look at ways to help others and make a difference. Protective of others. My mind goes to Neighborhood Watch, which works to prevent vandalism and crime in specific communities. We can also help those less fortunate and pray we all have a mindset to protect the lives and property of those around us. A smile goes a long way. We can find ways to give support, confidence, and hope to those who live in our area. I Timothy 2:1-4 in the New Living Translation says: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Intercession for our Family, looks at what intercession is and how we stand in the gap for our family. Show Notes: Intercession for Our Family Intercession. It's a big word and when I was a younger Christian, I really didn't understand what it meant. I figured people who were often called “intercessors” prayed for hours on end and covered tons of countries and people groups like Israel. I pictured a white-haired saint on bended knees in a prayer closet in their home. Intercessors danced on a dance floor much too grand for me. I was wrong. While someone who intercedes could fit the above description, it doesn't have to. What is intercession and who are intercessors? Dictionary.com says: an act or instance of interceding. An interposing or pleading on behalf of another person. A prayer to God on behalf of another. So, an intercessor is basically one who acts, pleads, or prays on behalf of another. Wow. That means I'm an intercessor. And you are too. In Hebrew, intercession is "paga," which means to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession. Ezekiel uses the term, stand in the gap, in Ezekiel 22:30: “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” I love this word picture. Imagine a wall protecting a person, castle, or town. Now picture a place where it's been broken and the enemy has easy access inside. A mighty warrior stands in this broken place and fights anyone who tries to get through. The mighty warrior can be you. Or me. People, communities, cities, nations, and the world are filled with brokenness. We can be the intercessor, the warrior, who pleads on their behalf. We need to put on the armor of God (Galatians 6) and talk to God about the broken people and places around us. We are going to dig deeper into intercession over the next six weeks and see how we can make a difference in the lives of others. We'll start with our family. I pray more for my family than anyone. Well, except maybe myself. My family is the people I'm closest to. Some are kin to me by blood: my mom, children, grandchildren, brother, nieces, nephews, and those related through marriage. My family also consists of various friends and neighbors that I consider part of my tribe. While I love them deeply, they can also be the people who aggravate me the most. What can I pray when it comes to people I'm deeply vested in? I pray for their relationship with God. If they are saved, I pray for their relationship and knowledge of Him to increase daily. If not, I pray for their salvation. I pray for safety and protection. I lift them up and pray that God and His angels will guard over them as they work, play, rest, and travel. I pray for wisdom and discernment as they make decisions daily. I ask God to put the right people in their life to help them grow closer to Him and remove those who hurt them. I pray for their relationships, jobs, hobbies, ministries, and recreation activities so that they will be full of life and help them continue on their journey with God. I pray for blessings and healing where they need it most. I don't necessarily pray for each of these things for each person. My prayers are specific and targeted at the individual needs of each person. I firmly believe in specific prayer and ask God to lead me as I pray for my husband, mom, children, and others. An important thought to keep in mind as we pray is not to take on guilt or shame. The devil will pound our thought life with condemnation like you don't pray enough, you don't pray the right way, you don't pray the right things. God is big enough to let us know if we've veered off track in our prayers and will point us to the prayer path that we need to fol...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: Surrendered Prayer, focuses on Jesus's attitude of surrender. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Surrendered Prayer Many men and women in the Bible are wonderful examples of how to live life, seeking hard after God. No one, however, tops the example of Jesus Christ and the way He lived His life on earth as a model to pattern our life after. If any one word could sum up His years on the earth, it would be surrendered. Jesus totally gave His all for His Father and for us. In many places in the Word, Jesus gave up time to be alone, to mourn, or rest because of His compassion for people. In Matthew 14: 13-14, Jesus went to be alone after hearing of the beheading of John the Baptist. “When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” He not only taught and healed them but also took time to feed the people before they left. Jesus followed the Father and His will even when it caused Him trouble or made Him unpopular. John 5:18-20 says, “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him because He not only broke the Sabbath but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” NKJV I don't know about you but often I would rather follow the popular way than God's way. It's hard to tango when everyone else is waltzing. Fitting in seems easier and it is so hard when people don't understand you or your choices. In times past, I haven't spoken up like I should because of peer pressure. People often look at you like you're a bit odd when you are seeking God and His ways as much as possible. Probably some of you listening have lost family, friends, positions, and even jobs over your choice to be led by God. Jesus told his disciples: “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19: 29 NKJV So, rejoice, my friends. There is much good in your future when you surrender. What does it mean to surrender to God? First, we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and then: We release control of our lives to God. As humans, we want our own way and it's difficult to give control to anyone. But we can trust Him. We walk in faith, believing that God has our best in mind. He alone knows what we need. We follow where He leads. We take time to read the Word and pray, listening for God's nudges. Then we go… We can trust Him in surrender. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Jesus prayed the ultimate prayer of surrender in Mark 14: 32-39: “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray,

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: Effective Prayer, will look at how to be powerful when we pray. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Effective Prayer Jesus is the perfect Son of God and everything He does is wonderful, efficient, on time, and effective. Especially prayer. In earlier episodes, we looked at the Lord's prayer and how few words can be powerful. How to be effective when tempted. To enter the secret place and to be thankful. How can we make a powerful difference when we pray? Let's go to the Word. Be in right standing with God. We get in right standing by our faith in Jesus Christ. James 5:16b says: “…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” NKJV Worry less, thank God more. We are less anxious when we trust God and thank Him ahead of time. Philippians 4:6-7 says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God's timing, God's mercy. We are patient when we pray, believing God is merciful. Psalm 69:13 says: “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.” Pray constantly and rejoice. We speak with the Father often, rejoicing in His goodness. I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I want my prayers to make a difference. I'm sure you do also. But we can't doubt. Study the Word and be aware of prayer already answered to build your faith in Him. It's not our fancy words or repetitious chanting that catches God's attention. It's our belief in Him; that He is good and ready to answer in His will and His way. God has strengthened my faith through answered prayer so many times I've had trouble choosing one to share. My husband and I have been praying about moving. He wanted more land in our county to raise cattle on when he retired. Nothing fit our needs and after several months of looking, we gave up. I prayed God would show us what we needed to do. Months later, the land right next to our house became available and we were able to purchase it. God had a plan way beyond what we could ask or think. I mean, we didn't even have to go through all the trouble of moving. We just fenced the land in and dug a pond. God truly can be trusted. He'll take our hand if we let Him, and lead us to the right spot on the dance floor of life. When we pray powerfully and effectively, God gets the ultimate glory. We realize that our part is to ask and He does all the rest. We keep asking and believing, knowing that He is good and faithful, and kind. I love this quote from Corrie Ten Boom: "The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God's realm where everything is possible. He specializes in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love." Let's pray: Father God, we believe that You hear our prayers and that You answer according to Your will and way. Take our words and make a difference to the people we lift to You. You ultimately make our prayers effective and powerful. We give You all the glory. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. We can pray effectively and powerfully by keeping our eyes turned toward Him. Today's featured author is me, Jennifer Hallmark, the author of Jessie's Hope, a southern family novel. Years ago, an accident robbed Jessie Smith's mobility. It also stole her mom and alienated her from her father. When Jessie's high school sweetheart Matt Jansen proposes, she worries that she cannot hold on to those she love...

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: Thankfulness, focuses on Jesus and his example of being grateful. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Thankfulness Jesus is the ultimate example of how to dance with God. He talked to and listened to His Father during his short time on earth and then moved accordingly. He went where God sent Him and did what God told Him to do. The perfect dancer performing the perfect dance. We can learn a lot by reading the New Testament, especially Jesus' prayers of thankfulness. Throughout the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus thanked His Father often. In Matthew 11: 25-26, He spoke to the crowd about John the Baptist and then about the generation and cities that would not repent. Right after this strong rebuke, He stopped to talk with His Father: “At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.'” NKJV Jesus took time to focus on the positive, the ones who did seek truth and to be grateful for them and the Father who cared so much. Later on, in John 11: 41-42, we see Jesus visiting the grave of Lazarus after speaking with Mary and Martha. He takes time to weep, then speaks with God: “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11: 41-42 Jesus also gave thanks before He fed the crowds of four thousand and five thousand. At the last supper, He gave thanks before handing around the bread and the cup. How could He be grateful with full knowledge of the betrayal of Judas, the abandonment by His disciples, the trial, beatings, and the cross that loomed in the future? He knew His Father and had complete faith in who He is. Jesus put Himself completely in God's hands and rested in the knowledge that He could trust God. Wow. I'm reminded of the faith of the three Hebrews in Daniel 3: 16-18 after they'd been told to worship a golden idol or be tossed in a fiery furnace: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” The faith that says, “We trust God more than we fear man.” I'm not there yet. I still worry and fret when life is difficult, especially when it concerns my family. At times, I have faith and at others, I doubt. I'm afraid I'm more like the disciple Thomas than the three Hebrews. But God knows my heart. I'm digging into His Word, which is where faith comes from, and giving thanks when those terrible doubts come against me, often during times of prayer. When Jesus went alone to pray, as we discussed last week in Episode 28, I'm sure that thankfulness was in abundance as He talked with His Father. When we're thankful, it pulls our attention away from the problem and to the only One who can truly solve it. God, the Father. This summer has been one where I've dealt with physical issues with my hip and with asthma. I've been whiny to my family and friends as I've sought ways to better handle aging. Thankfulness has helped more than anything. Taking time to focus on the good things in my life and the fact that God saved me when I could not save myself brings perspective to my issues.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: The Secret Place, focuses on why it's important to take time to pray alone. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: The Secret Place The secret place. I love the scripture, Matthew 6:6, that mentions this phrase and the thought behind it. “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” NKJV Our Father is in the secret place. Now technically, He is everywhere but this thought. As a child, I enjoyed building forts, houses, castles—anything I could make with large boxes, blankets, tree branches, etc. I wanted a place all my own; a hideaway where I could dream and plan and giggle. I've carried this into my adulthood in my writing. I've written stories and a novel-in-progress with a secret place. My hideaway is my study, the recliner in our little living room, my car, and the back deck. Sometimes, under the covers late at night. Any place where I converse with God about my day, my life, and the future. Think about this. God has a secret place. Maybe it's the place we go and He meets us. We go, believing He hears us and that we don't have to perform to gain his attention. My favorite way to dance with God is on the solitary dance floor called prayer. Jesus often left his disciples and the crowds to go alone and meet with His Father. It says in Luke 5:16: “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” He is the perfect example of living life. What benefits are there to praying by yourself? Strength to battle the enemy and avoid temptation. Luke 4:1-2 Rest during seasons of ministry. Mark 6:30-32 Space to grieve or mourn. Matthew 14 Freedom from distractions during decision-making. Luke 6 Dealing with personal agony. Luke 22 Focus during busy seasons. Luke 5:15 I need a secret place. Too often I get busy and tired and bored with the hurry-scurry of life and God is quietly calling me to meet with Him. Sometimes, I hear and go but other times I cringe and shake my head. I'm feeling unworthy or shamed or guilty or any number of things that attack my thought life each day. Why would the God of the universe want to meet with me? It's not like I can do anything for Him. God knows more about me than anyone and He still loves me more than anyone. Let that sink in for a moment. He desires to meet me in the secret place. Let's go there now: Father God, I love You so much. I feel guilty and ashamed that I don't pay enough attention at times to meet you in the secret place. The negative emotions snowball until I hide from You instead of meeting you in a hideaway. Thank You that I'm deeply loved and You are forever waiting for me. Drawing me by Your Spirit to time well-spent with You. Abba, You are more than I could ever deserve. I adore You. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen. Remember, God knows more about you than anyone and He still loves you more than anyone. Today's featured author is Betty Thomason Owens, author of Still Water, Home Found Suspense, Book 1. When crime reporter, Jake Bradley, stumbles onto a suspicious accident, clues lead him to Lisa Oliver, the daughter of the victims. After the FBI warns Jake off the case, he is more determined than ever to find the truth and keep Lisa safe. Learn more at https://bettythomasonowens.com/ Next week, we'll look at what Jesus says about thankfulness in prayer. Until then, stay determined to dance… Click to tweet: Today's episode on the Determined to Dance podcast, #Praying Like Jesus:  The Secret Place, focuses on why it's important to take time to pray alone. #TuesdayThoughts Links: 6 Times When Jesus Chose Solitude Over People My website My debut novel, Jessie's Hope Determined to Dance Podcast

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: When Temptation Comes, focuses on prayer, being addicted to approval, and forgiveness. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: When Temptation Comes I am human. I want people to like me. I struggle with approval addiction. The book by Joyce Meyer of the same name stripped me bare when I read it. I want people to be proud of me and even brag on me. I am human. My problem is turning to people for approval instead of God. Ouch. Jesus pointed out people who did charitable acts to be seen in Matthew 6:1-4: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” NKJV Jesus said these people received their reward from men. If done in secret, God rewards greatly. Why would I think man's rewards would be greater than God's? Jesus goes on in verses 5-8 to like it to prayer: “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” NKJV Wow. How does Jesus say to pray? First, go into your room and shut the door. Shut out distractions. Then, pray to the Father. Pour it all out to Him in private. And lastly, don't repeat the same thing, using many words to get God to hear you. He does hear from the first and knows what you need. Keep to the point in your own words. Jesus takes prayer one step further in verses 14 and 15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” NLT He clearly states that if we want God to forgive us, we must forgive others. And I often wrestle with forgiving others, especially if they hurt my children or grandchildren. I prefer Matthew 18:6: “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” But way back in Matthew 6, Jesus says forgiveness in necessary. Vital. The only way. In a book by Tim Sledge called Making Peace with Your Past, Sledge says, “Forgiveness means that you no longer regard the offending person as indebted to you.” How can I release someone and forgive? Give the person and the offense to God. Admit how you feel because God knows anyway. Write in a journal or confide in a trusted friend. Then hand it over. You might have to repeat this step often. Ask God to help you to forgive. You can't forgive without God guiding you, step by step, to the place you no longer feel the need for revenge. Make a decision to forgive. Recall how God has forgiven you. Back it with scripture about forgiveness and forgiven people. Pray for the offender. It is super hard at first, but I truly believe that no one, not the most terrible person,

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer, focuses on the most repeated prayer of Jesus, delivered during the Sermon on the Mount. Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: The Lord's Prayer Jesus delivered what many consider to be his most memorable teachings during the Sermon on the Mount.  He sat on a mountainside and began his teaching with the Beatitudes, a series of eight blessings, and concluded with his thoughts on listening to and following His teachings. He compares someone who listens as wise and building a house on solid rock and those who don't to someone who builds on sand. Matthew, chapters five through seven, are filled with wisdom and encouragement from Jesus. He also spoke of prayer. The Lord's Prayer is repeated in churches, on ball fields, in hospitals, in war zones, and everywhere in between. Only five verses long, the beautiful language is filled with nuggets of truth and simple enough for a child to understand. Here is the New King James Version: “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6: 9-13 Jesus is teaching the disciples, the crowd, and ultimately me and you, the model of prayer. What can we learn from these five verses? We pray to God, the Father, and recognize that His name is holy. We ask for the kingdom and His will to be established on earth as it already is in heaven. We ask for our daily needs. We ask for God to forgive our debts or sins, and we make sure to forgive people who sin against us or our family. We ask to be delivered from evil and not to be led into temptation. We praise and worship the Father, acknowledging everything is His and He deserves all glory. We end the prayer with the word amen or so be it. Wow. Jesus showed us how to communicate with the Almighty God. Basically, we recognize who we pray to, ask for His will, and our needs, to receive and offer forgiveness, deliverance from evil, and end by praising the One who made all things. We put the prayer in our own words, fleshing out our understanding of God, our needs, and giving glory to Him. It reminds me of dancing. We follow basic steps, but add who we are, our understanding, and make it our own.  A wonderful analogy of the most important part of our day. And if this wasn't awesome enough, let's look back to verse eight. “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.” Father God already knows what we need. He could just go ahead and meet our needs with no conversation at all. But instead, He gives us the privilege of speaking to Him and listening for those gentle whispers of love. Let's pray: Father God, we recognize who you are, the Holy One, and ask for your kingdom to be displayed here on earth. Let your will and ways be done and please meet our needs every day. We love You and ask that you forgive our sins and help us to forgive others, for sometimes it is very hard. Don't lead us into temptation and save us from evil. For you are marvelous and glorious and worthy of all praise. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen. I want this simple and profound prayer Jesus taught to be part of my prayer life. Don't you? Today's featured author is Terri Wangard, the author of Roll Back the Clouds, a historical novel. Geoff and Rosaleen Bonnard sail aboard the fabled Lusitania. When a German submarine hurtles a torpedo into the grand ship, Rosaleen makes it into a lifeboat, but where is her husband? Rosaleen sinks into depression, haunted by the battered faces of dead babies.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying for Others: Mature Believers, focuses on how to pray for people who have been long in the service of God. Show Notes: Praying for Others: Mature Believers Over the past couple of weeks, we've focused on praying for non-believers in Jesus and those believers fairly new to the kingdom of God. But what about the more experienced believer? Who exactly is a mature believer? Maybe an eighty-year-old man who has studied the Word, prayed, and ministered in a local congregation from his youth. Or a young mother who prays with her children and teaches Sunday School. How about a young married couple who read the Bible together and are training to be missionaries? All of the people above could be mature Christians. Now I don't consider new Christians immature. They are young in the Lord and should focus on learning the basics of the Christian life, the art of prayer, repentance, faith, and connecting with a church and other believers. Hebrews 6:1-3 says in the New Living Translation: “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely, we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.” Paul is admonishing followers of God who are stuck in the basics, either too afraid, lazy, or passive to make Jesus not only the Savior but Lord over every part of their life. Philippians 3: 12-15a says “I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things…” NLT Paul admits he will never be perfect, complete, or reach full maturity here on earth. But he lets us know that the spiritually mature are forever moving forward, giving the past to God, and looking with anticipation to the future. The spiritually mature want to finish the race or follow God's leading throughout their life, whether it's ministering, raising a family, resting, or praying for those around them. They seek the heart of God and like Jesus, do what they see the Father doing. (John 5:19) Now that we have a definition of a mature believer, how do we pray for one who has learned the basics and is following hard after the heart of God? We pray for strength, stamina, and God's anointing. Mature believers often do a lot of ministry work in churches or in the community. Relying on God's strength, energy, and power is crucial. We pray for a close relationship with Christ and discernment. Mature believers often pray as a ministry to the church or community and need to know God's heart and His direction as they lift others to Him. We pray for wisdom. Mature believers can have the opportunity to mentor younger Christians and need knowledge of the Word and the ability to share wise counsel. We pray for their physical and emotional health. Mature believers can be an encouragement to the church but older mature Christians especially can suffer physically and, in their emotions, as they age. We also need to pray because sometimes, as one matures in the Lord, we can be tempted to turn in the opposite direction and: Try to control or be the boss in our church or the community.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying for Others: New Believers, focuses on how to pray for people who have recently accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Show Notes: Praying for Others: New Believers Last week, we discussed praying for people who didn't believe in Jesus and those prayers are more important than we'll ever know while here on the earth. But what about new believers? People who've just given their hearts and lives to the One who died on the cross for them. I remember the time I realized that I needed a Savior, someone to take my sin and cleanse my mind, emotions, and will. I was a child but still needed Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of my life. It's the most important decision I have ever made. Shouldn't giving our lives to Jesus make everything perfect? Why should we pray for new believers? The most crucial time for a new Christian is at the beginning. The devil fights hard to pull them back into old habits and ways. He tries to plant fear and disbelief in a new believer's mind, causing them to doubt their salvation. Specific ways to pray for recent converts include: For support-that new Christians will find encouragement in the Word, through church and ministries, and through other believers. For positive influences and against negative ones-pray that these new believers will be aware of the people in their lives. Those who point them to God and who point away from Him. For the courage to share the gospel-they will not fear sharing their testimony of how they found God and what He means to them. For the ability to minister-they can learn by watching other loving, mature believers and reading the Word and the way Jesus lived His life. For growth- new believers won't feel condemned and discouraged as they grow. They will learn about the grace and mercy of God. For peace-New Christians won't live in fear of falling back into sin. When tempted, they'll pray, go to the Word, and find a safe believer to confide in. Besides praying for new believers, we need to encourage every baby step they take, share the way God helped us when we first received Jesus, and listen to any fears or concerns, pointing them to Jesus constantly. There are two other ways to pray I want to touch on specifically: First, that a new believer will be able to conform to the image of Christ. We are called to be like Jesus. Philippians 2: 1-5 says in the New Living Translation: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” We pray that new Christians can learn to be Christ-like through spending time praying and listening to God, reading and studying the Word, sitting under sound teaching and preaching, and listening to uplifting music. Second, we can pray a new believer will know the will of God and how it pertains to their lives. You can see God's will throughout the Word. Following the Ten Commandments is in his will. Also, loving God and our neighbors. Caring for widows and orphans. Repentance. Being a growing disciple of Christ. Believing. Having Faith. Showing the fruit of the spirit. Praying. All these things and much more are the will of God for everyone. Then there are gifts, talents, and direction given to each individual. Some people are called to full-time ministry. Many are called to be a witness at work, in the community, and at home. Some to be missionaries.

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying for Others: Non-Believers, focuses on how to pray for people who don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Show Notes: Praying for Others: Non-Believers Do you have family or friends who do not believe in God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? I do also. Nothing should be more heart-breaking to a Christian than an unsaved person. The Bible says in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In II Peter 3:9, he says: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” God sent His Son so people could believe in Him and have life eternal and He wants all people to repent and turn to Him. He has opened the door. The unbeliever needs to step through the doorway and then the angels rejoice. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 What can we do to reach out to people who do not believe? We can live a godly life before others. People notice when we are different in the way we talk, act, think, dress, and react. Colossians 4:5 says: “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” We can talk about our relationship with Jesus, without being judgmental or using Christian jargon that is hard for a non-Christian to understand. Colossians 4:6 goes on to say: “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” The Holy Spirit will give us the right words if we only ask. And we can pray. Prayer is a vital piece to seeing people find God or receive salvation. I love that God gives all Christians, whether a new convert or one who has been in the kingdom for fifty years, the opportunity to plead for the lives and hearts of others through prayer. There's nothing I want more than to see the dance floor of God filled to overflowing with people who've accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What should we pray for people who don't know Jesus? Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to draw non-believers and convict them of their lostness and sin. He can soften their hearts and give people the faith to trust God. Pray for non-believers to be brought into contact with the people of God. I pray for people in other states and countries who I cannot physically meet. But I believe God can and does place people to reach those we pray for. Pray that non-believers will recognize God in nature. Romans 1:20 in the NLT says: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God.” All nature points to God and we can pray that eyes blind to Him will be drawn through everyday encounters. My dear friend, Joyce, had attended church occasionally as a child and youth but made no commitment. As an adult, she turned from God and made her own way through the world. But her parents and others prayed, especially her mother. Joyce's boys started attending a local church at times and during a birthday party, she met several parents who were Christians, one being me. We talked to her, tried our best to model a Christian life, and invited her to church. She would drop in at church and before long, at the age of forty-five, Joyce gave her heart to God. She's had the joy of leading many to the One who changed her life. And it began with her parent's prayers. What joy there is in heaven when one sinner repents. What joy there is on earth when someone gives their life to Jesus; the Way,

Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you'll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today's episode, Praying for Others: The Local Church, focuses on how to pray for the churches around the community. Show Notes: Praying for Others: The Local Church I drove my granddaughter to dance lessons yesterday. She's taking ballroom dancing and it was my first time to see her practice with the instructor. They're working on three dances: the foxtrot, tango, and rumba. Basic steps are involved. The way she walks and glides is more important than I realized. She enjoys the practice but isn't quite ready for “Dancing with the Stars.” The evening reminded me of the local church. Two or three people gathered in the name of Jesus. They meet in brick buildings, storefronts, and houses and offer a variety of ways to worship and learn about the God of the universe. You probably have several in your community. Each congregation can make a difference to the people around them, but like my granddaughter isn't dancing on television yet, most aren't fifty-thousand-member megachurches. Instead, they are community-oriented, often with many members of the same family. From twenty to two hundred or so people, they can better the area around them by sharing the love of Christ. And it all starts with prayer. The apostle Paul worked with churches scattered throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. He encouraged, rebuked, exhorted, and prayed for each one. If you belong to a local body of believers, you need to pray for them. But you can also pray for other area churches who reach out to the lost, the hurting, and the broken. In Ephesians 1:16-19, Paul mentions a prayer he is lifting up for the church in Ephesus. I like the simple language The Message Bible uses: “That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!” Paul prays specifically: For the people to know God with intelligence and discernment. For the eyes or vision to be focused and clear. The church will know its part in the community. They'll understand the wonderful way of life that comes from following Christ. They'll see His work in them as they trust Him. What a wonderful prayer focus for the church. Each body of believers knows God intimately, their vision is clear and focused, and they follow Christ in trust as He works in them and through them. The community church, made up of men, women, youth, and children who live nearby, can touch lives, sharing acts of love and kindness to people who need to know there is a God in Heaven who cares and a church that does also. We planted a community garden at The Bridge Christian Fellowship this year, the local church my husband and I attend. When you look at worldwide, often chaotic events around us, it seems like such a small way to reach out. But people have been blessed with fresh vegetables such as corn, okra, peas, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Church members tilled, plowed, planted, hoed, and harvested food. A beautiful expression of love that reveals the heart of Jesus. Other churches in our community facilitate a clothing closet and canned food ministry. Some reach out to widows, orphans, local families, and schools. Again, it starts with prayer. The church prays, and the members pray. We lift each other up because we're on the same team.