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I had a great time bringing in the New Year!  My new church home, Christian Mission of Panama rented a ballroom for the night.  After a short service which lasted a bit past midnight; we adjourned to the ballroom and it was party central till SIX AM! Rofl! 

There we had a buffet style dinner; we ate and drank (non alcoholic of course) while listening to music provided by a Christian DJ.  The Christian DJ and the two guest singers were very good.  One sang traditional style praise music and the guests showed their appreciation by crowding the small dance floor area with dancing.  The other younger brother rocked da’ house and had nearly everybody up including the older adults.  I’m sorry US ministries…we could learn something about how to give a ministry event where both the very young and old come together and have a great time dancing in the name of the LORD!  

One thing I have noticed at the few events I have attended is that the children are permitted to be children.  The bible phrase, “suffer the little children to come unto me,” has become clearer to me here.  The Panamanian people are much more patient with allowing children to be children and I believe that because of this, most of the children are obedient and uninhibited when taking part in church service events.  Of course, as in anything, there are a few exceptions. 

While sitting back watching the people dance, I remember feeling like I had seen this before.  There was a sea of smiling faces and rhythmic movement.  The songs were words of praise to God for all his benefits.  Most, I did not understand due to my limited Spanish but I did catch phrases that were clear to me.  My first thought was, “I like this.”  It also brought to mind Maya Angelou’s ‘Singin’ and swingin’ and making merry like Christmas.  

I realized I had not seen but read about a similar scene.  In Exodus 15:19-21, it says the people of Israel stood on dry land in the middle of the sea and watched the waters overcome Pharaoh’s army.  The bible says Aaron’s sister, Miriam took up a timbrel (tambourine) and along with the other women, and they began to dance around the camp as she sang praises to God.  There is no scripture following saying God was displeased with their actions. 

Psalm 22:3 quotes David stating with confidence that God “inhabits the praises Israel.”  That means he LIVES in our praises.  David was confident of this because he was known to break out in a praise song and ‘bust a praise move’.  Nowhere in the scripture does God rebuke him for it.

In fact, 2 Samuel 6:13-17;20-23 reveals David was out in the street dancing so hard that his wife Michal, Saul’s daughter, was embarrassed and disgusted with his dancing.  The bible goes on to say Michal confronted David stating as king, he shouldn’t be out there disrobing in front of the slaves of the servants and dancing like any other vulgar lowlife.. (Paraphrased)

David’s response, “I was dancing before the Lord.  I know who appointed me King and it wasn’t your father Saul or anyone else.”  David made it clear that he would not stop praising God in dance.  He went on to say, “I will dance before the Lord.  I’ll become even more undignified than this!”  Of course, one of my favorite songs is Undignified Praise by Steven Hurd. 

David loved dancing before the Lord so much that he said he would dance so hard he would “humiliate” himself in his own eyes.  Now, that’s a passion for praising and dancing!

I don’t know when some of us began to monitor our praise for the Lord.  I don’t know why we have come to a place in modern times to believe that there is such a thing as ‘too much or too far’ when it comes to praising God.  I am not talking about lunacy or those with mental issues.  I am talking about we who call ourselves ‘normal’ who have become so dignified that we hold ourselves in reserve.  Are we beginning to forget who we serve?  Also, I am not talking about disorder or disruption in the church.  I believe in decency and order. 

In short, I am saying it was refreshing to be part of a community that has no reservations about enjoying, praising and dancing before the Lord.  Oh, and for the record, I was learning the Merengue, a dance the music director told me originated in the Dominican Republic.

If you are a WISE woman or want to become one, please sign up to receive updates by RSS or your Email inbox and leave your comments. Please keep your comments valid to the posts.  You can also reach me at onewizeone@yahoo.com. I will reply to you.  If you have a blog leave a linkback so others can visit your site as well. 

Tags: Dominican Republic, Maya Angelou, Merengue, New Year Church Banquet in Panama, Praise Dancing, Singin' and Swingin' and making merry like Christmas, Steven Hurd, Undignified Praise

Your best is just ahead…go for it!

If you are a WISE woman or want to become one, please sign up to receive updates by RSS or your Email inbox and leave your comments. Please keep your comments valid to the posts.  You can also reach me at onewizeone@yahoo.com. I will reply to you.  If you have a blog leave a linkback so others can visit your site as well. 

Tags: New Year Wish to WISE women