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I could not believe what I was seeing last Monday night as I watched Marie Osmond slip right out of the arms of her dancing partner onto the floor. If you watch Dancing with the Stars, you know what I am talking about. For the other two who do not, let me bring you up to date.

Dancing with the Stars is a unique television program that pairs up celebrities with professional ballroom dancers in an intense live competition in front of a studio audience and the nation. The pairs are then judged by a panel of expert judges as well as by the viewers at home. One team is eliminated each week, leaving a final couple to be the winner of the season.

Last week after celebrity Marie Osmond finished her performance and was being analyzed by the judges, all of a sudden, she fainted. They immediately went into a commercial break, while all of America held their breath until the extremely long commercial break was over. When the program came back, the viewers were immediately informed that Marie was fine, and she told the listening audience that sometimes when she gets overwhelmed, her heart stops beating causing her to faint. She assured everyone that she was fine, and we all could breathe a little easier.

I think I like Dancing with the Stars, because I can relate to it so much. Is it because I am a great dancer, or that I am a celebrity? Neither. It is because I am dancing my own "dancing with the stars" every single day of my life. My dance began over 25 years ago when a Prince invited me to join Him on the dance floor of life. As He took my hand and led me to this unfamiliar place, I could not believe that a real prince would really want me to be His partner. I am no Cinderella…PLUS I CAN’T DANCE. But that did not matter to the Prince. As we began moving together, I was touched by the way He held me. It was both tender and firm at the same time. It felt awkward in the beginning, since I never danced with a prince before. But I was assured if I let Him lead, I would do just fine. Sometimes while dancing with my Prince, I do get dizzy due to all the twist, turns, and dips that are involved in our dance. Then there are the times when exhilaration overcomes me, as He sweeps me off my feet, and I am amazed by His strength as He lifts me higher. Not once in all the years that we have been dancing together, has He ever dropped me or let me go. However I have to admit, there have been times where I’ve gotten overconfident in myself and think I can do it alone, and I let go of His grip. Then just like Marie Osmond I find myself getting overwhelmed and down I go. But because of who my Prince is, He does not allow me to stay down for long. Just one glance toward Him, and He is back reaching down, picking me up, brushing me off, so we can continue our dance of a lifetime.

Do you know who my Prince is? He is not very popular in the world’s view, and He is often looked down upon, because His dance always requires He does the leading. Since we are in a self-gratitude society, this is hard for many to accept. But once you have met Him, you never want to go back to dancing alone. My Prince is the only true begotten Son of God. And He is the only one who can offer you a dance of a lifetime and more, because His kingdom is the only one that will last beyond this lifetime. But more importantly, He is the only prince who invites all to His dance, regardless of our bloodlines. We can become royalty and co-heirs with Himself and heirs of His Father (Romans 8:17), because He traded His palace for a stable, His throne for a cross, and His crown of gold for a crown of thorns. He did all that and more, so that we can come to His dance.

I know I will never be invited to Dancing with the Stars, and I have a feeling that you won’t either. But it doesn’t matter… when you are dancing with a Prince every day of your life. But by chance, if the only dancing you are doing is in your head as you imagine a different life for yourself, let me urge you to stay quiet and listen. He may be asking you, “May I have this dance?” If He is, I beg you to take his hand and accept His invitation today. I guarantee He will lead you and guide you through steps that you never thought were possible. But it will be possible…because now you will be dancing with a real Star.

You turned my wailing into dancing;

You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Psalm 30:11-12

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

The In-Between-Times