I am. Separately these two words are merely words, but together they are beyond what mere words can describe. In an excerpt from Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” We are made in God’s image and so reserve the right to be who we are in Christ. I am a singer, dancer and writer, among other things. But above all, I am the daughter of the King. I am who I am. I make the choices I make because God lives in me, and I do what I do to bring glory and honor to God. My whole life I grew up attending church, but God has never been more real to me than now. I cherish my family, I value my friends, but above all else I love my Father and He loves me. This is who I am.
I am involved in a lot of things, not because I want to put on the front of a good Christian, but because God created us to work and to serve. I serve as a vocalist at the Air Force Academy and on the worship team at my church, Woodmen Valley Chapel. I have been singing since I was a little girl; church choirs on and off, school choirs and ensembles, a few competitions, and solos. I read once that singers are the voice of God, and that saying has stuck with me. The feeling I have when I can let go and fully immerse myself in a song without giving thought to what others may think, is a feeling I cannot begin to describe. To let go of the world and praise God through song and voice is pure freedom in worship. Singers are the voice of God. Another saying that has stuck with me and which I agree and disagree with, is that dancers are the athletes of God. I’m not sure how true this statement is, but there are several instances in the Bible that reference dancing as a form of praise and worship to God. I began dancing in June 2011 and it has become a big part of my life and who I am. Dancing brings me joy, comfort, an outlet for all of my feelings and emotions. The first time I allowed myself to let go and worship God through movement was an experience I will never forget; despite all of the pain I have been through I felt complete freedom and have been feeling it since that first day. Dancers are the athletes of God.
A large part of who I am today is due to past experiences, both good and bad. I am 21 years old and am no stranger to pain and physical heartache. We had 3 divorces in my family within a span of 5 years which made eighth grade and all four years of high school at The Classical Academy very difficult, both physically and emotionally. I learned very quickly how to hide it all, by putting on a smile every morning and crying myself to sleep every night to release the pain, hurt, frustration, everything. I developed some habits I am not proud of but by no means am ashamed of because God has forgiven me and has loved me through it all. With the help of several women God has strategically placed in my life I have learned, and am still learning, how to rise above my past and become the woman God has called me to be in order to fill the purpose God has created and set aside just for me. Knowing that I have worth and a purpose because of God is what has always kept me going when the only strength or power I had inside of me was God.
