A Time to Dance

 I have been experiencing God in a whole new way.  Saturday October 8, 2011, I was among an elite of women who spoke at The Holy Word Revival Center in Palatka, FL. There were six speakers all of us boasted on the Holy Spirit and His different characters. We spoke on the Holy Spirit as the Helper, Reminder, Teacher, Convicter, the Spirit of Truth, and the Glorifier to Christ.
None of us spoke to each other throughout the week and we all touched on the same scriptures, or just about the same, John 14. That is the Holy Spirit at work wouldn't you say?
Usually when I prepare to speak at a conference, I pray over the subject and scripture. The next request I normally make to the Lord in prayer is for Him to give me the words to speak and follow with typing the words out and  ready to share with the other believers/ nonbelievers. This time however, the scripture was crystal clear. However, I could never take the thoughts I had and put them into words.  It was an uncomfortable place to be for me.
I knew the only thing I could do was to give it to the Lord. I even called a friend and ask for prayer. I couldn't believe the words were not coming to me. I was thinking maybe I had a heart and mind problem, but I felt normal (whatever that is). I thought maybe I didn't study enough so I researched every scripture on the Holy Spirit and kept coming back to John 14:26. Now, I was on a walk by faith and not by works.
When I arrived, I was at peace; that was definitely different. In the past I was always nervous and it showed up in some strange form. You know sweaty arms, quivering lips, or sweat rolling down the face.This day was different~totally different!
I don't remember every word said that day, but I remember the desire to cry at many different times. I remember what the other speakers said and partially what I said. My reaction told me that the Holy Spirit was present and I was wrapped in Him.  I was in awe of Him, falling in love all over again with God.
I had a great time dancing and praising the Lord God Almighty. We were raising the roof in prayer and praise, shouting with loud voices  like it is written in scriptures.  I walked away with a big question mark over my head. Why doesn't the churches today praise the Holy Spirit or allow the Holy Spirit to come in like it did in the upper room in the book of Acts. As believers and followers of Christ we are taught through the scriptures that the Holy Spirit is alive and well at work. So why won't we allow the movement of the Holy Spirit within to move us?  Why shouldn't we be allowed to dance in the isles, jump up and down, or shout louder if the Spirit moves us? Perhaps we stop ourselves from praising and worshiping God like David did with harp, song, and dance.
 Perhaps we are afraid of what others will say about us or the way they will look at us.  I've seen us standing in awe of God with our arms raised, bodies are bobbing up and down without really letting  loose. You know what I am talking about.
I don't want someone telling me how I need to go home and do some more praising. No, I want to be in the house of the Lord worshiping Him as He calls me to; don't you?
So this was food for thought. It is the relationship with God  that we should be more concerned with and not our fellow neighbor. I feel the Lord is calling  the elite and want to be amond them, I want to be in  the number when He comes calling. I'm ready to show God the Love I have for Him and others through song and dance. If you see me dancing in the street you may think I am out of my mind, but I am not dancing on the streets made of coal, but gold; in my mind's eye, I am home.

~Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,