Steve Harvey and His Rags-to-Riches Story

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion involving the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!
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🙂 Like a Cinderella story- today I would like to share with you a "testimony" of Steve Harvey; not a salvation testimony mind you, but a story of him citing God as playing an instrumental role in his gaining of success in life and his career. I do not know much about Steve Harvey AT ALL, let alone where he stands with his faith and religious beliefs, but when this video clip popped up in my social media feed it immediately caught my attention, challenged, and inspired me. I do not know if he is intentionally testifying to the same God of the protestant Christian bible that I believe in, but I do know after hearing his story, I couldn't help but think, "Hey, that sounds just like my faithful God!" Give his story a listen and I hope you are as encouraged and spurred on by it as I was to trust God, persevere, and never give up!
Wikipedia cites: Full name being Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr., is an American television host, producer, actor, and comedian. He hosts The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Family Feud, Celebrity Family Feud, the Miss Universe competition, Family Feud Africa, and the arbitration-based court comedy Judge Steve Harvey... Harvey is a Christian and has attributed his success to his faith in God.

Blessings !

______________________________________________ Thanks for stopping by! Comment and say Hi!

 ↓ For More Optimistic Reads ↓ 

• A Testimony on the Topic Of Suffering
• The Testimony of Leslie Shivers
• The Heart of Life Is Good

Testimony Tuesday on the Topic of Suffering

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion involving the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!
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If any of you are familiar with Paul's situation in 2 Corinthians 12, lately I've been feeling a lot like that; like I have a thorn in my side, or maybe picture a weighty burden slowing me down. Whatever it is, it's hampering my spirit. I guess if I am honest, I have circled back around to struggling with contentment again, like I do from time to time. My heart has been hurting and frustrated, maybe sometimes confused, longing and impatient. I feel like I have been throwing temper tantrums towards God in my prayers lately, expressing my dissatisfaction with where things are at in life for me right now. I could say it even feels like a form of suffering that I am experiencing, UNTIL I zoom out, stop focusing on myself, and stop having the woe-is-me attitude, but instead, count my blessings. But there is still something to be said about the very real emotions I am undergoing. I don't want to dismiss them entirely, but deal with them rightly.
In today's Testimony Tuesday we are going to consider the life of Joni Eareckson Tara. She is one that knows much of suffering and hearing her life story helps me to realize how all my troubles pail in comparison to what she and others like her have gone through. Watch below to hear her life-giving powerful testimony. She speaks with much authority and conviction. The Holy Spirit shining through her as she speaks is enough to convince me to take heart and have hope, aside from the fact that,if she can- I can too.





BONUS CONTENT: (I am absolutely obsessed right now with this timely reminder and the nuggets of truth nestled within the following 10 min. snippet from John Piper's website DesiringGod.com, read and written by Scott Hubbard) Better to Have a Burden Give it a listen! And may your heart be lightened.

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Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy and blessed Tuesday!

 ↓ For More Optimistic Reads ↓ 

• 12 Bible Verses for the Perseverant
• No Pain No Game
• The Trip That Changed My Life
• Feeling Down and Out

The Testimony of Former Ballerina Leslie Shivers

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!
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Today's blog entry features the story of a person who is very special to me. She was not only a co-laborer of mine at Ballet Magnificat but also a role model and friend, Leslie Shivers. When I think of Leslie, I think about how talented, disciplined, hard-working, and Jesus-loving she was. She is also one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! As healthy, active, and young as she is, we were all stunned by the announcement one day at the studio to learn of her being diagnosed with cancer. Does cancer even have biases, because it doesn't seem?
I had never personally known anyone diagnosed with cancer up until that point, and definitely not anyone diagnosed with it at 28, so close in age to me! But now, just having lost my grandpa to cancer this past August, it is by no means, a new concept to me anymore. Unlike my grandpa, thankfully Leslie's story ends differently, or should I say continues!
But similarly to my grandpa, I witnessed Leslie walk through her trial faith-filled and persistently steadfast in the Lord. It is a MARVEL to behold the resilience of a human being under fire who is rooted in the Lord. I don't think I've ever before witnessed a clearer picture of the scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (how His power is made perfect in our weakness) until watching Leslie, and then my grandpa, suffer so greatly battling against cancer. I know it was not always easy, but God proved that scripture to be true in their lives and was glorified so greatly through their circumstances. Watch the video below as Leslie herself shares her story. Be encouraged, blessed, and filled with hope!




"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." ~Romans 8:18

Happy Tuesday!Be blessed.
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   Have You Read...  

• Testimony Tuesday with American Idol's Jason Castro
• Testimony Tuesday with Amy Perry of Selah
• An Unexpected Pregnancy

“Glorify Dance Theater” Breaking Ground in PA

Since having just moved back to Pennsylvania, my home state, this past semester, I'm still learning what all the PA Christian arts community has to offer after having been gone for so long. To my surprise, I recently discovered there is a professional Christian ballet company here and not far from where I live, Glorify Dance Theatre (GDT) the resident ballet company of Glorify Performing Arts! The idea of using dance as a means to share the gospel and glorify God, which GDT does, has always been near and dear to my heart considering that's what I've spent the past seven years doing, but even now, having retired from that and being on the other side of things, I can say getting to watch and support other artists doing it is just as much of a joy! I don't believe anything quite like GDT, a young company established in 2018, ever existed before I left PA in 2008, so learning of their existence got me really excited and wanting to know more!
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The past couple of weeks I've had the pleasure of corresponding via email with Melody Stanert, The founder and director of Glorify Performing Arts and Glorify Dance Theater. I learned that it was on Easter eight years ago when God presented her with the idea to start the company! In her words:

 "On Easter of 2013, I was at home laying on the couch venting to God about how much He messed up my life plans.  I had intended to audition for a dance program in NYC but due to an ankle injury was stuck in a boot and on crutches so I couldn’t pursue my goal (this came a few months after finding out the MFA program I wanted to do was discontinued). As I paused to take a breath amidst my tirade, I had this vision pour into my head: Start a Christian performing arts company that has a professional ballet company, a professional theatre, and an education department.  Each area of the company would use their art to help strengthen Christians’ faith and it could ultimately be a non-threatening environment to bring nonbelievers to a show that would expose them to the deeper layers of Christianity.  Imagine it kind of like a Lincoln Center, but for Jesus.  This idea had nothing to do with my plan to become a dancer on Broadway, but I felt it take root so deeply in my heart that I started to figure out what needed to happen to bring Glorify Performing Arts (GPA) to life." 

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If you are interested in learning more about GDT, it's backstory, job opportunities, and how it works, then stick around! Melody so kindly accepted my request to interview her, which is what I will be sharing with you today! And how fitting to be sharing it with you on a Tuesday, the day I usually allot for sharing testimonies. Glorify Dance Theater is definitely a testimony to God's providence, how He can glorify himself even in small beginnings, and how He can use something as unconventional as the arts to do it!

PC: Revelations Video

The  Interview

Lillian: Tell us a little about yourself!
Melody: My name is Melody Stanert and I’m from West Chester, PA. I’m the founder and Artistic Director for Glorify Performing Arts and the choreographer for our resident ballet company, Glorify Dance Theatre. I am an energetic, friendly, and empathetic individual who loves telling stories. I went to Palm Beach Atlantic University to get my BA in Dance, but I missed the seasons, so I happily came back from FL upon graduating. I go to NYC any and every chance I get, and if I’m not there, you can find me down the Jersey shore enjoying the sun and sand.


Lillian: Can you share a little with us on what your history with dance looked like along with your faith journey and how they may have converged, leading to the establishment of your company?
Melody: I fell in love with ballet when I started taking class with Edmond Novak and Irina Kovalska who had danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in their youth, and then started teaching in the suburbs of Philly.  As a young dancer, Mr. Novak instilled in me a love for telling stories and expressing emotions through ballet.  I loved the pas de chat filled kitty-cat dance, and the sailor dance where I got to push a broom around the stage, and the tarantella inspired tambourine dance was my absolute favorite.  But dance had nothing to do with Jesus until friends of mine introduced me to a dance ministry they joined at The Church of the Good Samaritan.  I started taking their class, and suddenly, there was a whole new life to my movement.  I remember dancing in church one Palm Sunday to a very 90s “hosanna” song; I had streamers on my wrists and could have tripped over my long white skirt, but as I was jumping and waving my arms, I felt like I was praising God in a way that was more filling than I’d ever experienced.  (Note: before I start sounding too spiritual, I’ll freely admit I loved the fact that people were watching me perform and I hoped they wished they were as amazing as I was… Pride is definitely something I had to work on :)  I continued dancing at church and secular dance studios, and ended up going to college for dance, where my ballet teacher, Ms. Eileen, instilled in me a new passion for excellence.  She was one of the most demanding teachers I’d ever had.  One class she literally stopped the pianist during our second demi-plie because we weren’t putting enough heart into the movement.  She talked about how God had gifted us as dancers, and it was our responsibility to use our gift to the utmost as a way to honor Him.  I’ve had the blessing of growing up in a Christian home and had parents who always supported my love of the arts and when I told them about the idea God gave me to start GPA, they were ready to do what they could to help.  It has been a humbling journey because things rarely go as expected; I’ve been learning to rely on God more than I ever thought possible, and while He often doesn’t do things the way I want, my faith is being transformed to utterly rely on Him through the process.


Lillian: I love that! Tell us, what is the mission and/or vision of Glorify Performing Arts?
Melody: The mission of Glorify Performing Arts is to present compelling, professional productions to encourage and empower Christians in their walk of faith, inspiring them to step forward boldly to impact the world.


Lillian: How does the faith that you and your dancers have shape the company's choreography, productions, and performances?
Melody: Our dancers come from a variety of denominational backgrounds and may have differing viewpoints on theological issues, but one thing is across the board: faith in Christ is the bedrock of what we do.  This past fall we did a production called “Alive In Us” which used contemporary ballet to explore each fruit of the Spirit.  For example, I thought about the fruit of Peace, and when we have the Peace of Christ in our hearts, how does that impact our daily life, and how does that translate to movement?  As the dancers performed, the audience was visibly moved by the production, and many people left saying they had a new picture of the way the Holy Spirit works through us.  This spring, our show is less obviously “Christian” but it takes the Biblical concept that our identity is found in Christ and nothing else and translates that into a fun story set in the 1950’s where a girl is told her clothes aren’t good enough, and a model is replaced by another model which puts her career in jeopardy.  The goal is that the ballet helps the audience to see that when we’re in situations where the things we value are out of our control, God is the only solid rock in which we should place our hope.

Lillian: What kind of dancers do you look for to join GDT?
Melody: I’m looking for classically trained ballet dancers who are great at acting/emoting and comfortable dancing contemporary repertoire - and love Jesus, of course! 


 Lillian: Tell us about the GDT performances! What are your venues like and who would you say would be the ideal audience for GDT to perform for?
Melody: We’re only a year and a half old, so we’re still developing our performance opportunities, but within the next season or two, we’ll do a small, more abstract performance in the fall, and either perform using space at a local church or rent a small theatre. At Christmas and in the spring we’ll do full-length ballets that tell a story and for that we rent local high school/college auditoriums.  Also in the spring, we hold a fundraising Gala that has a small performance component to the evening.  Throughout the year I want to go to nursing homes and school chapels to share God’s truth with the people there.  The content of the show tends to change who our audience base is, but generally, we’re reaching families with pre-teen kids, 20/30 somethings, and older adults. 

   Lillian: What can audience members expect to experience attending one of GDT's shows?
Melody: Audience members can expect to be drawn away from life outside the theatre and whisked into the movements/story on the stage.  Our hope is that they sense God’s love for them and truth of His grace through our performance; that they aren’t just watching a show, but are experiencing a moment in time wherein their soul is moved and they leave feeling empowered to share the beauty of Christ with their friends/family.


Lillian: What is your favorite thing as Director/Choreographer of GDT, and then maybe a not so favorite thing?
Melody: My favorite thing as a choreographer is the moment when a movement phrase I have in my head is translated onto the stage and it works!  It is so fulfilling to watch dances that were once just a fragment of my imagination become reality.  I also love getting dressed up for opening night.  My not so favorite thing is just about everything business related.  Trying to keep track of business expenses, and put together budgets, and talk to potential sponsors is so stressful.  Somehow it’s no problem to organize all the music/choreography for a ballet, but to be organized about everything else does not come naturally for me.

PC: Revelations Video

  
Lillian: Do you have any secret talents, or maybe a hobby unrelated to dance?
Melody: I LOVE musical theatre! Not quite unrelated to dance. I also randomly talk in foreign accents all the time.


Lillian: Do you have any favorite bible verses?
Melody: I occasionally find myself battling anxiety so I’ve found a lot of comfort in:

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God...”
Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 
 John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Lillian: What advice would you give to young dancers dreaming of dancing professionally?
Melody: Be realistic but don’t limit God!  I wanted to be a Disney Princess at one point, but at 5’9”, no amount of “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” was going to make me short enough to qualify.  God designs each of us uniquely, so hold fast to the fact that YOU are special in His eyes and pursuing your dream of dancing professionally is completely worth it; just remember your journey is unique to you, so keep your eyes fixed on Christ, and let your soul shine even in simple barre exercises like tendus!

PC: Juliana Wall Photography.

Lillian: I've steered this interview thus far. Before wrapping this up, is there anything else you would like to share? Any last words you would like to leave with us?
Melody: We at Glorify Performing Arts / Glorify Dance Theatre believe art plays a powerful role in helping us to understand our world and the God who created it.  Many people are needed to bring our vision to life, so if you’d like to get involved in any way (not just as a dancer :) please reach out!
Click HERE to get involved!

Click the following link for more Audition Info!

Well that's all folks!

I hope you enjoyed this post! I know it was a fun one for me to put together!

Let me know what you thought about this kind of post and if 
you'd be interested in hearing from other artistic directors!

Have a Blessed day in the Lord!

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   Have You Read...  

Olympian David Boudia's Story

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!



In Honor of the Olympics!

Happy Tuesday!

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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• Testimony Tuesday with American Idol's Jason Castro
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There Is an Exit

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!


Being shared with you today is the testimony of Vanessa, presented by a ministry called Living Waters which is one of my most favorite ministries. Headed by CEO and founder Ray Comfort, Living Waters provides evangelism resources and training that helps Christians share their faith (evangelism) effectively and biblically--the way Jesus did. In the video clip below of Vanessa's testimony, there are slight undertones of advertising one of the Living Water's best selling DVD's called '180'. May that not distract you from the powerful testimony she shares of how Jesus delivers her out of the pit of loneliness, confusion, and depression; that He becomes her escape, her exit out of the domains of darkness and into his marvelous light. Hallelujah!

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the  Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

~ Colossians 1:13 - 14

To watch the '180 Movie' for free click HERE.

Be Blessed.

Happy Tuesday!

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me or use the contact me form over in the sidebar to shoot me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!

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My Dear blog readers, 

How has life been treating you lately? I hope you are doing well! 

Today I would like to talk to you about life, specifically mine! Being in the age of my youth, I have only just begun to discover, understand, and come to terms with all the many facets of life that there are that we can be confronted with. Life has its good times, hard times, happy times, sad times, and all the while we deal with whatever life personally presents us with, elsewhere the world is seemingly going crazy all around us! It can all seem so overwhelming, but no matter what life throws at us let us remember that we can find consolation, rest, and peace in one thing, in our one Lord and Savior and in all the many enduring promises that He has established for us.

"His oath, His covenant, His blood,

Support me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay."

So far, it has been a great year for me, characterized by growth and new birthed motivation. This year marks my fourth year being a member of the touring ballet company and ministry Ballet Magnificat. As I commit to another season with them, I would like to share with you that after much seeking of the Lord over the past couple months, He has very clearly confirmed to me my calling, which remains in ministry and has been so sweetly encouraging me in it. He has affirmed me in continuing with Ballet Magnificat, but has also recently been highlighting to me the other giftings, talents, and desires I have, that I never before perceived could be used for His glory. Through an arduous process of sanctification this year, my eyes and heart have been opened up to the fact that aside from only just my dancing, God would like to use me in ministry in so many more/other ways than I have previously, narrow-mindedly comprehended.

Transparently I will explain to you that this year has been a battle for me in fighting off distractions of the world, false idols, vain hopes, and complacency. You see, I have been doing this dancing thing for several years now and I have found myself in a very stable, secure and smug place. Sometimes I believe that is when the Lord likes to shake things up the most.

-Destractions of the World: With the constant adverse change and discontentment that our society seems to sow more and more of these days, it is hard to not buy into all the worry, and fret, and complaining that goes on, and is easy to get distracted, carried away, and sucked into the fear and drama of it all. But I know what God's word says:

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

-False Idols: Surely I am not the only one who struggles with the temptation of idolizing my career, my possessions, my accomplishments, my achievements, myself ? But I know what God's word says:

Mark 8:36 "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"

Jonah 2:8 "Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love."

-Vain Hopes: Similar as of that above, I'd simply get caught up in putting my hope in finite, fleeting, worthless things. Perhaps you can relate. But we know what God's word says:

1Peter 1:3-4 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade."

-Complacency: It is a sneaky monster. Remember how I mentioned earlier that I've found myself in a very stable, secure and smug place? Well that is the place where complacency breeds. Prohibiting me from going deeper in with the Lord, I can now see how pride and complacency has the power to compromise the value of my ministry. I touched on in further detail my experience with complacency in the blog entry HERE But I know what God's word says:

Revelation 3:15-20 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Those these struggles seemed to be crippling for a time, I can see how it was all a part of God's process of sanctification for me. As metal get's refined and purified under fire, so my faith was also refined and strengthened by the adversity.

"My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name."

I can not give you a summary of my year without failing to mention the brief but intense bout of doubting my faith that I underwent. Yes, you could have called me 'Doubting Thomas'. I am sure there were several things that instigated my storm of confusion, like the weariness produced from the battles I was fighting mention above, but also nearly abandoning prayer, and not spending enough time in the word of God. It was as Mark 4:13 says: 'the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things came in and choked the word, making it unfruitful.' I think visiting a number of 'diverse' churches while being on tour this year also sparked some questioning in me, which actually was really GOOD though! Basically, I was challenged to rediscover the reasons why I believe what I choose to believe, but let me tell you with excitement and confidence that it was the Word of God that carried me through that storm and helped me to see clearly. I now have a new found appreciation and passion for the Bible like I've never had before...as maybe you have already begun to gather. ^_^ 

"When darkness seems to hide His face,

I rest on His unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil."

I don't think I have ever experienced anything more faith-building, then doubting! I do feel a little like a new baby believer all over again, but I am encouraged reading 1 Peter 2:2-3 which says 'Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.' I am currently, humbly and carefully rebuilding my faith in accordant with what the word of God teaches me, block by block, truth by truth. I can't put into words just how marvelously Jesus has revealed himself to me through His word. He is the Word! He is eternal, ruling, reigning, and coming back! And now that I have snapped out of my daze, I know more confidently than ever that I am ready for his coming, and I am ready to make sure other people are made aware and ready too!

"When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh may I then in Him be found.

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne."

I Do not have an immense amount of evidence to report to you of the Lord working through myself over this past year, as I have largely been occupied with all the teaching, rebuking, correcting and training he has been doing within me! Not to say that God hasn't been using myself, and the Ballet Magnificat ministry as a whole because He has! We set out to 'plant seeds', and if/when the Lord allows, it is always a major blessing to see the fruit of it. We have toured to a number of states this year including Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas...and have witnessed a number of miracles and salvations! God has been ever so faithful to us this year! Praise his Holy Name with me!

Our nation wavers, truth is compromised as the scriptures predict, and things become more and more corrupt with the passing of days, but let us NOT! Let us stand firm and remain faithful to our Savior and as Romans 12:12 says "Let us be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

"On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand."

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Thanks for reading!
Do you have a topic idea or suggestion of something I should write about? 
Do you have a question you’d like to ask me?
Leave a comment below!

*Excepts from the Hymn “My Hope is Built” (The Solid Rock) by Edward Mote

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Gangster Redemption

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!


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It may be to your surprise, but I have a small place in my heart for "gangsters". To define gangster I turn to Urbandictionary.com which points out that there are two types of "gangster":

1. A wannabe thug, often illiterate and an inhabitant of a downtrodden ghetto that hangs around in "gangs"; largely associated with the African-American subculture. These try-hard wanna be "gangstas" attempt to make themselves appear like real criminals by graffitiing buildings, smoking/selling drugs and trying to appear all "[bad] and macho". An utter degradation of what true gangsters represent (see below), and street wannabe "gangsta"-types don't hold a candle to what real gangsters are.


2. The real gangsters are those behind organized crime; most notably the Mafia. Responsible for blackmarket trade, espionage, organized beatings/assassinations, etc. "The Godfather" portrays the archetype of true gangsters, showing the brutality of mob beatings, shootings, running rackets and abusing woman, alcohol and everything in between. The real gangsters are not to be confused with the aforementioned definition, commonly used as it might be

 I love them all! I don't know why I care for them, but I do know that they are people too, just like you and I; people in need of a Savior! And now, I ask who wouldn't love a good, real-life, true testimony of one being redeemed? That is what I would like to share with you today! The testimony of Lecrae who according to Wikipedia:

is an American Christian hip hop artist, songwriter, record producer and actor. Lecrae, in reference to his label as a Christian rapper, has stated that his music is just hip hop, though it reflects his Christian faith. Born and raised by his single mother in Southern Houston, Texas, Lecrae moved often early in life, living in San Diego, Denver, and Dallas. He has stated that he would go to church with his Christian grandmother, but considered it for "older people" and said it "wasn't for me." Lecrae never met his father, who ended up becoming a drug addict. 

Experiencing abuse and neglect during his childhood, Lecrae used his ability to rap as a source of significance. According to Lecrae, his grandmother would not allow him to watch rap music videos on television, but he would sneak in late at night. It was in these videos that Lecrae found individuals to look up to. Lecrae states that "there were no Martin Luther Kings or Malcolm Xs, they had all passed away so I had Tupac." After being shown a gun by his uncle, Lecrae began looking up to gangsters and turned to a life of crime. Lecrae remembers taking a BB gun and standing in the street pointing it to a car, frightening the female driver, simply for fun. 

At the age of 16, he started taking drugs, fighting, was arrested in high school for stealing, and eventually ended up on a gang list. According to CNN, he became a drug dealer and used the Bible that his grandmother gave him as a good luck charm. After being arrested for drug possession, the officer saw the Bible and let Lecrae go on a promise that he would agree to live by it. He eventually turned from drugs to alcohol consumption and a party lifestyle and became a "misfit of a person." He has described himself during this period as a thrill-seeker, he would pull stunts such as jumping from a third-story building, and gained the nickname "Crazy 'Crae". Encouraged by his concerned mother to read his Bible, Lecrae said that "I remember ripping the pages out of the Bible and throwing it on the floor. I don't want this Bible. I couldn't wrap my hands around this being true or real." He began to drink and smoke more and look for more women "as the emptiness became more profound." 

At age 17, his personal, financial, and relationship troubles convinced him that he was at a "dead end." Wanting to do what he considered the mature thing, through the influence of his grandmother, he desired to start attending church. A girl Lecrae attended high school with was there, and she invited him to a Bible study, where he met Darragh, his future wife. Lecrae was surprised to find that the members of the Bible study "were just people like me. They read the same books and listened to the same music. Their character was just different. They were loving and that's really what drew me in." Lecrae says that it was at age 19 that he finally decided to live for God, though "it wasn't overnight" and he "spent a lot of time making bad decisions."

Lecrae attended a conference after being invited by a friend, though Lecrae admits that his interest was to meet girls and experience the big city. When he arrived at the conference, Lecrae was awed by the performance of the Christian hip-hop group The Cross Movement. Lecrae says that he saw "guys who had been shot from being in gangs, girls who were extremely promiscuous in the past, I see rappers, dancers, and singers; I see people who came from the same background I came from, and they still embodied who they were culturally, but they were all in love with Jesus and I had never seen that before." After hearing Pastor James White of Christ Our King Community Church speak on how Christians are bought with a price and the suffering that Jesus underwent in the Crucifixion, Lecrae says that he remembers articulating "God get me out of this, don't kill me; do whatever you have to do to get me out of this, just don't kill me." 

Later, Lecrae was driving on a highway when he turned too quickly and his car went into a roll. He had no seatbelt and the roof and windshield of the car caved in, his glasses were molded into the frame of the car, but he survived completely uninjured. Lecrae cites this incident as the one which convinced him to commit his life to Christ. Lecrae went back to his college, the University of North Texas, with a printed version of his testimony to pass out on campus. He started volunteering and performing at a juvenile detention center, and the reception he received convinced him that offering "hope and encouragement" through music was what he wanted to do.

Let's look at the Parable of the Lost Sheep:

 Luke 15:1-7

 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 

It is pretty AMAZING that God can reach down/that He wants to reach out and meet us where we are at, know matter who we are or what we have done! And most amazingly, the free gift of redemption, free from works, has already been made accessible for us by God having sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross in our place, that He would receive the punishment we deserved for our sins; If we just acknowledge our depravity and sin and the fact that we need a Savior, if we choose to believe in Him and everything in His Word, and if we confess and repent of our sins to him, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." 

Colossians 2:13-15

"For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

 Titus 2:11-14

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls"
1 Peter 2:24-25

*Being justified and made right in the eye's of our God is an instantaneous occurrence as a result of being saved by Christ,  with no work required of man. Sanctification is the process of being set apart for God's work and being conformed to the image of Christ. This conforming to Christ involves the work of the person, but it is still God working in the believer to produce more of a godly character and life in the person who has already been justified. 

As believers still in the flesh, we still make the wrong choices sometimes. It takes time to learn, grow and mature in our faith and in our pursuit of holiness, but God promises us that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). God often uses our mistakes to teach us lessons. In 2002, Lecrae impregnated a then-girlfriend and rather than risk scandal, he and his girlfriend had the baby aborted, a decision he says he now deeply regrets. But Lecrae has handled the situation with such transparency, humility, and grace. I encourage you to look into his furthered testimony here: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lecrae-confesses-abortion-invites-others-into-the-light

" Public confession of sin is such a liberating thing for others to come forward,” says John Piper of Lecrae’s story. “And if they don’t come out of the darkness, then they can’t have the sweetness of forgiveness . The gospel teaches us how to live, but it also rescues us when we fail to live the way we are supposed to live. And that is what makes it sweet ."

Happy Tuesday!

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*explanation on justification and sanctification as seen at: https://carm.org/justification-and-sanctification


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