Spirit Of Praise: MORNING MEDITATIONS for the Dancer In You

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PRAISE DANCERS & FLAG TECHNICIANS NEEDED!

2011-08-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PRAISE DANCERS & FLAG TECHNICIANS NEEDED!

Looking for 100+ liturgical dancers and flag technicians (male and female; young adults to adults) to participate in a major, public outdoor event on the morning of SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH in Los Angeles. HIGH-ENERGY, INTERMEDIATE+ LEVEL, GREAT ATTITUDE A MUST. Fantastic opportunity! Praise, Network, and Outreach to thousands in the Community!
DANCERS: PARTICIPATION SPACE IS LIMITED! Must be able to attend rehearsals in Torrance and Compton beginning Saturday, August 27th at 6PM and thereafter until day of event.
FOR MORE DETAILS, inquire within by CALLING 562-293-1700 or respond via email at spiritofpraise7@aol.com.
Clearly state NAME, TELEPHONE #, MINISTRY/CHURCH AFFILIATION, and NUMBER OF PERSONS IN GROUP.

Get Up & Dance!
Rev. Stephanie Butler Adams
Founder - Spirit of Praise Sacred Artistry International
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com
562-293-1700
In collaboration with Hype Studios www.hypestudios.com, Alleyne Connect, & Greater Zion Church Dance Ministry

"Getting To Happy"

2011-08-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "Now I pray that the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, believing that you will abound [overflow] in [confident] hope through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15:13

You are the only one who can make YOU happy. Happiness is your original stage of being. It is what you were before you began to identify with your body image, race, denomination, a family role, school grades, a boyfriend/girlfriend, your age, social security number, your credit rating, your marital status, and any other label you may try to hang on to. True happiness is being FAITHFUL to your real self; the better you know yourself, the happier you will be. Many of us in the body of Christ who claim to be blessed and highly favored, the head and not the tale, and created in the image of God—secretly don’t know WHO we are. [Not our name, our title, our position, or our gross income], but I’m talking about WHO we are as it relates to our SELF-WORTH. Self-Worth is not achieved overnight. It is a continuous process which can take years to establish, but can be ruined in an instant with just one negative word.

Sometimes we FORGET who we are in the daily grind of life’s circumstances—When this happens, something strange occurs—we begin to search and SEEK OUT happiness in people, places, and things where it just cannot be found. And repeated, failed attempts to FIND happiness can leave us broken, unfulfilled, discouraged, and confused.

Realize this: Happiness is your Spiritual DNA. It is what we experience when we ACCEPT who we are, and stop trying so hard to be someone we are not. For your consideration:

Character Traits of Happy People:
1. Happy People are Friendly:
Happy people are usually friendly people and are able to serve as a friend. Make a commitment to becoming the most loving person you can possibly be! It always amazes me that people are looking for love, yet they themselves are so unlovable! LOVE is at the essence of the Happiness—We are not here on Earth only to discover happiness, but we must also extend happiness to others. Practice the art of being genuinely friendly with no strings attached.

2. Happy People Appreciate Life:
We don’t have to chase happiness, just choose it and it becomes yours. Never underestimate the Power of Choice! Having more material wealth, physical attractiveness, or spiritual aptitude will mean absolutely nothing to an individual who has already decided to be closed-minded, closed off, mean, and inwardly miserable. If you are to be FILLED with joy through the Power of the Holy Ghost, you must MAKE ROOM FOR HIM. Our inability to be FILLED means that we are ALREADY FULL. But the Question is: What are you full of? If we continue to allow our Body Temples to be packed with lust, greed, hostility, jealousy, envy, drunkenness, sexual immorality, idolatry, and all manner of sin, how can happiness co-habitate with so much filth? It can’t because there will be no room! So, what must we do? We must place a demand on the anointing. We must put the Holy Ghost TO WORK on our behalf—again, this is the Power of Choice! In other words, I’ve got to INTEND to be happy. When asked on a daily basis, “How are you doing?” I will not settle for “good”, “okay”, or “alright”—I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY! When I make room for the Holy Spirit to be alive and active in my life, I learn how to appreciate everything around me. And appreciation bears the FRUIT that I should be FILLED with: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.(Gal. 5:22)

3. Happy People are Grateful:
Gratitude causes a shift in the balance of power! The devil plays mind games with us in that he challenges us to give up and curse God when we are going through hell. But in the midst of it all, the power of the Holy Ghost HUMBLES us even more—bringing things to our remembrance; compelling us to be grateful. Gospel recording artist Tramaine Hawkins sang in her classic hit “Be Grateful” about the fact that God did not promise sunshine always; and that when the rain does come, it comes so that we can be grateful for the good times as we are going through! When you experience pure gratitude, a shift happens in your PERCEPTION OF THINGS, PEOPLE, and CIRCUMSTANCES. God wants to teach us how to appreciate LIFE AS IT HAPPENS—not in delayed response mode. Gratitude changes your brain! And when my brain changes, I can change the world! (See Romans 12:2!) The more we practice the act of gratitude, the more we will find to be grateful for! You can never be “too grateful” or “too thankful” in the eyes of GOD—go WILD with your attitude of gratitude, and watch it completely elevate you! Grateful people GO UP!

4. Happy People are Free:
Happiness is real easy until you get your 1st major wound. Whether it comes through the death of a family member, disappointment, rejection, betrayal, divorce, sickness or heartbreak—your happiness will be challenged. But one thing I’ve observed---Happy people are quick to forgive. They forgive others, and they forgive themselves. It’s impossible to hold onto a grievance and bitterness while being TRULY happy. Why? Because holding the unforgiveness and the hard-heartedness is a reminder that we were victimized and offended. But the God of Hope who desires to FILL us with joy, would not call us VICTIMS; but rather, He Calls us OVERCOMERS! A happy person holding a grudge is a sign of mistaken identity. And, it is an active CHOICE to keep re-living the suffering! Resentment, pride, bitterness, mourning, and unforgiveness weighs me down; it keeps me tied to negative memories of past hurts. In one of her recent interviews, author Terry McMillan was asked how she was able to move on after such a public, devastating, embarrassing divorce, and write her new book titled, "Getting to Happy". She said, “I became so angry that I couldn’t see straight. I began making bad decisions based on revenge. Anger was destroying my spirit.” FORGIVENESS sets us free to move onward and upward! Forgiveness is letting go! It is the open door to divine healing and Happiness in God! LET IT GO!

5. Happy People have The Holy Spirit:
There is a difference in ‘spending time’ with God, versus ‘having communion’ with God; There is a difference between ‘believing in God’ versus ‘knowing God’. My relationship with God must be 3-Dimensional; I must know [i.e. become intimately acquainted with] God the Father, God the Son [who is seated at the Right hand of the Father daily making intercession for on my behalf]; and God the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who has the power to lead us into all truth, teach us all things, and guide us in the way we should go during our time here on Earth. Knowing the Path I should take makes it easier for me to follow the real Leader. Romans 14:17 reminds us that The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but rather a life of happiness, peace, and joy IN THE Holy Ghost! Don’t you want to be a part of the Kingdom?

6. Happy People Have FUN!
Like it or not, you are here today, present on this Earth. Learn to enjoy the MIRACLE of being alive! Don’t take it for granted. Stop with all the controlling behavior; Stop with all the seriousness 24/7; Stop with all the super-spirituality (which is mostly pre-meditated anyway); Stop with the over-analyzing and criticism of all things great and small! Take a moment, put your ego on the shelf, don’t back-slide, but for God’s Sake, have some fun!

"Lord today, let us empty out the filth that has contaminated our spiritual DNA; help us to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into a lifestyle of happiness. We pray the spirit of Joy to the World!"
Selah. Amen.

---Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

Morning Meditations: "BODY LANGUAGE"

2011-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "Beloved, I pray above all things that you would prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers..." 3John Verse 2

The Lord is vitally concerned about our bodies. It is His will that we maintain divine health in our bodies. However, this divine health cannot have its full measure of abundance in our lives without first having the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding that we need to change the way we THINK. Personally, there have been countless times and seasons in my life that I've had to do an "extreme make-over" in my thought life, attitude, and physical appearance in order to line-up with the Path and direction God was leading me. Once I knew the Lord, and felt compelled to learn from His teachings, it became my life's goal to live out the scripture which implores Believers to "present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is our reasonable service; and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Rom. 12:1-2)

Once we have a renewed mind concerning the prosperity of our physical and spiritual bodies, we will be able to win the war against poor health habits, harm, and dysfunction to our bodies. Due to the nature of ministry (preaching/teaching/music/outreach), the minister is always positioned before the people of God. This is particularly true of the liturgical dancer. What a tremendous responsibility to uphold! For many of us, Dance is ministry...but it is also PRESENTATION. Without delving deep into the world's stereotypical profile of a dancer--i.e. petite, slim, small-breasted females; or well-toned, muscular males; I will say that I truly believe that sacred dancers who are both anointed and skilled can be highly effective in all shapes, sizes, colors, and cultures. Yet, I also believe that we must make strong efforts to uphold a standard of good health, fitness, overall emotional stability and welness.

In Genesis 1:26, God said: "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth, and subdue it..."

When God says "them" He is speaking all-inclusively of the male & female 'spirit-being'. This 'spirit-being' which God named "Adam" did not truly take form and manifest until God gave him a BODY. This body, or outer garment is our Earth Suit--it is what gives us the authority to subdue, rule, and have rightful dominion in the Earth. Therefore, we must strive to be victorious in the battle to keep our bodies, souls, and spirits healthy and holy unto God. When the body and soul are not experiencing their full capacity of prosperity in the way they were created to, we are at risk to becoming unproductive, uncreative, unnecessary, and irrelevant. When an individual intentionally ceases to contribute to their God-given purpose here on Earth, they are unwittingly relinquishing their RIGHT to have dominion. And where there is no dominion, death is nearby.

Sacred Dancers: Our bodies are both our instruments and our weapons--they SPEAK and DEFEND multitudes--seen and unseen! Question: Is it time that you allow your Body Temple to speak a New Word about you and the Ministry you bring forth to God's people?

Gently stated, sacred dance is at first a visual art; yet when experienced through the holiness of God, has the power to encompass all our senses! We must stop forfeiting our dominion, credibility, and HEALTH by the active participation and over indulgence in ungodly practices of over-eating, under-eating, chemical dependencies, drug and alcohol abuse, lack of exercise and personal hygiene, sexual perversion, and negligence in the Word. Our Bodies are Speaking!
How will the Ministry go to the Nations if we are too hung-over to preach? How can the Dance be delivered with power and authority if we are too out of breathe to complete the first verse? How will our gift make room for us in the presence of Kings, Queens, Presidents, and Prime Ministers when our attire remains offensive/distracting/inappropriate upon arrival? What glory does the Lord get from that?

Remember: Our physical, emotional, and spiritual deliverance will be based upon the wise decisions we make in our obedience to God, our attitude of praise, and just plain common sense. The opportunity to serve in ministry is a call, a privilege, a JOY, and an honor---We make the choice to be in front of hundreds or thousands of people regularly, thus opening ourselves up to all manner of critique. Leaders, Our Bodies are Speaking! Do you or your ministry need to declare a new health regimine during a 21 Day Fast or Re-Dedication? Will you be willing to take an honest look at self and the needs of your people as it relates to unhealthy practices, or will you remain silent?

"Holy Father, show us your universal language of love as we advance your Kingdom agenda. Let our divine Body Language be a refreshing breeze to all who encounter us today and always."
Selah. Amen.

----Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

CONSECRATION: "A Time to Be Quiet and a Time to Speak"

2011-07-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven...Ecclesiastes 3:1

There are seasons of consecration, but holiness is a lifestyle occuring in the true worshipper 24/7. The seed of sacred holiness is planted upon the entrance, acknowledgement, and activation of the Holy Spirit in our heart and soul. I cannot turn holiness on and off like a light switch, nor can I "prepare" myself to become holy. I must simply BE holy in daily living and loving, as God IS holy. Consecration requires a steadfast decision to stand apart from engaging in sin, evil, and wickedness.

Give your season of personal consecration a divine assignment and purpose--one which is not frivilous, materialistic, or a last ditch effort to get what you want, lest your time of communion with God be in vain. Each season should go deeper in enlightenment, prayer, and revelation of the many facets of God in order for your assignment to come forth with clarity, power, and anointing. The more we know God, the more we will know ourselves. Remember: A consecrated life is the purest, most effective form of spiritual warfare.
Enough with all the outward signs of screaming, rebuking, dancing, shouting, and speaking in tongues if you have not yet truly "possessed" (i.e. seize, gain control of) your own vessel AND acknowledging the very strong possibility that there is some "slithery-ness" that we inwardly must be delivered from.

I am learning that my ability to maintain a Consecrated Life requires:

Periodic Silence

Humility

Flexibility

Weighing my Words

Preservation of Movement

Obedience

Holy Imagination

Desire to Live Righteously

Willingness to Love Passionately

Consistency in the Scriptures

Communion with the Holy Spirit

Personal Wellness & Health for my Body Temple

Cultivation of Wisdom

Ability to Honor All things Sacred

Balance of Service to Others vs. Self-Care

Discernment of Time/Timing

Understanding One's Worth to God and Humanity

"Spirit of the Living God, guide us now into truth concerning how we may most please and glorify You through our lives while pursuing the reason we are here on Earth, and once discovered, compel us to pursue with all that is in us!"
Amen and Selah.
--Rev. Steph
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

Gift Manipulation

2011-06-27T23:38:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone of you: Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance to the faith God has given you..." Romans 12:3

After a very busy, fruitful, and fulfiling past few months of ministry, special events/outreach to the community, and travel, I am feeling a holy tug in my consciousness to simply be still, assess, and reflect. As I ponder all that my eyes have seen, all that my mind has absorbed, and all that my ears have heard, my heart now speaks to me on behalf of the Father: Are you remaining obedient to that which I have assigned and called YOU to do? Are the dreams and visions you have spoken over and prophesied to My people those which come from Me, or those which come from your fleshly intuition? Are you still passionate about My Word, or arrogantly passive concerning its power? Has your anointing been compromised by the self-manipulation of the gift that I gave you? With Whom are you dancing, and for Whom are you dancing when you "minister" to My people? Has the applause and accolades of man stifled your ability to hear My instruction?

These and many other thoughts have come to be valuable and necessary check points that I believe must be evaluated from time to time by anyone and everyone who serves in a ministry capacity. From Apostles to Bishops; Elders to Pastors; Clergy to Laity; Missionaries to Worship Leaders; Musicians to Psalmists...our approach to Kingdom ministry shouldn't become so externally driven that we develop a "keeping up with the kardashians" mentality. Nor should it be so internally centered on the greatness that lays within us, so that the achievements and successes of others cease to phase us even a little bit. My concern for myself, and largely for the Body of Christ, is that the "wonderment" of God is being replaced by "been there, done that", thus our egos have hindered us from encountering the miracles, signs, and glorious wonders that lay right at our feet! However, I must concede that whatever shift or shake-up that may need to occur, I can only be a catalyst for the revolution that begins inside of me.

For those of us in the ministry of the Word, as well as the Sacred Arts, we must admit that often times we have attempted (and succeeded) in manipulating the atmosphere of worship to be steered in the direction that our carnal minds and bodies desire it to go in--not always that which the Holy Spirit has prompted. From the preacher who begins to "whoop", not out of style, cultural tradition, nor the anointing--but rather, lack of material, preparation, and need of an emotional response from his/her audience; Manipulation...Or the musician/organist/keyboard player who decides that the sermon has gone on long enough--time to strike that "rap it up preacher" chord so that he/she may make it to Sunday Brunch before 2pm; Manipulation...and lastly of course, the Liturgical Dance Minister who even after 15 years in ministry still can't seem to make it through an entire piece without the claim that "the Holy Ghost just took over" and proceed to weep, wail, and gnash their teeth...Really? Still? How about your responsibility to completely deliver the prophetic movement message in its entirety to a people who needed a Word (through dance) from the Lord?

Healthy self-esteem is wonderful; let us who are servants of God not go over board! The key to an honest, accurate, assessment of who we are is knowing the basis of our self-worth: that is, our identity as a child of the Most High God. Apart from Him, if we allow ourselves to be judged by worldly standards we may have a measure of earthly success; the danger comes when we begin to think of our worth in the eyes of others, thus missing our true value in God. You and I are more than our gift, our talent, and our skill! Besides, none of that will matter when we are standing before Him on Judgement Day after living a life void of integrity and eternally bankrupt.

Open our eyes, oh God. Amen and Selah.
---Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

"Double Life: Secret Motives"

2011-01-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today's Meditation: "A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8

Who are you really? When you're alone and nobody is there to observe, criticize, analyze, admire, or serve you? How do you really worship God? You know, when you are not at church, in the choir, in the pulpit, or ministering in dance on someones platform. When the spotlight is not on you, and you are simply at home with you--who are you really?

Our lifestyles represent our values, morals, and beliefs. For the professed Believer, these things should line up with how we govern ourselves, and the Word of God. But, beloved--how can we strive to live "above reproach" with God and humanity when we are caught in the web of living a double life? Ministers and ministry leaders: do you not know maintaining a double lifestyle will eventually cut, diminish, and destroy the flow of blessings and the anointing in your life? Try to deny it and justify it if you'd like--deep in our souls, we know when the glory has departed!

Double lifestyles are plaguing the Church Universal. With the advent of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Youtube, texting, "sexting", IPhones, IMs, and more, we are able to create on-line personalities which sometimes, are completely contrary to the real us. Blatant disrespect, promiscuity, adultery, immorality, bullying, and mean-spiritedness is practiced openly--in and out of the church. Pastors, Elders, and ministry Leaders attempt to preach righteousness on Sunday morning while secretly engaging in physical, sexual, and emotional abuse behind close doors. Conferences and meetings have been used as private rendevous opportunities for brothers on the down-low, and sisters wanting to be seen AND heard...at last. But, is this a secret?

The 5-fold ministry gifts are being perverted, watered-down, and hi-jacked by men and women seeking elevation through self-imposed titles; who travel the world producing charismatic worship productions, disguised as revelation knowledge and authentic ministry. Even some professed Christian organizations publicly endorse unity in the Body, while continuing to perpetuate subtle discrimination, supremacy, and racism.

When one's ministry appears to be thriving worldwide while their marriage is falling apart, it may be time to take a look at why I do what I do. If my call to minister to the nations REGULARLY supercedes my covenant to minister to my family (which God also gave me), I may just be out of balance. Today, God has placed the ministry of the Gospel, and the ministry of dance in the global arena--the World is watching; i.e. the secular world and the nations of the world. Success, prosperity, advancement, and position are all great--but only when it comes from living a life of integrity, peace of mind, joy, and transparency.

If we continue to present the facade of holiness and purity in public, while our true lifestyles are an abomination to God, there will be no true levitical remnant with clean hands and a pure heart left to carry the glorious legacy of Sacred Artistry and ministry into the next generation. As you begin to line-up your will with the Father's will, supernatural grace and courage will be upon you.

Let this be our Year of Exposure. Look deeply and shamelessly into your spiritual mirror, remembering that people with nothing to hide, hide nothing.

Amen and Selah.

Rev. Steph

www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

"Hands-Free Faith"

2011-01-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

Today's Meditation: When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, "The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And know the Lord ha brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today, I am freeing you from the chains of your wrists." Jeremiah 40:2-4

In today's technologically advanced world, the term "hands-free" has been adopted and used to describe equipment that can be operated without the use of ones hands. While we commonly associate the ability to be "hands-free" with the possession of a Bluetooth device, or earpiece, the science of functioning in a hands-free capacity can also refer to a system governed via Voice Command. In essence, kings and high officials in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet ruled by way of Voice Command--whatever the King said, so shall it be.

When operating in the authority, priviledge, or position granted to us, we are not bound by our physical strength, abilities, --or lack thereof. All that is required of one in power is to only "speak the word", and his/her desires are carried out by those who follow. Leaders who speak both with authority, wisdom, and compassion have no need to "micro-manage" their people. That was exactly the case in regards to King Nebuchadnezzar and his then prisoner Jeremiah. Although captured and jailed by the Babylonians, the King had already declared that Jeremiah was to be looked after and not harmed; the King and his Babylonian Commanders were highly superstitious, and while they believed in the power of magic, they also respected the power of God. They had heard Jeremiah say repeatedly that his God would rescue him from trouble.

It is amazing to me that even today, many people recognize that God is real, has power to do miracles, yet they still refuse to personally accept him...

After Jeremiah's hands were set free, the Commander told him, "the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please". Jeremiah chose to return to his land of Judah. Had he stayed in Babylon, Jeremiah would have experienced comfort and protection; in Judah he would be poor and unwanted. Had he stayed in Babylon, he would be favored by the Babylonian rulers but hated by others who remained in exile.

Jeremiah's faith led him home. Judah in the Hebrew language means "praise". Don't let your haters keep you in exile! I believe that even when our hands appear to be tied; when it seems that all the forces of evil and darkness are rising up against our prophetic destiny in God; and when every attempt to achieve success with our own strength and limited intellectual capacity has failed; we must return to JUDAH! If my hands are bound, my feet are still free to dance and my mouth still has utterance--that is, if I know the Word of God.

Activate your body-temple as a supernatural "hands-free" device and see the Lord do just what he said he would do. He's Able!
Amen.
--Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

"Dream Catchers, Dream Killers"

2011-01-14T21:10:00.000-08:00

Today's Meditation: "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what becomes of his dreams." Genesis 37:19-20

Do you dream? Before you answer, consider that there are a few different ways that one may dream. There are the kinds of dreams that one experiences when in a deep slumber. They may reflect past events, present circumstances, or future possibilities. Dreams come in scenes; sometimes in color; sometimes in black and white. Sometimes dreams are marvelously wonderful--othertimes they are terrible and scary. When we rise, we are thankful to know that "Whew! it was only a dream." But there are also those dreams that one experiences when they are completely awake. These types of dreams are similar to visions--a grand plan, a strategy, a futuristic fulfillment of an idea or concept too great for one person alone to fulfill. In the life of the Believer, it is understood that great visions are implanted in our hearts and manifest through our prophetic imaginations. This could only be accomplished with the help of Almighty God. And, to the dreamer with the ability to see what lays ahead, the dream may even seem overwhelming--even impossible.

Being in the presence of a true dreamer will either inspire, intimidate, or irritate. Understand that dreamers are not in control of their optimism nor their confidence, for their faith lays not in their own ability, but in God's--they already know that they will be victorious! Dreamers can cause friction, jealousy, negativity, and envy to anyone in their midst who may themselves be too lazy, insecure, or "stuck" to dream their own dreams, yet become indignant when they realize that your dream is in fact, coming to pass...Miraculously, these same people become motivated--to kill your dream!

Joseph, like many dreamers, was hand-picked by God. He did not pre-plan his birth placement as the youngest of his siblings; he did not ask for the special coat of many colors; and he did not seek out the gift of dream interpretation. Maybe you are a Dreamer who has come through the challenges of hatred, hardship, rejection, and isolation. Like Joseph, we can learn from our mistakes, immaturity, and naivity. Dreams are birthed in our hearts, minds, and spirits; they must be nurtured...inwardly...before they are revealed outwardly. Catch the vision for your life that God has planted in you. Dare to dream boldly. Never allow fear, social, racial, economic, or educational challenges suppress what God has designed for your life.

You ARE a Dreamer. Now go forth and catch them all, to the glory of God! Amen.
--Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

New Year, New Rules

2011-01-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

Today's Meditation: But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. (Romans 7:6)

As another New Year comes, our minds and hearts can become bombarded with a myriad of resolutions, declarations, promises, affirmations, goals, dreams, and timelines: all designed to create a New You in the New Year. While these things are admirable, if we are not careful in their prayerful execution, those very things we purposed to help us can end up leaving us worse off than we were before. How many of us have promised to strengthen our relationship with God by spending more quality time in prayer, reading the Word, attending worship services more regularly--only to discover that we had bound ourselves into a ritualistic pattern of "doing" spirituality instead of LIVING a spirit-filled life?

With each passing year, I believe that I die a little more. Although my symbolic "annual deaths" are not without a struggle, they do manifest various levels of freedom from bondage--whether real, imagined, or self-imposed. The ability to die to those things which once bound us comes with the realization that you are complete in Christ! Thus, no need to hold on to outward signs of so-called success if inwardly, your spirit is failing. Today, and throughout this year, let us die to:

Undeserved Expectations of Others
Negativity and Critical Spirits
Unclean and Impure Thoughts
Lack of Integrity
Stunted Creativity
Lack of Giving
Unnecessary Conversation
Unwillingness to Celebrate Success in Others
Spiritual Arrogance
Living Above Our Means
Mediocrity
Shadiness
Over-extending and Over-obligating Ourselves

There is no sense in trying to keep God's rules, laws, and customs when our minds and hearts remain perverse, rebellious, and disobedient. Release yourself now into the New Way of the Spirit! What is it? Allowing the Holy Spirit to take your eyes away from your own performance, recognition, and title-seeking, but seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all these things will be added unto you. Amen.
--Rev. Stephanie
www.spiritofpraiseinternational.com

"FIRE & DESIRE"

2010-06-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "Delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:4-5

Fire
"Love them and leave them...that's what I used to do; use and abuse them...then I laid eyes on you; it was pain before pleasure..." No, this is not scripture. They are the lyrics to a very popular hit love song from the '80's by the late singer Rick James, and his protegee Teena Marie entitled "Fire & Desire". The ballad expressed the deep passion and love (and, probably lust) between a couple who, by all accounts had fallen so hard for one another until it hurt!

As a happily married newlywed, now more than ever, I can say that indeed--the promises of God are absolutely true! Not only are His promises true, but they are FILLED with fire and desire!

If I may, there are 3 types of fire I'd like to recognize. First, there is PHYSICAL FIRE. Physical fire is an actual, burning,hot glow which--once lit can be easily ignited by other flammable materials. Physical fire can burn wildly if its not contained.

Next, there is HOLY FIRE. Holy fire are those sacred, purifying flames that burn internally within us--on purpose. It is set ablaze by the power of the Holy Spirit, and if we allow it, Holy Fire can symbolically and literally burn away those thoughts,yearnings, and desires that--while pleasing to us, are not pleasing to God. Holy Fire is designed to destroy everything in us that is not like God.

Lastly, there is "STRANGE FIRE". Now this is the kind we want to avoid at all costs! Strange fire is that which I'll describe as unknown,unauthorized, unsanctioned and tainted by the lust of the flesh, and oftentimes, our carnal nature. Biblically, God called out the 'strange fire' which was offered up to him by two brothers, Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-3. This offering was deemed as "strange" by the Lord because it was compromised by the fact that these men were in a drunken stupor as they attempted to execute it. God responded by sending forth His own fire--which devoured and killed them both!

Promises
There is much discussion these days about the promises of God. PROMISES of God are so very different than the promises of man! As our relationship grows deeper and more intimate with God over time, we come to realize that a life committed to the Lord MUST yield a harvest of His promises!

When the scriptures advise, "delight thyself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart", God is letting us know that when we are all about Him, He will be all about us. Being delighted in God is being IN LOVE with God. Being in love with God is the adoring, joyful, "sweetness" that comes with knowing that "I am thine, and He is mine"-- In God's sight, that's hot!

While promises unfulfilled by man have the ability to break our hearts, a true promise of God will never go unfulfilled---no matter how long it may seem to take! Instead of being a heart-breaker, God is a heart-maker...Therefore, the creator of our heart knows exactly what it is made up of--fire, desire, and ALL!
God's desire for you and me is that we tap into the revelation of the Heart/Mind Connection--meaning that we align our inward desire, passion, and purpose for our lives as the beloved of Jesus Christ, with the eternal desires, passions, and divine purposes that our Creator has for our lives!

When we truly do this, just see how truly DELIGHTED God becomes in US. Amen
---
Rev. Steph

"Do You Hear What I Hear?"

2009-11-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

Today's Meditation: 1Samuel 3:1-12; Focus--verse 9 "And Eli said to Samuel, Go lie down: and it shall be, if he shall call your name again, you shall say, Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth..."

"Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Do you hear what I hear?" These are the opening words to one of my favorite holiday songs. As a little girl in my elementary school Christmas play, I recall with great fondness having been selected to portray little Mary, the mother of Jesus--all the while, our tiny voices sang this wonderful account of Jesus' birth.

What was always most fascinating to me was the fact that in the song, the Wind could speak to an animal, who in turn delivered the message to a shepherd boy! It all seemed so magical and mysterious to me...Incredible? Impossible? or Miraculous?

That same sense of awe and wonderment I had as a 9 year-old girl remains with me today each time I hear the voice of my invisible God speaking to me today, so that I might deliver His message to the world. How must young Samuel have felt? He did not know God very well yet, but because he had been set apart, consecrated, and properly dedicated to the Lord by his parents, his ears were supernaturally opened to the voice of God.

Hearing from God requires that you be available (free & willing). Listening to God requires that you be obedient (disciplined). Listening is a call to action. Listening to God requires your soul to be in a place of clarity, calm, and purity. Hearing God requires a level of humility and a bowing down to every word that comes forth by His Spirit. Once the Lord knows and is fully confident that you have made yourself available to His voice, He opens the floodgates of revelation, instruction, wisdom, guidance, and simple communion with Him! So the question is:

When is the last time you really heard from God? I mean, really heard Him speak to you...

Today and always, let us continually keep ourselves open to the fresh Wind of God to reveal himself in whatever wonderful way He chooses to do so. Amen.
--Rev. Steph

"KEEP IT MOVING"

2009-10-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: Nehemiah 3:6 "...And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?"

Have you ever been in the middle of an important project or task and the phone rings? Or working hard to meet a deadline but you are interrupted with another emergency that requires attention? Maybe you were not previously under any undue pressure because you thought that you had methodically organized and planned out your week's workload--but then a colleague contacts you with an urgent request?

I once saw a poster which read, "Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency response on my part." I never forgot that saying. And although everyday life will always require us to be flexible and adaptive to change, we know that people will be people. It doesn't matter the environment: church, home, business, school, family--unfortunately, persons who are highly productive and successful in life seem to be the targets of lazy, unimaginative leeches who expect everyone to "stop, drop, and roll" whenever they call. When it comes to Kingdom building, my own theory is that these people are often used by the enemy to impede progress, stagnate the work, and maintain the established status quo.

Distraction, jealousy, procrastination, back-biting, envy, and silly mind games people play are just a few of the many weapons in a kit full of confusion launched by the devil. They are of great use to promote dissension among friends and co-workers--especially when there is a great mission to accomplish. In times like these, it is critical for us to ensure that our hearts and minds remain sober, clear, sharp, and focused--we must, like Nehemiah, "Keep it moving."

Nehemiah was a builder who was all about business. As he neared the completion of his great masterpiece, so many rumors and false allegations surrounded him. So-called friends and enemies alike sent messages trying to pull him away from his work, but the wisdom in Nehemiah had taught him better; " I am doing a great work...why should the work cease, while I leave it and come down to you?" And Nehemiah did NOT stop...He kept it moving! Don't you just love it! We will always be faced with the real and perceived limitations to a wonderful dream or vision. But I believe that dream or vision is not our own, rather it belongs to and was given to us by God.

My prayer for you today is this: Believe that God is more than able to grant you provision for the vision--no matter great or small. Know that when you are called to accomplish something great, you have the power to press through until you breakthrough. Understand that greater is HE that is IN YOU, than all the negativity and systems of evil which are present in the whole World. Plant yourself firm, take a deep breath, and keep it moving!
Amen.
--Rev. Steph

"SUMMER TIME" - Seasonal Relationships, Cont'd.

2009-10-18T23:18:00.000-07:00

Now that God has navigated you successfully through the newness and excitement of your Spring Relationship season, you realize that almost without notice, the season has changed and now it's Summertime. Even the very mention of the word puts you in a particular frame of mind. By now, the seeds of inquiry, friendship, discovery, and character should have begun to take root. It is now, in the wonderful warmth of the Summer Son, that your relationship must withstand the test of the heat: heat of mood swings, heat of personality conflicts, heat of integrity, heat of truthfulness, heat of disclosure, and the heat of temptation. For some, it is the heat of the Summer that seems to relax us, slow us down, and make us become even a bit lazy; the sun is high, and our guard is down! For others, the heat of Summer seems to activate a new-found spirit of boldness and adventure. Funny thing is, no matter how the Summer affects us personally, when we find yourself in new friendships, we seem to lose sight of how this dramatic shift in climate is affecting the other person! If God has truly placed authentic and healthy relationships in your lives, they will not lose their savor and saltiness when Summertime comes. We are all creatures of our environment, and must know beyond a shadow of a doubt in what atmosphere to we thrive the most, and in what atmosphere do those whom we love and are in relationship with the most challenges. With so many options at our disposal, if we are not careful, the blessing of that God-ordained "summer shift" may be under-appreciated and under-developed. Ask God to train you to discern every season --both spiritually and naturally.
Amen. --Rev. Stephanie

"SEASONAL Relationships"

2009-10-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

To Everything there is a Season, and a Time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecc. 3:1)

No matter who you are, a discussion surrounding the topic of relationships is bound to peak your interest on one level or another. With each passing year of life, I am learning not only the value of good, healthy relationships, but also how discern those acquaintances and interactions which are in fact "seasonal".

In some regions, people live with four seasons winter, spring, summer, and fall. In tropical regions, there are just two--dry season and rainy season (which for the Caribbean includes Hurricane Season.) At any event, appreciating the season in which you find your relational encounters may better help you understand why certain things are occuring (or not) with you; and it will also release you from harboring any guilt, resentment, disappointment or bitterness as a result of a relationship which simply "came, to pass".

Today, just a few words about "Spring Relationships":

Spring Relationships: Fresh, new, and as unpredictable as the wind. These relationships capture our hearts, our imaginations, and expand our views on what 'might be'. Spring relationships seem to bring out the best in every human; whether a love relationship or a platonic friendship, the 'newness' of it all is, at first delightful. The air is sweet, the birds are singing, everything's coming up roses--God is just "good all the time"! Spring relationships can cause us to mount an all out sales and promotional campaign on ourselves; we are exceptionally attentive, free-spirited, and just down-right "on it". In the Spring, "it's all good". Or is it??

Caution: While you enjoy the Spring, and your heart has opened up to new possibilities, don't retire the good, practical sense and discernment that God gave you. God is love. God LOVES authentic love. But the best human love begins with friendship. You are no one's "better half": you are a fearfully and wonderfully created WHOLE person with much to offer. Spring is great! Just don't lose yourself in the wind. Amen.
--Rev. Stephanie

Next up...."Summer Time".

"Stay FOCUSED"

2009-10-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "I will be focused, alert, and sensitive in all that this day presents to me."

Anyone who aspires to become an effective leader in whatever their area of service, must first cultivate and develop a lifestyle and discipline of focus. It is so easy to become distracted by things great and small--especially when there is work to be accomplished. But I have learned that distraction breeds procrastination; and procrastination makes us unproductive.

Unproductive people cannot be world changers. In the life of those who are Believers, our unproductive-ness can be detrimental to maintaining the anointing on our lives. It can negatively affect our creativity, our motivation, and our zeal to advance the Kingdom of God. Because God loves you and me so very much, He will sometimes use whatever means and methods at His disposal to gain or RE-GAIN our attention. God's divine plan for you life and mine requires that we are always seeking; always open; always ready to both hear and obey His prompting.

Is God trying to tell you something? Don't let tragedy or a crisis come upon you before you decide that now, I will pray...Now, I will focus on my purpose...Now, I will discipline myself...Now, I will Focus. May God give each of us supernatural will power to stay focused on "the now" while we strategically prepare for our prophetic future. Amen.
Rev. Stephanie

"Walk Holy, Walk Humbly"

2009-10-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

Today's Meditation: "We beseech you and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so that you will abound more and more.... v.7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but he has called us to holiness." 1Thessalonians 4:1 and v7

As a minister of dance, presentation is everything. How we look, how we speak, how we behave--how we live, how we love; even up for critique at times: how we laugh! Our very lifestyle as Believers and as citizens of this Kingdom here on earth is always on display and observation, thus up for some one's discussion. Our posture as dancers is so much more than sitting in a chair properly, moving across a room gracefully, or standing in the perfect upright position when we are in public.

The question is, what is the posture of our hearts and minds? Are we standing in upright position with God when no one is watching? I am constantly confronted with decisions, temptations, and opportunities to live a life in direct opposition to what my very soul knows to be right, as I'm sure many of you are DAILY. In these moments, my strength comes in remembering that indeed I can live holy, if I walk in humble authority among humanity. I remember that the power of the Call, far outweighs the power of negative thoughts, words, and deeds. Let this be our prayer today: "I am walking in the Light of God. Lord, lead me into the path of ever-increasing holiness of mind, body, and spirit." Amen.
Rev. Stephanie

Morning Meditations with Stephanie Butler

2009-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

TV Program based on physical fitness and meditation with strong elements of inspiration, spirituality, and dance. Based on the book, 'BREATHE, BALANCE, AND STRETCH: Movement Meditations & Daily Dev...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDSfjVflN3U