Did I Go Left?

Many times in our walk with God we ask the question … Did I go left, when I should have gone right? At the heart of this question is the desire to know that we are operating in the will of God.

Rebirth Arts is one of the largest faith walks I've had the honor of taking with God to this point in my life. I find myself often in prayer seeking direction from God, by way of the Holy Spirit, to confirm that the decisions we make, the engagements we accept, the classes and workshops we offer, the staff we bring on board, etc. are in the will of God and what He desires for Rebirth Arts.  My hearts desire is to truly fulfill God's vision and do it with the very best of my ability, so that God can then do the supernatural. 

Even in my seeking, I've also found that there are just some steps that you have to take in faith, trusting God and knowing that He will meet you on the other side and won't let you fall. In those moments of truly stepping out on faith, I've experienced God's overwhelming presence as His way of confirming -- yes, you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

So, be encouraged, at those times in your life when you begin to question, did I go left and I should have gone right .… wait on the presence of God and the peace of God to comfort you and you will know without a doubt that you are exactly where God wants you to be.  Strive to dwell in His peace and all else will fall into place.  God has great plans for your life.  Continue to seek Him and trust His directions.

Leaving A Legacy

Each of us was created with divine purpose and destiny in mind. We seek to live our lives so that we fully manifest the purpose and destiny that God ordained for us; however, have you ever stopped to think about how you are impacting the world and what legacy you are leaving behind?

When I stop to think about the legacy that I'm leaving and how my life will leave a lasting impact for many generations to come, I cannot help but to think about all the many students that I've taught over the years. As I run into some of them years later and they are now adults, it surprises me still how much their lives were impacted by those few moments that they spent in a dance class with me. 

For those students who have danced and trained with me for multiple years, the impact of the legacy is unfolding before my eyes and it is truly a wonderful thing to experience. One of my students - Miss Courtney Harvey, is truly an example of how my obedience to God is making a lasting impact. 

(Rasheeda D. Perry and Courtney Harvey - "Storm" - Dance America Competition)

(Courtney Harvey - "Caged Bird" - Dance America Competition)

Courtney has trained with me for over 10 years. I've enjoyed watching her grow and mature into a beautiful God fearing and anointed young woman and minister of dance. It gives me great joy to have watched her develop as a technically trained dancer, but it gives me even greater joy to see her becoming all that God desires for her to be.

In the past year, I've proudly watched from the sidelines as she began to teach dance as part of her internship with Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT), as well as develop her knowledge and understanding of dance as ministry.  The legacy is truly being passed on.

(Courtney Harvey and students from CHAT)

However, I was utterly speechless when she sent me a message with a picture attached of one of her students that she has been teaching at CHAT who was now continuing to carry on the legacy of dance by teaching some young dancers.

What can I saw other than GLORY TO GOD!!!! I'm truly thankful for this gift God has given me and for the vision of Rebirth Arts. 

Rebirth Arts is continuing to impact the world through the arts with a new generation. I look forward to watching all of their lives unfold as they begin to walk in their divine destinies in God.

How blessed am I to be able to have a passion and a calling for something that will impact the world for generations upon generations, long after I'm gone?

     

Every Moment …

It's truly time that we realize that God desires to be involved in every moment of our lives. There is nothing too small for which God is not concerned, when it comes to your life. Know that every joy, pain, disappointment, surprise, heartache, victory, deliverance, healing … God is in the midst of it. There is nothing about your life that takes God by surprise. There is nothing in your life that God didn't first allow. You may ask, why did God allow that heartache or disappointment to come. I would in return reply with a question … Are you still standing? God works everything and I mean everything for our good. If you are honest with yourself, I think you would have to admit that everything that has been a challenge in your life ending up being something that taught you a lesson, helped you to mature, and helped you come to the revelation that God truly designed you to be an overcomer.

So take this as a bit of encouragement … YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER! There is nothing that you cannot withstand when you do it with God by your side. When we face challenges, they should press us in closer to God. By pressing in closer to God, we grow in our faith and our relationships with Him. Don't grow weary, keeping pressing forward in God!

I had the honor of ministering at a 50th birthday celebration for a mighty Woman of God. The song selection was "Every Moment" by Forever Jones. If you have not heard this song, I urge you to look it up and take a few moments to listen to the lyrics. I know that it will be a blessing to you, just as it was to me.  I wanted to share this ministry experience with you, so check out this video.

Be Blessed!!

 

 

Stir Up the Gift . . .

The First Speaking Engagement

We were so truly blessed to be able to participate and facilitate a session at the In The Key of David - One Day Retreat with the theme of "Stir up The Gift" on Saturday - July 13, 2013.  There is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit showed up to speak to the people of God and to show His power.  It was truly a supernatural experience that cannot be put into words.

In preparing for this engagement, I kept seeking God on what He wanted me to say and what He wanted me to teach.  Over a period of time God continued to drop things in my spirit to speak on, but I didn't receive any dance movements or choreography to teach.  As the days grew closer and closer, I kept checking in with God to see if the movement/choreography would come.  As I stood before the group that day I confessed the choreography never came.  So I went forth speaking on the things that the Lord had laid on my heart to share.  The topics included what it means to worship God, the call of the Levite (FYI: a blog post will be coming on this soon), and the things that are hindering us from going to the next level with God in our gifting and ministries.

Here are a few pictures from the event.  Once we have a chance to edit some of the video we will post it to our YouTube channel.

 


The next day the following questions settled in my spirit . . . .

We often cry out to God saying . . . "Stir up the Gift!".  But what is He really stirring up?  Have we allowed Him to deposit enough of His Spirit and His desires in us that when we are stirred what flows out is more of Him and less of us?

As ministers of the arts (i.e. dance, mime, music, voice, acting, art, etc.) we have to understand that it is critical for us to surrender our gifts and all that we are to God, so that He can develop us into the Men and Women of God that He desires for us to be.  We can no longer afford to hold anything back from God.  We need to make ourselves available for His use, at His direction.

I would challenge anyone that is reading this post, even if you are not a minister of the arts, to take a moment to reflect on those things that the Holy Spirit has been nudging you to do in order to take your walk with God and your ministry to the next level.  Once you've done that, purpose in your heart to accomplish those things, so that your life and your ministry can give God greater glory!

The Very First Engagement

What can I say, but truly GOD is amazing!!! The journey that it took to get to the very first engagement for the Rebirth Arts Dance Company (RADC) is nothing short of seeing the hand of God orchestrate everything.  This journey began several years ago upon seeing a dance dress in a costume catalogue and having the thought that I should purchase it for the Company.  At the time, the RADC did not exist.  Years went by and I never purchased the dress and honestly had forgotten about the desire to purchase it.

 

Earlier this year, God had a very beautiful woman sow this dress into my ministry.  Upon seeing the dress I know immediately that something was up and began to overflow with emotion.  I knew that this was something that God had His hand on and the pieces were slowly falling into place.

 

A few months went by and I was contacted to minister for a wedding by a dear friend and fellow dance minister.  I was truly honored, prayed for the release to accept the engagement, and confirmed once I had the release from God. 

 

It wasn't until after ministering at the wedding that the Holy Spirit began to show me how it all came to be. 

• Years ago . . . I had a desire to purchase a garment for my Company
• Months ago . . . He had someone sow the garment into my ministry who had no idea about my desire to purchase it years ago.
• This month . . . The garment became the first that would be worn for the first Rebirth Arts Dance Company engagement.

 

Not only were the colors of the garment perfect for the occasion, but the colors of the wedding were also the colors of Rebirth Arts (blues and bright green).

 

As the Holy Spirit began to lay all of this out for me, I could do nothing more than smile, praise God, and know that it was my wink from the Father, letting me know that I was doing exactly what He had called and instructed for me to do.

 

 

Here is a little footage from the engagement: