Twirl Bible Study- March

Is your Twirl student afraid of anything? Maybe it’s the dark, big spiders or the sound the wind makes when it hits the tree outside their window just right. Maybe it’s the bad guy in a movie, going into class all by themselves or performing a recital dance in front of an audience for the very first time. No worries, tiny dancers. This month’s memory verse teaches us that we have nothing to worry about!

 The Lord bless you and keep you.   — Numbers 6:24

 This verse begins the Benediction Prayer, thought to be one of the oldest poems in the Bible. Also known as Aaron’s Blessing, this simple statement packs a punch so poignant, despite its age, it’s still used regularly in Roman Catholic, Christian and Jewish worship services. It closes sermons, blesses congregations, concludes baptisms and is even spoken over brides and grooms in wedding ceremonies. So how do we unpack such a mighty prayer with our Twirl students? Let’s break it down…

 The Lord bless you...

 God has entered a covenant with His people. He tells us in Exodus 6:7: “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” He is our God, and only in a relationship with Him as our Father, are we truly blessed.

 ...and keep you,

 Psalm 17:8 tells us that He will keep us safe in the shadow of His wings. Just as He kept the children of Israel (to whom Aaron originally spoke this prayer), He is our Shepherd, and we will never be lost. He will never leave us. He will always protect us. No matter what.

 How do we know? It all comes back to this month’s Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness. God will always keep His promises. He will never stop loving us, and we can love and serve others faithfully because He has perfectly shown us how. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is a confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” No matter what we’re facing, He is there. Sometimes the steps seem too hard to learn and the dance seems too complicated to remember, but even when we feel all alone on a great big stage, He is there. Our Father, loving and protecting us... always.  As the full prayer (verses 24-26) says:

 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

 As difficult moments come up with your Twirl student—when the movie gets scary, when recital seems like too much, or when they need a little extra courage on a stormy night—we encourage you to come back and speak these truths together: The Lord bless you and keep you.

 Want to take these lessons further? Reinforce His promises with a hands-on activity (maybe over Spring Break, March 22-27)!

 Faithfulness Art/Necklaces

 Proverbs 3:3 says, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”

 Together with your Twirl student, braid some string, string some beads or use whatever you have handy (OR use this as an excellent excuse for a Target or craft store run) to make a tangible reminder of His faithfulness. Feeling scared or unsure? Grab your necklace, say this month’s verse, and remember He is there.

 If your Twirl student is still a little young for accessorizing, focus on the second half of the verse. Have your student write or draw pictures to remind them of His faithfulness. Hang their creations on the fridge or in their room, put them in their dance bag or display it wherever you could use a reminder of His protection.

March Devotional- Behold

Written by Beth Jordahl

 Imagine you are hiking with your favorite people. You woke up extra early and hopped into the car to get here. You are still feeling a bit groggy as you follow along. The sky is still kind of dark, but you can hear birds starting to sing. The air is cold on your face and you can’t feel your fingers anymore. There can’t possibly be further to go, but still you trudge on.

 But then… you get to the top of a hill, everyone spreads out and stares.

 You start to say something, but words fail you. Everyone is silent as you watch the beautiful pink tendrils of the sunrise start to peek out. You watch as the sky fades from black to blue. Light touches the clouds and the day begins. Wow, is the only thing you can think as you hike back down. It was worth waking up early, it was worth the aching muscles, it was worth the numb fingers and flushed cheeks. Seeing that beautiful, breath-taking moment filled you with awe and wonder about this amazing world that you live in.

 In that moment, when words failed you and everyone collectively held their breaths, that moment was a BEHOLD moment.

Behold means "to witness, view attentively, contemplate," and in earlier Greek usage, it meant the sense of wondering regard. This idea was gradually lost. It signifies a more earnest contemplation than the ordinary verbs for "to see," it means, "a careful and deliberate vision which interprets its object."

You didn’t just look at or see the sunrise. You beheld it! You witnessed it happening, you watched attentively to see what would happen, and you contemplated it’s beauty as you walked away. It was a moment in time that you can now look back on and ponder.

This month, as a studio, we are studying the word BEHOLD alongside of this verse:

 "We all, with unveiled faces, BEHOLDing the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

Sometimes, as we continue along with our lives, we can get sidetracked. We get busy with all of our different classes, our homework, our friends, our families, our plans. We spend our days rushing to and from each good thing. And that’s what they are, they are good things! It is good to fill your days with your friends and family. School and homework are very important. Dance class is super fun! So please don’t stop doing any of it.

Yet, as life goes on and things get even busier, don’t forget to stop.

Stop the busyness for a moment, and just BEHOLD God. Look at how He is at work in your life. Wonder at how He has provided and blessed you. Contemplate all of His promises.

 It is in these moments, where we stop and behold Him, that we are able to give Him the space to speak to us, to help us grow. In the Message version of this verse, it uses some beautiful language to describe this process.

“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.”

-        2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (MSG)

If you are looking for some ways to stop and draw closer to God, here are some helpful tips. 

●      MEMORIZE

Choose a verse (or go for the verse of the month) and recite it to yourself every morning and night. As you repeat it, think of all the ways God has shown Himself to you.

●      STUDY THE BIBLE

Use your concordance or the internet and look for several verses that talk about God’s goodness. Write them out and ask yourself these questions.

-       What do I learn about God from these verses?

-       What words stand out?

-       What don’t I understand?

-       Then pray and ask God what He is teaching you.

●      PRAY

It can be hard to get into a rhythm of prayer. So try setting alarms on your phone for every couple of hours. When the alarm goes off, take a couple of moments and just talk to God.

●      DO SOMETHING

Grab your family and go experience God’s glorious creation! Try taking a walk, going for a hike, heading to a park, playing in your backyard, or going on a picnic. Whatever works best for you!

Now go ahead and keep BEHOLDing our Wonderful, Amazing God!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

    and his courts with praise;

    give thanks to him and praise his name.

 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

-       Psalm 100:4-5

Five Fun Facts about Worship

Written by Beth Jordahl

Let them praise his name with dancing - Psalm 149:3

Worship dance (sometimes called liturgical dance) is one way to express your faith! It can be something you do at home with some good music, at church as a part of the worship experience, or (like at our studio) as a part of a class. It is simply a way of letting your body participate in an outpouring of praise for what God has done for you.

“The most valuable thing the Psalms do for me is to express the same delight in God that made David dance.” -C.S. Lewis

We love worship dance! So as we celebrate this form of dance here are some fun facts:

1. Worship dance dates back to Biblical times.
We can see in the Psalms how dancing is listed with singing and making music as one way of expressing our praise and admiration of what God has done. In 2 Samuel 6, we see how David dances so passionately that his wife looked on him with disgust. He emphasized how important it was that he pour out his praise.

 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns. - 2 Samuel 6:14-15

 2. Worship dance is fairly new in the West.
While worship dance is an important part of faith in the Bible, it was phased out of the church experience during the 16th century Protestant Reformation and did not become common or popular in American Christian worship until the 20th century. Now there are many studios across the US that offer worship dance classes. There are even many professional dance companies that operate from a place of Christian worship.

 3. Worship dance can be choreographed or can be spontaneous and improvised.
This can be seen clearly in dance classes and companies. In your dance class, you will learn a piece that the class performs together. You may also have many opportunities to improvise to worship music.

*Try it at home! Take some time to choose your favorite worship song. Turn it on and dance! Use your movement to tell a story or express the way you feel or just follow the music.

4. Worship dance can be a combination of lots of types of dance.
Worship dance takes its cues from the music! This means that it can be a combination of lots of different types of dance. Such as, ballet, jazz, hiphop, and lyrical. This means that there are very little rules or expectations! The main goal of worship is to bring glory to God. And that can be done through any style of dance.

 5. Worship dance can be used in mission trips!
A great example of this is the past mission trips Turning Pointe has taken. Using choreographed pieces, dancers tell the stories of faith, God’s love, and even the story of Christ. It can be a powerful tool of evangelism as dances connect with the audiences’ emotions and draw them into story. Dance is a powerful art form and can be a beautiful way to display God’s love to others!

If you are interested in what professional Worship Dance looks like, check out these dance companies.

●       Ballet Magnificat!, an arts organization dedicated to presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world, was founded in 1986 by Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux.

●      Ballet 5:8  is a professional dance company in Chicago and is a place where artists create, thrive, and exchange ideas informed by Christian faith.

●      Paradosi Ballet is a Christian ballet company that was founded in 2007 with the goal of sharing the love of Jesus through dance, drama, and personal witness.

 If you would like to try a Worship Dance class, email TurningPointeOffice@gmail.com to schedule a solo or small group lesson, in-studio or online!

Twirl Bible Study- February

Written by Beth Jordahl

 Everything in February is hearts and flowers! The grocery store is stocked with lots of pink, red, and white candies. And walk into any craft store and you will be assaulted with any number of bright colored supplies for making Valentines.

 The time has come, all these things declare, to tell the people around you how much you love them!

 While Valentine’s day may be a bit cheesy and overdone, the idea of sharing how much you love others should be at the heart of what we do all year round.

 This month, all of our Twirl classes are talking about LOVE with the verse: Deuteronomy 6:5:

 "Love the Lord with all your heart."

 This is not always an easy concept for little dancers. Mommies, daddies, grandmas, and grandpas are always saying “I love you.” And sometimes the dancers may even say it back!

 They may have started to learn to love through action. Sharing with siblings, or giving hugs. Or saying sorry for something that has gone wrong. They may love to create art to give to their favorite people. Or seek to spend time with those they love the most.

 But how do we help them understand how to love someone they can’t see, touch or hear?

 This is the question for many parents, Sunday School teachers and families. How do we love the Lord with all our hearts? And, how do we help our kids do that as well?

 One of the best ways to help your littles grow in their faith is to create experiences with them to share your own faith. These opportunities will help you show what it means to LOVE God with all of your heart.

 Here are a few things you can do with your family:

Worship
Whether you are at church or at home, worship music is a great way to help kids connect with God. You can help them learn the words to the song. Or just let everyone dance what they are feeling! Then you can talk about what they liked about the music and why worship is important to you.

Serve
You can love God by loving others! This is a tangible way to talk about loving God. Choose a way to serve others and then do it as a family. You can make cookies to share with your neighbors. You could serve at church, or find out if your church has a community service program.

 *For this week, you can also bring in new, fun, fuzzy, silly socks to the studio any time before Feb. 14th that will be donated to Children’s Hospital. Maybe even take your kids with you to let them pick out the socks. This is a great opportunity to bring some love and comfort to the kids in our community!

Art
Ask your kids what they think love is. Then create art using your favorite supplies and put up your masterpieces as a reminder of what love looks like!

Read

Here are a few wonderful books written for kids that share the beauty of God’s love:

-       The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones A beautiful kids Bible that focuses on how all the stories are pointing to God’s rescue plan, Jesus.

-       God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell A book about how God created all of us to be different and how He has a plan for His church.

-       You Are Special by Max Lucado This creative book tells the story of a very special puppet and his Creator.

-       The Theolaby Book Set by Jennie Allen This a five book series where each book tells part of God’s great plan, the first book is out and is called I am Creator. 

Share Verses
Do you have some favorite verses about God’s love and faithfulness or our call to love Him? This is a great time to share them with your kids. Here are a few to get you started: John 3:16-17, 1 John 4:8, Mark 12:29-31, 1 John 3:18, and Zephaniah 3:17.

 As you celebrate Valentine’s day this year, take some time to talk about how much God loves your kids and give them ways to show Him love in return.

February Devotional: Beside

Written by: Mimi McKinnis

“Why does February feel like one big Tuesday?”

Author/Pastor Todd Stocker has a point. January is over, and our initial 2021 optimism might be starting to fade. Did you know that 80 percent of new year gym memberships drop off by the second week of February? It’s like author JD Robb said:

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

 While the honeymoon phase of a new beginning might be over, in the midst of this winter, there is hope. No matter the season, God is with us. Which brings us to this month’s focus: Beside.

Here’s the thing… on it’s own, the word “beside” is incomplete. It’s not a standalone sentiment, but rather it’s defined as being next to or at the side of something else. Kind of like us! We aren’t standalone humans. Apart from God, we can do nothing (John 15:5). But be encouraged, Turning Pointe family! We’ve been given an amazing gift. Jesus is beside us, never leaving, even in the longest of winters.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” —  Psalm 23:4

This month’s verse reminds us of so many promises. He is before us, leading us through the valley. He is behind us, protecting us every moment. He is beneath our feet, supporting our steps, and beside us with comfort and grace. Before, behind, beneath, beside. And no amount of peaks or valleys can change that.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”   — Romans 8:38-39

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Joshua 1 echoes the same: “...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Whether this month finds you starting to thrive or just trying to survive, take heart. Do not be afraid. Jesus walked beside Mary when Lazarus died. He walked beside Peter on the water. He walked beside the disciples on the road to Emmaus. How is He walking beside you?

Five Fun Facts about Tap!

By Beth Jordahl

Tap dancing is a rhythmic, exciting and dynamic form of dance. It captivates the ears, and the eyes as dancers use their shoes to add to their performance. Tap dancers are, quite literally, musicians with their feet. It has a rich history that began over a hundred years ago! Today, it is an important element of any dancer’s repertoire as it is used in many Broadway productions and dance companies.

As we celebrate and admire the history of tap dancing, here are five fun facts that you might not know!

1. Tap dancing is the combination of Irish clog & step dancing with the rhythms of West African drumming.

In the mid 1600’s, Scottish and Irish laborers brought their social dances with them to America. Slaves were inspired by the rapid toe and heel action and added it to West African step dances. The two styles slowly influenced each other forming a hybrid that was both fluid and rhythmic.

 2. The term “tap” started being used around 1902.

There were two popular techniques. A fast style that used wooden-sole shoes, or Buck-and-Wing, and a smoother style that used leather-sole shoes, called Soft-Shoe.

Eventually, people started to hammer pennies or nails into the toes and heels. The metal plates, or taps, were later added to leather-soled shoes and started being used in a style that combined elements of both techniques by the 1920s.

 3. There were many movies made with tap dancing numbers from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Tap numbers became an important part of both movies and television. There was Shirley Temple who “tapped” onto the screen at 6 years old. Gene Kelly, who introduced a style of tap heavily influenced by ballet. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, who combined tap and ballroom to create beautiful dance scenes that were often captured in a single take.

4. The first rule of tap is to keep your knees relaxed and your weight in the ball of your foot.

Tap dancing takes a great deal of work and dedication. But it is worth it! Taking tap increases your rhythm, balance, musicality, and showmanship.

 5. Taps are now screwed onto the bottom of shoes. This is not just to keep them on the shoe!

The taps can be tightened or loosened to change the sound or “tone” of the shoe. It also means that any pair of hard soled shoes can become tap shoes! This makes for some awesome costume tap shoes in productions.

For a bonus fun fact, check out these famous tap dancers. Their passion and persistence changed the way we tap now.

●       Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (1878—1949) began dancing in minstrel and vaudeville shows. He was able to adapt and moved on to perform on Broadway, Hollywood Radio programs, and television. You may recognize one of his most popular routines, where he danced up and down a staircase!

●      Jeni Le Gon (1916-2012) was one of the first black women to become a tap soloist in the early 20th century. She wore pants instead of skirts. So, she developed an athletic, acrobatic style. She used mule kicks and flying splits.

●      The Nicholas Brothers: Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold (1921-2000) Nicholas had a tap career in movies and television that lasted more than 70 years. George Balanchine invited them to appear in his Broadway production of Babes in Arms. They had a unique style of grace, strength, and boldness.

●      Henry LeTang, (1915-2007) choreographed several hit Broadway revues including Black and Blue, and was mentor to several generations of tap dancers. He began dancing at age seven and opened his first New York City studio when he was just 17! He taught many amazing tap dancers including; Billie Holliday, Eleanor Powell, Debbie Allen, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines.

●      Savion Glover (b. 1973) starred in the Broadway hit The Tap Dance Kid. Glover mixes classic moves like those of his teacher Gregory Hines with his own more contemporary style. For his Broadway choreography, he has won several Tony awards. He has a unique style of tap, called “hitting”.

●      Gregory Hines (1946-2003) was a dancer, actor, choreographer and singer. He is one of the most celebrated tap dancers of all time. He was well-known for his complexity in the improvisation of steps, sounds, and rhythms. He starred in over 40 films, and many Broadway shows.

 Now that you know some more about tap dancing, go give it a try or look up one of these famous tap dancers and watch some of their routines!

Keeping the Faith in Uncertain Times

Written by Mimi McKinnis

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”     — Philippians 2:3-5

 Turning Pointe’s mission is two-fold. Not only do we strive to fully develop our student’s talents, we encourage them to use their gifts to bless others in the community and beyond. Over the years, Turning Pointe students, families, performance and training divisions have performed in dozens of community events, for senior citizens, residents of rehabilitation and medical facilities around the city, and for low-income students and struggling members of the Colorado Springs community. In addition to dance, we’ve also come together as a studio to volunteer, raise money for charitable causes through Compassion International, Pulpit Rock Church’s Love Your Neighbor Team, and All Things Possible Ministries, and collect donations for local organizations like Springs Rescue Mission, Care and Share Food Bank and Twain Elementary.

 And then came COVID-19.

 Last February, students of Turning Pointe’s Training Division performed for families at the Ronald McDonald House of Southern Colorado’s Valentine’s Day party — as the House Manager recently described it, “our last real big hurrah.” Similarly, Turning Pointe’s outreach efforts began to encounter challenges, beginning with the cancellation of March’s Saint Patrick’s Day outreach performance. As the pandemic began to grow, options for service throughout the city began to shrink. Events were cancelled, dance classes moved online, and the lobby remained closed, making donation drop-offs a thing of the past — which was just as well, since organizations were just beginning to navigate how to safely accept items that can’t be sanitized from outside groups.

 But as with all things over the last year, we just had to get creative. Afterall, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have the works?” (James 2:14)

 This year, members of Turning Pointe’s Training Division will once again worship with the families currently residing at the Ronald McDonald House for Valentine’s Day, this time digitally, through taped performances and recorded words of encouragement played on TVs as children cycle through at mealtimes. And for Saint Patrick’s Day? Students from Turning Pointe’s Irish 4/5 class will perform for the Gleneagle Sertoma Club over Zoom.

 Beginning last April, Turning Pointe took its first steps in contact-free outreach, encouraging students to write letters and draw pictures to be attached to the 125 deliveries made to isolated seniors by Meals on Wheels each week. Students of Fidele Youth Dance Company followed suit during its 2020 season, delivering a digital production and writing letters of encouragement that were delivered to the Healthcare Resort of Colorado Springs.

 When in-person classes resumed, Turning Pointe collected more than 160 lbs of food for Care and Share Food Bank, and the Training Division took their winter outreach to the screen, delivering recorded Christmas wishes and performances to local nursing homes via flash drive.

 While times are certainly changing, our commitment to keeping a servant’s heart beating within the studio is unchanged. Read your Weekly Wednesday emails for upcoming service opportunities, and feel free to pass along any ideas of your own. Like 1 John 4:9 says:

 “Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us.”

Twirl Bible Study- January

Written by: Mimi McKinnis

January is a time of new beginnings — a new year on the calendar, a new semester in the classroom, and new goals to work toward and achieve. While we might feel anxious to get a jump start on our resolutions (and our students are just as eager to start recital dances and take home their costumes), this month, our Twirl classes are learning about patience, studying Psalm 46:10:

 “Be still, and know that I am God.”

 One of the most tried and true activities in your Twirl student’s class is Freeze Dance. They love it because it’s fun. We love it because it encourages growth in spatial awareness, creativity, and most of all, listening skills. If you’re not familiar, it goes a little something like this…

 Step 1: Everyone dances as the music plays, matching whatever rhythm is selected with their movements.

 Step 2: When the music stops, each student must freeze immediately in the position they’re in and hold it until the music begins again.

 Step 3: Repeat.

 Simple enough, right? But challenging in its own ways. It’s easy to get so caught up in what we’re doing (or what our classmates are doing) that we don’t notice that the music has stopped. Sometimes it’s tricky to wait in our pose until the music starts again, especially if we’re in a difficult position. The same is true as we’re dancing through life.

 Step 1: Dance to His beat. Listen to the rhythm He’s set out for you, and walk with Him through it.

 “If you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”   — Deuteronomy 28:1

 Step 2: Stop and be still. Can you still hear His voice? Have you been listening? Maybe your lesson is in His silence. Afterall, the teacher never talks during the test. Are you anxious for the music to begin again, or are you practicing patience, trusting His perfect will and timing?

 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”   —  Psalm 25:4-5

 Step 3: Repeat.

 Philippians 1:9 says, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.”

 Life’s not a one-and-done round of Freeze Dance. We are God’s works in progress, so let’s be intentional about practicing patience. Let’s make a point of being still, and encourage our Twirl student to do the same. I know what you’re thinking… patience and stillness with a preschool dancer is much easier said than done! We hear you. Here’s a few tips to help as you practice these lessons together:

●      Block out the noise. I think we can all agree that the world is a crazy place right now. Headlines swirl, storm clouds loom, and even our youngest students continue to adapt to new rules and routines on a daily basis (kind of feels like it’s just December 42, 2020, am I right?). But rather than buckling under the weight of it all, we can turn off the noise (and the news) and instead remind ourselves of His words (and take the time to review and recite this month’s memory verse together):

“Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’”

●      Commit to quiet time with the Lord as a family. Much like our beloved Freeze Dance, this activity has plenty of benefits: It practices self-discipline, it creates intentional routine, and it keeps us mindful of God’s presence. For parents and older students, this might look like 5 minutes of devotions over coffee or time studying the scriptures before bed. Help your Twirl student establish good quiet time habits (and practice patience) by having them lay down, close their eyes, and be still as they listen to a Worship song (we suggest “Be Still and Know” by Hillsong), or simply stop and read Bible stories together throughout the week when things feel hectic.

●      Pray together. Matthew 6:27 says: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Turn to Him. Talk to Him. The music will start again. Philippians 4:6 reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

 Be patient. Be still. Know. God’s got it.

January Devotional: Begin

Written by Beth Jordahl

 “Always we begin again.” - St. Benedict

 I love the New Year. I love buying fresh calendars and new journals. I love dreaming about what the year will hold and all that I want to accomplish and learn. I make lists - lots of lists. Lists of goals, books, foods, plans, hopes, so on. I go through a whole process of reflecting back on the past year and then praying and hoping for the new year.

 It’s a fresh start. A chance to begin again.

As author L. M. Montgomery said in her book Anne of Green Gables, “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” and now ahead of us is a whole, fresh, new year. Just waiting to be filled up with new memories, mistakes, and beginnings!

Our verse for the month of January talks about how God is doing something new, something that has already begun.

 "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."

- Isaiah 43:19

This last year we faced things we never thought we would and dealt with new and difficult circumstances. We are now very familiar with zoom, masks, sanitizers, and changing plans at the last minute. As a studio, we have adjusted plans and pivoted. Our performances have looked different this year. Our classes have been flexible in new ways. And all of this while we continue to trust God’s plans and move forward to the best of our abilities.

In our wilderness of uncertainty, God made a new pathway.

In our dry wasteland of worries and anxiety, God created rivers.

Now here we are, at the end of this year and the beginning of the next.

For many, the end of 2020 may be a sign of hope, or a painful reminder of what is different this year, or just a day marking the passage of time.

For us as Christians, it can be a reminder of how God creates something new in us over and over again. After all, He is the God of new beginnings. From nothing, He created the universe. From dust, He created mankind. From our old, broken selves, He creates new fully alive hearts.

“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

-       2 Corinthians 5:17

 So as we step into this New Year, and step into what God is doing, how do we begin?

I think there are a few things we can do as we begin this year.

●      REFLECT

Before we step into what’s new, let’s reflect back on what happened last year. We can look at everything, the bad and the good. Then list out all of the ways you saw God at work in your life last year.

●      DREAM

Now is the time! Dream all the dreams. Think about what might be happening this year for you, your family, your community. Then list out everything you are hoping will happen or hoping to accomplish. Maybe this year you want to grow in your flexibility as a dancer or as a person, or perhaps you want to learn a new language. Maybe you are hoping to grow as a friend, or do more volunteering. Whatever it is, list it out!

●      PRAY

Once you have your list, pray over it. Ask God to show you what things are from Him and where your focus should be. If you are doing this as a family, talk about everything and see where you all agree. Adjust the list if you need to.

●      BEGIN

The only thing left to do is start. Make a plan and then move forward. As Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.” (Read that again, if you need to.)

As you begin this year, remember...

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

-       Lamentations 3:22-23

Share with us what it is that you are beginning! Tag us in your instagram posts @turningpointedancecolorado. We are excited to see what is new in your lives!

Twirl Bible Study: December

Written by Beth Jordahl

 For December, all of our Twirl classes are talking about peace through the verse: Proverbs 3:5:

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."

 What do you think of when you hear the word PEACE?

 A quiet house? Being certain of something? A feeling that settles over your heart and soul?

“Peace” in the Bible is a little bit different than you may expect. In Hebrew, it is Shalom and in Greek, it is Eirene. These words usually refer to a wide range of ideas including totality or completeness, success, fulfillment, wholeness, harmony, security and well being.

 These are all things that we want and hope for. We all want to be complete, have success and a sense of security. The year 2020 has seemed to combat all of these ideas. The year has flown by, and now it’s Christmastime!

 Which may not seem like a peaceful time! There are gifts to buy and wrap, activities to participate in at school, time with family, school projects, and more to coordinate. But there is something so magical about this time of year in the eyes of a child! To them the Christmas vacation, extra family time, and anticipation create a memorable atmosphere. In fact, some of these memories will become ones they dwell on for their whole lives.

 Television and movies lead us to focus on gifts or parties or making this season as big as possible. Yet as Christians, this is the time of year where we focus on the birth of Jesus. We call this season Advent. (Advent marks the four weeks leading up to Christmas.)

 Advent means “the arrival of a notable person, thing or event.” It is a season marked by waiting and anticipation, preparation for our Savior to come to earth. A reminder of how the world is still waiting for Jesus to return.

 It is essentially, a time of peace!

 It makes me think of that song, Silent Night:

“Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!

 I don’t think that the night when Jesus was born was actually silent. There was probably a lot of noise! Yet, I think at some point, there was a hush. Jesus slept, the animals were still, and Mary and Joseph probably felt the peace of God all around them. They probably sensed fulfillment, wholeness, and security.

 In this month, we want to encourage you all to create moments of true peace for your family! Here are some ideas:

Worship
Play one of your families’ favorite worship songs. Ask your kiddos to dance along or sit and listen. Then afterwards, ask them what the song makes them think or feel.

Pray
Pick one night a week or more to specifically ask your child for their prayer requests. Be prepared! They might sound silly to you, but to them they could be very important. Then take time to pray as a family, thanking God for this season and all that He has provided.

Draw
Ask your child what makes them feel at peace. You might have to prompt or encourage them to help them identify this feeling. But as you share what makes you feel at peace, they will recognize that feeling themselves. Ask them to draw the feeling of peace, or what makes them feel at peace. You can even create a family peace list, full of things that help all of you feel at peace.

Get into Nature
Nature can be a very peaceful place! So try to take some time to get outside, weather permitting. Go for a walk, or hike. Maybe even take a picnic or a snack. Find a beautiful view. Admire it with your kids. Help them see the beautiful things around them.

Remember
Take some time to memorize this month’s verse! Maybe say it out loud at meals or before bed. Ask your kids what it means to trust God. And talk about how trust and faith can bring peace.

 May your holidays be merry and bright! And may this season bring a sense of peace amidst the uncertainty and difficulty that seems to have disrupted our year.