GRAND JETÉ

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By Penny DeArmond—

 

Have you ever been in a movie where a line is spoken that is so genuine and beautiful it gives you goose bumps? Or maybe you have been to a restaurant and the food you ate was just so good you wanted to throw your hands up and say, “hallelujah!” Perhaps you’ve been driving in your car through breath taking scenery and just started crying because of the glorious view. There are times I find myself walking through my ordinary life routine but on the inside, my heart is doing grand jetés, and all I want to do is just let it out and say, “praise God for His unique creations!”

For anyone that is not familiar with ballet, grand jetés are those really graceful, stunning leaps where one leg flicks in the front and one behind. Splits in the air! The name says it all, a very grand movement!

When I go to the place where only God and I meet. I kneel at his feet and I love to see the joy it brings when He hears His children all singing as one. Voices raised in churches, states, and nations at the same time. Like a proud parent listening to their child. My thoughts always go to the cross during worship. I think about how God sacrificed His son. I can actually put that into context now after having a son of my own. At first it makes me sad. But then I reflect upon the resurrection and what that sacrifice bought.  And that gets my heart headed for grand jetés!

Three worship experiences stand out particularly in my life. They all were very different. They all were in different stages of my life and involved different people:

I was a 17 years old getting ready to attend my first semester at Liberty University. My dad—the only familiar face on campus, was there dropping me off and getting me settled in the dorms. The school was a having a service to welcome new students and start the year off with prayer and worship. Dad was going to be leaving the next morning to drive back home 1,500 miles away. I was a little nervous but confident of my choice to move to Virginia. That night, my dad walked down to the front of the stage with me, prayed over me, and held me so close it hurt. Then we both lifted our hands and sang and cried. That was the first time I remember understanding being loved by two Fathers. And the first time I understood real worship.

Fast forward six years. My family and I had just said goodbye to my brother Matthew in a beautiful memorial service on a Saturday at our family’s church. The next day I was supposed to lead worship in a dance along with several others. This was a large production we had been preparing for months. I was given the option to back out if I felt it was going to be too emotional to participate. I decided to dance. I’m so glad I did. The experience of worshiping God in the midst of such grief and sorrow was the closest, experience I have ever had with my Savior. I actually got to do a real grand jeté, right there on stage! The other cool part is that my dad was playing the guitar for the performance, and my mom was singing in the choir. And because we just had the funeral, our whole family was in the congregation. So we were all there together, hurting, worshiping, and healing.

About two weeks ago, I was in my car driving, and a grand jeté moment hit me when I was least expecting it. I was traveling home after a very long week of juggling work, mommy hood, and everything else. I was stressed. I let life in, instead of God. Then Meredith Andrew’s song, Strong God, came on the radio and I began to sing. As I was singing I could feel my eyes begin to well up and the goose bumps start to spread and before I knew it I was in an all-out praise and worship session in my little black Acura on the 121. I actually contemplated pulling over because I was so into it I was beginning to become concerned with safety!

Sometimes I meet God. Sometimes he meets me. Sometimes it’s a whispered, “Hi, You are awesome.” over my morning coffee. Sometimes is a grand jeté at our weekend church service. God has given us so many avenues of worship. My challenge to you and myself is to not confine worship to church once a week. Worship God when you feel it. Worship God through his creation. Worship God through the friends and family He has placed in your life. Worship God through, song, dance, cooking, exercising, writing, reading, praying, work, loving, the list is never ending. Worship God when life is good. Worship God when life is hard. Worship God when life is happy. Worship God when life is sad.  WORSHIP GOD.

Recently my family and I attended a church service at Crossroads Fellowship in Odessa, Texas. They turned out an awesome, worshipful, and challenging video I urge you check out. Sometimes our hearts need a little refreshing and a little stimulating and I know this woke mine up. May your heart do many grand jetés this week!

http://vimeo.com/75054849#

 

 

 

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Penny DeArmond: Penny lives in Bedford, Texas with her husband, Bryce, and sweet baby boy! A hairdresser by trade and writer by aspiration, she sees both of these commissions as opportunities to minister. Currently, being “mama” is priority, but in her free time she runs the park trails of Grapevine and snuggles up with a good book and a cup of coffee.

As a writer, Penny is joining her mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law to share the possibilities of healthy women-in-law relationships in a book on the topic.

Penny serves as the website editor and moderator for My Purpose Now. She is excited to be a part of the ministry while learning so much from the previous generation. You can keep up with Penny on her blog at http://pennylovespeanutbutter.blogspot.com/