Starting With Prayer

The first week back to the studio at Cavod Performing Arts was a success! It was so lovely to see all of the students smiling faces again and was special to watch them warmly embrace one another after a long summer apart. It felt so good for me to be back in my element and I am enjoying the rhythm of the good ole' routine. I am so thankful God led me to my ballet instructing position with Cavod Performing Arts and am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for all of us here at Cavod this coming year.

A few of my lovely students from last season.

Cavod is a special place. One of my favorite things about teaching at Cavod is how much freedom we are given, not only with encouraging and guiding our students to be better dancers but also in facilitating their development of faith and good character.

Faith, that is, in Jesus Christ

"The way, and the truth, and the life." - John 14:6

"The one in whom the whole fullness of deity dwells" - Colossians 2:9

"The one who, though he had none, God made to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

"Our blessed hope, the glory of our great God, our Savior." - Titus 2:13

"The King of kings and Lord of lords” - Revelations 17:14

"The founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, endured opposition from sinners so that we will not grow weary and lose heart" -Hebrews 12:2

We help encourage the students in their faith in subtle ways; In our actions, by loving them unconditionally like Christ, and by cultivating growth in them through the vehicles of constructive (but not too abrasive) criticism AND encouragement, which I know from experience as a former ballet student can seem a much less common approach educating in the world of the performing arts these days. We are also encouraged and given the freedom to say a prayer at the beginning of each class which is one of my favorite ways to prepare both the hearts and minds of the students and myself as we enter into our ballet classes which can be so demanding of our hearts, minds, and bodies! I predominately work with the junior age and young teens. I remember what it was like to train at their age, with such vigor, and at such a formative period in their lives. My favorite prayer to pray over them actually comes from the pen of King David, found in Psalms 19:14

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 

be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."

...Because Lord knows the self-deprecating thought life performers can find themselves wrestling against at times.

I am eternally grateful for my own, very experienced, and wise former dance teacher who set the example for me and would pray this over myself when I was a student. I can now say I've "been there, done that" in the sense that: I once, in my youth, trained vigorously, worked hard to attain my goals, climb the ranks, made it professional, and now too, am a well-seasoned ballet teacher that has found the necessity of prayer, and faith, and "above all, guarding your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23.)

In hindsight, I am amazed looking back on the journey the Lord has taken me on, and am so honored to be his vessel in this way as a dance teacher in this season. I only pray this enthusiasm and gratitude sticks with me in the thick of the school year. 😝

In closing, to any of my readers out there that equally have a heart for prayer and my mission, would you please keep the following prayer requests in mind on behalf of me and my students and their families:

• That God would be the source, our all and everything, for all us teachers, leaders, and staff at Cavod. That he would guide, and provide us with wisdom and all the smarts when dealing with the precious souls he has entrusted us with educating. That we would be sufficiently poured into as we pour out; that Cavod would stand out and be known as a set apart organization unquestionably for the glory of God.

• That God would protect our students physically (no injuries in Jesus' name), emotionally, and spiritually, as well as their families.

• Would you pray for Cavod's Citylight Dance Theater outreach team; That we would have fruitful ministry this year?

• For logistical needs; that we would meet our funding goals no problem, for good communication within the school amongst one another and amongst the families we work with, and for performance bookings and opportunities for us and our students to give back to the Lancaster Country Community. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day and a blessed week 

in the Lord!

💗

______________________________________________

 ↓ For More Optimistic Reads ↓