Get Your Dance On!

Aside from subjecting our family cats to dance lessons, my sistie and I used to host dance parties. Granted, we were the only two at these events, but we would dance for hours and it was a blast.

Our underground palace consisted of the colorful rumpus room and a stack of our favorite vinyl, played on the massive home stereo. We were in our jive element and nothing kept us from bustin' out 'the moves'.

Whether it was the beat of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', or the smooth sounds of The Bee Gees' 'Saturday Night Fever', we got lost in the thump of the blasting music. Dancing fixed everything that seemed to be lacking in our lives at the time.

Sometimes, I feel that way today. In fact, one day last week had me standing at a photocopier doing the same mundane task I had been doing for weeks. The only difference being, one of my favorite songs from the eighties came on the radio.

Next thing I knew, my head was bobbing and my lips syncing to the familiar tune. I so, desperately, wanted to bust out in dance but considered the consequences of living down a public diss and decided against doing so.

It's incredible how impactful music can be. Simply putting together a sequence of notes, played by specific instruments, can lend to an external freedom of expression brought on by an inner explosion of emotion.

Dancing and music have been around a long time, with no sign of fading out. In fact, music and dancing date back to biblical times. Yes, you read correctly and it delights me to know that dancing and music were embraced, even back then.

The people who played music were key individuals. Many of them playing ahead of armies going to battle. Playing music on the way to fighting an enemy was considered a form of praise to God for a victory not yet obtained.

Seems a bit unorthodox but there is a book in the Bible, which is the Word of God, called Joshua. Joshua was a prophet called by God to take down a city called Jericho. How on earth would that happen?

Well, with one small group of people marching around Jericho and the playing of a single trumpet, this unsuspecting clan shouted after the trumpet played, and the walls came down. Talk about the power of music!

God loves an uplifting tune. He created it, after all, by creating us. Singing, dancing and making music in the right context lightens the heart, brings joy to others, and fills the air with a sweetness that will leave a smile on anyone's face. So, get your dance on.

Encouragement for the week:

If you're a bit down and out, sometimes the right song can make all the difference.

If you are a Christian reading this, you know that God enjoys a good ditty. He especially loves to hear us praise Him through song and music. Take some time to listen to and jive with your favorite uplifting song.

If you are not a Christian reading this, you can look for Jesus and you will find Him. He can also be found in the sweetest of music that soothes your hurting heart. Sweet girl, you can open your heart to Jesus today.