Dancing with God

I can't take the credit for this one but I was greatly moved by this email "forward." I don't know who wrote Dancing With God...

"When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other. My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. When I saw "G: I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i". "God, "u" and "i" "dance." God, you, and I dance..."

I guess guidance comes when God and I move together in harmony and since he knows the steps it is important to let him lead. Too bad for me that I want to know the next step before I have finished the last one. Or I lose my concentration and start to bumble my feet. Or I miss the cues! I do this in real life dancing too.

After reading this "forward,"I thought of the many swing dance partners I have had.
Some I just couldn't keep up with or didn't feel comfortable with and therefore couldn't surrender myself to be guided by them. Some spun me around so much I needed medication for motion sickness!

I thought of the ones that really knew how to lead me on the dance floor, but also didn't intimidate me or make me feel like I am lousy dancer because I couldn't do the steps. Specifically, I thought of the 80 year old man who glided me all over the dance floor. I felt light and graceful and he could tell I loved to dance. He loved dancing too! Really, I loved dancing with him I think because he pulled something out of me -trust and sheer joy.

Oh God, whether my eyes are open or closed or my feet get bumbled I want you to guide me in this "dance" that trust and joy may be seen and felt with each step.

Attention Authors & Article Submitters

Hey gals, I lost more than I first realize when my computer crashed January 2nd.

If you submitted an article in the last 4 months, would you please resubmit it? I had all your emails in a folder in Outlook and poof! They are gone along with your contact information. I hadn't transferred it over yet. I've been a bit behind in CWP paperwork again...

Shelia Shepherd, I lost all the poems and articles you submitted this summer. If you'd like to pick 3 or 4 to resend, I would appreciate it!

If you're an author and would like to update us with your contact information and article biography, please drop us a line.

Please Note: Our email address has change -- cwpmag at verizon dot net

Thanks to all of you!

Computer Crashes, Courtship & Life

A henchman indeed. ha

I have a post drafted with lots of thoughts about what Liz wrote last week on courtship and dating. I'm holding off posting it for a couple reasons. Firstly, being I don't have the time right now to respond to the answers I hope we receive. Secondly, I'm feeling like it's not the right God time to post it. Sorry Liz. I know you were hoping for this. Trust me OK?

But I do want throw out a question. If you successfully applied the principles of courtship as an older woman (29+ years), and are either happily married or soon to be, would you please post your story? Both Liz and I would appreciate it!

I had hoped to publish a new issue of the CWP last weekend. Because of my computer crash on January 2nd, complications with the computer arrangements here at the house and a family event scheduled for this coming weekend, it looks like it will be the end of the month or possibly mid-February before a new issue comes out. Sorry. I'm a bit bummed about it too. But I take solace in knowing that every time God doesn't let us publish a new issue for one reason or another, great things happen that bless a lot of readers when we finally do. It's all for HIS glory, so I'm not too upset. Thanks for your patience though!!

I hope you have a wonderful week!!

In the last days of 2006...

I liked that for a title. So what happened in the last days of 2006 besides a mega-migraine and a lot of rain? There was a disappointment. I have this romantic notion about New Year's Eve that keeps getting dashed from year to year.

I am currently in between churches (long story) but occasionally I will get an urging to go to my parents' church. The last few times the pastor made me cry. That's usually a good sign that I was suppose to be there. On New Year's Eve he preached on Psalm 25.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.

Yeah... that about summed up the last days of 2006: the troubles of my heart were multiplied.

If you are familiar at all with the CWP and me and Janel, you know I am the single one who complains about being single all the time. The troubles of my heart stem from that. Recently it was suggested that I give courtship a try, as described here at Boundless. (The link was out this morning, but I promise it's there.)

Janel and I go rounds all the time about courtship. If you only knew how many emails go flying back and forth between us on this issue alone... It is, at times, a bone of contention and a source of frustration for both of us. I know Janel wants to see me living with the benefits and protection of courtship, but I don't see how courtship fits into my lifestyle - at least not courtship in the purest sense.

Ok I think I maybe on something right this instant...

The issue isn't that I need help screening men to decide if they are suitable or not - I can do that. I need someone to cut the cord. Someone to beat me over the head or take me by the hand and make move on after its been determined he is not right for me. Because I'll stick around in a uncomfortable place because it is familiar and because the need for companionship is deep.

I need a henchman.

That would be...

Happy New Year! :) May God bless you abundantly as you seek him in the year to come!! In the meantime...

"Glimpses of Perfection. Snapshots of Life." That's what we like to capture at the CWP. We like to get all warm and fuzzy about seeing God move in troubled situations and have some really great thing happen. I confess. I love to see prayers answered in a favorable way i.e. from a human perspective. I love to be where I know God has stepped in to grace me with a "heavenly kiss" of sorts. But what about the "Snapshots of Life" part? Well, we have those too.

The hard drive on my computer crashed yesterday. yeaaah...

With it went the work I had on the next issue of the CWP - which was scheduled to publish this weekend, current costume research for my sewing projects, some new material squirreled away in my Five Fat File Folders and probably a few minor changes I made to the book proposal I'm working on with Liz. Other than that, God was really gracious.

Ignorance is bliss. In 15+ years of having computers, this is the first crash I've experienced. The good news is I backed everything up on November 4th and I keep a copy of CWP related stuff elsewhere, well all except for the issue I was working on. I don't think I lost anything too terribly important. At least I hope I didn't.

Other "Snapshots of Life" can be the two scraped knees (on the same bouncy boy) that I fixed last night, last week's broken ejector pump which cost us $1400 plus a $200 septic pump that probably wasn't needed, the other month's broken dishwasher and last year's move. Who was it that said, "These are the times that try men's souls"? Yet, these same trials are "Snapshots of Life" in all their glory. God is in these times just as much as when we see the "Glimpses of Perfection."

It's trials that show how mature we are as Christians. I admit that although the failure of last week's ejector pump (that pumps goop out of the basement bathroom) was annoying, required nasty clean up and cost a pretty penny, it didn't undo me like yesterday's computer crash. {sigh} I still have big holes in my character.

Romans 8:28 says ALL THINGS, not some or most or a couple things, but ALL THINGS work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. I certainly love him, know that part of my calling is writing and know that the computer is my tool to accomplish that. Why should I sweat it? Honestly? I shouldn't.

Lessons learned? God is even in the little things. Backup your hard drive frequently, especially if it holds your livelihood or irreplaceable memories. Anything that God takes from you is for a reason. This little mishap got Rich moving forward on a project God laid on his heart. As for me, I was reminded again that I shouldn't jump to conclusions until I talk to someone in the know. Thank God for computer savvy brothers with big hearts and listening ears that call on unexpected days. With a hope and a prayer, I might even be able to get the rest of my data.

In the meantime, I encourage you to record the "Snapshots of Life" this year. Keep them as close to your heart as you do the "Glimpses of Perfection." God is in both of them.