As we enter a new season in the history of CDF USA, it is appropriate for us to discern the Lord’s voice and know His heart as we seek to fulfill the vision He has given to CDF USA. Whether you are a new member of our fellowship, or have been with us a long time, we are honored by your presence and excited for you to be an active part of what God is doing in our network.

            I believe God is divinely shifting CDF USA from merely being a Christian dance/movement organization to becoming a national and globally reaching agent that empowers believers with physical and spiritual ministry skills, disciples peoples and nations to Jesus, and prepares His Bride for the 2^nd coming of Christ. This shift will require us to become believers who are desperate for His presence, continually transformed into the image of Jesus, carriers of His light & glory, empowered with signs & wonders, agents of the gospel message, and facilitators of reconciliation in the earth. God’s desire is to anoint us with a prophetic spirit upon our ministry gifts and propel us into leading the “last great harvest of souls” before the 2nd coming of Christ. This requires that we rise up with a forerunner spirit and be active in evangelism, serving the poor/needy, and local/world missions through our various ministry gifts.

In order to fulfill this mandate, we will need to focus on a few significant things:

PRAYER: God is calling us to begin a fervent seeking of HIM through prayer (and fasting) to receive HIS vision as He imparts it to us corporately, and expresses it creatively through the various leaders and members of our organization. Without a corporate understanding of God’s will, purposes, strategy, and timing, CDF USA will not be able to be a relevant expression of the nature and image of Christ, nor will we be able to carry His presence to all nations and cover the earth with His glory. This means we will have to begin to see prayer as the real work that goes forth before our ministry gifts are engaged. It also means we must esteem God’s voice & presence above our own ideas & programs, and expand God’s kingdom through our ministry endeavors as opposed to building individual ministries & empires.

RELATIONAL UNITY: God is calling us to a whole new understanding of what it means to walk in unity with one another. First and foremost, it means we must be walking in unbroken fellowship with Him, and consistently demonstrating the quality of humility that Christ modeled for us. Secondly, it means that we must value our entire body of members & leaders, and see each person as essential in fulfilling the vision of CDF USA. To accomplish this, we must be committed to frequent, gracious, and honorable communication with one another as we seek to be of one mind, one heart, and one accord. (Note ~ we have already set into motion some key essentials that will foster greater communication, collaboration, and organization among the leaders of our fellowship.)

PRIESTHOOD MENTALITY: God is calling us to live out the values of Matthew 5, 6, & 7 as we make disciples of all nations and restore our spiritual responsibility as New Testament priests. We are entering a season where teaching, modeling, and performing the responsibilities of a priest will become a “trademark” of all CDF USA activity. This includes, but is not limited to, an experiential understanding of (1) offering sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, (2) being a peculiar people who model lifestyles of consecration unto God that are free from carnal hindrances, (3) being clothed spiritually and physically in the holiness, beauty, and glory of God, (4) daily receiving His anointing and sanctification process, (5) ushering/carrying His presence into all realms of ministry & work, (6) continuously honing ministry gifts that are skillful and excellent, and (7) serving local & abroad communities with tangible acts of ministry, evangelism, and mercy to those in spiritual, physical, and emotional need.

            Not one of us is capable of achieving this mandate alone! We need each other to answer this call! However, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Phil.4:13) and who makes us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in His sight (Heb.13:21)!!!

Blessings to you in abunDANCE, Dawn Churchill

CDF USA, National Network Coordinator

www.cdfusa.us

Already there is so much the Lord has been speaking to me, working in my heart, and giving me revelation concerning.  I doubt I can share them in their entirety because so much is still “in the process”.  While I cannot share the results of a completed work, I can express the portions He has begun in me.  Phil. 1:6 He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Several years ago I spent about 18 months in Psalm 51.  When that season of my life was over, I felt assured that the Lord had completed something profound in my heart.  Yet I have found myself back in that same scripture passage again…  In fact, I have found myself back in several scriptures, and several books, that I have read before many times over.  Yet this time, I feel I am gaining new “eyes to see and ears to hear” what His Spirit is saying and experiencing a greater work than I did before.  I guess I would liken it to “another level” the Lord is taking me to.  For me, “another level” is always a deeper place of commitment, submission, and humility.

In Hosea 2:14-23 the Lord gives a picture of how He takes us to “another level”.  He allures us (with His love) into a place of solitude, away from lesser distractions, where He strips us of our idols, pride, and rebellion.  He deepens (or restores) us to a place of loving Him only, as He shows us His mercy, love, pity.  He becomes our husband and best friend.  This is where I am living…

Ezekial 11:18-20 “They will return to me and remove all their vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.”  This is where I am living…

Ezekial 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  This is where I am living…

If you are living a surrendered life to Him and find yourself in a season of “living in the wilderness”, you will experience inner struggle and turmoil.  God is actually wrestling with you to destroy your flesh (its wants, cravings, and desires) so you can be more effective for His glory.  This is a place or season of sacrifice and self-emptying.  Idols in your heart are destroyed, death to your sinful flesh, self-will is crucified, and whole-hearted surrender to God’s will.  This is where I am living…

Marilyn Howshall says “Without a complete surrender of my life, I am without a true salvation.  For faith is dead unless accompanied by true obedience through the fellowship of the cross.  This means I must relate to the cross and so totally identify with the self-denial that it implies, that I will truly be conformed into the image of God’s Son.  Crucified with Christ is not merely an inner spiritual truth, but an actual experience, not only in relation to the world and its temptations and obvious sins, but also in relation to my will, desires, motives, and cravings.”  This is where I am living…

Marilyn Howshall also says “There is a cry going forth into all the land.  Preachers and evangelists alike are proclaiming an urgent message.  As in the days of John the Baptist, the chosen ones are being called to turn to the Lord in repentance and total surrender, in preparation for His 2^nd coming.  God is shaking the personal lives of those who love Him and is demanding a greater separation and devotion unto Him so that His church, His bride becomes fit for use in the last great harvest before His return.  God is asking those who love Him and who earnestly seek Him to know Him, to draw away from worldly ways in order to be part of what the Holy Spirit is requiring of this generation.  Shallow Christianity is no longer an option.  God is restoring the power of the Gospel through those (and only through those) who will surrender totally and unconditionally to Him.  It is essential in this hour, for the Body of Christ to learn the mystery of the pure gospel – the gospel that sets us free to live above our circumstances and above sinful temptations, the gospel that takes us and keeps us in the very presence of a holy God with His wonders, power, and glory manifested in our daily lives.”  This is where I am living…

I believe that America has become a modern-day Sodom & Gomorrah.  How can we live in such a declined culture and yet not be of it?  The only way to do so is to live a fasted lifestyle of worship, prayer, and submission so that every time you step into the world, you are clothed with His light, glory, and power that brings healing, deliverance, and repentance.  This is where I am learning to live…

I have often thought this…maybe I need to LIVE in the wilderness permanently and only come out temporarily to do the work He assigns me?  I don’t know if it is possible to live in such a state of concentrated aloneness with Him?  But if it is possible, I need to find a way to do so!  Maybe then I would resemble Song of Solomon 8:5 and 3:6  (paraphrased) “Who is this coming out of the wilderness leaning on her beloved?  Perfumed with the smoke and aroma of worship, prayer, and fasting…smelling like pomegranates, precious fruit, henna, spikenard, saffron, calamus, cinnamon, frankincense, aloe, and myrrh.  It is the Bride of Christ – reflecting His glory!”

This is my heart’s desire…to reflect His glory and image…not just do a bunch of wonderful things in His name.  I am reminded of three messages spoken to the churches of Ephesus, Sardis, and Laodicea in the book of Revelation.  In all honesty, these passages “haunt me” to a certain degree…I don’t want to stand before the Lord someday and have Him speak the same charges against me.  All three churches were great in works and service to the Lord…YET…they had forsaken their first love (Jesus), were lukewarm in their devotion to God, and had a reputation for being alive yet were actually dead.  Maybe they were not as hypocritical as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who honored God with their lips, but whose hearts were far from Him (Isa.29:13, Matt. 15:8, Mark 7:6).  But it is possible that these three churches (like many of us) were not in a place of possessing a “broken heart and a contrite spirit”.

I have learned that this (a broken heart and contrite spirit) is the ONLY sacrifice which God esteems above all others, to have genuine love for God is counted better than all sacrifices or external parts of worship/ministry. Mark 12:33 says to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself” – this is more than (more highly esteemed) than ALL offerings and sacrifices!  Isaiah 66:1-2 “The Lord says, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: Where is the house/home (dwelling place) you will build for me? Where will my resting place be (for My presence)? This is the one I esteem (says the Lord): he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.”  This is where I am learning to live…

My eyes have become open to the fact that this is the only sacrifice that truly matters – a broken spirit and a contrite heart.  All the ministry that I can accomplish for Christ, without this one thing, would be meaningless and without eternal value. God is much more interested in what He is doing IN me than what He is doing THROUGH me.  And that if what He is doing THROUGH me, is not ignited by what He is doing IN me, then I am ministering out of my flesh, which amounts to wood, hay, and stubble.  This is where I am living…

So if you were to ask me what I have been doing in the last month or so during my sabbatical, I would say…”Living in the wilderness of solitude with Jesus.”  I have this promise:  “The LORD will guide me always; He will satisfy my needs in a sun-scorched land (desert/wilderness) and will strengthen my frame. I will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”  Isa. 58:11

Kneeling at His feet, gazing upon His beauty ~ Dawn Churchill

I greet you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.  I pray all is well with you.  I am endeavoring to travel overseas on a missions and teaching trip to Trinidad & Tobago in August of this year.  The purpose of this trip is to attend the upcoming International Worship & Arts Conference – MAJESTY 2009, sponsored by Evangelist Sarah Byrd of Chicago, IL.  I will be one of the facilitators and speakers for this event.  I solicit not only your prayers, but also request your assistance in a monetary contribution toward the expenses of the trip.

The vision of MAJESTY 2009 is to impact and inspire dancers, movement artists, and all worshipers with practical techniques and biblical teachings in the arts for excellence in ministry, deeper experiences in worship, and for purposeful godly living.  There will be daily teaching sessions and evening worship services, as well as  outreach to an orphanage, youth prison facility, and possibly a women’s prison facility.

I am asking family, friends, loved ones, and ministry partners to assist me in this endeavor.  Whatever you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated.  I thank you in advance for your assistance.  Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at Dawndances@aol.com or (309) 360-5878.  May God richly bless you for your gracious support.

NOTE – In order to cover airfare and entrance/exit fees into/out of the country, I need to raise approzimately $700.  My goal is to raise all needed resources by June 15, 2009.  As I am responsible for purchasing my flight, all donations should be made payable to Dawn Churchill.  Donors will receive a tax donation record in September 2009.

Sincerely,

Dawn Churchill

127 Argo St.

Washington, IL 61571

CLICK HERE TO DONATE:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4306494

Blessings to you in abunDANCE!

This is a personal Word from the Lord spoken to me a few weeks ago in the place of prayer. Originally I thought it was meant for me and me only, but as I have meditated on it, I feel led to share it with anyone who considers themself to be a leader in the body of Christ. Normally, embarrassment and shame would prevent me from sharing such a personal word, considering the corrective nature of His exhortation to me, but He “won’t let me go” until I obey…

• Will YOU become the leader I have called you to become?

• Will YOU become the leader I have created you to be?

• Will you build My kingdom and My house, in My ways, in My timing, and according to My will?

• Will you spend more time on your knees praying and seeking Me for My wisdom, direction, power, and glory than you spend in actual ministry performance and duties?

• Don’t you know that the fruit produced in My ministry through you is a direct reflection of (and in proportion to) the amount of prayer you engage in?

• Let you first priority be restoring, establishing, and fortifying My presence as a present tangible reality in your heart, your home, your congregation, your ministries, your city.

• Stay on your face UNTIL YOU HAVE HEARD MY VOICE and truly understand what My Spirit is speaking to you, to your ministries, to your congregation, to your region, to your nation.

• Refrain from (restrain yourself) from all ministry work…put a stop to all ministry endeavors…until those duties are in response to (and only in response to) what you have heard from Me in the place of fervent prayer.

• Don’t allow your ministry work to originate from any other place than the Throne Room of My direction!

We appreciate your honesty in not allowing this article to be copied or reproduced without written consent by Dawn Churchill. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without expressed written permission by Dawn Churchill.

Dancing With Prophetic Purpose

Before you begin to choreograph a song to be ministered in your church or community……defining the PURPOSE of the song you wish to dance is very important. And before I delve into the PURPOSE of the song you have chosen……let’s discuss how to choose a song for ministry in dance.

There are dozens of songs I have worshiped/danced in my living room, and never danced in a public setting. As a dance MINISTER, it is my responsibility to hear the voice/heart of God, and ask Him to reveal to me WHICH songs I am to minister to His people. I have a prophetic responsibility to minister songs that He wishes to speak to the people of my church, or my community. And what He is speaking to me personally, may not always be what He wishes to speak to the congregation.

And so, I encourage you to seek His face in prayer, and ask Him to reveal to you WHICH songs He would have you dance. Once you know which song to dance, and God has confirmed it to you, you next need to know WHY He wishes you to dance that song. Often times, the WHY is self-explanatory, in that the message speaks clearly what He is saying. But sometimes, you may need to pray and hear God’s “heartbeat” as to what specifically He wishes to “say” through your dance. And this is where your responsibility to pray/intercede for your congregation comes into play. Often times, their hearts may need to be prepared to “hear” the message you are to dance. Spending time alone individually, and corporately as a team, interceding for your congregation, that their hearts will be tender and receptive to the message of the song you are dancing, is vitally important. Next, once you know WHY God has chosen this song, you need to know WHEN to dance the song. Many times God has given me, or my team, a song that we danced shortly after choreography was finished. But also, MANY times, I (we) have needed to wait on God’s perfect timing to dance a song He laid on our hearts. Sometimes this is because it took a season of prayer to prepare both our hearts to minister the song, and prepare the congregation’s hearts to receive it. These things can only be discerned in the place of prayer, and confirmed in the mouths of 2-3 witnesses, so I encourage you to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Now, when you know WHICH song, WHY, and WHEN to dance it…..next you need to know WHAT is the general content/message of the song? What scripture(s) is the song based on? How have those scriptures impacted your life, and the lives of the dancers on your team? Taking time as a team, and as individuals, to meditate on those scriptures is another vital aspect of preparing yourselves to minister this song. I suggest that you meditate, pray through, worship with, and dance to those scriptures…..both alone by yourself, and as a team. When those scriptures become Rhema Words to you…..it will revolutionize your choreography……I promise!

Next, HOW does God wish to communicate this song through movement? Seek Him as to what kind of dancing would be appropriate to convey the message of this song with precision. This will give direction to your choreography. Do you need 1 dancer, 2 dancers, and ensemble, or a whole team? Do you need pageantry aides, billow cloths, banners, or other worship instruments? And what dance garments would enhance the message of this song? As well, how will this song fit into the overall flow of the service you will dance it? How does that affect whether your dance should be done at the beginning, middle, or end of the service?

When I am dancing a solo piece, I take all these aspects into consideration and pray, pray, pray about them. When I am leading our dance ministry team in choreographing a song, we go through this PURPOSE PREPARATION as a group, delving into each aspect as a team. It is crucial that ALL the dancers on your team know WHY God has chosen this song, WHEN He wants you to dance it, WHAT He wants to speak through the song, and HOW He wishes to communicate that message through movement. If you make this a process a priority in your rehearsals, the fruit from your ministry will be lasting in your congregation, and will give PURPOSE to your dance ministry team.

Most of all, God wants to speak a “now word”, a prophetic word, through us as we worship and minister in dance. He wishes to convey the desires of His heart, and draw all men’s hearts to His. And He wishes to do that through us! How awesome a responsibility we have to partner with Him to see His purposes done through our dances!

As a last note, below are some general purposes of dance in the church, and your choreographed dances will fall into one or more of these categories. Take some time to study them with your dance ministry team, and continue to pray, pray, pray!

Purposes of Dance in Church

to Praise/Worship the Lord

Psalm 149:3, Psalm 150:4, Psalm 95:6

to Lead in Joy & Triumph

Psalm 68:25, Exodus 15:19-20

to Usher in the Presence of God

2 Samuel 6:3-5, 12-17

to Minister/Prophesy the Heart of God

Ezekial 4:4-8

to Preach the Word of God

Isaiah 52:7, Isaiah 61:1-3

• We appreciate your honesty in not allowing this article to be copied or reproduced without written consent by Dawn Churchill. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without expressed written permission by Dawn Churchill.

• This article, thoughtfully and prayerfully composed, is a combination of lessons I have learned over the last 18 years in dance ministry. I pray it provides you with encouraging suggestions, creative ideas, and disciplines of wisdom. While much of this article’s content contains my thoughts, feelings, and opinions…I pray that some of what is shared here will serve as proverbial guidance for you as you seek His will.

Proverbs 1:2-5 For attaining wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight; for acquiring adisciplined and prudent life; doing what is right, just,and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledgeand discretion to the young – let the wise listen andadd to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

• To dance or not to dance? Solo, that is…Therein lies the question. The first place we must begin in a discussion about solo dance ministry, is whether God has called you to minister ALONE in dance. We are ALL called to dance alone in our prayer closets, in loving adoration at His feet. But has He called you to minister in dance publicly as a solo ambassador and servant for Him? Only the Lord can truly reveal your calling as a solo dance minister, so my first suggestion is to seek Him in prayer and ask Him to confirm your calling in the mouths of 2-3 witnesses. Solo dance ministers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and with various technical (or non-technical) backgrounds. One thing I can say for certain however, they all have that “certain something”, that sets them apart as anointed dance ministers, that not all worship dancers possess. While difficult to put into words, I will try to describe that “certain something”…

• They grasp and hold a congregation’s attention ~ whether technically trained or not, anointed solo dance ministers have an amazing ability to grip the hearts of people and keep their attention through the entirety of a song. Their ability to communicate through movement, along with God’s powerful presence upon them, allows them to minister the message of a song with precision.

• They communicate God’s heart and usher in His presence ~ there is always a compelling release of God’s anointing and a fullness of His presence as these anointed dance ministers express the heart of God through movement. Congregants feel the nearness of His touch upon their hearts and experience breakthrough in areas of personal need (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual).

• They minister in dance prophetically ~ proclaiming a “timely word in due season” through movement that brings exhortation, edification, and comfort. Also, anointed solo dance ministers humbly bring attention to Him whose almighty power dispels works of darkness.

• Do these points describe YOU??? If you’re not sure, ask someone you respect and whose opinion you value as wise and discerning. He will willingly confirm your calling as a solo dance minister (assuming that is His calling upon you) when you ask in faith. So ask!!! Assuming the Lord has already confirmed your calling as a solo dance minister, the remaining points I will address here are matters of discipline and ministry focus for you to consider…

• Training ~ I suggest at least 3 full years of disciplined study & training in your chosen area of movement (dance, flags, mime, etc.) It is soooo important to achieve mastery of basic movement disciplines so you will attain proper posture, alignment, balance, control, etc. As well, when you minister alone, you need a WIDE variety of movements to draw from to communicate the message of the song you have chosen. And so, you MUST increase your movement vocabulary and continually hone your skills.

• Continued Skill Training ~ I have learned the hard way, at times, that I must continually hone my skills as a dancer, even those skills I have previously mastered. “If you don’t use it, you lose it” is such an appropriate lesson to consider. I find I must continue to practice and/or take lessons for personal strength and agility, even though I teach lessons all the time. Muscles become weak without consistent use, so it is imperative that you rehearse those skills you have already mastered.

• Theatrics ~ Since you alone carry the weight of expressing the message of your song, in order to GRASP and KEEP your congregation’s attention, you need excellent “theatrical” expression. This means you need strong facial expressions, body language that “speaks loudly”, graceful poise, and innovative movement. The person in the back of the sanctuary needs to both see and feel what you are communicating through movement.

• Using pageantry aides ~ Especially if you have a limited movement vocabulary (and assuming you feel God has anointed you to minister as a soloist), I suggest using various pageantry aides (cloths, streamers, flags, etc.) to enhance the message of your song. Sometimes movement alone will not convey the message of a song with precision, and therefore a visual aide is necessary.

• Use ALL of your dance space ~ I still make the mistake of dancing towards the front of the platform through much of my solo dances, and not utilizing ALL of the space available to me – ugh! Make good use of ALL the space you have…and face various directions throughout your choreography…facing downstage, upstage, right stage, left stage, and all points in between. This ensures that EVERYONE will be able to see your movement clearly and will avoid that “flat” view of only facing forward.

• Should I use my own choreography? ~ Unless you feel the Lord leading you to use someone else’s choreography, I suggest using your own, so that the expression comes from YOUR heart/soul. If you use someone else’s choreography, you MUST internalize it and “make it your own”, altering it “here and there” with your own particular “style” that God has anointed you with. This requires a process of TIME in prayer and rehearsal.

• How long do I prepare for each song? ~ I suggest at least 3 months of prayer, worship, scripture meditation, choreography composition, and rehearsal to adequately prepare to minister a song alone. While the Lord may lead you otherwise ~ spending much longer, or slightly shorter, periods of preparation ~ know that sufficient preparation is necessary even for extremely talented dancers. (NOTE: this point is probably the most important topic I can address in this article…for a fuller expression of ministry preparation, please make reference to my mini ebook called Become a House of Prayer ~ Dance Ministry Fueled by a Spirit of Prayer) http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• Ministering a “vertical” song ~ When the Lord leads you to minister a song that expresses worship or prayer that is “vertical” to Him alone, you MUST bring your congregation “into” your personal worship experience. If you don’t, they will simply be watching you worship. It is essential to involve the congregation in some way (through eye contact and gestures directed towards them) so they become part of your “vertical” song of worship or prayer. This is where even a talented, anointed dancer can lose a congregation’s attention and create a “wall” between him/her and the congregation.

• How do I avoid redundant or repetitive movement? ~ This is where increasing your movement vocabulary becomes absolutely essential! If you have mastered only a few movement disciplines, you will have a very limited amount of ways to creatively communicate the message God has anointed you to express. This is why continued skill training is so important…

• How long is too long of a song? ~ I suggest no more than 4-5 minutes when ministering ANY song, either solo or in a group. Unless you use a large amount of creativity, and have sufficient talent & stamina to express the message of a long song, you may lose your congregation’s attention and defeat God’s purpose for your dance. Knowing when to cut or fade a song is absolutely necessary. Bringing in extra dancers, to put an “exclamation points” on parts of your song that climax, is a wonderful way to enhance a solo.

• Do I dance the song in my prayer closet only? ~ Discerning God’s will in the place of prayer is soooo necessary when choosing a song to minister alone. There are many, many songs I have danced in my prayer closet ONLY, because they were messages God was speaking to me personally. These songs were NOT His message to my church body, and while they ministered to me in a very personal way, they would not have had the same impact on my congregation had I ministered them in dance.

• I am certain there are many more topics I could address in sharing choreography and ministry suggestions for solo dance ministers, I will conclude with this thought…through prayerful and disciplined preparation, the result of your solo ministry, will be written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3)

Blessings to you in abunDANCE!  www.DawnChurchill.com

• As a worship dancer, I would imagine that II Samuel 6:14-15 is a familiar passage of scripture to you?  Most Christian dancers have studied this passage at one time or another as a means of understanding the type of extravagant worship that God desires through our dancing.  And while we will look at this passage as it stands alone…there is a much deeper sense of what the Bible depicts here than merely King David dancing before the Lord exuberantly.  God is showing us the depth of cost David (and the entire nation of Israel) paid in order to restore the presence of God to the tabernacle and to their city.  

• II Samuel 6:14-15……David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.  

• According to the Strong’s Concordance, David is found whirling and leaping before the Lord with all his might (strength, force, boldness, power, majesty, and praise) while he and the entire nation of Israel ushered the ark of the covenant (representing God’s presence) into Jerusalem with shouts and the sounding of trumpets that made a clamor so thunderous it could “split the ear”.  Surely this passage alone reveals that God not only desires reverent honor & humility in worship, but also bold, thunderous praise in awe of His majesty.  

• I want to live before Him in such a way that not only do others sense the sweetness of my adoration for Him……but also, in such a way as to make a roaring praise about His majesty so that everyone takes notice of HIM!!!  Not only in dancing, but in day-to-day life itself, I want to lift up a shout of praise that boasts about ALL that HE is!  And in doing so, I have no need to remain dignified in the eyes of others ~ if I appear to be a fool who is fanatically in love with Jesus, then so be it!!!  

• David expressed this same thought in II Samuel 6:21-22 as he responds to his wife’s sarcastic criticism……I will celebrate before the LORD.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.  

• By the time the ark of the covenant had made its looonnnggg journey to Jerusalem, David did not care who saw him worshiping, nor what they might think of him as he did so.  He was elated that finally the presence of God was being restored to its rightful place in the tabernacle, and in the city where he lived.  

• Does this describe how YOU feel about having the tangible presence of God in your heart, your home, your church, your city, your nation?  Are you willing to be a “fool” in the eyes of others, giving no regard to what others think about you as long as God is pleased?  Are you more focused on being pleasing to God or pleasing to man?  What do you desire more ~ influence with God or influence with man?  And to what extent are you willing to love Him extravagantly, no matter what the cost?

To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• The altar of incense is important understanding for us as worship dancers, because our first and foremost purpose in dancing is to offer a fragrance of worship and prayer unto the Lord through our dance.  While worship dancing has many purposes, including preaching the gospel, releasing bondages, healing wounds, etc… offering genuine worship unto the Father is our utmost goal before all others.

• Exodus 30:1-10 describes the golden altar of incense in Moses’ tabernacle.  Upon this altar, fragrant incense was burned before the Lord every morning & evening, accompanied by the burnt offering/sacrifice.  This altar of incense was overlaid with pure gold and was the last piece of furniture in the Holy Place, directly before the veil separating the Holy of Holies.

• An altar is a place of sacrifice, submission, and worship.  The gold which overlaid this altar had been refined by fire and was free from impurities – just as our worship dancing should be.  The fragrant incense that was burnt on this altar was always accompanied by a sacrifice – a death of flesh.  This type of worship occurred twice a day, every day!

• Incense in the Bible represents both worship and prayer.  Revelations 8:3 and 5:8 refer to bowls of fragrant incense, and incense being burned on the golden altar, as the prayers of the saints.  Psalm 141:2 refers to our prayers being set before God as incense.  Luke 1:9 refers to the burning of incense accompanied by worshipers who were praying.  Countless times, through major & minor prophets, the Lord rebuked the nation of Israel for burning incense before pagan idols as worship.

• Clearly, the golden altar of incense is a picture of how God intends for us to enter into His presence – through worship & prayer.  He intends for us to enter into His presence daily (and often).  As we become “dancing” altars of incense, there should be a perpetual fragrance of worship and prayer ascending from our hearts unto God.  This fragrance of worship should be evident in our daily lives, and especially through our dancing.

To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• The age old question of whether you are a “Martha” or a “Mary”, truly determines how much of God’s Spirit flows through you for ministry to Him and for His kingdom.  Notice I said ministry TO HIM, and not just ministry FOR HIM.  Ministry to God is just as important as ministry for God, if not more so.  We often think of what we do FOR God as being most important, and having eternal value.

• Yet Jesus said in Luke 10:42 that Mary had chosen what was better, by sitting at His feet, rather than serving the meal as her sister Martha was.  Jesus knew that if Mary was filled to overflowing with His manifest presence, she would have all the energy, strength, and creativity she would need to do service for Him.  And it was this same Mary we find in John 12:1-8 who is anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume, as her sister Martha serves another meal.  When the disciples objected to Mary’s extravagant and “wasteful” display of adoration, Jesus told them to leave her alone.  To Jesus, the ministry Mary lavished on Him was better than any well prepared meal.

• The only place to receive an ongoing outpouring of His amazing love and creative genius, is kneeling at His feet as Mary did.  This place of humble submission, loving adoration, and complete dependence on God in prayer, worship, fasting, and meditation is where God meets with us face-to-face and reveals His glory to us.  As we are enraptured by His beauty, enthralled by His love, and exhilarated by His nearness…our hearts respond with greater passion for Him.  As we are overwhelmed by His awesomeness, and we begin to express our passion to Him through movement, we find ourselves dancing the visions God has placed in our minds/hearts.  We not only see heavenly movement, but we find that heavenly movement pouring out of us with creativity and zeal we have not known before!

• The position of kneeling is the only one that brings God’s weighty glory and presence…so to REMAIN in a state of humility, reverence, repentance, and dependence is the only way to experience His manifest presence.  (Gazing upon His beauty requires that we first bow down.)

 To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• Acts 7:49  Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.  Or where will my resting place be?  Isaiah 66:1  This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.  Where is the house you will build for me?  Where will my resting place be?

• What kind of “house” are we building for the Lord?  In our hearts?  In our homes?  In our churches?  In our communities?  In our nation?  Jesus said His Father’s house was to be a HOUSE OF PRAYER! (Mark 11:17; Matt. 21:13; Isa. 56:7)  According to I Corinthians 6:19, our physical bodies are the temple/house of the Holy Spirit.  So this means that we should be in a continual process of “building” a “house of prayer” in our hearts unto the Lord.  Oswald Chambers once said, “Prayer isn’t what you do before the work of God is accomplished – prayer IS the work.”  Sustained fervent prayer should be the critical foundation of our every breath, in our daily lives and in every ministry expression.

• I want to distinguish between different types of prayer for a moment.  There is devotional/worship prayer where we express our thanksgiving & adoration unto the Lord.  (This is the basis of all musical worship.)  There are prayers of petition where we seek God’s hands to meet our needs or give us wisdom/guidance.  There is reflective/meditating prayer where we sit at His feet, LISTEN to His voice, and ponder His words to our hearts.  There is intercessory prayer where we stand in the gap on behalf of those who are unsaved, hurting, or in need of God’s salvation, healing, or life intervention.  And there is a SEEKING type of prayer that pursues God’s face, His presence, and His will in ALL things.

• Sadly, prayer is one of the least significant activities in most American churches and many Christian homes.  Yet it is the ONE thing Jesus said His Father’s house should be.  That means that ABOVE ALL THINGS, our local churches and our very lives should be “houses of prayer”.  I would venture to say that the reason we experience such limited ministry impact on our communities and cities is because of a lack of fervent, perpetual prayer.

• I Chronicles 22:19   Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God.  Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the LORD.

• This scripture tells us to devote (give completely) our heart & soul (the totality of our inner nature containing our mind, intellect, will, motives, and deepest feelings) to seeking (following after, frequently pursuing, searching for in worship & prayer) the Lord.  This verse says to build (set up & establish) the sanctuary (place of holiness) of the Lord God (in our hearts, homes, church, etc).  It says we must do this so that (in order to) bring the ark of the covenant (where God’s presence dwells) into the temple (house) that is being built for the Name (reputation) of the Lord.

• How else can we do this but through PRAYER???  If we want our ministry to be fueled by His presence, we must first become individual “houses” of prayer.  It starts in our hearts and homes first.  It THEN extends to our ministry(s) and churches, as it overflows from us individually.  Eventually it should extend into our very communities, cities, and nation!

To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• Although I have MANY “favorite” scriptures in the Bible, my VERY FAVORITE one is…

• Psalm 27:4  One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and (insistently) require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord (in His presence) all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty (the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness) of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

• This scripture expresses completely the desire of my heart ~ to see Him face to face, behold His beauty, be surrounded by His presence, and sit at His feet!!!  And while we will have to wait until we reach heaven to experience the fullness of this reality, it is possible for us to have continual “glimpses of heaven” while we are here on earth.

• Have you ever heard someone speak something that really stuck with you for a long time?  Well, some time ago, I heard a teacher state that “you will become whatever you behold” and it changed my life!  The teacher went on to say that whatever receives the MOST of your attention is the thing(s) that will shape who you are.  For example, if you watch a lot of T.V., you will begin to mirror whatever you gaze upon.  Even if they programs you watch are “family friendly” and non-offensive…if they are filled with a lot of “nothingness” then THAT is what will fill your heart and eventually you will mirror that in your life.

• Wow!!!  As I said, this teacher’s comment had a profound effect on my life.  I began to consider EVERYTHING that I “gaze upon” (or listen to).  Not that I listen to, or watch, media that is unfruitful – but if I spend a large amount of my time fixing my gaze upon things that are worthless, then it will be reflected in my character, countenance, and ministry.

• Proverbs 4:25  Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

• Fixing our gaze upon Jesus is the only way we will know Him intimately, know His will for our lives, and be empowered with His presence for the ministry He has assigned to us.  But it requires TIME spent in His presence ~ more on that later…

To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html

• Becoming an effective dance minister is closely related to the depth of worship that a dancer walks in.  For that matter, this is true for ANYONE who ministers in ANY capacity.  Our love relationship with Jesus is the key to His ministry through us! 

• For those who serve in worship arts ministries (dancers, musicians, singers, etc.), our greatest duty & privilege is to lead others into His presence through worship.  Having the heart of a TRUE WORSHIPER is key to the ministry God has called us.  (John 4:23-24) 

• But having the heart of a TRUE worshiper begins with an understanding of God’s amazing, incredible, awesome love for us!  After many years of encouraging worship dancers to become more expressive in their dancing, I am convinced that those who display the most extravagant expressions of worship through dance, are those who have EXPERIENCED the LOVE of JESUS in a deep & powerful way, and daily maintain their LOVE RELATIONSHIP with HIM!  (In any performance ministry there are always other factors that hinder true expression of worship such as fear, timidity, self-consciousness, lack of confidence, etc.  But these tend to fade away when the worshiper’s heart is enraptured with passion for Him.) 

• It is a natural human response to reciprocate genuine love that is lavished upon us.  Think about a time when your parent, or spouse, or family member expressed their love for you in a deep & genuine way……were you able to remain unmoved by their love for you?  Could you contain your response of appreciation, gratitude, or reciprocated love?  I would venture to say “no”. 

• The same is true in our relationship with God!  The more deeply we become acquainted with Him, and grow in understanding of how CRAZY HE IS ABOUT US, the less we will be able to “contain our worship” and the more extravagant our expression of love for Him will become ~ and not just on Sunday morning!  It will “ooze out of us” like a flowing river! 

To read the entirety of this article and hear the audio teaching that accompanies it, please visit this link to order a Potpourri of Dance Ministry online Bible study class.  http://www.dawnchurchill.com/Dance-Ministry-Bible-Studies.html