"Whatsoever Ye Doest for the Least of These..."

His name was Demetrius.
When I held his little body in my arms, it was like holding "unconditional acceptance," packaged in brown velvet. And when he kissed me on the cheek, it was me who felt like "the least of these." But most would look upon Demetrius, his 5 year old body stricken with cerebral palsy, and think of him as a member of that noble population of which Jesus spoke. "The least of these"-- The ones we overlook, or shun, or think less of because of their age, circumstances or condition--The population that receive more attention because of their disability, than because of their ability. I danced my heart out at a fundraiser for Demetrius because of his disability. But he melted my heart because of his Ability. I danced to "Jesus is Love" by Lionel Ritchie. (Yes, Lionel Ritchie! It was when he was with the Commodores.) I wanted to assure the hundreds of people present of Jesus' love for this precious little boy and his family, and that this love is "power," and "joy," and "healing"..... After the presentation, I asked his mom if I could hold him. When he laid his head on my shoulder, and kissed my cheek, it was I who felt that blessed assurance. Yes, Demetrius, Jesus loves me/ this I know/ For He used YOU/ to tell me so.
(for more information about Demetrius, pls visit www.help4demetrius.org)

The Universal Language of Dance!

I had the absolute joy of attending Morning Star Baptist Church's High Praise Service on Palm Sunday. Everything--from the opening prayers by members stationed throughout the 1200-fold congregation, to the sermon by Rev. Dr. John Borders-- was a tremendous blessing. And the choir was off the church-cheazy! They did an awesome rendition of "Presence of the Lord" (Byron Cage),as well as other numbers. It was ALL GOOD!-- But it is the "language" of the dance ministry that lingers in my mind's photo-shop. It is God's Word, Majesty and Power communicated through movement that has been stored in my mental video file. "All Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power forever..." does not only play over and over in my head, but it also brings forth a visual, and that visual speaks to my soul, and my soul,in turn, breaks forth in High Praise!
Because I, too, am one of God's "movement messengers," my body speaks much of the same "universal language." To the Anointed Dancer, "blessing" is fists that come up from the belly or side, and fan out from the mouth; "honor" and "worship" are bows, sometime to the knee, sometimes full prostrate; God's majesty and royalty is a crown placed on the head, then gestured towards the heavenlies; and "forever" is a circular walk with arms reaching outward and forward, because forever never, ever ends....
And on it goes: Message, movement, language all presented from the dancer's submitted vessel. The Message comes from Him. The movement comes from us. The language is what reaches and blesses all who are watching. I was not a dancer on Palm Sunday; I was a watcher. So I thank Carmen Curry and all the dance ministers for blessing me!I thank God for your creative submission to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May He continue to guide your footsteps as you glorify His Name in the Dance!