Hurry…classes start the first week in January! See the clip below concerning the E-Course for starting and maintaining an effective praise dance ministry!
Tag Archives: worship dance
Dance Language that Gives Birth
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
COMING IN JULY 2020…A NEW ONLINE COURSE FOR LITURGICAL DANCERS…
DO YOU FEEL A HOLY DISSATISFACTION WELLING UP ON THE INSIDE AS A PRAISE DANCER? ARE YOU IN SEARCH FOR THE DANCE FROM HEAVEN? I CAN TEACH YOU TIPS AND DYNAMICS FOR DEVELOPING MOVEMENT THAT WILL GIVE BIRTH TO DESTINY, PURPOSE, AND THE WILL OF GOD. ENROLLMENT COMING DURING THE WEEK OF JUNE 28, 2020
A Call to Dance
Dance shoes, tutus, buns, and technique training were never a part of my life as a child. As a matter of fact, I was in my late thirty’s before I ever stepped foot into a professional dance studio. For this reason, I find that my “call to dance” so to speak is indeed a divine call that reaches far beyond my own natural understanding.
When I first felt the burning passion and desire to dance before the Lord, it was not something that I willingly embraced. Fear, inferiority, and inadequacy were the ruling emotions that shackled my feet, hands, and soul all together. I told myself, “You’re too old, you have no training, and you’ll look ridiculous!” I tried to sweep it under the rug and laughed at myself; however, the more that I ran from the call, the hotter the fire blazed from within. Each time I would see this awesome ministry of dance (of course during that time I did not realize that it was ministry!) being manifested on television or at certain events, the desire only intensified.
After about a year of hiding, running, and attempting to extinguish the burning desire to dance, I decided to step out of hiding and explore ways to learn about how I can get started in praise dance ministry. I googled a few sites, looked for videos and even joined with two other adults who were also seeking training for praise dance ministry in my community. After a few months being involved in this community team, the Lord led me to an ordained minister who was also a trained professional dancer of thirty plus years! She had owned her own studio for many years and was then working as a partner in one of the studios in my city. I started taking classes with children for about six years! This was indeed a very humbling time for me. It was not easy, but I know now that it was necessary. The Lord was not only preparing my body and increasing dance vocabulary, He was also working on my heart!
The years described above were very necessary and I thank God for them; however the depth of the call can be summed up in what I refer to as a prophetic mandate. There are two events that I like to refer back to when I speak concerning my personal call to dance ministry. For one, some years before I felt the desire and pull to dance, I received a prophetic word from my Bible study teacher, (who is now my husband!). The prophetic word was this: “For the Lord says that from now on, take care of your feet! Take special care and see to it that you no longer purchase cheap shoes”. Okay, so both he and I laughed at this word because it indeed sounded strange. I trusted prophetic words and I trusted my Bible mentor so I wrote the prophetic word out and placed it on the shelf. I did not want to despise it. It was not until a few years after I was fully active in dance ministry that this prophetic word was brought back to my remembrance by the Holy Spirit, providing me with a fresh reminder and confirmation that what I was doing in dance was indeed the will of God! You simply cannot dance without your feet right? Another event is my call to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When God gave me the final confirmation to publicize myself as being called into the Ministry to Preach the Gospel, he confirmed it through a calling dream. At the end of this dream, He alerted my attention to my white gloves. Back in those days, I only did interpretive dance and never danced without those gloves. Praise the Lord! God was confirming that even though He was calling me to a higher level of ministry, He was still allowing me to continue to dance as part of the ministry as well!
Dance ministry is so dear to my heart. I thank God that He has confirmed His anointing on my life to express His heart through drama, technique, and song. I do not take it lightly. One other event in my life that comes to mind is the vision that I have seen of myself all along in a very large open field, dancing, twirling and spinning. In the vision, I could hear this phrase within my heart: “All I want to do is please my Daddy.” My prayer is that I never lose this childlike innocence as I go from level to level in dance ministry.
Denise Cook-Godfrey
Minister/Author/Play-Wright/Liturgical Dance Educator
https://www.amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey
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The Atmosphere Changes
When I ponder and look back over moments in dance ministry I am amazed at how the wind of the Spirit comes, goes, and shifts in multiple directions. No wonder Jesus explained to Nicodemus that the Holy Spirit’s work cannot be understood on human terms (See John 3:8)
Be sure to prepare your heart as well as your body for dance ministry. Be open to allow the Holy Spirit to move how HE wants! Sometimes we think we have it all figured out. Just trust Him when you feel Him and you see manifestations and when you don’t. Trust Him when it appears that He is moving upon other dancers and not you. Just know that if you are a surrendered vessel, He will use you and will be pleased with your sacrifice no matter what the outcome looks like in the natural! The atmosphere around you will change when you have totally surrendered your entire being into Him.
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Worship Reminder
I was reminded this morning by one of my dance Sisters that we are to spend quality time worshipping the Father in our dance. I was blessed to receive this word! What the Lord gave me from that reminder is this: I must dance for an audience of ONE before expecting and preparing to dance before an audience of many. Not a praise dancer? It does not matter because this word applies to any ministry or service that you do unto the Lord.
So, have you had your quiet time with Daddy God today? If not, is there an appointment setup to meet with Him?
Blessings to you!
*PS…Don’t forget to check out the author’s site at amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey
If you need worship dance mentoring or a workshop, message me on Facebook at Denise Cook-Godfrey or leave a comment here! Read testimonies from others who have experienced ministry from our dance and book ministries here:
https://worshipfulministries.com/read-testimonies-here/
Rising from the Ashes!
What a title, you may be saying. My Father God is still dealing with me on the subject of brokenness and repentance. I truly thank Him for it, although I would be lying if I said that this is a fun filled process. It is indeed a process. I thank God for the “sack cloth and ashes” of true repentance. It just makes us stronger and more in tune with the Heart beat of God!
In the Old Testament days, sack cloth and ashes were used as signs of mourning. The tearing of the clothing was a sign of mourning as well. The people would use this custom when praying for deliverance, safety and protection, and when they were into SIN and wanted to repent! Now notice that this sackcloth was a very rough fiber used to make storage sacks. It was what is known today as burlap. I am sure that the rough fiber of the fabric against the skin was very uncomfortable. The ashes came from burnt wood and was “dust”, thus symbolizing grief. We don’t hold such customs, however, we are still to tear our hearts and mourn and grieve because of sin in our lives and also the lives of others. We are to ask God to break our hearts for what breaks His heart! This is indeed a process my friend. The bible lets us know that God is near unto those who have a contrite heart and a broken spirit! (psalms 51:17)
Alright, let us bring this thing on home. So you have a messed up! You feel terrible and you have asked for forgiveness. Maybe there is “beef” so to speak between you and another person and the more you try to walk in peace the worst it gets. Whatever you are in mourning about, just know that you are not to stay there! God wants the brokenness but He also wants us to rise from the ashes, pull something valuable out of the experience, and keep it moving! It is a good thing to go through brokenness but it is also good to come out knowing that there is no condemnation for those who are truly “in Christ Jesus”. I am not saying that we embrace a sinful lifestyle and not take it seriously. We are to take it very seriously and we should care about our character over our gifts. Our Godly character takes us places our gift will never be able to take us. Live your life in a balanced fashion. Agree with God in His presence when you know that you have sinned. Don’t hide like Adam and Eve did, don’t pass the buck like they did, but for God’s sake, do not let the enemy place a spirit of condemnation upon you where you give in to depression and deceit. Realizing that we are naked and bare before the eyes of the Lord and yet His love is unfailing, should give us comfort and boldness to enter into His presence and when the heat of brokenness is upon us, hold on to His Hand. The ride may be a little bumpy but Holy Spirit has got this! He may convict you, but He will also convince you of righteousness as well
Let me dance prophetically over you right NOW! Enjoy a brief clip of a prophetic dance ministered at a Pastor’s Appreciation on 5/26/13
Love you with the love of Jesus! Have a blessed weekend!
Giving Him a Gift of Dance this Christmas!
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!
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.
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
Called to Praise Dance
Are you called to use the art of dance as a means of worshipping God? What about using dance technique as a tool to minister to the Body of Christ? How do you know that you have been appointed by God to dance?
This is how you know that you are called to the worship dance ministry: God places a strong desire within you that does not go away. Even though the desire is there, there is still an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy that comes along with it. The whole idea seems to interrupt the “norm” of your entire life, or so you think. IF THIS DESCRIBES YOU, then the book, “So You Say You Can Praise Dance….Now What” is a must for your library. Go to amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey for more details on this very informative book.
Prase and worship dance is an excellent tool to use to bring forth worship to our Lord and King. It is also a great way to demonstrate the gospel message. The physical movement on the outside actually demonstrates what is going on inside the heart of the worship dancer. Remember, check out the book described above. You will be very glad that you did!