The still, quiet voice said ‘remember me’. And my mind pushed it away.
This Christmas I was blessed to supervise a wonderful choreographer. One night we met with a church team to work on the details of the services for Christmas eve. We shared ideas, feelings, and technical questions about plans for the service. And our thoughts went from little to big as all kinds of ideas filled the evening. As the discussion moved forward and choices made, the Lord Jesus prompted my heart with a message:
remember me.
Oh come on. This is church and we’re planning a celebration for Christmas. We’re all Christians. And me? I’ve been a Christian for over 45 years. Lord, do you really think that I won’t remember you? Then I heard it again. ‘Remember me’. And I was glad to have the Holy Spirit as my ministry partner. Because, if I’m honest, it’s easy to forget the purpose for dance ministry and rabbit trail off into my own agenda. Because I’m a sheep and not a shepherd, I often forget to listen to the most important voice I need to in ministry discussions.
As I create a dance, I string together dance movements that I call choreography. But what is the deepest content of that process? What inner voices dictate the outcome of my thoughts and my movement/project choices? As a trained dancer, I know what I tend to remember: dance technique and/or feelings. Both things are part of the choreography process although they are not the critical element for prayer in motion. Jesus said to remember him and I want to default to remembering me or listening to you. Through the years, I’ve discovered that many Christian songs don’t really expose others to the heart of Jesus. It’s easy to choose ‘cool’ songs that have no message. These songs may have biblical words in them but they don’t necessarily say anything.
Because I’m prone to wander, I have to renew my mind with His mind, and I have to be intentional as I choose a ministry project. That means I evaluate any potential project that comes my way and make sure that the words speak transcendently. Does a potential dance ministry project identify one clear biblical concept? That target starts my choreographic journey using the language of dance so that people receive a snapshot of the gospel. Without keeping Christ actively present in the choices I make, ministry becomes ‘me’.
Lord, help me to remember Jesus and hit the target. Continually.
