Let Your Heart Dance

The week is over half way through. The weekend is just another day away. Look forward to the weekend, even if you have to work, it is still the end to the week.

When I was in high school track I learned one important fact, if you want your legs to move faster, pump your arms faster. Try it some time. I've tried it, I know it works, especially when you are getting fatigued. It is ironic how the arms and feet coincide during those moments, but they do. Sometimes certain things just follow, that brings us to this week's quote...

Today, let your heart dance.
You will find no shortage of dance partners, as your feet join in.
And your eyes.
And your smile.
And every part of your body and your feelings.
Let your heart dance all day long. ~ Unknown

My soon-to-be 20 month old son enjoys moving his body when music/songs are heard. All kids his age dance cute and without rhythm. His innocence is so freeing to watch. Hear some music...let me just move a bit to it. Who cares who's watching, he's going to move.

Use today to 'dance'. When your heart starts to dance you will find others to join in...feet tapping on the floor, eyes attentive, smile broadening, and soul shaking. Let the fluttering begin as you look at the highlights of life. If you don't see them...look for them, then let your heart dance!

Don't end your dance after a song or two, keep your heart dancing all day long. Just like your arms and legs coinciding together when you run, the longer your heart dances, the more partners that will be working together and you soul will be more jovial!

As you let your heart dance, share what it is dancing to...what is causing your spirits to lift.

Letting my heart dance!

Seeing the Soul, Not a Statistic

When you go to the doctor with an illness you are hoping to receive some form of help. That help, for example, could come through medication, physical touch, or a listening ear. Another “want” that you desire when you go to the doctor is to feel important. So, if you went to the doctor and they came in to examine you, and during the exam, made you feel uncomfortable, you’d feel like the doctor didn’t really care about you, as a person. Even if they cared about getting you well. “Bedside manners” are important to giving the doctor a good reputation in making their patients feel that they aren’t just a statistic.

This past week, I was flipping the channels, looking for something to watch, and the movie “Patch Adams” was on. It had been a long time since I had seen that movie, and the more I watched it I noticed there were some inspiring lines in the script…here’s one…

You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you'll win, no matter what the outcome.

The movie is about a man who goes to medical school because he wants to help people. His mission reminds me of Jesus’ mission – to help people. He states in Luke 19:10 that His mission is “to seek and to save the lost” (ESV). That is a “help” mission. Which is also our mission – to help people.

How would you answer this question, “How many people have you baptized?” One, two, three, maybe more? Maybe zero. Unfortunately, we can get wrapped up with statistics. How would a person in the congregation be viewed if they had baptized 25 people? You would probably esteem them highly. But sharing Jesus is not about statistics…it is about their soul.

If you look at someone to simply try to get them baptized, you may win or lose. However, if you develop a relationship with a person, help them with their problems as a person, not just to try to get them baptized, “you’ll win”.

Sharing Jesus is an awesome thing that each Christian has the privilege of doing. It shouldn’t be burdensome. Simply put, sharing Jesus is about getting to know people as people, help them when they need help, and let them see Jesus through your words, lifestyle, reactions, and “bedside manners”.

Sin is a disease. Remember, don’t just treat the disease…treat the person!

E-mail Encouragement: Success

Very few things come to us. Most things that we receive we must make the attempt to go after. You may get served at a restaurant and have your food brought to you, but you had to decide and order the particular dish in the first place. You may receive a package in the mail instead of going to the store, but you had to find it online or in the catalog in the first place. Success is similar. Which brings us to this quote...

Success doesn't come to you, you go to it. ~ Marva Collins

Fame is something people might think about when it comes to being successful. Athletics, actors, musicians, etc., all seem to be successful based on their life. However, even if they were born with "natural talent" they still had to make the effort to go to practice, learn their lines, try out for positions, and play an instrument. Do you want to be considered successsful in your endeavors? You have to go to it! Want to save souls - go find them. They will not be likely to come to you. However, even if you are that blessed, you still must walk through the door of opportunity - still going to the success.

May God bless your endeavors of gowing toward success - in whatever area you choose.

Have a great Friday and Saturday!

Going forward ~