Never leave Him Out!

Never leave the Holy Spirit out when selecting a song for ministry in dance.  Don’t do it.  I tell you, I have been serving in the praise and worship dance ministry for some ten years now and it never ceases to amaze me how I can even get “tripped” up into thinking “I got this”.  Holy Spirit knows who is going to be at the service or event, He knows what each person is currently or has already been through, He Knows the will of the Father!  In John 16:13, Jesus puts it this way when He spoke of the Holy Spirit who would come to dwell within the Christian believer’s heart:   “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come“.  So there you have it, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth even when it comes to what song to minister in dance or what doors to go in.  You would be surprised at the times when we pick and choose what we want to minister or where we want to go, and it may appear that we are effective above the surface, but underneath, we will lack the effect that the Lord has in mind.  Only when we totally surrender our wills to His, will we serve with a purpose and get the results that the Holy Spirit desires to bring forth.  I have experienced this first hand.  Once I remember ministering at our local church and as soon as the music started playing and I started to move, I felt an impression in my “gut” that the song was not the right song for that service at that time.  The song was an anointed, Christ-centered piece but it was ministered out of season.  I could not wait until that dance was over.  I felt a weight of burden on my heart and I did have to end up repenting.  Even though a few people approached me at the end and stated that they really enjoyed the dance, I knew deep within that I did not consult the Holy Spirit.

Always stand in His council before ministering, even if someone else has asked you to do a specific number.  Let Him (Holy Spirit) guide you into all truth concerning what the Father wants you to do, and you will see results.

 

God still requires an Altar

Genesis 12:3-4:  And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ha’i; unto the place of the ALTAR, which he had made there at the first; and there Abram CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

When there is no audience to preach, teach, and prophesy to, when there is no music to praise dance to, no inspirational drama or poetry to recite; Father I come to You with my affection, to give you worship.  Worship is what You really desire and it is at this point when You begin to search me, my very heart, every part of my heart.  You begin to stare at me, Your eyes pierce the deep parts of my soul, bringing a breaking within in order for my spirit to worship freely.

God is still requiring that we build Him an altar.  The only sacrifice that is required on that altar is us!  We must die to our own agendas and bring Him the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips giving prasie and thanksgiving continually.  It is all about Him, not about us!

To read more about balancing your service and your worship to our Lord, purchase your copy of “Worshipping God-Serving God, the Mary/Martha Syndrome” today.  You can get it for a donation to the ministry of just $10.00.  Go to the link below.

www.amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey or you may contact me directly at sherrylcook@att.net or via FaceBook at Denise Cook Godfrey.

God bless you!

A Few Tips for Praise Dance Ministries

Well hello my fellow praise and worship dancers.  I love to encourage praise dance ministries.  Sometimes I get so full when I think of the goodness of God and how He places creativity down on the inside of us, I get too excited and just want to write!  Below are a few of my favorite tips.  You may already be fully aware, but it never hurts to be refreshed and reminded.  Just writing these tips again has helped to rejuvenate my spirit and frame of mind.  If you enjoy these tips and are helped by them, why not become a follower of this blog and also check out the book:  “So You Say You Can Praise Dance….Now What?”  (get it at amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey)  It not only helps those who are new to praise dance ministry, but it is filled with biblical foundations for answering criticisms and it gives the praise dancer a firm foundation from a biblical point of view.  Enjoy the tips.

Praise dancers:  when was the last time you danced for an audience of “ONE”?  Dance for Him first and He will anoint you to minister through your dances, mimes, and interpretive expressions.

When His anointing rests upon your movements, it really does not matter how skilled you are or how many hours you put into practice.  This does not mean that we do not prepare and continue to train and learn, it just means that the anointing makes the difference.

Praise dancers:  sometimes the most popular song is not for your season.  Always seek the Holy Spirit’s advice when selecting a song to minister in dance.  You will be surprised sometimes at what He will direct you to do.  Be open.  Be sensitive to HIS voice.

amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey

 

Standing in Spite Of!

I tell you, the world is in a mess!  The god of this world’s system is definitely on his job!  (According to Ephesians 2:2 satan is called the prince of the power of the air and also in 2 Corinthians 4:4 he is called the god of this world).  But we as Christians must continually stand in spite of what is going on around us.  We must never forget that we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us, who is Jesus Christ.  (This is found in Romans 8:37).

Continue reading →

Praise and Worship Dance Mentoring This Summer!

Praise Dance Workshops-Summer 2013PRAISE AND WORSHIP DANCE WORKSHOPS ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS!  CONTACT DENISE COOK-GODFREY IF YOU DESIRE TO LEARN:

THE BIBLICAL ASPECT OF DANCE

BASIC DANCE TECHNIQUE SKILLS

CHOREOGRAPHY TIPS AND IDEAS

EXPRESSIVE SIGNING AND HUMAN VIDEO

Send an email to sherrylcook@att.net, send an inbox message via FACEBOOK at Denise Cook Godfrey, or feel free to leave a comment on this webpage!

Worshipful Ministries look forward to serving you this summer!

 

GET UP AND EAT!

I KINGS 19:5-9

5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” 6 He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.  7 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”  8 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai,[a] the mountain of God.  9 There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.

In the passage of scripture above, we see Elijah running for his life after a great spiritual victory had been accomplised in his ministry.  During his running for shelter, he became very depressed and even asked to die!  God allowed an angel to bring him a message.  The angel woke him not one, but two times and ordered him to eat.  The second time, the angel gave him a profound message.  The angel stated that Elijah must eat more because the journey ahead of him was too much for him.  People of God we have got to realize that we must “get up and eat” the word of God as often as possibe in order to endure the trials and temptations of our lives.  This verse spoke loudly to me because I, like Elijah, had experienced great victory and triumph in my life in two areas.  Now I was burdened and overtaken by tests and trials that I sensed coming upon my life.  God began to speak to my heart this word:  “Did you not think that I would have more words for you?  Did you think that I had run out of revelation?”  As I began to weep before my God, I began to realize that I indeed needed to refuel by getting up early and seeking God in His Word more than ever before.  It did not matter that I had just experienced great victory in two major areas of my life.  I needed Him even more.  We cannot just sleep through our overwhelming issue but must be determined not to let stress, depression, burdens, mountains, or any evil assault or threat from the spirit of the enemy deter us from our walk with Christ.

Just had to share!  Please leave a comment and even become a follower if this message has blessed you. May God bless and keep you.

 

Drama in the Church! Can I get an AMEN!

MANY YEARS AGO, THE LORD PLACED A STRONG DESIRE WITHIN MY HEART TO UTILIZE THE ARTS SUCH AS DANCE, SKITS, PLAYS, AND POETRY AS METHODS AND TOOLS TO USE FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY.  AT THAT TIME, I HAD NO TRAINING, NOT MUCH DIRECTION, AND I WAS VERY FEARFUL.  THERE WAS NOT MUCH OF THIS SORT OF THING GOING ON WITHIN OUR LOCAL AREA.  I LAUGHED AT MYSELF, I TRIED TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG, I TOLD MYSELF THAT I COULD NOT DO SUCH A THING; HOWEVER, THE FIRE AND PASSION FOR THIS TYPE OF MINISTRY, WOULD NOT GO AWAY.  THE DESIRE WOULD KEEP COMING BACK STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.

AS TIME PASSED BY, GOD BEGAN TO OPEN DOORS, GIVE PROPHETIC WORDS, AND ENABLE ME BY HIS GRACE TO STEP OUT ON NOTHING BUT A WORD AND A PROMISE.  AS I KEPT THE FAITH, IN TIME I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE MANIFESTATIONS OF WHAT GOD WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE ARTS.

THE OLD TESTAMANT PROPHETS OFTEN SPOKE PROPHETICALLY BY “ACTING OUT” THE WORD OF THE LORD.  AGABUS, A NEW TESTAMENT PROPHET, USED DRAMA TO PORTRAY A PROPHETIC WORD TO PAUL.  GOD SPOKE THROUGH THE PROPHET ISAIAH IN A DRAMATIC WAY IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 5 WHEN HE WANTED HIS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NOTHIN ELSE THAT H COULD HAVE DONE FOR THEM TO CAUSE THEM TO LOVE AND OBEY HIM BY BEARING FRUIT AS A FRUITFUL VINEYARD (THE STORY OF THE BELOVED VINEYARD).

SO LET THE DRAMA IN THE CHURCH CONTINUE!  GOD CAN GET SO MUCH GLORY OUT OF THEM!

I will begin an online course to teach, inform, and inspire you to write and direct your very own gospel stage plays!  The courses will begin during the first week in October and will be recorded live, so if you cannot attend the live session, you will be able to listen at your convenience.  Please go to the right hand side of the page and register with your email address.  I will send you further details via email as to how to register and all other details!  I look forward to blessing you with this course.

 

Don’t Give Up on God. He Will Never Give up on You!

WHAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN THE TIME A PROMISE IS SPOKEN AND THE ACTUAL FULFILMENT OF THAT PROMISE?  SOMETIMES WHEN GOD HAS SPOKEN SPECIFICALLY TO US ON A CERTAIN MATTER, WE WILL RECEIVE THE PROCEEDING WORD INTO OUR HEARTS WITH GLADNESS AND GREAT EXPECTATION.  A WORD FROM THE LORD BRINGS ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMFORT IN OUR TIMES OF DISTRESS.  HOWEVER, OFTENTIMES THERE IS A DELAY IN THE MANIFESTATION OF THE PROMISE.  IT IS AT THESE TIMES WHEN WE EXPERIENCE TEMPTATION TO BECOME WEARY AND TO GIVE UP.  DON’T FEEL TOO BAD, FOR YOU ARE  NOT ALONE AND THIS IS NOT SURPRISING TO GOD.  THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL COULD NOT WAIT FOR MOSES TO COME DOWN FROM THE MOUTAIN BEFORE THEY GAVE UP AND BEGAN TO MAKE FOR THEMSELVES OTHER gods, ABRAHAM AND SARAH GREW VERY WEARY AND EVEN DISCOURAGED AND BIRTHED FOR THEMSELVES AN ISHMAEL WHO WAS NOT THE PROMISED CHILD, AND HAGAR FORGOT HER PROMISED WORD WHEN SHE WANDERED IN THE DESERT AFTER BEING THROWN OUT OF WHAT SHE KNEW AS HOME FOR AT LEAST 13 OR 14 YEARS.

THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN WE ARE IN A DESERT OF WEARINESS IS THAT WE ARE NOT TO GIVE UP ON GOD, GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON US AND HE IS VERY MUCH ABLE TO DO JUST WHAT HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DO.  HE WATCHES OVER HIS WORD TO PERFORM IT.  SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT THE YOU HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN OR THAT YOUR PROMISE IS NEVER COMING TO PASS,  JUST PRAY THIS PRAYER:  LORD, REMEMBER THE WORD THAT YOU SPOKE TO YOUR SERVANT WHEN I WAS IN DISTRESS, THAT WORD WAS MY COMFORT THEN AND  NOW I TAKE COMFORT IN IT AS WELL.  STRENGTHEN ME IN MY INNER MAN SO THAT I CAN RUN THIS RACE WITH PATIENCE.  BLESS ME WITH MORE GRACE AND DIVINE ENABLEMENT TO BE KEPT IN PERFECT PEACE.  IN JESUS NAME……AMEN!

When God is Silent

When God is silent, its not time to give in.  When the world is spinning out of control- only God knows how to show the way for each day, but the quietness is almost too burdensome to bear…..for it seems as if He is unaware of the pain and loneliness, the uncertainty, the fearful thinking that is taking place right here and now!

When God is silent- we must be content with what we heard in our spirit.  Yes, that word we received in the past that caused great joy.  That same word will cover every bit of despair, knowing that He really is there! 

When God is silent what can we do?  How can we go on?  We must know of His unfailing love for us, on this we must trust.  For in the test, though there may be silence, He is as close as our next breath.  He has not abandoned us.  He will manifest His presence…..and we will not only hear, but we will yet see the salvation of our Lord who is oh so near!