"God's Audition"
One worshiping in the Kingdom never auditions for a part (identity),
but as God chooses and places each dancer,
s/he fits perfectly in divine order.
This is how the Lord looks at us: He looks at the heart,
and we must follow Him directly.
It is not dancing which gives us an identity, but rather
our identity In Christ that gives us our dancing.
Please Note: Translations through either The Orthodox Study Bible and/or NIV.This is out of respect for a local Russian ballet instructor here in my city and the local Russian community http://ning.it/evjA2O,
which includes a pastor's wife.
Psalm 32:11-13 Orthodox Study
- The counsel of the Lord abides forever, The thoughts of His heart from generation to generation.
- Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He chose as an inheritance for Himself.
- The Lord looked attentively from heaven; He saw all the sons of men.
Psalm 33:13-14 NIV
- The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.
- From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth;
- He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.
God looks first not at the dance, but the heart from which a dance is danced }
God's standards for choosing
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV
- ...the LORD said..."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."
Matthew 7:21-23 NIV
- "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
- Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and dome many wonders in Your name?' - "And I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
1 Kingdoms 13:13 Orthodox ~ (See also 1 Samuel 13:14 NIV)
} ...The LORD will seek a man for Himself after His own heart, and The Lord will appoint
him....
Genesis 5:24 Orthodox
} ...Enoch was well-pleasing to God....
Genesis 7:5 Orthodox
} ...Noah did all the Lord God commanded him.
Acts 13:22 Orthodox
} ...'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My
will.'
A soul must be pure before one can truly love, and only a submitted soul will do.
Our soul is the part of us that has the option to agree with God or not, mind, will and emotions. A God who is almighty, powerful and love is one to be trusted. A God who created you will continue to take care of you, and it is He who teaches us how to love and from that enables us to dance from that love.
1 Peter 1:22-23 Orthodox and NIV
- Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
- having been born again....
For Additional Study, including of relevant Greek Words
http://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_122-25.htm
http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=5360
http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=25
The joy of the Lord is our strength and our obedience to Him is His joy.
Prov 10:1 Orthodox
- A wise son makes his father glad....
Nehemiah 8:10 Orthodox
- ...this day is holy...do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
This is why David could dance so.
2 Samuel 6:14 NIV
- ...David danced before the LORD with all his might....
A very helpful web article concerning David }
Another helpful Russian message of God's love }
A very relevant "Russian" ballet }
} http://youtu.be/yIyHR6lyitg Ballet Magnificat!'s Worship Training }
} http://www.balletmagnificat.com/E_praise.html
Here is The Orthodox Study Bible }
It may be of help that for a short season, I was enrolled in The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I also want to make it known that Russian people/dancers are welcome in the field of Worship Dance. Furthermore, my first Christian dance teacher in Tucson AZ named Donna Doell also taught me a love of Russian and Slavic people. Please see all the ways her Christian ministry in dance, Dancing for The Lord, has touched different cultures:
Please also see this web page as it describes how Minot's Orthodox church, St. Peter the Aleut, is "the only active Orthodox parish in North Dakota"
Here also is an article from this same site and the publishers of The Orthodox Study Bible on how to effectively use God's Word in accordance with Orthodox understanding and expectation.
Some outside of Orthodox faith may believe in an order such as what follows regarding reading Scripture: obedience, personal, Christ-centered, ecclesial (church body). I am sure God is looking at everyone's heart. This can get into lots of discussion, but it is obvious that obedience is first. May God's Word be blessed and honored by all who read it!
~
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed reading this as a brief study of God's word :) and I invite you to submit comments of what anyone has learned and would like to contribute for further study and understanding. Peace to you!
Comments