Ever make plans and prepare for something for it never to come to pass or for it to unfold differently than what you had planned? Planning and preparing seems to be a big portion of how most people spend their days. Everyone who cooks knows a lot of planning occurs before meals appear on the table. From deciding what makes it on the list to buy at the grocery store, to going to the grocery store to purchase the items, to prepping the food, to then finally making the meal. Then you serve it to see if the satisfaction you were prepping and planning for was achieved. As a mother and wife to a family of 6 we do a lot of planning. Every day planning is incorporated to ensure everyone is ready and arrives on time to their daily activities. In all this planning one thing I have noticed it nearly never goes as I had intended.

When was the last time you danced before the Lord with all your might? Have you ever danced before the Lord with all your might? This type of dancing is not an ordinary following the choreography or keeping the rhythm of the music dance. It is a full body, soul, spirit expression where every fiber of your being is focus on God.

Days come and go in a blink of an eye. Even an individual with the best boundaries and control of their schedule war against the clock. It is a constant battle to not feel rushed, to not have too many commitments, and to focus on the present. We live in an age where preparing for tomorrow is a constant need. Honestly, I do not believe since the fall if there has ever been an age where constant preparation was not needed. Even tribes would plan ahead to ensure the basic necessities of life were never missing. If we are not aware of the battle that is occurring, the fight for our time, we can become overwhelmed and grieved by life's demands. 

Ever look at your children or a younger family relative and stay amazed at how prone they are to mimic the adults or older people in their lives? Growing up in a Latin home we were taught from young to honor and respect our elders. The older generation were known to have endure some trying times and as a result had a wisdom about them. They were also expected to instill in the younger generation a sense of self worth and purpose of being part of the family. This concept is not meant to be a uniqueness of Latin people, but in fact God desired it to be a unique characteristic of His children. 

When was the last time you experienced a smile that hurt your face? You know when you cannot stop yourself from smiling that the muscles in your face begin to feel sore. When this happens it seems to be this unspeakable overwhelming joy that rises up and takes over. Some might describe the feeling like walking on clouds, or living on cloud 9. It truly is joy, unshakeable joy!