Posted in Christian Service, Family, Heaven, Life Inspiration, Music, Praise, salvation, worship

The Day my Dad Danced

I love to hear the stories of my families faith. Some of it I grew up with, but was unsaved and ignorant to its meaning in my life, and much of it took place before there was me, or I was too young to understand at all. And such was the story of my Dad, Gene Paul Hardway, as told to me by my cousin Jerry Hughes. Jerry, fortunately for me, not only has great faith, but he has a great memory of spiritual matters with family. I could listen to o him for hours because now, it has meaning. Great meaning.

The story was told (as well as I recall) that at an old time revival in the hills of Braxton County, West Virginia my Dad stood to testify and the Holy Spirit took charge. His testimony went from testifying to preaching, and as he preached on the old wooden platform, he danced. My Dad’s dancing was a cross between a clogging style and a soft shoe. Not showy, just softly. I witnessed him do that many, many times as a child and as an adult. He loved to dance. But this night he danced in the Spirit. Jerry said that Dad apologized to the congregation for the dancing, to which they responded for it to continue as long as he liked because they too knew that the Spirit had a hold of my dad. .

It was such a sweet story.You’d have understand my Dad’s demeanor to appreciate the story. He was the most kind hearted, gentle man I ever knew. He never cared if he had the latest and the greatest. He knew and lived apostle Paul’s verse in Philippians 4:11 KJV, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” A matter I’ve struggled with. 

So on this Father’s Day weekend, in honor of my earthly Father who is now with my Heavenly Father I share this story and these thoughts on Psalm 149.

Don’t be Shocked 

PSALM 149 [1] Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. [2] Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 

My heritage (and yours) goes back much farther than that time in the hills of West Virginia when my Dad danced. I have to wonder if Adam didn’t dance in the garden. It doesn’t say he did, but I’d imagine it to be the case. What was the music? Maybe the song birds. Only God knows. But since then, dancing has got a bad rap. Literally. I really don’t understand why unless Matthew 11: 15-19 is an indication. 

[15] He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. [16] But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, [17] And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. [19] The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Religion! Always a sour note in life’s song. Far be it from any of the religious tribe to dance. They are far too “dignified” (aka dead) for that. Regardless of what those in the Spirit do, the dead will make light or evil of it. They did in Jesus’ day, and they do in ours. Judgement abounds in the church setting. 

Do I think we should dance in the church. No. It’s not that I would mind if someone did (so long it was of the Spirit’s leading) But the problem is there are always those who find the need for showmanship. And while my Dad was of a meek and gentle spirit, not everyone is. But from Christ’s own words he acknowledged the deadening of the religious and it was not good. 

Dancing is only mentioned 37 times in scripture both old and new. So from that I think we can surmise  that it was not be be a major part of worship. But we also should not be shocked if it happens! 

Don’t be Stupid

PSALM 149 [3] Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. [4] For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. [5] Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

The song of salvation! Of what joy those words bring to my heart. I understand my Dad’s dance. I understand it so well I got me some clogging shoes a few months ago. I hope to learn how to clog just for the fun of it. (Not in worship… although I might praise Him while I dance,) especially if I don’t collapse from a heart attack!  But what struck me as pertinent to our blog today from this verse is the fact that David said God would beautify the meek.  What my Dad did in that little country church was a beautiful thing. He was overcome by the Spirit with gladness in his heart for the salvation Christ had afforded him. Like me, my Dad was in his 30’s when he accepted Christ as his Savior. There was a lot of water (and sin) under our bridges. We knew what God had saved us from and we are grateful! I believe it was because of Dad’s “meekness” that God was glorified in that moment. He wasn’t behaving out of control (stupidly). He was in the perfect control of the Spirit of God. 

Don’t be Silenced

PSALM 149 [6] Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; [7] To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; [8] To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; [9] To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

It’s an honor to be a mouthpiece of the Lord. I was born for that! My Dad used to call me Charlie because of a character played by Bernadette Peters, who was a loud mouthed woman on a sitcom back in the day. For some reason, I reminded Dad of her. Go figure!  But Dad may have seen in me (at least I hope) the potential that Christ would get a hold of this mouth and use it for His glory. 

On this Father’s Day weekend, I’m so proud to be the daughter of the meek Gene Paul Hardway. But, I’m even prouder to be the child of the King along with my earthly Father. I hope you enjoyed this memory as much as I did, and I pray you have a blessed Father’s Day!

Posted in Bible Journaling, Life Inspiration

Rest Defined and Learned

Rest: The manipulation and deception of the body into a position where exhaustion takes over with a result of sitting still or falling asleep, only to arise in a state of guilt and frustration later for the “wasted time.”

That’s my warped definition of rest.

It’s only been lately that I’ve come to the realization about how very little I rest. And by rest I don’t mean my warped definition, but that of the Lord Jesus Christ who said in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Prior to that verse He had chastised cities where He had done great works, but there was no repentance (vs. 21-24) But then His conversation turns to those for whom He has compassion, the wise and the prudent,”  who God has hidden things from as though they were babes; those who still don’t understand who God is but are willing to learn. (vs. 27)

I don’t really consider myself to be the “wise and the prudent.” But I guess that I am from the standpoint that I seek to know God deeper, past the infant state that I feel that I’m in most of the time. And often times I can’t get to that deeper relationship because I’m just too tired from life. And so God understands and gives me this verse to chew on today, and to experience it once again, but this time, to go deeper into understanding “rest.”

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  (vs. 29-30)

Take my yoke… attach myself to Christ in such a manner that the two of us are working together as one.  The same work that I’ve put upon myself, alone, believing that to be the best idea. Yes, I am that foolish mortal.

God desires to bare that load and give us rest even in the midst of the labor. But we must first yoke ourselves with Him so that every step we take, in every day, we take it together.  Allowing Him to shoulder the load that drives us to exhaustion.  When I do the dishes, He is there, When I make the bed, He is there. When I write, sing, serve, He is there!

Not only allowing Him to shoulder the load, but getting so close, as we’re bonded together through the yoke, that we begin to witness and understand the character of Christ. He’s not a slave driver; He is meek (humble) and lowly (common and simple) willing to take on and share in even the menial tasks of our lives so that our lives can be better.  God, the Creator of all the earth, wants to walk with His creation just as He did in the days of Adam, but now through the Holy Spirit.

What must it have been like when Adam walked in the garden with God? No doubt an awesome, enlightening experience. We have that opportunity, but we’re too busy to realize He’s there, waiting to shoulder our load, our every burden, and talk us through.

I am a critter lover. I have two dogs, a cat, and 10 chickens. They each have their own personalities and agendas. The dogs live to serve, the cat lives to be served and the chickens live to be fed and to feed me (eggs). They all depend upon me, but they’re not all grateful. However, the one thing they all have in common is they understand the need for rest.  Critters don’t overthink anything, they just do what they’re created to do.

I get that they don’t have souls, they’re not burdened for the lost, nor do they really care if I have money in the bank. They don’t understand any of that. But they understand the simplicity of the Creator. The humble and lowly Jesus.

If we are to live our lives being more like Him, we, or at least I, need to stop overthinking life because it overwhelms my soul and robs me of rest.

Jesus knew that. That’s why He wrote those verses. That’s why He made me a critter lover, so that I could see Him through His creation.

Posted in Life Inspiration, Uncategorized

Rest, Reasoning and Relaxation with God’s Word

chick ponderingEvery time I pick up God’s precious word it speaks to me. Sometimes like a child in Sunday School class who wants to tell you everything that happened at the house this week. They need to catch you up on the latest and greatest; and other times in commentator form… slow and detailed. And then I realize, no, that’s how I read it. And guess which one I’m apt to be reading as. There’s nothing usually slow and detailed about me. More likely than not I’m a “Let’s skip to the chase” kind of gal.

Skipping details can, if you’re not cautious, gets you into trouble. It may not be coincidence that fast talkers are slow learners.

My morning began about 4:30 a.m. as I lay in bed with my mind rushing to and fro like an intersection at rush hour. I need to get this done and this done and this done. I want to do this, but I have to make sure this is done first and wait… I’ll have company this morning so… GET UP!!!

So I do.

I brewed the coffee, picked a couple of tunes on the guitar, worked out a fiddle lesson for my niece Phebe, ate some cereal and settled in on the couch. And when I finally stopped trying to write my day for me, God said… shssshhh. Let’s just be still for a minute and so I was…

And there in the stillness I heard the songs I’d been practicing lately

Peace be Still

There is a Time

Come as You Are

Each one of those songs preaches a sermon to my heart, each one has made me shed tears. This morning His word brings them together. The world is chaos. Between the political mayhem and the arrogance of anti-God rhetoric on the television my mind is often tumultuous; and that’s not good for someone who’s mind already runs like a race horse. I feel like I’m about to wreck!

PEACE BE STILL

Mark 4:39 

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

I love the song, I love the scripture, and I love the Lord Jesus who calms the chaos in my mind with just three small words. Oh what power there is those words though! No matter the turmoil Isis and other political parties try to stir they cannot un-calm the peace of God. They do not have the power over the ocean.  They can stir no more than a puddle. Thank you Jesus for that peace this morning!

THERE IS A TIME

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

The seasons work in perfect harmony for creation. In West Virginia we’re in Autumn, the leaves have fallen to the ground and the earth is gray and barren around our home. But if I just wait a few more months, the earth will come back to life and a new season will begin. This chaos that we experience on earth… it too is a season.  The arrogance and anti-God rhetoric will die and God’s purpose will be fulfilled.

We read of a city John saw coming down from God out of Heaven,
The walls are of Jasper, the gates are of Pearl, the streets of pure gold;
He tells of a pure river of life that flows from the throne,
And after we’ve reached that beautiful place we’ll know as we’re known

Lyrics from “Let’s meet by the River”

COME AS YOU ARE

My new guitar piece that I’m working on is a song by Crowder called “Come as you Are.” Oh my stars… the lyrics to this song are just beyond! I don’t know of anyone in my life who’s not been broken in one form or another, but recently my heart breaks in two as I see the anguish on the faces and I know that I have the answer but they refuse to listen. They’re trying to fix their own life, scrubbing and buffing the fenders of the car until they shine, not noticing that the engine is missing. They want their lives to look perfect to the world, and to the world it just might… but God looks inside. And what He sees is an empty space that He longs to fill and provide the peace that they desire, but aren’t willing. And I am not of this world… so I see it too. That’s the spiritual discernment that God affords His children.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I am so grateful to serve a God Who is Able to

Calm my storm

Give reason for ever season

And give rest to the weary…