Thursday, January 25, 2018

Professional Christian Ballet Companies




Audition season is here and it's a big deal! The future career of a ballet student's life hinges on how well they perform in their auditions. I know from personal experience that it can be a very stressful time. As much as one can try to prepare and do all they can to put their best foot forward, many variables can influence the performance of a dancer on any given day. For example, if the dancer is having to travel to an audition site the body can be affected turning stiff from long hours of driving or flying. Sometimes quality of sleep is compromised if having to stay in a hotel or sleep in a different bed than normal the night before. Even small things such as the condition of the dancer's shoes, the temperature of the room, or the barre spot they stand in can affect their performance.

Not to mention, there are also so many variables that influence the decisions made by the Ballet Company Directors on audition day. The pressure is on, as in most auditions, the auditionees only get one shot. Though it doesn't always seem fair, the truth is that things really are out of our control. But at least as Christians, we believe and know that God IS in control and that he is worth trusting.

My advice to dancers is that they consider auditioning for more than one company; As many as possible!  Sure we all have our favorite dream companies and dream careers, but if you truly love dancing and desire to do it professionally one day, I would keep my horizons open if I were you.


Image Source


The fact is, the more options you consider, the higher the likelihood is that you will end up with a career dancing SOMEWHERE and in the end isn't that all a passionate dancer wants? Maybe you haven't considered the idea of auditioning for multiple companies because you are a Christian ballerina unaware of all the options that are out there for you. In this day and age with the Internet and Google, it's usually no problem hunting down information, but the one thing I've noticed that is lacking in the World Wide Web is a comprehensive list of CHRISTIAN  ballet companies for Christian dancers so I've taken it upon myself to provide one!

There are several wonderful professional Christian ballet companies/ministries out there just waiting for you to discover. Whether you are a student in search of a good summer program or are actually looking to land a position dancing professionally, I believe you will find this list to be very helpful. Most of these companies offer summer dance intensives for hardworking aspiring ballerinas, and most of these companies also hold auditions each year in search for the perfect dancers to fill their available spots. It could be you! Continue on below to view the list and be sure to visit the companies' websites using the links provided in the last column of the chart to get more details on what is offered!




Commit  to  the  Lord  whatever  you  do, 
 and  he  will  establish  your  plans.

Proverbs  16:3




↓  The  Top  Professional  Christian  Dance  Companies  ↓


Ballet Company Description Website
Ballet Magnificat

World's premier full-time professional Christian ballet company committed to presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ through dance. (Jackson, MS) www.balletmagnificat.com
Ballet 5:8 Ballet 5:8 is the only major Christian professional ballet company in the Midwest. Ballet 5:8 is dedicated to engaging audiences in discussion of life and faith through breathtaking dance performance. (Frankfort, IL) www.ballet58.org

Instruments Ballet Company Instruments is a dance company based in beautiful Portland, Oregon. We are passionate about using dance as an instrument to express the hope and love of God in Christ Jesus. (Portland, Oregon)

www.instrumentsballet.com
Paradosi Christian Ballet Company We Exist To Worship God, Love People, Share The Gospel, & To Make Disciples Of Jesus Everywhere We Go! - As A Ministry We Believe That God Has Called Us To. (Tacoma, WA) www.paradosiballetcompany.com
Light of the World Light of the World Ballet is a full-time professional ballet company which performs locally, state-wide, and tours nationally and internationally. The desire of the company is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an unconventional way as the art of dance moves through barriers to minister the love and power of the Holy Spirit. (Syracuse, NY) www.lightoftheworldballet.com
Glorify Dance Theater Glorify Dance Theatre (GDT) is the resident ballet company at Glorify Performing Arts! Using contemporary ballet to tell stories and explore themes of Christianity, our company will present 2 main stage shows per year and will be available to travel locally to churches and outreach functions presenting shorter performances.(Wester Chester, PA) www.glorifyperformingarts.org
Petra Ballet Co. Petra Ballet Company desires to give Jesus Christ the highest praise with our talents. Our mission is to exalt His name through dance, revive hearts through worship, and make Him known through excellence in the arts. With Jesus as the foundation of this company, we are committed to share our passion for Him locally, to the city of Springfield, as well as nationally. Petra Ballet Company is a non-profit organization. (Springfield, MO) www.petraballet.com
Anastasis Ballet Company Anastasis is a non-profit professional ballet company based in Tracy, CA. We use the art of dance to worship our Lord Jesus Christ and inspire others to use their talents and gifts as an expression of love toward their Savior. (Dublin, CA) www.anastasisballet.org
Ballet Excelsior Ballet Excelsior of Houston, a professional Christian dance company, using the art of dance to glorify God. Ballet Excelsior of Houston, established in 2002 by Liza Pollok, presents the Christian message of inspiration and hope through the language of dance. (Houston, TX) www.balletexcelsior.org
Dance Revolution/ Ingredients Dance Company Ingredients is made up of dancers with all the right ingredients to take the gospel in all forms of dance to this nation and the world. We are training our members with the head, heart, and soul knowledge that it takes to be a professional in the arena of dance and also to be a minister of the gospel.Both Company and Trainees perform at outreach opportunities, stadium events, and on tour with the Dance Revolution Convention. It is our heart and mission to reach the world for Christ through dance. (Southlake, TX)www.ingredientsdanceco.com
Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet exists to “love all and serve all” as the church embodied through the visible form of dance.  Ekklesia holds a diverse compilation of repertory that spans a full spectrum of emotion, physicality, and vocabulary which address major issues our world is facing today such as poverty, inequality, and human suffering.   Ekklesia’s passionate performers, choreographers, and collaborators are committed to presenting innovative work that speaks to every audience member in an effort to heal our world. (Killingworth, CT ) ekklesiacontemporaryballet.com
Spring Dance Company Springs Dance Company is a vibrant contemporary dance organization bringing creative and engaging dance to a diverse range of venues and communities. Founded over 35 years ago, we are one of the longest-established dance companies in the UK. (Lampmead Road, London SE12 8QJ) springsdancecompany.org.uk
Dramatic Truth Ballet Theater Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre is a professional, neoclassical ballet company which tours nationally and internationally. Always powerful, Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre presents ballets with moving, thought provoking Christian themes, inspiring dancers and audiences alike. (Kansas City, MO) www.dramatictruth.org
Zion Dance Project ZDP operates as a project dance company, with the unique capacity to present work in traditional and unconventional venues. Professional level dancers are hired to rehearse and perform based on varying project events.  ZDP is available to concert theaters, churches, conferences, studios, music videos, special events, and festivals. Taking dance experiences to organizations and ministries nationally and internationally for the purpose of enlightenment. (Dallas, TX) https://www.ziondanceproject.org/
Ad Deum Dance Company A professional contemporary/modern dance company based in Houston, Texas with a to create and perform excellent and vital works of dance that serve to wash over the heart and soul of humanity with relevant meaning and redemptive hope. Ad Deum Dance Company embraces a calling to present dance infused with a redemptive purpose, serving the needs of humanity with beauty, grace and hope. (Houston, TX) www.danceaddeum.com
Magnum Opus Ballet The purpose of Magnum Opus is to be a company that dances with integrity while spreading the zeal of our Creator through pure artistic movement. (Madison, WI) www.magnumopusballet.org
New Creation Dance Company  New Creation is a professional performing company and nonprofit ministry. Our desire is to use the art of dance to glorify the name of Jesus and make him known. We offer performances, workshops, master classes, and local weekly classes. (Little Rock, AR) http://www.newcreationdance.org/
updated 4/06/20

 God  bless  all  your  auditions!




If any other noteworthy companies you know of were left off this list please share them with us in the comment section down below or contact me at lillian@theoccupiedoptimist.com to get them added to the list! Auditionees might also want to check out this other helpful resource:
Thank You for stopping by!
Comment, subscribe, and don't be shy!








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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

A Devotional Book Giveaway! (Closed)

An amazing mom, author, and woman of God, Dr. Troye Thigpen, who was first introduced to you in this Testimony Tuesday blog post, is the one who is being featured again today! It was when I learned that my friend's mother, Dr. Thigpen, wrote "Good Morning Holy Spirit", a 50-day prayer and devotional book, that I decided I had to get in touch with her to get to know the woman behind the book. What I've learned about the amazing Dr. Thigpen by way of interview is what I will be sharing with you today. I strongly believe you will enjoy hearing about her and I am excited to share that Dr. Thigpen and I have partnered together to offer a special giveaway opportunity for you to participate in, this being the first of possibly many giveaways to be offered here at The Occupied Optimist! More information about the giveaway of Dr. Thigpen's book "Good Morning Holy Spirit: 50 Days of Prayer and Devotion" can be found at the end of this post!

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"Dr. Troye is a child of the Most High God, Wife, Mother, Educator, Minister, Chaplain, Intercessor, Author, Blogger, Student, and Founder of The Prayer Tent International. 
She desires to pray the heart of God and to reach the masses, through various social media platforms, with Revelation and Knowledge of God’s Word through Teaching and Prayer. 
Dr. Troye is an active Blogger, she sends out Good Morning Holy Spirit and Thank You Holy Spirit Tweets. She is also committed to three o’clock, evening prayer. This is the time according to Acts 4:31, that the Disciples prayed, and the earth started shaking. They were filled with the Holy Spirit of God, began to speak boldly, and preach the Word of God. She calls it, “Earth Shaking Prayer!” 
Dr. Troye has served in local ministries in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and now in Missouri where she currently resides. 
Dr. Troye has served in ministry for over 20 years. She was licensed and ordained in 2014 through Word of Life Ministries International and Word of Life Christian Fellowship, as a Minister and Chaplain. 
Her passion and desire is to see others whole, walking in their God-given Authority, full of God’s Wisdom and fulfilling their God-given Purpose."  
- As seen on Dr. Troye Thigpen's website: http://www.theprayertentinternational.org/


The  Interview



Lillian: Tell us your heart behind this devotional that you wrote? Was there a particular inspiration behind it? What is the story behind giving birth to this book?

Dr. Thigpen: Prayer has been a part of my life since I can remember. Even as a little girl, I loved church and I loved to worship and sing in the choir, and I had a desire to know more about God. But I would say that my call to Intercessory Prayer began in the late 90’s. God would wake me at the same time every night or shall I say morning in the 3 am hour. I would retreat to another room to read the Word of God and record prayers written from the Word of God. As time went on I accumulated notebook after notebook of notes and prayers. I have always been a part of prayer and prayer ministries. I loved being in an atmosphere of prayer and worship. I loved to see God move through answered prayer with signs, wonders, and miracles that followed. In 2008, my family and I moved to St. Louis area where we joined a local ministry. My husband and I were asked to take a leadership role in the church and become Life Group or Small Group Ministry Directors. We started the ministry and grew it to over 200 participants in a small church. God really moved. During that time, not only were we Directors, we began to lead our own group on The Holy Spirit of God. Because of the relationships that we established with the participants and leadership over the leaders of other groups, I began to send out encouraging words, teachings, and prayers to the leaders who were under us as Life Group leaders. That expanded to people requesting prayer. Because I was a homeschool Mom, I was able to text prayers to those who petitioned prayer, etc. In December of 2014, I was in prayer and I heard the Lord say that He wanted me to start a ministry through social media. There is much negativity. I need My Word to go forth. I was thinking this must be God because I was not on any social media platform, nor did I have the desire to be. In January of the following year, I went to a prayer conference and the Word given to me was confirmed. God set it up for me, by the time I returned home from the conference I had launched my ministry. A dear friend of mine helped me by setting up various media platforms and my ministry was launched January 10, 2015. We have just celebrated 3 years of prayer with The Prayer Tent International. After starting the ministry, things really started unraveling, I felt like God was moving me out into uncharted territory. I knew that I had heard from the Lord, however, I felt as though I was on an island alone. No one understood. I knew that I had to be obedient to God no matter what people thought, how they tried to make me feel, or how they tried to stifle what God had called me to do. My alone time with God and the writing of the prayers was what brought me through what I call my "Wilderness Process or Experience." This is how Good Morning Holy Spirit: 50 Days of Prayer and Devotion came about. I would begin each day with devotional time with the Lord and I would read until Holy Spirit prompted my Spirit and told me what to write. I always say, “He speaks, and I write.” As I began to share the prayers with others, they would say how they blessed them. This is how the book came about. God took my painful experience and turned it into a healing process, not only for me but others as well. God allowed the frustration to push me out and do what He purposed for me to do.



Lillian: What can readers expect to get out of this devotional?

Dr. Thigpen: Readers can expect to spend time with God in Devotion and Prayer for 50 Days. It is my hope that the prayers would jump start them to interact daily with God. As they read the prayers and the Scriptures, I pray that the Holy Spirit of God would whisper gently to them and that they would journal their own prayers and pray them back to Him causing a deepened and strengthened relationship with Holy Spirit who lives and dwells inside of them. I pray that it would be a life-changing experience as the readers learn to acknowledge and engage the Holy Spirit for answers because He knows all things.



Lillian: When did you first begin writing? Can you tell us what your first book was called and when it was published?  

Dr. Thigpen: My first book was published in December of 2015. It is called, “Speak & Be Healed: If Your Bones Can Hear, What About the Rest of Your Body?” This book evolved from a sermon that I had written for a Homiletics Class.

We are losing many people today because of poor health choices. The CDC (2012) says the leading causes of death in the United States are heart disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and arthritis.” The report also said that almost all of these diseases can be prevented with proper diet and exercise. But thank God, He created us with sensory neurons, these neurons were created to respond to light and sound. Did you know that in a fraction of a millisecond your sensory neurons located in your nervous system can hear a sound and respond back to your central nervous system? So, when God told Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones in Ezekiel 37:3-7, they responded to sound. The Word of God that was spoken from the mouth of a man, Prophet Ezekiel. Not only did the bones come back together, but everything that was associated with each individual came back together including their minds. We believe in doctors, but we also believe in the supernatural healing power of God. When we put our faith into action and we begin to speak the Word of God over our bodies, I believe God can and will heal our bodies and renew our minds. He can do a total healing, mind, body, and soul, just like he did with the Israelites. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. You too can have a “Suddenly” moment with God. I encourage you to get the book. It is a short read, and I believe it will help increase your faith, if you need a miracle from God, you can get the book. It is available on Amazon or on Kindle.

Lillian: WOW! I definitely need to put that book on my reading list! It sounds soo good!


Lillian: Would you like to inform us how long have you been walking with the Lord and how your journey with Him began?

Dr. Thigpen: I got saved at an early age, I was in the 4th grade I believe. I was so glad that I had a relationship with the Lord. My parents were murdered when I was 14 years old. It was my faith in God that got me through the toughest times in life. It was not always easy, but His hand was never too far that I could not reach Him, nor His ear too far that He could not hear me.



Lillian: Do you have any favorite bible verses?

Dr. Thigpen: A prayer that I have always prayed: Jesus has anointed me with the Holy Spirit and Power, that I would go about doing good, and healing those who were sick and oppressed of the devil, because God is with me. Acts 10:38

The Lord’s Prayer was the prayer that I prayed the night the Lord saved our lives, my brother and myself, from the people who came into our house and murdered our parents. Matthew 6:9-13

Mark 11:24, Whatsoever, you ask in prayer, believe that you have received them, and you shall have what you say.

Psalm 56:3, When I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Prov. 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path.

Joshua 1:5, Just as you were with Moses, so shall you be with me. You will never leave me nor forsake me. (My Prayer)

Each one of the previously mentioned Scriptures has gotten me through various stages of life.



Lillian: Are there any other materials you have written that you would like to tell us about?

Dr. Thigpen: Everything is linked to my website. [Check out] My blog…although I have not blogged in awhile because I have been working on my book and other teachings. I put writings and nuggets on my ministry Facebook Page. I have Vol. 2 of Good Morning Holy Spirit: 50 Days of Prayer and Devotion in queue and a book that my husband and I have written together. It will definitely bless the life of the reader. There are some exciting things coming, stay tuned and please sign up on my website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I am always sharing nuggets from Holy Spirit. I would love to hear from you.



Lillian: What are some hobbies you enjoy?? 

Dr. Thigpen: If I could climb up in my bed with different versions of the Bible, Concordances, and other resources and not come out until I wanted to, I would be in Heaven! Unfortunately, life does not work out that way. LOL

I love to see people growing in the knowledge of Christ and praying the Word and will of God. We are foodies, so as a family, we like to try different restaurants and types of food. I also like to cook and decorate; arts and crafts are some of my favorite things to do.



Lillian: So you are a  Christian "Ballet Mom". Do you have any advice, words of wisdom, or encouragement you would like to give to other ballet moms out there reading my blog?

Dr. Thigpen: As a Ballet Mom, I would say, get to know the other Moms. I often found myself having Bible study or prayer with a Mom or two. I would call it the “Wait Ministry.” Moms spend a lot of time waiting for Ballet to end each day.

God gives each person gifts. It is up to us as parents to guide [our children] in the way that He wants them to go. For [my daughter] Chloe it was dance and Bible. She loves them both. So, we put her in the best place to give her the best opportunities for growth, maturity, and development in those areas. Allowing her to attend Saint Louis Ballet was worth the sacrifice. As a result, she was able to secure a dance and academic scholarship to Belhaven University.

My advice is after you have trained them up in the Spiritual and the Natural, trust the God in them to be the best that they can be. He will never lead them wrong and He will never leave nor forsake them. Always keep an open dialogue with them and after they have expressed all their hopes, dreams, desires, wows, and disappointment, etc., remind them of the Word and let them make the best decisions based on what they know and what the Spirit of God says to them. Teach them how to hear the voice of God and encourage them to continue to develop their relationship with Him.



Lillian: Any last words?

Dr. Thigpen: I am doing mini teaching on the book and I have started recording prayers to compliment the book. Stay tuned for that.


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Special Thanks To Dr. Troye Thigpen for taking the time to answer all my questions!

So grounded in the Word of God and in tune with the Holy Spirit, this woman, without a doubt, knows God and is such an inspiration to me. I hope you enjoyed hearing from her as much as I did. And her and I both hope that you will participate in our give away! 

But before we get to that, I also want to encourage you to support Dr. Thigpen in her ministry by following her on her social media platforms. I'll reiterate on her behalf that she loves being contacted and hearing from you!







Her books can be found for sale here on Amazon.



The  Giveaway!

The moment you've been waiting for: Now for the giveaway! Dr. Thigpen and I are partnering together to offer you this special giveaway opportunity; a chance for you to win Dr. Thigpen's book "Good Morning Holy Spirit: 50 Days of Prayer and Devotion"!



What better way to start off your year than with 50-days of prayer!!!




Description: Good Morning Holy Spirit:50 Days of Prayer and Devotion is a series of interactive prayers and words of meditation that will assist you in pursuing a greater relationship with the Holy Spirit of God.


I won't try and pretend that this isn't an effort to promote her book, because it is, but only because it is worth being promoted! Unlike some giveaways and the product promoting you will find on other blogs that are simply motivated by earning commission and gaining affiliate stature, my motivation for promoting this book is purely because I believe Thigpen is offering quality content. The scripture "Taste and see that the Lord is good," comes to my mind! And both Dr. Thigpen and I want to give you an opportunity to experience this for yourself. Your gonna love this book!


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In order to participate in this giveaway 1.) Fill out the form below and leave a comment in the comment section of this post 2.) After leaving a comment, an additional entry may be submitted by signing up for my newsletter via the signup bar at the top of the page. Those who are already signed up for my newsletter can still submit a second entry by doing this, without the fear of receiving duplicate newsletters. It is just a measure taken so I can verify your second entry. 

This giveaway is open worldwide and you can enter anytime over the next week. The winner will be contacted via email and announced Wednesday, January 31st.  If you have any additional questions - feel free to send me an email!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck! 
💗

I hope you enjoyed this post!
Let me know what you thought about it and if you would like to see more blog entries like this!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a Blessed evening in the Lord!

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Tuesday, January 23, 2018

The Miracle on Tennessee Street as Told by Dr. Troye Thigpen

TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“ Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via YouTube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!


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Today I’m going to share with you the testimony of the mother of one of my friends Chloe. I first met Chloe when I was assigned to be her assistant counselor at the Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance Intensive in 2016. Chloe is awesome, but I surmise that her awesomeness is in part due to the fact that she has such awesome parents! Chloe has a wonderful story herself that can be checked out at her website Beautifulandchoosen.com, but today we are going to focus specifically on the story of her mother, Dr. Troye Thigpen.  Y’all, God is amazing!  He is an omniscient, omnipresent, never-sleeping, all-powerful God who is loving and intentional with his creations. It is mind-boggling for me to think of all the work that He has done and continues doing in the hearts and lives of so many people. There are people all around us possessing amazing testimonies! Everybody's got a story. Listen to this child of the Most High God, Wife, Mother, Educator, Minister, Chaplain, Intercessor, Author, Blogger, Student, and Founder of The Prayer Tent International, Dr. Troye Thigpen's God story below and be blessed and encouraged!




I am always looking to give my readers the opportunity to share their testimonies with the world here at The Occupied Optimist in written or media form. Please contact me at lillian@theoccupiedoptimist.com if you are interested in doing so.
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a Wonderful Tuesday! 


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Thursday, January 11, 2018

The Lord is My Pace-Setter


Sharing this with you all because sometimes we need to be reminded of the one who is taking care of us...

-   Psalm  23  for  Busy  People   -

by Toki Miyashiro

The Lord is my Pace Setter, I shall not rush,
He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals,
He provides me with images of stillness,
Which restores my serenity.
He leads me in ways of efficiency,
through calmness of mind
and his guidance is peace.

Even though I have a great many things 
to accomplish each day,
I will not fret, 
for his presence is here.
His timelessness, 
his all-importance 
will keep me in balance.

He prepares refreshment and renewal 
in the midst of my activity,
by anointing my head with his oils of tranquility,
My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness 
shall be the fruit of my hours,
For I shall walk in the pace of my Lord,
and dwell in his house forever.



a "Japanese version of Psalm 23" published in Guidepost Magazine 



God Bless You!
Thanks for stopping by!
comment, follow, subscribe and don't be shy!

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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Fruitcake, and Ice Cream, and Other Stuff Too!


TESTIMONY TUESDAY!

“ Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”

~ Luke 8:39

Presenting with excitement, I introduce to you Testimony Tuesdays!!! A testimony by definition is: a formal written or spoken statement, a public recounting of a religious conversion or experience. The Bible commands us in numerous places to bring praise, glory, and honor to our God by proclaiming, declaring, and telling about His marvelous works to others. That is the purpose and heart behind this installment for my Tuesday posts. Each Tuesday (more or less), a testimony will be shared here involving the recounting of salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing just to name a few; A story that brings glory to our God and in which we might be encouraged, spurred on, and challenged with at the same time.The stories that will be shared will either be of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via YouTube or other media sources, as well as YOURS! I would love to know and give you the opportunity to share here with us a testimony of your own, of whatever fashion that involves the Lord doing a transforming work in your life. Just email me your testimony and I will see what I can do about posting it on a future Tuesday! You may choose to have your name be known or anonymous. I look forward to hearing from you!


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Hello, my dear friends on the other side of the screen! How is your 2018 treating you?! Yesterday was our first day back in the dance studio and I'm actually not feeling too sore! Praise the Lord for that! We will see how long this lasts for though. Long hours at the studio are expected for us for the rest of the week. Choreographer Tara Thibodeaux Drew is coming into town to work with us tomorrow. We love working with her and look forward to setting new choreography, only it is imperative that we maintain good health and get adequate rest in order to make it through these intense next couple of days. We covet your prayers. 😉  


It has been quite some time since we have had a Testimony Tuesday here at The Occupied Optimist so I thought today would be a good day for me to share one. 

Have you ever experienced when a single rough day can totally undo any/all eternal perspective and right thinking that perhaps took you so much longer than a day even to gain? How this can happen, I know not; it just baffles me. As easily as it occurs, I know those kinds of days are redeemable though. Life is a battle, but at least as Christians, we win the war. 

Sometimes after a long hard day full of self-focused dancing, when I get home it is necessary for me to have to recenter my heart and mind on the things that really matter in this life. Sometimes listening to other peoples testimonies, like the one I am about to share with you, helps me with that. The following testimony is probably one of THE BEST testimonies I have seen on Youtube in a while (though it came out in 2014)! It is presented to us by the amazing Louie Giglio, a zealous man of God and a very relatable and relevant speaker to the people of our generation. This testimony is on the lengthy side but I hope you can stick around and watch the whole thing if you have time! Whether you find yourself relating more so to Ashley, the one whose testimony is being shared, or to the Fruitcake, there is something that can be gleaned for everyone in this testimony. I pray that you are truly blessed by it, as I was. Enjoy.





What did you think?
Please comment down below to share your thoughts!
Are there any other Fruitcakes out there like Me and Krista? How about any other Ashleys?! 
I am always looking to give my readers the opportunity to share their testimonies with the world here at The Occupied Optimist in written or media form. Please contact me at lillian@theoccupiedoptimist.com if you are interested in doing so.
Have a Wonderful Tuesday!


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Friday, January 5, 2018

Treasures on Tour


Just for fun, over the course of this past year on tour, I collected a list of the random things I learned from all the random people I've met across the country. Today I am going to share that list with you! I did this last year and thought it would be a great blogging tradition to do annually. I am aware that these kinds of posts might be more significant to me than you considering I have memories attached to these random facts, but I don't know. Let me know what you think about this post and if you found it interesting and entertaining?! I wonder if any of my dear tour friends or sponsors from all-over will recall discussing these topics/ introducing these random facts to me?! Note, I don't believe the geographical location in which I learned these random facts has any significance to the random facts themselves.


Did you know...
1. There is this AMAZING middle eastern spice called Za'atar, I must get my hands on when I visit Israel next month. It tastes AMAZING with a little cream cheese and avocado on a bagel. It is a must try! (Cape Coral, FL)
2. I learned the smart way to chop up a chopped salad is to throw all your salad ingredients into a metal mixing bowl and glide a pizza cutter along the bowl through your salad! Brilliant! (Jacksonville, FL)
3. Things to ingest that will help you remember: fish oil, beets, lemon, and matcha tea. Is anyone else going to try these? (McKinney, TX) 
4. Our company visited Wilmington, NC and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with it! I discovered that it is considered a downsized version of Hollywood, referred to as Hollywood East or "Willywood" by some of the locals. TV shows like "Dawson's Creek" and "One Tree Hill" were filmed there! (Wilmington, NC).  
5. Linsborg, Kansas is another place we visited that I fell in love with. It is known as Little Sweden of the USA; such a cute little town in Kansas, who knew we had a Little Sweden!? ( Linsborg, Kansas)
6. I learned that the phrase "When the almond tree blossoms" found in Ecclesiastes 12:5, is referring to hair turning grey! The verse has meaning!  (Somerset, KY)
7. I had the pleasure of meeting sand story artist Joe Castillo who taught me that people tend to remember 30 percent of what is heard, and 80 percent of what is seen! (Jackson, MS)
8. The back pockets of your pants is a VERY DANGEROUS place to keep your cell phone. (Knoxville, TN)


😊

Oh, the places you'll go and the things you'll learn.
Here's to another year of discovery and adventure!
Thanks for stopping by! 

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Wednesday, January 3, 2018

January's 30-Day Hand lettering and Illustration Challenge


Cultivate creativity on a daily basis. Join me in the fun and challenge of committing to sketch or hand letter something at least once every day. Your creations don't all have to be elaborate masterpieces if you don't want, but just enough to get the creative juices flowing. The fun is in sharing each other's creations with one another and seeing what we each come up with! Comment and share your experiences with this challenge below and any thoughts you may have. Also, hashtag/link your creations on Instagram or Facebook to #oqpied or @oqpiedoptimist. I will periodically share mine on my Instagram as well. Follow me on my creative journey at my Instagram HERE! and Happy Creating!





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Monday, January 1, 2018

Why I Blog




It has been quite an interesting year of blogging for me. I went from posting nearly 6 posts a month equaling 82 posts in total last year, whereas this year there were some months I was close to not posting anything at all! This year I ended up posting a little over half the amount of what I did last year adding up to 53 blog posts... but who’s counting? Led to introspectively ponder on what these stats indicate, I have concluded: it's NOT that my love, passion, and zeal for blogging have become any less than that of what they were in the past, but that these stats are simply the repercussions of a year spent struggling to find balance. 

As I have implied in previous blog posts, I have been learning that as much as I LOVE blogging, if I'm not careful, it can become more so a source of stress than of pleasure. At times this past year, updating my blog felt more like a chore. Unrealistic deadlines and an absurd amount of pressure I'd place on myself regarding putting out content made me not want to do it at all! At other times I also struggled with the opposite problem of blogging and not wanting to stop, using it as a distraction for me from real-life stuff, which in this case, wasn’t a good thing. Bloggers know, if we let it, blogging can be a time consuming, ALL consuming thing. I know things are heading south for me when I start compromising times of quality living for hours on end of blog editing, or HTML code deciphering, or for long periods of time spent researching on a topic that I plan to write about on this website that doesn’t even earn me a dime (...yet)! 

God has been convicting me that this is NOT good; a vanity under the sun so to speak. I’ve been learning that the danger is when my priorities become off-kilter; I choose to spend more time on my computer than with people, I trick myself into thinking my leisure activities like blogging are of higher priority then my actual important real-life responsibilities, I begin sacrificing my health and good rest for designing the perfect blog layout. This was never meant to be. I thank the Lord that I’ve discovered something to do with my time that I love so much and I do hope someday to get this blog on the road to monetization, but even for then, I am glad I am learning this lesson NOW, that the key to a happy blogger is a healthy balance; balancing work with rest, responsibilities with leisure, passion with practicality, and prioritizing real life away from the screens over the documentation of it all later. I think I've got it figured out now. Only time will tell. Dear 2018, here I come.

Despite being less active here on The Occupied Optimist this past year, I am surprised, privileged and honored to say that my blog views have nearly doubled since last year! I have to thank all you lovely loyal readers for that, for sticking with me and for taking an interest in all that I share here! And welcome newcomers! I need to say though and need you all to know that I never mean to be just all about stats. You, my dear reader, are MORE than just a number to me. After all, I truly loathe numbers. I truly care about those of you on the other side. For me, the stats are simply a reassurance that I am not polluting the World Wide Web with worthless material and boring content that nobody wants to read. Everyone needs a little reassurance now and again, right? And a side note to those of you who are on the other side: Let me know your there! Get in on the different topics and let’s start discussion! I love hearing from you! 😊

 I’ve set my sights high for this coming year! I have been doing some major behind-the-scenes clean up of stuff here on my blog with hopes that in due time the effects of doing so will be evidenced in an improved user experience for both you and I, as well as a clearer picture coming into focus of what exactly we are about here at The Occupied Optimist which is: 
FUN, INSPIRATION, RESOURCEFULNESS, and GOD GLORIFICATION, the goal in mind being that these things would be portrayed here on my blog in a more consistent and clear manner.

SO now if you are still with me and waiting to read about 'Why I Blog - the heart behind The Occupied Optimist' ...then continue reading!


The  Heart  Behind  The  Blog


Being that we are at the start of a new year and I am trying to get things focused up here at The Occupied Optimist,  I thought It would be a good idea to remind myself of the reasons why I blog and thought you might enjoy reading about them.

To Share my Story.  It was 2 years ago when I started this blog when I realized I had a story inside me. It was over an extended amount of time and through meeting a myriad of different people on tour with Ballet Magnificat that I realized everyone has a unique and original story inside of them worth sharing. The key is finding value in it. Once I found the value in mine, the idea to start this blog just hit me! Blogging has been so good for me. With the intentions of updating my blog on a somewhat regular basis, I've grown accustomed to intentionally looking for the good things in my life to share with you about, causing me to be more conscious of those things and leading me to be more thankful to the Lord for them! 

As I live my life and share my experiences here, for all to see, my goal is to always be posting authentic material that inspires others. Blogging is not easy work as you may have gathered in the preface of this post, but it's what I love doing. Though my contributions to cyberspace may be small in this little corner of the world wide web, I can only hope that those who stumble upon it are impacted. I desire for my blog to be a safe and refreshing place where souls can be enriched and hearts encouraged. True to how I am in real life, I don't make much noise here, but I pray that the noise I do make pertaining to embracing originality and creativity, living life abundantly, and boasting in Christ, would resonate deeply with those who stop by to listen.

 To Build Faith. For both you and I. One of the staples of The Occupied Optimist are the "Testimony Tuesdays", where every Tuesday a testimony is shared that brings praise, glory, and honor to our God. The kinds of testimonies shared here involving either salvation, redemption, overcoming, and/or healing are of my own personal experiences, excerpts from books, testimonies I find via youtube or other media sources, or even testimonies submitted by blog readers just like you shared with the purpose of building up one another's faith. Through the telling of these testimonies of people from all different walks of life, it becomes apparent how similar we all are in our weaknesses as human beings, but also how we all find the same remedy in our great and wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ. My hope is also that the stories of all these different kinds of people will encourage you to simply be who you were created to be [in Christ], and to live confidently in that. So let's make an agreement: I'll be me and you be YOU! 😉 Did you catch the "in Christ" part?! If you're struggling to understand what the big deal about Jesus Christ is, then I invite you to (CLICK HERE). We are about being real here at The Occupied Optimist.

To Preserve Memories. For your benefit and mine. There is a sort of accountability that is formed when I live transparently before the world here at The Occupied Optimist. Whether it's a lesson I've learned that I am sharing with you about, or perhaps I'm just declaring beliefs I hold, I must then commit to adhere to the lesson I've learned, stand firm in the faith I've professed, and must let any life application I may challenge us with, take root in me as to avoid hypocrisy. Hopefully, the life stories I choose to share with you will also be found as entertaining. Documenting my memorable experiences on this blog gives me a place to turn to where I can be reminded of God's provision in my life of good times, adventures, smiles, and His faithfulness in keeping me. In turn, I hope my blog is a place you can turn to where stories can be read that remind YOU of God and His attributes that can be found in the everyday ins-and-outs of life.

For The Love of Creativity. The Occupied Optimist is a place for me to share my unique form of creativity with the world expressed in my post writings and My Creations, and I hope it's a place that hopefully inspires YOU to discover a unique form of creativity of your own!

For Life Enhancement. Let's get practical. Aside from all the warm fuzzies and creative fluff stuff, the Occupied Optimist is also about getting stuff done! We want to get stuff done in the most productive and time efficient ways possible. Whether the topic is time management, prioritizing, blogging, studying the bible, how to become a professional ballerina, or how to make a gallon of ice cream last on your shelf for longer than a week, I share with ya what I know...though I might not be able to help you out with that last one. 😜 I hope YOU will find all of the experiences shared and all the resources provided on this blog as helpful.


Lastly, The Occupied Optimist is about community! I know I'm not the only 'occupied optimist' out there, and whether you consider yourself to be one or not, everyone has something worth contributing here. Everyone is invited to this all-inclusive blog party! Everyone's opinion is valued. I know I'm running the show here, but I'm not going to pretend that I am an expert on every topic discussed on this blog. I love reader interaction via email or through any other of my social media platforms and I highly encourage YOU to leave comments on any/every single blog post you read and LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. Here at The Occupied Optimist, we're about growing and going through life together!










Are you still there?! 
If you got through reading this whole post, give yourself a pat on the back,
and then let me know you did! I sincerely appreciate you for taking the time to do so.
comment, subscribe, and don't be shy, and until next time,
I wish you abundant blessings in your 2018.
Happy New Year!
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