Welcome to the Determined to Dance podcast with your host, Jennifer Hallmark. The world would have us march to its chaotic beat but God invites us to dance in His will and His way. Let’s take a moment to be energized, refreshed, and motivated to face the day, one spin and twirl at a time.

Today’s episode, "March or Dance?", looks at the reason I started this podcast and the challenges I am facing when it comes to fulfilling my purpose. Journey alongside me as we are encouraged, refreshed, and energized together…
Episode 1
Hello, friends! Welcome to my podcast. I'm so excited to share an encouraging thought along with a story each week. People are undergoing some of the most stretching times in history and today more than ever we need to be determined if we are to fulfill our purpose in life.

Show notes:
I’ll never forget the day that the thought, the God-nudge flooded my mind in that deep, quiet part within. God whispered that I had marched for Him and that was good but now he wanted me to dance with him instead.
That analogy meant so much to me. I wept, then trembled with fear. It was one thing to march. If you’ve ever watched a high school band at a football game, you’ll notice a set pattern. They’ve perfected their routine before the game. And practiced as often as they could. Got the steps down pat. Totally prepared.
Like I tended to be.
But dancing, the kind I knew God was talking about, would be very different. I was being asked to join and not take the lead. I wouldn’t know exactly where on the dance floor I might end up. Maybe a quiet corner, or in a group of other dancers, or even in the center of the room, drawing every eye to us.
As the orchestra played in the background, it would change and so would the dance. A fiery tango. A beautiful waltz. The Macarena? Even line dancing wouldn’t be out of the question.
Some parts would remain the same. I would still need the determination, the perseverance I’d learned over my years of marching for God.
But it wouldn’t be the determination to follow the patterns and stay in perfect line and timing. Instead, it would be the determination to surrender to God’s will.
Every time. Like writing a novel. Starting a podcast. Obedient, step by step.
I would follow God’s dance, his lead, his music, and go to the part of the dance floor where He led. At times, I could be asked to sit out a dance and rest.
A different determination. A daily determination.
As I began to dance, very tentative at first, I learned some interesting lessons.

I would feel awkward at times. Learning anything new pulls me way out of my comfort zone.
I tend to procrastinate or hide when I’m out of said comfort zone.
Not only did I need the help of God but I needed others to come alongside me.

To follow through on the shift from marching to dancing, I could not be afraid to the point of flight or be too proud to ask for help.
I needed to sell out. To live from both sides of my brain AND my heart.
You will too.
To this point in my journey, I’ve struggled with forward progress at times.
Held back by:

Fear
Discouragement
Family members
Friends
My job
My religious organization
My social life

But it really all boiled down to one thing. What would people think? In high school, I had the same problem I still have today. I never was good at letting go and having fun at a dance. I wondered if people were watching me, what they might be saying, maybe even laughing at me behind my back.
But I decided I wanted to discover the part and purpose God has for me. If the world laughs, so be it. I have the greatest dance partner in the world and it’s time to let go.
How?
Over the last few years, my novel writing had slowed. To a trickle. The writing had not flowed freely in quite a while.