rrrrhythm!

It’s here! Our long awaited and expectant time of year--Advent! And with it, all the hussle and bussle of getting ready for Christmas. With the JOY of the season can come added STRESS. To-do lists grow longer each day. Shoulders get tighter with thoughts of making a “perfect Christmas” for all. Stress levels rise with the shopping, wrapping, shipping and ... yipes!

Hold tight-- there is a better way:

My friend, master drummer, musician and choreographer Peter Kasule* visiting from Uganda shared some ancient African wisdom. He knows how to turn work, stress and long “to-do lists”--into to “play”.

Want to know the secret?

Find your rrrrhythm!

Peter states that if you have a big job to tackle, a long road to walk, or even the everyday duties of life to perform, you had better find your "flow". Turn your tasks into a dance. Place a song in your heart and a smile on your face, making your physical body keep in step with your spirit.

With each stride to work, school, or home feel the click, click, click of the tapping of your feet--off to God’s big adventure for your life. With the washing of the dishes hear the clack, clack, clack of the pretty plates, ready to serve warmth for your family. With each new load of clothes rejoice in the swish, swish, swish of the happy bubbles, giving all a clean, fresh start for a glorious new day. Each and every step, sound, and motion turn into a rhythmic dance of praise! Before you know it--all you do is in the “groove” and it no longer feels like work but instead joyous play giving glory to God.

Want a little help? Watch this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QivliBtpnY&index=2&list=RDUHUQD7nJcq0

Tuck this tune in your head and the words in your heart.

“Ain’t nobody gonna steal your JOY” this Christmas if you keep your feet happily tapping, your hands joyously wrapping and your mouth singing out in praise to the goodness of the Lord!

“You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. So that my glory may praise you and not be silent. O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.” Psalm 30:12-13

Dear Lord,

I want to have a joyous Advent expectantly awaiting You, focused on You, not getting bogged down in my to-do list, missing the present moment. I ask, that by your grace, You would help me to turn my every step and movement into a dance and act of worship to You, mindful that all that I do, I really do FOR YOU. Help me Lord! This can only come as a grace from You. Not just for the holidays, but always. So here I go... tap, tap, tap, tap...

I ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* Pictured above is Peter teaching my daughter's class how to find their rhythm! I met Peter through “Empower African Children”, a group we have been involved with for many years. Want to know more? Check it out and give! It’s an amazing group helping many, many wonderful souls! https://empowerafricanchildren.org