“The Clumsy Dance Pose”

               My ballet teacher was the highly talented Russian taskmaster, Ivan Novikoff, born in 1899.  He was a strict, disciplined individual who never tolerated any “monkey business” in his classroom.  An amazing dancer, teacher, choreographer, and artist extraordinaire, he knew how to bring out the best in his students.  Classes were grueling, bodies ached, and muscles cramped; we were taught the show always must go on, regardless of bruised limbs or bloody toes.  He demanded perfection, and we did our utmost to live up to his expectations, jumping higher and spinning more times than we ever imagined possible.  He knew our physical limitations better than we did ourselves, but he also knew our unlimited potential.  Praise from Mr. Novikoff filled a student with intense pride, as it was only given when one was worthy.

               I began studying under him at age 4 and was privileged to continue on for 13 more years, actually acting as his teaching assistant during my teen years.  Simultaneously leaving at age 17 for out-of-state college and graduating with a teaching certificate from his school, I emerged not only being capable of dancing extremely gracefully, but I could also confidently perform and teach his signature style.   As an adult, I have taken my dancing skills to a new level, as I have become a passionate worship dancer, incorporating interpretive motions and sign language into my movements.   

               My 5 year old daughter Sydney is a little carbon copy of her mother.  No one has ever questioned her parentage by asking for proof of identification in the airport or other public places.  In fact, strangers and acquaintances alike, are constantly informing me that I have a mini-me (as if I didn’t know that already!).  The most obvious physical difference is hair (mine is much redder and curlier), and Sydney has her own unique, spit-fire personality.  While still in the womb, I could tell this child was a mover, and it terrified me ever so slightly. 

               When I was pregnant, I had a friend ask me to teach her and her daughter ballet lessons.  I agreed, and for the first time, I realized that I would be able to teach my OWN daughter ballet one day.  That gave me a deep, intense satisfaction as I realized I would be able to share with her a great love of mine.

               Sweet Sydney was only two years old when I began teaching some elementary school students ballet lessons.  She would participate some, sit on my lap some (which made my job more challenging), and then finally decide she’d had enough and watch the rest of the class.  The older she became, she more she grew in stamina, knowledge of dance movements, and poise.  I was very proud as I watched her first solo on stage at age 3 to “I Love You, Lord”. 

               For the last year and a half I’ve been regularly teaching worship dance classes to girls age 3-8 and Sydney has been right there in the middle of it all.  She just LOVES having me be her teacher and she frequently mimics my movements.  She recently saw a ballet photo of me as a teenager and commented that she wanted to look just like me.  She hasn’t yet put in endless years of sweat and toil to be an accomplished, graceful dancer, so although it’s obvious from the way she moves her arms that she’s my student, she still has a long road ahead of her.

               Sydney loves to strike a ballet pose for the camera.  The thing is, when she poses, she might only get one leg or arm in the correct ballet position.  Her poses are not always pretty, and honestly, sometimes her dancing is not even that great, but I know her heart.  It is sweet and pure and she’s doing her best to dance for Him because she loves God and she loves to dance.  That’s exactly what God demands of us, to do our utmost for Him—it’s the first great commandment given in Luke 10:27—“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.”

               It’s natural for my daughter to want to model her mother, and as we were also made in God’s image, we should naturally want to strive to look, act and think like our heavenly Father does.  She didn’t get to study with the great Russian master like I did, but I’m her example to follow, as Jesus is our example of the Father.  We must emulate Jesus, who said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (Jn. 14:9)  Wow—Jesus led an impossibly perfect life with compassion galore.  I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s a hard act to follow.  And that is where our standard has been set—absolute perfection.  Jesus tells us in Mt. 5:48 to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  We can’t possibly measure up, but He wants to see that we are trying our best to follow Him and let Him be the Lord and Master of our lives.  

               The only thing is, it’s hard work day after day.  My daughter gets utterly exhausted from dancing and wants to collapse before class has even finished.  That’s when I encourage her to continue until the end, because the only way to improve is to never give up.  Being human, we will always fall short of that perfection, but luckily our creator God knows we’re human, so we shouldn’t get overly frustrated with our own shortcomings.  He sees our heart and knows our strengths and our weaknesses.  Our omniscient God is fully aware of our physical limitations, but also of our unlimited potential. 

          If we let Jesus be our guide and model Him as we pose in our dance of life, then were allowing Him to direct our steps, choreograph our dance, and fashion us in His Likeness so that there’s no mistaking we’re a child of God.  Even though we may be clumsy, just like Sydney occasionally is, God is a proud papa of our heartfelt efforts to emulate Him, so let’s keep on attempting the clumsy dance pose!

 Written by Shiela Miller

Sydney Miller (Artist)

Inspiration can come from the simplest of things. I beleive that’s how God likes it best. Whenever we stop to notice the simple things and become inspired. Here’s a story about how a young girl’s fiddling in the dirt became a inspirational work of art.

Check back later this week for the whole story.

     It all began on Friday, April 13th, 2012 as we drove thru the gate of this beautiful Lake Retreat in the mountains of North Carolina.  I had been invited to a women’s retreat and was looking forward to the rest and relaxation that our itinerary had so graciously promised us.  What I received however, was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  I will not endeavor to share everything in this reflection; saving it for a testimony to be given every time I take the stage for the rest of my life.  To God Be The Glory!

     To those of you that feel led by the Spirit to do so, please post your reflections or comments at the bottom of this page.  We would love to hear from you!   God Bless

Everything that day was incredibly surreal. The soft whispers of praise filled the air as our worship leaders gave life to the lyrics with their angelic voices. You could feel the passion chiming from the strings of the guitar as she held it ever so gently next to her, swaying from side to side with the music as they sang.

You make beautiful things. You make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things. You make beautiful things out of us.

While the words that they were singing played in my mind, I became spiritually separated from everyone that was around me.  As I lifted my hands towards the heavens, it was as if I could feel the sweet kisses of God brushing against my cheeks. Every moment was so precious, I was literally praying that it would never end. “There we were” all sitting at the foot of this huge man-made cross, looking out across the river at the most breathtaking mountain view that only God’s hands could have painted, as our retreat leader led us to the throne of Grace.

     “How had they managed to create such a beautiful setting?” I thought.  I concluded that they probably envisioned that by sitting us in front of this incredibly scenic backdrop, perfectly positioned at the foot of a huge cross, we would indeed become inspired to open up to our innermost feelings.  Earlier they had taken us through this spiritual exercise where we were told to write down on a small piece of paper any, past or present, strongholds that we knew were holding us back from our pure intimacy with God.  One by one we were instructed to come down and drop our papers into this large round bowl.  The idea was to set them on fire, before God, as we would symbolically free ourselves from the bondage of the enemy through prayer.  However, what they could not have planned for was how the Holy Spirit showed up in volumes,  sweeping over us like the warm wind that was blowing across our faces.  No! Nothing could have prepared us for the supernatural conversation that God allowed each of us to engage in with Him on that day.

     Suddenly my mind went back the words of another song we had heard earlier.  My heart swelled with emotion as the tears began streaming down my face.  With each teardrop, my entire body began invoking upon spiritual ecstasy.  I knew right then that whatever God had planned for me that day— there was no turning back now.

     “This is for you my darling, just because I love you” God whispered so sweetly into my ear.  What happened next— honestly cannot be put into words.  All that I can truly say is while standing at the river, on that warm, spring day, God released upon me the most incredible,  life-changing breakthrough.  As I was subconsciously reciting those endearing lyrics to “At the Feet of the Cross”, the love I have for Jesus took an even deeper root into my heart.  The Holy Spirit began speaking ever so clearly to me as He said,

“You can lay all your burdens down!”

 ”You can wear forgiveness like a crown!”

  “You can trade these ashes in for beauty, and Yes my dear Tonya, Today! You are made complete!”

     God blessed me that day  by revealing my hidden courage and  giving me a new perspective on my life’s calling moving forward.  I now understand that from this point on, though I am destined to face some incredible challenges, God  has assured me of His enduring presence and unfailing love.  I am forever indebted to His tender Mercy and Grace.

     I decided to place the lyrics to the song, along with a video, on the bottom of this page so that you can listen to the powerful words that penetrated my spirit releasing the sweet fragrance of God’s omnipresence into very my soul.  My prayer is that you too, can receive even a glimpse of our miraculous experience, one that I know we “all” shall not soon forget.

At The Foot Of The Cross
where Grace And Suffering Meet
you Have Shown Me Your Love
through The Judgment You Received

and You’ve Won My Heart
yes You’ve Won My Heart
now I Can trade These Ashes In For Beauty
and Wear Forgiveness Like A Crown
coming To Kiss The Feet Of Mercy
I Lay Every Burden Down
at The Foot Of The Cross

at The Foot Of The Cross
where I Am Made Complete
you Have Given Me Life
through The Death You Bore For Me

and You’ve Won My Heart
yes You’ve Won My Heart
now I Can Forgiveness Like A Crown
coming To Kiss The Feet Of Mercy
I Lay Every Burden Down
at The Foot Of The trade These Ashes In For Beauty
and Wear Forgiveness Like A Crown
coming To Kiss The Feet Of Mercy
I Lay Every Burden Down
at The Foot Of The Cross

Praying children from fwc-cchurch on GodTube.

Poetic Word Ministries invites you to meet new Author Shaniece “B” Allyn, recently featured on Nightline, by introducing her upcoming book entitled My Lyrical Safe Haven, scheduled to be released in July 2012.  More info on its release will be forthcoming.  If you would like to get a “Sneak Peek”  of her new ‘Book’,  a preview journal featuring her signature poem “My Friends are Quite Unique” is being released today.  This inspiring journal gives you a look into the life of the author as she invites you to join her on an inspirational journey that promises to change your life.  We would love to send you copy.

With a minimum $5 donation, your own personal autographed copy would be mailed to you within 5-10 business days.  Please support our ministry by ordering your inspirational journal today!

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Hi, I’m Shaniece ,

Have you ever believed in your heart that you were pre-destined to make a difference? That maybe you had been chosen by God to write something that could possibly alter the mindset of the entire world?  Well, this is exactly what happened to me a few years ago. 

At first, I thought to myself how ludicrous this must sound that someone like ‘me’ could do something so novel.  Yet, the thought kept playing havoc in my mind– igniting my imagination. Then one day, God tapped into my imagination and dared me to dream.  He dared me to believe that a country girl from South Carolin could cross of the lines of ordinary to extraordinary.  I  would soon learn that all things are possible  with God.

My first revelation came when I won a trip to the Bahama’s with my poem entilted “What Makes Me a Diva” http://poeticword.org/live/?p=1818  back in 2001.  This was only the beginning as my continued dedication to serve God would take me all across the country and introduce me to things I had only dreamed of …

I look forward to sharing more with you in my upcoming new series called the Safe Haven Series.  The first book of the series entitled  My Lyrical Safe Haven is set to be released in May 2012.    To God Be the Glory!

God Bless,  Shaniece

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