Testimony from the Heart

Testimony from the Heart This is about myself Michelle Hernandez Founder of HebraicDance.com

Eight years ago I began my adventure into the wonderful place called the presence of Elohim, I began to attend a fellowship that had just recently started to learn and practice praise in dance. Although they ventured mainly into circle dancing, I saw it for the first time there and fell in love. Never before had I felt so united with others praising in fellowship with brothers and sisters in the faith.I knew very little about dancing in praise but knew that it was a lot of fun and that I had learned a new and biblical way to praise.

Later on about 3 years or so into my dance discovery, I was lead by the spirit to stand to the side of the dance circle, I was not sure why this was but I moved as I was lead. I felt a tugging at my heart that YHWH was going to teach me something new. That day BLESSED ARE YOU by Paul Wilbur began to play .I just closed my eyes and felt as if I was in the presence of Messiah praising before Him. I felt as if it was a river flowing from my heart of love and adoration the Him. I was lead to dance before Him in praise from the depth of my soul .I was no professional dancer but this day I knew the steps as if I had danced them a thousand times .His presence was all around me and flowing within my heart. I can honestly saw it felt like I was somewhere else like another dimension. I can’t even think of the words to describe how amazing it was to be in His presence like that on that day. I enjoyed dancing with the others and laughing and shouting with my brothers and sisters in the circle dance but I needed more of this new thing That Elohim had revealed to me. It was intoxicating, I was addicted to Him and His amazing presence. I continued to dance in the circle for certain songs as I was lead but whenever I felt Him tell me to go over to the side, I would joyfully go. I sometimes lead, skip, sway, or spin and depending on the song I would dance as YHWH put it in my spirit to move. This continued for several more years, I found other things to apply to my praise to the side such as the tambourine then later on a flag. I would choose from many flags that the fellowship would put out for anyone to use. The flags have become my favorite dance accessory and tool. I have developed certain moves to certain words in the songs and moves to biblical concepts’. I don’t know how, but I know by the spirit only while I’m actually doing it, it’s as if YHWH is. Choreographing the flag waving and steps as I do them .He is amazing!

As time went on I was asked if I was interested in becoming the leader of the dance team that the fellowship had. I did not have a whole lot of dance background as far as choreography and steps that you do that are learned and memorized, I only knew what I did to the side and a few dances I had learned in the circle during praise and worship service. I took the time to find out as much as I could about dance and biblical meanings and significances of this wonderful thing. I learned about the meaning of colors and all biblical references in scripture. I even found words in scripture for dance that were hidden or changed .Several studies on the subject are on this site from all the research I did during that time. I was amazed at how much more meaning was behind dance ,praise and worship beyond my wildest imagination. At first my reaction was "what do I know about creating dances?, and that I would be the leader but did not know how to make up dances. But as I began learning more about the heart of Elohim for praise. I learned that praise and worship was not and is not and never will be about dance steps.That's what YHWH put on my heart. Bet some dance leaders will read this and want to beat me up but I pondered on it and found it to be spiritually true. He was more concerned with my heart condition than the beauty of my steps. What He put in my heart was that I was the perfect one to lead it because He could make the dance group what He wanted it to be and that He was going to make me that dance leader steps and all. That was what convinced me that I qualified for this position ultimately. Because I knew and YHWH knew way before I even realized it, that I was not a professional choreographer. The more I studied scripture the more I saw example after example of Elohim using people who were otherwise not qualified for something and He would build them up to be that exact thing, for His purpose. If you look into biblical characters such as Joseph, David, many of the disciples (there are many more examples in the scriptures). He doesn’t need an expert he just needs someone with the willingness to do what He is instruction you to do and trust Him that He will work in you all the rest for His Glory. They announced that I was the new dance leader and so I was. Once I was the leader of the dance group fellowship members were invited to join, we had a pretty nice size group, it was about 12 who said they were interested in joining but it was about 10 who actually did. My husband and I had lead the youth group for about 3 years and directed several plays. We had plenty of experience not only with prop making and costume design, but also in audio visual effect and pageantry. I would create power points for them as well as artistic concepts and design. Between my husband and I the presentations were directed. I would come up with the basic theme of the dance and songs, creating main parts of the concept and some ideas for steps with the direction on the Holy Spirit, then the dance team all gave input and helped come up with the finished product. They always came out so lovely and Spirit filled because it was done with so much humility as none of us were expert dancers or choreographers except for one lovely lady who stayed with me from the old dance team, she helped me so much and was so supportive.

I lead the dance for several Biblical Feasts Yom Taruah ( Feast of Trumpets ), Sukkoth ( Feast of Booths ) ,and Hanukkah ( Feast of Dedication) also here .You may view these dances on YouTube by clicking the name of each feast above. It was such a blessing to be part of creating presentations to bless the heart of Yahweh.I spent so many nights praising Him in my room and praying for His guidance and blessing on the group.I wanted to make sure things were going to be done in a way that was pleasing to Him.I was not so concerned about it being a great show for the people attending.The way i saw it was that if I did it the way He wanted me to do it that everyone watching would see Him and not the dancers.Elohim was just wonderful to us.He did bless the presentations and was pleased.

Not too long after I stepped down mainly because I became pregnant with my second child and several other reasons that aren't worth mentioning here .I continued to dance to the side and wave my flag and danced with my tambourine all the way to my final month of pregnancy. I couldn’t figure out why I was placed in that position then suddenly be pulled out of it after such a short time. It was clear to me that I was supposed to be the leader and just as clear was my need to step down when I did. YHWH was working in my heart helping me to see things clearly as the days, weeks and months passed after I left the leadership. He was telling me that I am still a dance leader and that I did hear correctly to step down. It’s been a process to understand what He wanted me to do in association with His Praise and Worship.

YHWH placed a calling on my heart that He wants me to teach and show forth the importance of praise and worship to Him. When I first started HebraicDance.com, it was supposed to be about dance garments which I design, this was way before I was approached to be a dance leader.It continued that way through my time as the dance leader and for a while after. I began to hear Elohim speak to me about the dance website and He reminded me how I was going to pursue the dance on my own for Him. He started to guide me in a direction a little different than I had originally understood. He didn’t want it to be about dance only or about dance groups. He showed me that He wanted me to make it about all aspects of praise and worship, be it Dance, Instruments, Music, Kneeling, Singing,Feasts, Studies on its meaning, How He wants us to go before Him ,His love Etc. You will soon even find a place about the arts (painting, sculpture coming soon) because these things are important to Him as was the importance of the specifics that had to be met in building the Ark of Noah, and all the aspects of his holy temple for Moses and those who took part in its construction and creation of its items for use in its service to Him. It had to be all about His way.His will. He was instructing me do it, Amen Halleluyah what a delight and privilege.

Here I am today writing this to you because I finally know what He wills for me. I work up this morning at about 7:00 am with all of this in my heart. He spoke to me that I should write this “About the Founder of HebraicDance.com” with the testimony of how He has called me to be a teacher of true biblical praise and worship unto Him. I am not a dance instructor as in one who teaches how to dance steps and choreography (although I can be if He wants me to as you may have seen in the dances I was involved in producing) I am a researcher for YHWH, who is willing and able and desiring to serve Him in what He asks. This is what HebraicDance.com is. It is a place to learn about what Elohim desires from His servants as a praise offerings. It is to educate and encourage His people. You will learn many things here. Not just about praise and worship but about your heart. I want everyone who visits this site to know that Praise and Worship has nothing to do with how experienced you are at an instrument or dance step or any performance related aspect you can do physically. He is looking for believers who will come to His throne room to Praise and Worship Him in Spirit and in (His) Truth. Praise from the heart.

If you leave this website learning nothing else, you have left with the most important message, one that is a slogan for us to live by. Not only for us at HebraicDance.com but to all who are in Yahoshua Ha Mashiach. May you be blessed with the joy of Elohim and a heart of true worship in reverence and true Praise in gladness.

John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him.

John 4:24 “Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth.”

Michelle Hernandez Founder of Hebraic Dance.com