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He Sent Me To Just One

Alabaster Box

Ministry is so peculiar at times.  I have been a licensed Minister of the Gospel now since 2007 and I still stand in awe of how God always takes my breath away with surprises!  That is why we have to follow hard after Proverbs 3:5-6.  You know it.  Go ahead and quote it, “Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths!  This is one of those feel good scriptures that is so popular.  Everyone can quote it but do we truly understand it by revelation and experience?  I am still learning it!  I had a dance ministry assignment not too long ago and I was all in a “tizzy” because I just did not know what songs to use.  I was asked to do 2 dances, which is unusual because normally I only do one when I dance alone as a soloist.  So this doubled my trouble, so to speak.  I knew about the engagement at least a month and a half ahead of time but still did not know.  I prayed and tried to put aside extra time to prepare myself like I love to do but still nothing.  So, on the day of, I placed several songs that I had done in the past on a single CD and thought of two particular ones and went on my merry way.  As I arrived I finally just had to pick 2 numbers.  I prayed once more and went with it.  Well, God moved in that place like never before.  After I ministered, there was a woman sitting in the back who had an oxygen tank with her that she was on.  She said to me:  “let me hug  you, you know, I just had open heart surgery and this is my first time attending church since that, and you know what, your dance has blessed my soul.  I  never gave up my hope during my trial”.  Well, after this woman hugged me and said those words to me, I lost it.  I melted, I began to be so humbled because I knew that God sent me up to that place for that one woman.  One of the songs that I ministered was “I never lost my praise” and that particular song was the song that ministered to this woman.  Praise the Lord!  Had I done what I originally planned to do in my own mind, it would not have been that song.  As I waited on the Lord to speak, I did not hear anything.  I chose that song at the last minute because what I practiced as I was waiting on a confirmation from the Lord surely was not that particular song!  So you see Ministers, sometimes God will hold out on you and then He will send you to just one!  Yes, your ministry is to the masses, but sometimes you are sent to just one.  I know this to be true.  Take courage and always remain open to the odd ways that God reveals His will to you.  Be Blessed!

Giving Him a Gift of Dance this Christmas!

https://youtu.be/ebNds3FJg5U

What can I give to You my Wonderful King?  Well, really, the best gift to give to Him this Christmas is a heart that is full of worship.  He wants our affection first and foremost.  I will have to admit though, that there are times when there are specific areas of our life that He is after as well.  The Lord taught me this one day when I was super busy, creating choreography for one or maybe even two dances for my youth church dance ministry.  Right in the middle of the busiest moment, I could hear the Spirit of the Lord speaking in my ear:  “Will you choreograph one for Me?”  Now you can imagine my astonishment.  All the work and the effort I was placing into the dances was fine but He was drawing me to His heart and reminding me not to forget to choreograph a love dance for an audience of ONE.  That audience is Him!  So if you are a praise and worship dancer, don’t forget to give Him a gift of dance this year.  Create a special love dance just for Him and please Him first and your musicals and Christmas dances and skits will go well.  He will bless you all the more to serve and give to others this season.  If you are not a dancer, think about what you serve best.  What area of your service to the Most High God claims most of your attention?  Give back to God and He will make all your plans to succeed.  Remember, the sacrifices of God are a broken and a contrite heart and spirit.  God will not despise these.  So we need those times with Him where we really are not doing anything at all except just simply being with Him.  I believe that when I continually dance before Him in worship, when the music stops, we will just have that quiet intimate time together where I will bond even closer and begin to know Him more and more.  Now this is the best Christmas present that I can give or obtain.  Awesome!

 

FIRE!!!

What was your first experience with fire?  You may not even remember but some I am sure can probably remember being young and touching something hot and even learning a valuable lesson to stay away from fire!  What about the old expression:  “If you play around with fire, you might get burned!”  Well this month’s nugget is about the fire of God.  I know, when we normally talk about God’s fire, we always think of it in a negative fashion because of judgement and punishment for disobedience and sin.  Well it is correct to see God’s fire that way but I also want to draw our attention to another purpose for His fire.  What about purification?  God is looking for a purified heart. (Malachi 3:2-3)   His blood has already sprinkled our hearts from an evil conscience when it has to do with us being able to commune with Him and be reconciled to Him because of what Jesus has done for us at calvary.  (Hebrews 10:22)  There is no problem here, but……on a daily basis we all are subject to getting defiled, dusty and contaminated by the world.  Jesus said that He was not praying that we be taken out of the world but that we be protected from the evil in it.  (John 17:15) So we go to the Word to be washed by the water of the Word to clean us from the dust and filth of the world but what about our hearts?  Our hearts are still susceptible to becoming hardened, full of pride, self centeredness, bitterness, etc.  So God wants to baptize us in the fire so that we can be purified.  Sometimes He will even allow the the fire of trials to accomplish this within us.  I know.  Does not sound pretty but believe me God knows what He is doing!  I want to share something personal….I have experienced times of lonliness and dryness because I needed to be broken in order to continue to feel His presence and to continue to become more like Christ in my attitude and deeds.  He allowed the brokeness and the fire to purify me.  So, fire is a good thing when it accomplishes His desire within us!  True repentance and a fresh love for Him.

 

Sign up for Online Drama Class! (Gospel Plays)

Sign up for Online Drama Class! (Gospel Plays)

“IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO WRITE THAT INSPIRING PLAY THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT…HOW?  GO TO THE FORM ON THE RIGHT AND SIGN UP FOR ”DRAMA IN THE CHURCH” NOW!  I WANT TO TEACH YOU HOW TO WRITE AND DIRECT DYNAMIC, ANOINTED PLAYS THAT WILL CHANGE LIVES.

THE COURSE IS BEING OFFERED FOR A ONE TIME DONATION OF $35.00.  THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 3 SESSIONS.  YOU CAN PAY FOR THE COURSE BY CLICKING ON THE “DONATE” BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OR YOU CAN GO TO https://worshipfulministries.eventbrite.com.   WHEN YOUR DONATION IS RECEIVED, I WILL SEND YOUR COURSE OUTLINE TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU SUPPLY.  THE FIRST CLASS WILL BEGIN ON OCTOBER 14TH AT 7:00 P.M. CST (8:00 EDT)!  IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD!  I WANT TO HELP YOU DO JUST THAT.  Love and Blessings to you,,,,Minister Denise Cook Godfrey

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GOSPEL STAGE PLAY COURSE COMING SOON!

Hello everyone.  So very excited to announce the upcoming online course for writing and directing your own gospel stage play!  Do you have inspiration to direct a gospel stage play?  Do you have a vision or see the images, yet cannot seem to get it all on paper?  I can help you with this!  The course will show you how to use the inspiration inside of you to write your own play and how to know the dynamics for directing it at your local church or in your community!  Stay tuned for more details.

Minister Denise Cook Godfrey

 

IS THIS WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR?

Well hello everyone!  It has been a “minute” since I have written in this blog but that surely does not mean that I have not had anything going on or anything in particular to write about!  God has given me this creative gift and any inspirational writer will tell you….you can only go so long before picking up that pen and letting go of what is inside of you by spilling your guts on paper!

Today, on this rainy afternoon, I contemplate on feelings of chasing the wind!  Ever feel like the more you attempt to live at peace with everyone and the more  you try to walk in the Spirit and live a Godly life, the more it seems as if you have to lay down and take all types of assaults, meanness, and just down right disrespect!  Hey, what about those times when it appears that all your sacrificing, praying, ministering, laboring, is just as if you are chasing the wind and throwing pebbles in a large ocean and never hearing the sound!  Well, it is ok if you are feeling that way or have felt that way.  This is just the way it is.  I am there right now and that is the reason for the title…..”IS THIS WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR?”  Well, I am mature enough to know that my life is in His Hands!  Sometimes our God will allow these times to come upon us so that we can take a moment to realize that we did not sign up for anything, we are responding to the purpose that God has for us.  Even though we have our moments, God is still molding and shaping us into what He truly wants us to become.  So we will not deny the way we feel; however, we will not allow the feelings to dictate how we respond to life’s disappointments.  We will continue to seek the face of God and continue to say “Yes Lord” to Your will and Your way!

My prayer today is that we all take a moment to reflect on our purpose and never forget that He who has begun a good work in us, is able to complete it unto the coming of Christ!  (See Philippians 1:6)  So, when you feel like you are going through a season of something you really did not sign up for, or you are persecuted and attacked just for doing good and what is right, cheer up!  Know that God has your back and that no good deed goes unrewarded.

The State of my Heart Determines the State of my Life!

Wow!  Our God is an awesome God who truly wants us to surrender our hearts to Him.  It does not matter how long we have been saved, we are still to surrender our entire beings to Him daily.  (See Romans 12:1-2)  We are to be like the whole burnt offerings of the Old Testament days.  Jesus has made this possible for us.  Without His death, burial and resurrection, it would not be possible.

How do I ensure that my heart is surrendered to My God?  First, the heart must be purified.  Only the pure in heart shall see God.  (Matthew 5:8).  This verse not only refers to seeing God when we get to heaven but it also means that we are able to see and perceive God’s heart, what He wants to do and say, when we allow our hearts to be purified.  His Spirit rests within our spirits and if there is “junk” there, then we have a serious problem.

At about 4:45 a.m. this morning, I was communing with the Lord in His presence.  I was suddenly awakened from a dream a little after 4 a.m., got up to use the restroom, and then proceeded to pray and seek God.  I had lots of heaviness and things to request of Him and talk with Him about.  After this, I began to just thank, praise and enter into worship.  Before long, God was leading me on a journey backward in order to show me the spiritual blockages that were in my heart.  Things from our past still controls us when we allow bitterness, self centeredness, shame, painful hurts, unforgiveness, rejection, etc to not be dealt with by the Spirit of God.  Just because we believed and became born again does not mean we do not stand in need of deliverance from past issues.  Unresolved issues in the heart makes us to become hindered from experiencing all that God has for us in His presence.  It hinders our worship.  What do we do?  We surrender by asking God for His grace to enable us to go free.  To give up control of it and allow Him to purge all these past heart problems in the fire of the Holy Ghost.  This is a progressive process but it is possible.

Try this today. This is important because the state of your heart determines the state of your life!  More on this topic at a later time.  Take the first step by being honest in the presence of God. He will show you your spiritual blockages.

I love you with the love of Jesus.  If you need prayer, leave a comment or contact me via email at sherrylcook@att.net.  You may also inbox me on face book at Denise Cook Godfrey.  To sow a love gift to this ministry, you may go to the “donate now” button on right side of the webpage..

When What is Meant to Bring Patience, Only Brings Aggravation!

Hello!  At times in life we experience an overwhelming season of frustration and aggravation that causes us to lose out on the positive fruit bearing process that the Lord means for us to experience.  What am I talking about?  I am talking about going through!  James 1:2-3 says it like this:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (different kinds of temptations and trials)   3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

The Lord means for the troubles and trials to work patience but most of the time in my own life, I can testify that these trials only works AGGRAVATION!  The truth is, God oftentimes allow some of our troubles so that these can work something into our character.  You remember the verses of scripture in Galatians chapter 5 where it talks about the fruit of the spirit.  When we go through, our character should always be affected.  We can either respond by bearing good fruit or we can bear spoiled fruit and be bitter, complain, and be doubtful.  This is, in reality, a process and we must always be mindful of how we respond to trouble, battles, assaults, and attacks from our enemy.  If you have failed in this area, don’t sweat it.  Just dust yourself off and continue to look to the Lord and His word.  Repent and keep it moving.  You are not the only one.  I have failed time and time again in this area and am well qualified to speak on the subject.  Sometimes we are going through a pruning process where the gardener (Father God) is pruning the dead leaves from us so that we can bear greater and more beautiful fruit.  What season are you in?  If you are in the dead of winter, hold on spring is coming.  No season stays the same.

Father, I pray that the painful trials in my life will cause me to be refined in my character so that I can look more and more like Jesus.  I want to bear the nature of Christ, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit….love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperance!  Never let the trials of life keep you from His feet!

NOT About us but is about JESUS!

Good morning!  I am reading from the devotional, “The First fruits of My Morning” and wanted to share the contents with you. Especially if you lead worship in your church in any capacity (choir director, choir member, musician, soloist, song writer, poet, praise dancer, etc), or anyone who publicly worships, this morning’s devotion is a must read!  *Please consider signing up for our free worship newsletter as well.  All subscribers are updated with other news such as online bible studies, book signings, praise dance events, gospel stage plays and much more!  Oh, and if you sign up, you also get the 30 day devotional free! Thank you and God bless!

MORNING #3- “ITS NOT ABOUT US, IT’S ABOUT JESUS!”

 

LEVITICUS 10:1-3-1AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them.

2And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.

3Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.  (amplified version)

 

Wow!  Look at the passage of scripture above.  Read it and weep!  This is actually the scripture that God specifically pointed out to me when I began my public praise and worship dance ministry.  I was preparing a public program entitled, “Dancing into the Holy of Holies”.  I was meditating and God pointed out to me the danger of “offering unholy fire before the Lord!”  You see, we as praise and worship dancers, choir members, musicians, play actors, etc., we are always at the forefront and we are seen and heard sometimes even more than the preacher!  I am a preacher and sometimes I find myself preparing and concentrating more on the dance ministry than preparing myself to always be ready to preach the Word!  God had to remind me that yes, we are seen, but He must continually be seen in and through us!  What I am saying worshippers, is that it is very easy to get caught up in the glamour of things when people are always “pumping” us up!  Anytime we are moving in the flesh, caught up in competition and entertainment, then we are offering strange fire that is not authorized by God and it means nothing.  It is also very dangerous!  In our scripture reference, the two priests who made this terrible mistake died immediately.  God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!  If He did not like it back then, He still does not.  Let us guard our hearts against the spirit of competitiveness and entertainment.  Let us stay pure in our worship by focusing on God.  It is truly not about us, but always about Jesus!  Now if you keep reading in this verse of scripture you will see that Aaron was not even allowed to mourn for these men.  Brothers and Sisters, let us always be reminded that we are to do what we do by the Spirit of God and to get ourselves out of the way and do it the way God authorizes us, and that is through the revelation of the Blood of Jesus who allows us to offer a sacrifice of praise through that new and living way.

 

 

Exercising will Profit a little, but what about Godliness?

I love to take a brisk walk first thing in the morning while I listen to worship music, meditate and hear from the Lord.  Exercising is very important.  We should maintain our bodies, which is the temple of the Lord.  This morning after my walk, I noticed the Spirit of the Lord nudging at me with this verse: “But Godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Timothy 6:6).  You know bodily exercise does profit us but the bible compares physical bodily exercise and Godliness together and measurement equals:  bodily exercise profits little while Godliness with contentment equals GREAT GAIN!  Nothing compares to the peace and blessings that we gain by maintaining our character and growing in our relationship with God and with others.

So go ahead, burn that treadmill up, tone those muscles, dance, do whatever it takes to maintain your physical body but do not forget to maintain your Godly character and be content.

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LOVE AND BLESSINGS!