I HOPE YOU DANCE

Could I interrupt your day and invite you to the ballroom of life? As you enter, make sure you remove your shoes, leave all your worries behind, and close the door tightly. Imagine yourself in a loose, flowing dress, bare feet, and open space to express yourself anyway you would like. Out of nowhere comes the most beautiful music you have ever heard. All of a sudden, you begin to move to the music and you lose any sense of reality. Pretty soon the stress, worries, and burdens of life seem to disappear and you can feel yourself being energized from the things of the world that drain you. It may last for minutes or hours until you feel the release. You feel more capable of opening the door and facing the tasks at hand. I know you're probably thinking: Who has time for that? My question is: Who doesn't? It's an investment the pays high dividends. Basically it takes no talent at all and you'll only have an audience of One. Just like we like to watch our little children, God likes to see His daughters carefree. Your ballroom may look alot like your car on a lunch break, your shower, or a quiet moment in the morning. It just means anywhere you can sneak a few minutes to be still and calm your mind. The word says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. I think we could all trade in some mourning for dancing. May God put a song in your heart that causes your feet to move.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

When I turned forty, I could not believe the changes in my body. I'm pretty sure my metabolism stopped completely, I have more doctor appointments then social events, and I have rolls where skin used to be firm. If you have not experienced this yet, just wait it's coming. I'm not trying to be negitive but I think a warning is appropriate in this situation. Through this time, I have learned alot about myself. It has been quite a process but I'm a little thick headed. I had to make a choice to find inner beauty instead of feeding the beast that was taking over my body. You know the one. You can recognize it every time you look in the mirror, try on new clothes, or jump in your mini-van to go to the grocery, which is the highlight of your week. It's that voice deep inside that says, your best days are behind you. Well we are about to tame the beast. Life is full of chapters and we need to know when to turn the page. For one thing, with age brings wisdom and that is a beautiful thing. So shake off all your insecurities and grab today and the future with both hands. I'm not saying that we are not still pretty on the outside but here's true beauty: rock a baby in your arms, visit a shut-in person who's lonely, nurse a child back to health, love, laugh, and live. I think we are truly missing the real meaning of beauty and we need to take off the masks, wash off the make-up, and be radiant because we are created in the image of God. Be free to not have to compete with other ladies and step out of your comfort zone. When you are confident, you can't help but be beautiful. The word says that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Just ask God, you are His favorite.

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

Let the sunshine in, face it with a grin, OPEN UP YOUR HEART, and let the sunshine in. It's a good thing I can type because I certainly cannot sing. It's been a little rainy in Florida the last couple of days. We need the rain but the absense of sunlight can be down right dreary. My dog doesn't even want to do anything but sleep. Isn't it amazing how our outside influences affect us. Confession time: the weather is not the only thing I've been struggling with. Sometimes for no apparent reason the sunshine in our lives goes away. I am here to tell you that we can put some light in our lives and make darkness flee in fear. It may not change our circumstances but it will change our hearts. How many of us have an issue or issues in our lives that seem to cloud our thinking? Let's see, maybe a financial situation, a sick loved one, a child who is not on a good path, or insecurities about the future. I'm sure there are many more but I only have so much space. Ladies it's time to take a step back, take the load off of your shoulders, and know that help is on the way. If you have done everything that you can to change things around you and it's not changing, make a list and pray for those issues. It is well known that if you write things down, it tends to release you from the burden of carrying them. Once you have released these things, people, or dreams then God can begin to work. The devil wants us to keep it to ourselves so he can drive us crazy with it. Guess what: once you bring light into a situation, it is never completely dark again. The word says that God is light and there is no darkness in Him. He wants to take your burdens and work them out for His good. He loves you and is concerned about what you're concerned about. So, open your heart and let God shine like never before.