Paneh Praise Dance and Mime Ministry E-Newsletter Archive - Year 2 (Dec 2006 - Oct 2007)

Down...the New Up
by Minister Stine McDonald

One of the things that the Holy Spirit has given us to minister at our Choreographer’s SeminarShop in January here in Los Angeles -- in addition to bringing in anointed choreographers -- is a powerful study on the Science of Dance.   We will touch on the laws of physics that govern movement!   God wants us to have an understanding of this to bring a greater vocabulary to our spirits so He has more to draw from when we begin creating a ministry piece together with Him.  So, we’ll be sprinkling in the principles or laws that govern dance throughout the day.

One of the laws we’ll talk about is the law that governs our lift. Whether the lift is a battement grand or a jete or someone actually lifting a dancer up  -- the law is the same. That primary law is sometimes referred to as “downward pressure”.

For example, let’s look at the simple releve, how is it truly accomplished with skill? What’s the first thing that we do to prepare for the releve after we have properly aligned our bodies? Do we go into plie? Yes, otherwise that would be eleve.  If we require momentum because we’re going to passe for example, then absolutely, we need the plie (which is of course the bending of the knee…I like that!).  Now, let’s look at the eleve, which is a rise from a flat position.  Let’s say we’re going to eleve from a nice tight fifth, we don’t go to plie  but we must still apply the law of downward pressure. How is that done? Muscles are engaged or squeezed -- the whole body is involved in this process (agreement is powerful during the rise) -- the ball of the foot is then pressed into the floor. A natural occurrence is that the heels rise.

Not only do your heels rise but you can stay up in that eleve (or elevated station) for as long as you designate because you started with the downward pressure that engaged the muscles! That is the KEY to an effective eleve and releve.  Obviously, as all good dance teachers will emphasize, your posture has to be in proper alignment or in order as well.

Likewise, in order to go up with some staying power in our lives and ministries, we’ve got to go down. Like the plie, we’ve got to bend our knees and honor our Great God in prayer and humility. We must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt us in due time (1 Pet 5:6).  Promotion truly comes from the Lord (Psalm 75:6 &7).

That downward pressure that comes from the enemy to depress or oppress must be used against him.  We need to let the pressure he’s putting on us cause us to gird up our loins and put on strength.  We may need to call the prayer warriors to come in agreement for our rise!  If the enemy is trying to depress you, particularly this time of year, it’s a signal in the spirit that it’s time for God to raise you up! Lastly, we need to be sure things are in proper alignment.  Are our priorities straight?  God first, you second (yes, you are second), your family, and so on…

To all the ministers who bring life and LIFT to so many throughout the year, may the Lord cause the law of LIFT to be a reality in your heart, your life and your ministry now, into 2007 and beyond.

Minister Stine McDonald
Founder, Judah First Fellowship
and Bible Studies on the Arts

Editors Note: Minister McDonald is one of the instructors for the Equipping the Saints Conference in September 2007. Plan to be in attendance and receive an impartation of the wisdom and insight the Lord has blessed her with! Register at http://www.praisedanceministry.com/conference

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...And the Word Became Flesh
by Pastor Dana Mosley

I can remember the first time I saw someone praise dance. I got chills all over. The song this person danced to, was a very familiar song but some how seeing the song expressed in the bodily form gave the song a new meaning. I heard the message of the song. Liturgical dancing to me is like the Word becoming flesh. As the dancer expresses the words of the song, the tone of the song, the anointing of the song, the message of the song reaches out and grabs you. The wave of a hand executed at the right time will set somebody free because the Word became flesh at that very moment.

 Although mankind had the written and spoken Word, the message came clear when Jesus came and expressed through His life, His death and His resurrection, what God was saying to us all alone. Dancers it is vitally important that we take off our achievements, agendas, and personas and put on the Lord Jesus Christ because He is the Word become flesh.

It is important to live holy because it is through holiness that the Word will through our dance become flesh to those who see us dance.

It is through living holy that the anointing will flow through our dance no matter what our talent level is and that’s the point of dancing – to bring the anointing that will break every yoke.

Pastor Dana Mosley
Inspired Faith Ministries

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Lord of the Sea Ahead
by Minister Stine McDonald

In Genesis 22, we have the familiar account of Abraham trusting God to the max which was demonstrated by his willingness to give up the promise that took so very long to come.  God required him not to give up his son but to be willing to give him up.  What did Abraham experience at the thought of giving up his only promised son?  By verse 18, we see that God had all along seen ahead and provided for Abraham a substitute…that promise remained good.  We also see “to obey is better than sacrifice” in a whole new light.  Abraham memorialized our God as Jehovah Jireh that day on Mount Moriah.  The God who “sees” or sees ahead and makes provision…pro=before and vision=the ability to see.  Only God sees our future, there is no pitiful little palm reading, crystal ball reading counterfeiting, familiar spirit that can come close to reading our future mail!  Only our Great God Jireh can do this.

In Exodus 14, God is still keeping promises.  When he led Moses and the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry land, they were finally free and on the way to their “Promised Land”.  When they got through, Moses had a prophetic song and Miriam had a prophetic dance and song!  This was the miracle of miracles…this is the one God would refer to over and over again when He wanted to remind them of His Greatness!  In the songs, there are descriptors of God’s Greatness for bringing them through such an impossible situation.  Only He could have created an East Wind that blew at the right time when the atmosphere was right so that the wind would cause the waters to congeal but allow them to walk through – over one half million people walked on dry land all night long through a Holy Ghost designed “wind tunnel”.  It blows my mind EVERY TIME I think of that!!  However, I’ve got to get back to those songs and that dance!  Both Moses and Miriam were prophets, they had both experienced God telling them what he was going to do and THEN doing it.  They had already seen miracle after miracle. God told them locusts were coming and they came, when the Locusts did their job, they were sent into that same Red Sea.  That was a prophetic Word of what God was going to do with their enemies…the Egyptians were devouring God’s people, they had to go down just like the locusts!   But, when they got up to the brink of the Red Sea, Moses was in Fear!  He was giving wrong instructions and everything!!  He was telling the people to stand still and God dealt with him and asked him why was he was crying, he was to “speak to the children of God that they might go forward”.   We know God is Faithful but there are times when we get to the brink of our impossibilities when we forget His Absolute Faithfulness!  I wonder what would have happened if Moses and Miriam sang and danced BEFORE they went over?  They were prophetic singers, Miriam was a prophetic dancer!  What’s up with God’s Prophetic People?!!!  (uhh, God’s talking to me too!!)

When we get to the shore of what’s impossible before us and the enemy behind us (our past mess-ups, mistakes, missteps…misses, period) is biting at our heels, what God is saying is that’s the best time for us to get prophetic in our songs and dances!  That’s the time to praise Our Great God.  Paul and Silas did it, they prayed and sang at their midnight and the “Red Sea” opened up!  Let’s not wait until after God rescues us, let’s praise the Lord of the Sea Ahead, ahead of time to honor His Faithfulness with that sacrifice of praise!  Let’s do it for our God who is always ahead of time making Him always right on time.

When God told Moses to speak to the Children of Israel that they go forward, He did that because they had to be READY before God opened the sea.  Does what’s in front of you seem impossible?  Is what your facing make 2007 appear unmanageable and scary?  If so, you are in a good place!   Praise Him there!  Sing there!  Dance there!  It will bring Him great honor and what “Red Seas” will He open for you??!!  The earth yields its increase because of Praise.  What locked doors and gates will He open for you???

Let’s start the year with a renewed commitment to Praise Him FIRST.  When we Praise Him at the problem, that is what turns that problem!  It’s what we do at the FIRST that determines our second, third, fourth, etc.  We enter or open His Gates with Thanksgiving and His Courts with Praise, when we do, He opens locked doors…that’s your and my Key to success in 2007 and beyond!!

Happy New Year!

Min. Stine McDonald
Founder, Steps Ordered by God Ministries
and Judah First Fellowships         

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Resolute
by Minister Jeanna Sumners

It is now 2007, a new year. A clean and clear slate to start fresh. A chance for a "do-over" of unkept promises and goals. A year that ends with Gods' perfect number, His number 7. A year where every 7th year, scripturally in the Old Testament, declares that debts are pardoned and slaves are released. An excellent year just waiting to unfold.

As I was asking God what He wanted to express at this seasonable time, I got the word 'resolute' which is taken from the word 'resolution'. I certainly was not interested in writing about 'New Year's Resolutions' which is so expected at this time of the year. Yet, I stayed drawn to it and began to study the word resolute. Resolute means firm, steady, determined, not yielding. It is not in the Bible, but, the concept certainly is. The word that the Bible uses is steadfast and is defined as firm and fixed. If there ever was a time to be firm and fixed, children of the Most High, it is now, 2007.

We are living in a "do it 'til you're satisfied", "it's all about me", "me see, me want" day. What the Bible calls "doing what is right in our own eyes". We, as Christians, must be found steadfast with our faces turned to our call, our vision, our purpose. Just as Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem, recorded in Luke 9:51, we also must be focused on one thing, what we were sent here to do. What does that mean? If you have forgotten what God told you do, or if you have not been doing what He told you to do, if you have been holding back in what He told you to do, this is the year, this is the time, this is the season. The lepers said to one another, "why sit we here until we die?" or in other words "why sit we here until we rot?". I say to you, DO SOMETHING! Some of us have been rotting while waiting. I declare to you, get your written vision out, read it, act on it, pursue it. If you haven't written it, write it. If you haven't acted on it, move! The lepers got up from their waiting place and moved towards the place that they thought would reject them, and God got involved, you know the rest of the story, the entire area was affected and ministered to because they didn't wait anymore. The Father has need of you, go ask for the donkey's colt, go ask for the thing you need to be effectual and purposeful for your call. Be firm, be steady, be determined, and not yielding. "Be strong and of good courage". For the year 2007, make a resolution to be resolute.

Minister Jeanna Sumners
Director of Dance Living Word Church
Founder of 2 B FIT 4 Ministries

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Attention Soldier
by Lakita Humber

I’m sure many of you have heard the song “I’m a soldier in the Army of the Lord”, we sing it in our churches with such passion and authority.  But do we really know what it means to be a soldier?  I served three years as a United States Air Force Officer so I know what it means to be a soldier!  As I reflected on my training as an Air Force officer, I realized there are some comparisons to being a soldier in the Lord’s Army that I’d like to share with you.

The first principal is in the TRAINING itself.  Before becoming a commissioned officer (a soldier) I went through 4 years of training.  I also was required to attend a 4-week intensive boot camp.  The military recognizes that effective training is crucial.  Saints of God I submit to you that as crucial as military training (sometimes faced with life or death situations) may be….it is nothing compared to the training and equipping of a soldier in the Lord’s army!  Our battle is a spiritual one….for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12)

Some of us are in spiritual boot camp right now!  What area do you need intensive training in?  Patience, humility, discipleship?  Is the Lord requiring formal training or mentor relationships to perfect the gifts He has given you? 

During my season of military training we were required to learn warrior knowledge.  This included the Code of Conduct, Tenets of Air and Space Power, Air Force vision and mission etc.  At any given time a training instructor could ask us to recite warrior knowledge…we were expected to be able to recite back the expected phrase flawlessly and without hesitation.  We were given warrior handbooks with the daily information we were expected to memorize.  What does your warrior handbook say?  My warrior handbook says:

- Count it all joy! (James 1:2)
- I’m more than a conqueror  (Rom 8:37)
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)
- Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4)

I could keep going but I think you get the idea! 

A major part of our training was learning how to properly march (or drill).   Before you can move you need to learn to STAND AT ATTENTION.  When you are at attention your eyes are caged, that is fixed on a certain point.  No matter what is going on around a soldier at attention…you are not to take your eyes off focus.  During our training period instructors would conduct ‘bearing exercises’….while standing at attention our instructors would try to make us laugh or jump because of a loud noise….anything to make us lose our bearing. 

I am reminded of Peter in the 14th chapter of Matthew and how he was able to walk on water as long as he kept his attention / focus / bearing on JESUS. 

But when he saw the wind boysterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

How many of us have been in Peter’s shoes?  Stand at attention soldier!  Eyes caged, shoulders back….don’t take your focus off  Jesus!  Don’t let the distractions cause you to lose your bearing.

After we learned to stand at attention, we learned to MARCH.  Sometimes the training instructors would intentionally march us towards a wall, table, or other obstacle to see if we knew what to do.  What do we do?  I’m glad you asked!  We MARK TIME (that is march in place about 3 feet in front of the obstacle).

Saints of God I want to leave you with this point…when obstacles come in your way MARK TIME….don’t stop moving, don’t get discouraged.  You keep moving until that obstacle is moved or until you get new marching orders.  Soldiers put a great deal of trust in their commander when they drill….their eyes are fixed straight ahead so they are relying on their commander to keep them safe and watch out for their surroundings.  A soldier that comes upon an obstacle will MARK TIME until the obstacle is moved or they receive another command.  How much more so should we trust  JESUS!

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Things to Treasure
by Koreen Johnson

God has chosen us from the foundation of the world to be who He wanted us to be.  We are treasures in Earthen vessels (2Cor.4:7).  We are priceless masterpieces, being perfected by the Prince of Peace, and created by the Creator of Creation.  Each one of those treasures has a particular purpose given by the Creator – God.  From time to time we may be used and/or abused by fools that don’t know our true value.  However, that doesn’t devalue God’s price, place, purpose and plan for His treasure in us. 

 As treasure, Dance Ministers are to live uprightly and represent God’s Kingdom, because as we dance we are lifting up His name, reverencing His Holy Spirit, and walking in the Spirit.  We are also breaking yokes and bring deliverance to others.  The flip side is also true, when we misrepresent God’s Kingdom we are a hindrance to others who need God, so don’t even try to fake it!

 Ministers of Dance should treasure our responsibility to develop and maintain a close relationship with God daily through prayer, praise and worship, and practice, if we don’t, it will hurt our ministry.  I acquired this nugget described as the 3 P’s to Praise Dance- prayer, praise and practice- while attending a Chenaniah Praise Dance Conference.  I have shared it and use it and have seen tremendous results amongst many dance ministries.  Continuous prayer, praise, and practice can bring about change in any dance ministry, even with youth or children dance ministries.  Please be advised while teaching it make it to make it fun and interesting. 

 While preparing to minister it is important that we treasure each step in the process of learning the dance; rather than waiting to perform in the final ministering of the dance.  Have you ever seen a dance being ministered where you can see frustration, disappointment, or negative attitude displayed by the dance ministers?  This can be due to a lack of preparation (prayer, praise and worship, and practice).  I have been there in the early part of ministry; this is why I encourage Dance Ministers to pray. 

 There is HOPE –Hold – On - Pray – Everyday.  This is not the time to quit, but it is the time to be fervent in the dance ministry.  Refocus on your place in God and His plan and purpose for your life and your ministry.  Pray He will answer.

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A Testimony of Reconciliation - The Anatomy of a Bridge
by Lakita Humber

 I want to share with you all a personal testimony of Reconciliation in hopes that it will encourage and bless someone. For the past few months the word bridge kept coming to me. Prayerfully, by the end of this article you’ll understand the connection.

By definition, reconciliation is the process of making compatible. We can thereby infer that there is a need for reconciliation because of existing incompatibility. This may suffice for the world, but as the church all walking towards the same goal this shouldn’t be necessary, right? Wrong! The reality is that offenses will come (in the church). Let’s look at some examples:

- In the 5th chapter of the book of Nehemiah there is internal conflict. In the midst of a great work (rebuilding the wall) there is a great outcry of the people and their wives AGAINST their JEWISH BRETHEN. (Internal!)

- Phil 4:2-3 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Please understand that offenses will come, but it is how we deal with these offenses that set us apart from the rest of the world! Some refer to this as “church hurt”. It is much easier to defeat a foe than to reconcile with a friend that has offended us. This is probably what David felt when he said For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng. (Psalm 55:12-14)

I was at odds with someone very close to me. Our relationship was as a mother and daughter. Through a course of events that is beyond the scope of this newsletter a wedge formed in our relationship. We both managed to salvage the wedge (cut) with a band-aid for a long time.

*** Let me pause to say that in the natural if you are cut and you put a band-aid on that cut without the proper washing and treating of the wound you will end up with a severe infection. ***

FACT: Hurt people hurt people! Because pride has us to act like everything is OK, when internally there is strife. This manifests itself externally in what I call passive-aggressive Christian behavior (yes, I realize that is an oxymoron). Because these little annoyances aren’t dealt with or released…now we move into the realm of sin (or missing the mark) when you begin to talk about the person to another (sowing seeds of discord) or inwardly despising them (see Matt 5:21-23).

When your brother or sister in Christ sins against you, there is a biblical process designed to bring reconciliation:

1. Go to that person alone! Read it for yourself (Matt 18:15)…it says to GO ALONE FIRST! Not call the gossip buddies and form and alliance but go alone. If this doesn’t work, then..

2. Take with you one or two more witnesses. And if this still doesn’t work, the final step is to...

3. Go to the elders

I praise God for the testimony of reconciliation! One of the elders at my church shared with us both that the ministry is bigger than the both of us. We received it, but the true manifestation took place several days later. The spirit of the Lord moved in such a way throughout our sanctuary and next thing you know we were praying for and with each other in such a way that it was nobody but God! Our relationship now is stronger than it has ever been before. If he can do it for me, he can do it for you! I'm not talking about just saying "I'm sorry", but true reconciliation is an apology, admiting wrong, and asking for forgiveness. Some of you are reading this and need to reconcile with someone right now...don't continue to put this off!

I bless God because even though our story had a happy ending, so much of the turmoil could have been avoided. I honestly can not trace back who offended who first, but I am pretty sure ‘the first blow’ was not a sin. It was an annoyance that was allowed to marinate. So then when more annoyances happened, there was no clean slate. It is a shame how many saints of God are at odds because they feel slighted because someone walked by without speaking. Maybe they didn’t see you! If it is not a moral issue, please save yourself the trouble, give them the benefit of the doubt, and move forward in grace!

I also understand that through this I received the revelation on the “bridge”. A bridge is designed to cover a gap, or can be defined as a structure that covers an obstacle. For a bridge to be effective it has to rest on both sides of the separated entities. Bridges bring together what obstacles separate. Some examples of these obstacles are hurts, misunderstandings, and unforgiveness.

Many are (for whatever reason) at odds with one another. This is not the time to form your own personal alliance! We are all members of one body, with different parts, being used to fight a common enemy. When cliques start to form, focus is lost and the result is friendly-fire. This is true in warfare, most studies on friendly fire will show that at some point in the course of actions leading to the incident there was a lack of focus. It’s time to stop building walls and digging moats and to start building bridges!

Dance & Worship Arts ministers….it is NOT REQUIRED FOR US TO MOVE IN UNISON. Please take your hand off the reply button and allow me to explain! Unison means all elements move the same way at the same time. Let’s put down personal agendas and pick up kingdom agendas! So this person isn’t doing the same thing you are doing, or they aren’t going about it the way you would go about it. Is the main objective being met? UNISON IS NOT REQUIRED, but HARMONY IS! Harmony is a pleasing arrangement of parts – these parts serve different functions. Think of your favorite sport; there are different positions, moving in a different capacity to accomplish the same goal (WIN!) Imagine a baseball game where the shortstop was consumed with what the pitcher was doing instead of his own function. They would probably lose!

Ask yourself, who have I offended? Who has offended me? Was the offense a sin? If it was not I encourage you to LET IT GO! This is easier said than done and may take some prayer and fasting – especially when offenses build up. But do not continue to lie to yourself if you have been offended. If the offense is a sin, follow the steps outlined in Matt 18:15-17. Finally, let's be sure to pray on our brothers and sisters and not prey on them!
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The Joy of Dance Conferences
by Koreen Johnson

Every Dance Ministry Conference seeks to have unique Godly features that differs one conference from another. In this issue I will highlight one of several awesome Dance Conferences that I attended last year. In July of 2006 I attend a Dance Conference in the Nassau, . It was presented by Caribbean Christian Dance Network (CCDN) it was like none other. The Conference hosts were Dr. Ann Higgins and Pastor Henry Higgins, of Nassau, . I will not dare to compare it with others, because it was not a competition. It was well put together to meet the needs of veteran dance ministers as well as, the beginners. We had a filled, week each speaker came with a power packed word that changed my life and by mid afternoon we were choreographing and dancing. This year CCDN presents their International Youth and Cultural Festival 2007. According to Dr. Higgins, “We are exposing Gods glory through our culture, so come celebrate with us in Nassau .

This Is How You Can Start…
Visit some of the conference websites highlighted in this Newsletter.* Do your research on the city that the conference will be held and the ministry that is hosting the conference. Then do a need assessment, simply ask yourself, “Do the topics in this conference meet my needs, in the area of Dance Ministry? Also check out the ministry’s website and call them. Most Dance Conferences have persons in place just to answer your questions. Now, give yourself a treat by attending a Dance Conference. You deserve it!

Networking While At A Conference……
Networking is a term that seems to be exclusive of our workplace; however, I would like to remove the exclusiveness of the workplace and shine the light of God on it. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…” Proverbs 18:24. Networking is to show your self friendly to others - not expecting things will open resources and kinship. I meet really great people at Dance Conferences, I am friendly person and I enjoy talking with people and helping them in whatsoever way that I can. Last year at the CCDN Conference, I met a tremendously talented Dance Minister Clarissa from Maryland . We kept in close contact and we attended to a conference together last November. The ties we form being friendly or networking can last a lifetime.

Practice What You Learned…..
The way that I remember things is by doing them. Immediately after I returned for the CCDN Conference I share the information that I received and I taught the dance that we learned. Take good notes; so disseminating the information that is learned will be a breeze. Stop and listen. Ask questions to the presenters it makes them know that you are listening.

* Editor's note: Paneh Praise Dance & Mime Ministry Newsletter does not specifically endorse any event listed under "upcoming events". Contact the event host if more information is necessary.

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The Cloudy Days are Over for Men
by Minister Rodney Norton

I had a chance to minister at a conference a couple years ago in which during the day I was able to attend a class/track specifically designed for men.  The Pastor (teacher) who spoke made a very powerful statement that has stuck with me since then. He said to the group of men “the enemy has placed so many “CLOUDS” in front of you that you cannot see the image of God in which you were made in”. At that point I knew the man of God was referring to issues and situations in the lives of men which prevent us from having a true and intimate relationship with the Lord. After that session I began to do a self-evaluation of my spiritual walk with Christ. After doing that evaluation, I said to myself “well that was one of those messages that maybe was meant for someone else and not me (we have all been there and done that) not that I'm perfect, but I was sort of at peace at that moment with my relationship with the Lord”

During that evening after ministering I was sitting in my room trying to relax; however to no avail. It was one of those moments where God was trying to say something to me.  He said, “My son, the men are allowing the “CLOUDS” to prevent them from coming out and leading in the areas of dance, mime, and sign and I'm about to remove those “CLOUDS” so that they can see Me clearly as they praise and worship Me”.   There is going to be a strong uprising of men in the area of dance, mime, sign, and flag!!.

Of course my first response from my physical eyes was to say “you’re kidding right?” Then I continued to say “Lord, you have blessed me to be able to travel to many different states ministering unto the You, experiencing different forms of praise and worship, seeing You move so powerfully, seeing souls being saved, people being delivered, strongholds being broken, all to Your GLORY!! But how can this happen since I had not seen many men worship You in these areas?"  God said to me “You are a part of a radical generation of men who are TRUE WORSHIPPERS (John 4 :23- 24) that will come and not be ashamed of what anyone says or thinks, who will worship me with pure hearts, such as David (2 Samuel 6:12 – 23) and Job (Job 1:20 – 22) because I have called you to lead.  Just continue seeking Me and I will do the rest”. Eventhough I initially questioned God by asking “how”,  I still trusted in Him!!

Proverbs 3 :5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths”

As I continued to sit there my spirit kept going back to these “CLOUDS”. I began to ask “what are these CLOUDS?” Well, the Holy Spirit showed me the following “CLOUDS” that prevent men from coming forth...

Real Men do not dance:  A stigma that the enemy has placed within the body of Christ. The enemy knows the powerful anointing that a spiritually strong man brings so he will do any and everything to keep that man down

No role models to see: Men are visual creatures, so if you have a young boy who has the gift of dance, as he grows up, there is a major shortage of men to follow ministering in dance within the body of Christ

Jobs and Careers: As we try our best to provide for our families we can easily allow that drive or desire to achieve financial success become a priority, therefore causing us to work long hours and weekend schedules

Tradition: Once a man gives his life to Christ and joins a church usually the first ministries he is encouraged to join are usher ministry, deacon board, men’s ministry, choir, or play instruments. Another part to this area is that the body of Christ (depending on the area of country you are in) still struggles with anything outside of choirs being part of Praise and Worship

Oh Well Syndrome:  After speaking with many men and asking them what are they feeling, one of the main areas they pointed out was they see all women dancing so there is no need for them to, another trick of the enemy

Leadership: There are a higher percentage of women in charge of Performing Arts Ministries within the body of Christ. God will use willing vessels and until we step up as men He will continue to do so

These are just a few of the “CLOUDS” that were revealed to me!! At this point God began to show me a formula, game plan, blue print, check list on how to remove these "CLOUDS”.

Note: Remember God placed these gifts within us so therefore no man can remove them!!

1) Pray - "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14)

2) Study the Word of God - “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth." (2 Tim. 2:15.)

3) Meditate on the Word of God – “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful “(Joshua 1: 8)

4) Trust God/ Be obedient - “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

5) Praise Him – “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, praise ye the Lord” (Psalms 150:6)

6) Be Strong/Courageous – “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1 : 7)

7) Do not sit down on your gift – Regardless of what we see in the physical,  we must proceed in the spiritual. Pray and ask God to give you the right words to say (if any) to the dance, sign, and mime leaders about your gift. Attend some of the conferences that are offered (be prayerful about the ones you attend) because once all of the above is applied in your life, God will open doors for your gift (know that our gifts are not for us but for others).

These 7 main points are key to removing the “CLOUDS” that have been previously mentioned. Of course there are so many more but the must be a foundation laid. Six of the seven points are major ingredients in building our relationship with God.

What’s so great is that while we are applying these areas to our lives, God is moving the “CLOUDS” at the same time therefore allowing us to see that image of our all mighty God in which we were made in, therefore allowing us to be free and be able to express our love unto the Lord through dance, mime, sign or flag ministries.

So as we move forward know that God is moving the “CLOUDS” from the eyes of men in order for the body of Christ to all be on one accord and therefore allowing the REAL CLOUDS to fill the room!!!

“The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever. Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.”
2 Chronicles 5:13-14

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Raising the Standard
by Lakita Humber

Even though I am no longer an active duty United States Air Force officer, I still work full-time on a military base and continue to receive revelation about the nature of God through every day events.

Recently I was walking to my car after a long day at work, somewhat unconscious of the time, I heard a loud trumpet over the radio.  I continued walking knowing I wasn’t going to make it to my car in time.  I was tired and mildly frustrated by the inevitable delay.  The trumpet that I heard is a familiar sound to those who have spent any time on a military installation.  It is a 12-measure introduction to the Star-Spangled Banner.  Once the National Anthem begins, civilian pedestrians that are outside are to face the nearest flag and either place their hand over their heart or at their side as a sign of respect, while those in uniform are to render a salute towards the flag, and those in their car are to come to a full stop.  For the duration of the song all traffic rules on the base are abandoned!  Green lights don’t matter, if you are in the middle of the intersection it doesn’t matter.  Where will you be when the trumpet sounds?

As I stood there looking at the flag that represents America, I heard the Lord say “I am raising the standard”.  I began to analyze the actions that took place.  First, the trumpet sounds.  Trumpets, or shofars are often used in the bible as a precursor to another action: coming together in unity, preparing for war or an awakening.  There is a unity that comes over the entire military installation during the Anthem.  Conversations cease and all activity stops while the anthem plays over the “giant voice” (a public address system that can be heard over the entire base and several miles off base).

The Lord is speaking to His people!  To all the ministry leaders….remember the Word of the Lord as recorded in Luke 12:48: to whom much is given, much is required.  Teachers and leaders ARE held to a higher standard.  Those that are moving into the area of teaching and leadership WILL be held to a higher standard! 

As I begin to meditate on this message, I realized this is a “relative elevation”.  In other words, the standard is being raised for those which the Lord is elevating.  Please understand that Godly promotion comes with another level of consecration, prayer, fasting, and studying.  Too often we operate in today’s promotion with yesterday’s anointing.  THE "GRACE PERIOD" IS COMING TO AN END.  Do an evaluation!  Were you recently promoted, given a new position or larger scope of responsibility?  The trumpet has sounded, the standard has been raised…are you ready?

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See Level: A prophetic word to dance ministers
by Minister Stine McDonald

Isaiah 52 has one of the many Messianic prophecies and I love it as it speaks so specifically to me on the dance. It speaks of beautiful garments, sanctification, shaking, loosing, redemption, beautiful feet and in the 8th verse, the scripture tells us that the watchmen (or prophets) shall see eye-to-eye, this is a principle. The dance, because of the visual impact, is meant by God to be purely and keenly PROPHETIC! That means we “see” what God sees and reproduce it in movement so the people can then “see” what God sees. This principle of seeing eye-to-eye also means that if the prophetic dance minister sees one thing in a European country, I should be able to see the same thing in the United States. If God is showing a prophetic dancer something in New York, He should be able to show me the same thing in California. If God is showing a prophetic dancing gift something in San Diego, He should get it across to me as well in Los Angeles. If He is showing a prophetic minstrel in movement something in Carson, I should (as a prophetic watchman) be able to see the same thing in Culver City. When we see the same, it should be expected and celebrated…through it, we learn that we are connected! And, the “counterfeits” should be expected to show up and try to “imitate” it because that’s what the enemy does when something is authentic…it’s a confirmation. There is also a great deal of persecution that comes with prophetic insight…another confirmation. Paul went through that, see 2 Corinthians 12.

Sometimes, prophetic eyes (and ears) see (and hear) something first and need to relay it to the other prophets in the company…then, the unveiling can occur and suddenly, the other prophets “see” it as well. It was sitting in their spirits all along…just needed another prophetic “eye” to help remove the veil! Let me look at the “unveiling” for a moment: When a bride has said her vows and is ready to seal the deal with the kiss…the veil has to be removed, there has to be an unveiling, revealing (or revelation) for the kiss! When we have said our vows or committed to God (given it all up) and we have done that and do that, that’s when God will reveal or unveil things, secret things, precious things…not merely to us, but in us and through us. The more He reveals, the more we LONG for it and the more we LONG for it, the more He reveals…it becomes a way of life.

At other times, God shows a prophetic gift something and it’s ahead of time…because the prophetic, by nature, is “ahead of time or a forth-telling” (fortune tellers, crystal ball gazers, astrologers, etc…are counterfeits). When the other true gifts hear that Word, they know something in their spirits, they may not be able to put their finger on it yet. However; God who confirms HIS WORD with signs following…will surely reveal and there WILL be scripture to support and back it up!

As dancing prophets, we can’t afford to ever mistrust God in what HE has said to us, no matter what people are saying or not saying around us…we must KNOW that we KNOW that we KNOW What God has said. And until He confirms His Word, and HE WILL, we must remain with HIM at See-Level on the thing until He perfects that Word, this will keep us balanced or stabilized. We avoid being like a “See Saw” going up and down. It’s not what you “saw”, it’s what you “see”…today, now! The prophetic is a lot like Faith, it’s always now (even when it’s ahead of time…). Staying at a place where we can see what He’s saying…constantly, that is the Vision.

I can go so many places with this little exhortation, but I’ll close now by saying as a prophetic gift, we hear and see things uniquely; certain numbers, dates, places, times speak to us symbolically. As an example, for many of us during 2007, God has been speaking about fulfillment, accomplishment, maturation, manifestation, finishing, completing, perfecting. In this seventh month, that message seems to have escalated…do you see what eye see? As the prophet prayed for his servant in 2 Kings 6:17, I pray that our eyes are opened that we may see, and that we may know that we see eye-to-eye in Jesus’ Great Name.

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Is Your Cup Clean?
by Minister Rodney Norton

One day last week I was at work and just conversating with a co-worker who happened to be an avid tea drinker. As we were talking I just happened to glance at his half empty tea cup and noticed there was a very dark stain that had accumulated on the inside of the cup. Of course being very respectful I did not make any kind of comment on what I saw. While driving home that day and just thinking about the goodness of God, the Holy Spirit led my thoughts to the book of Matthew Chapter 23 verses 25 – 26 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”

I immediately started to laugh and say to myself “Lord you have an awesome sense of humor”. What God was saying to me is to make sure that my inner or sprit man was not like the inside of my co-workers tea cup (STAINED!!!). In this particular verse Jesus was straight forward and to the point saying “there needs to be a cleansing on the inside first and then the outside”. Still today we see all throughout the body of Christ people who look good outwardly but inwardly they are extremely stained!!

So what you have is stained people in the congregation/ pews and stained people in the dance, mime, sign, choir, praise team, step ministries and more... (STAINED people ministering or (entertaining) STAINED people). I said to God “what do you mean by STAINED”. The Lord said to me “anger, jealousy, lust, pride, entertaining spirit, selfishness, dis-obedience, and sexual sins just to name a few.” We must understand that in order for our worship unto the Lord to be pure and accepted by Him our cups cannot be STAINED.

How can we minister a song about the Love of God to the un-saved and we do not have “the Love of God” within us? Or how can we minister “YES” by Shekinah Glory Ministries and we are not obedient to Gods word or even trust the Lord? When we do this we are saying to the Lord and those who are present “drink out of this stained cup”. Oh!!! but I thank God that He is the best cleaning solution ever made!!

David knew who to go to when he sinned with Bathsheba (Palms 51), David cried out, acknowledged and repented of his sin and most of all asked God to cleanse him, create in him a clean heart. No matter how much stain we have in our cups, the word of God can clean it away. OXY 10 has nothing on the word of God. If we call ourselves “True Worshippers” we must spend time in the word of God.

Each day we should strive to seek the Lord in some way. Maybe set a goal of studying (1) chapter a week or more depending on where you are spiritually. After studying that chapter go back and meditate on it. As we are doing this continue to PRAY! so that there can be new revelation!!. You will begin to here the voice of the Lord so much more clearer and He will begin that cleansing process!! . And what is so AWESOME!! is that once our cups begin to get cleaner the ANOINTING!! becomes more POWERFUL!! I guarantee that you will be doing dance moves that you never rehearsed!! Your facial expression will show passion!! Your hand movements will go forth with power and authority!! All because it’s becoming less of you and more of the Holy Spirit within you.

The word of God says in 2 Corinthians 5 vs. 17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We must understand that this cleansing is a process; however the longer you allow tea to remain in a cup the colder it gets and darker the stain gets!! We should always desire a daily filling of fresh hot tea (The Holy Spirit) and a clean cup (the temple which is your body!!!) that the tea will fill.

Minister Rodney Norton
Mime in Motion Ministries

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