Chapter 16

Dance had been a passion for Sienna for a long time and that had not changed with the bullet.   She had proven that despite having a spinal cord injury she could still dance.  Sienna was not one to let things get in the way of her dreams.   The fact that she had made it to graduation with her classmates and still made valedictorian had shown everyone just how determined she was.

"You have reason to be proud Sienna, you have come so far by the grace of God."  Kirsten said.

"I know that it is only by God's grace I have overcome all I have.  I have no illusions that it was anything short of God's grace that has got me here." Sienna told Kirsten one day as they were rehearsing.

"I wish all my dance students had the faith and determination that you have because that is truly what carries us in the darkest moments."

Sienna was thankful that she had an instructor who believed in her but more importantly believed in the good Lord!  She could not have been the dancer she was without her faith.   Sienna danced not simply for herself but for the Lord who had given her life.

I know that without you Lord I would not be the person I am today.  I would be bitter and angry over everything that has happened in my life.  It is only by the grace of God that I have come this far I could not be the person I am without you dear Lord. Thank you for blessing me as you have and giving me the hope for a bright and exciting future.

Without the Lord life was difficult and lonely to say the least.  Sienna knew that having faith was an advantage because so many people live in darkness and did not see the light of the Lord.  Going through life without the Lord was not an option nor would it ever be in Sienna's life.

Mark 16

Jesus Has Risen

 ¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

 ⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

 ⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

 ⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.^[a]

   [The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]

   ⁹ When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

   ¹² Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³ These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

   ¹⁴ Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

   ¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

   ¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰ Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Sienna made sure that she made time daily for time in the word she was not perfect but she knew she served a perfect Lord.  A Lord who allowed her to have dreams and goals that were within reach.

"I wish I could dance the way you dance." Kelsea said as she sat in her sisters room watching her prepare for her next dance class.  Meredith was there as well watching in amazement at the beauty and grace of her best friend movements.

"We all have our own God-given gifts and he expects us to use them for his glory.  How can we do anything less for our dear Lord?"

"I am just amazed at the poetry of your movements God has given you a remarkable gift."

"It is only by God's grace and God's grace alone that I can dance."

Sienna did not wish to be a dancer professionally her passion was for the Lord and she wanted to use dance for his glory.  Instead she felt the calling to be a missionary in some way, some shape or some form she knew that though the world may see it as impossible the Lord could make the impossible possible.  Look at what Joni and friends was able to do and Joni is a quadriplegic. The Lord was in the business of making the impossible possible and for that Sienna was more than thankful.

"Don't sell yourself short Kelsea the good Lord has given you an amazing gift of words you can transport people into a different time and place.  Meredith you have an amazing voice that you use for God’s glory so we all are being used of God in wonderful and miraculous ways."

Lord I can never understand how people can go through life without believing in you I can never understand how people can go through trials without you by their side or through victories without you.  I know that without you Lord I would not be here today I have no doubt that, that bullet could have easily killed me by the grace of God it didn't and I'm here today.  I really wish more people would turn to you and I think this world would be a much happier less violent place.  I have overcome not only the bullet in my spine because of you but something much darker something that happened to me as a child. I know Kelsea went through the same things as a child that I did we both have scars but you will heal the scars you have healed those scars.

Sienna spent a lot more time dancing since graduation, but soon she would be focusing on college she had plenty of classes that would keep her busy but she had faith in her ability to be a good student.  Having Meredith go to the same college that she was going to was a blessing, she was so afraid at one time that she would be separated from all of her friends but that was not to be the case and that was truly a blessing from God.  You could choose to look at things in a positive light or negative light but Sienna saw things in a positive light for the most part she was not perfect but she was saved and she knew the Lord would bless her and did bless her.

Her time in the Lord was more important than for time with friends and family she knew that, still she cherished her loved ones and understood that in an instant things could change.  Sienna had saw from experience how quickly a life could change.   She never expected to be shot or to live with the memories of what happened to her and Kelsea as a little girl but she had endured it and the good Lord had seen her through she would continue to lean on the Lord throughout her life at least she prayed that would be the case.

At times Kelsea felt that she could not live up to her sister when it came to faith.  Of course faith is not a competition in which you can measure one person over another.  Sienna understood this and wanted Kelsea to do the same.  She did not feel that her sister should feel the need to measure her faith against one another that was not a competition nor should it ever be.   In God's eyes both Kelsea and Sienna were equal they were both his children and that was more important than anything else.

"Live for the Lord and do what he calls you to do whatever that is I know you will follow that path.  Don't ever feel you have to measure yourself to somebody else I truly don't think that Is the Way, God wants us to work.  As long as you do whatever the Lord called to do you will be fulfilling his purpose and plan for you.  We may be sisters but God does not create cookie cutter molds, he asks us to follow his purpose and plan for us our journeys may be different in this life but the important thing is not the journey but the destination.  I don't ever want to feel you need to measure yourself to me or my faith because we are all created in his image but we are different in body."

"I know you're right but sometimes I just still in need to measure up."

"Kelsea what makes you think that you do not measure up you have overcome so much it speaks highly of the strength and faith you have."

"I know that in my heart but in my mind sometimes I guess the flesh just gets in the way."

"I still do not know anyone who could have done all you've done despite being shot less than a year ago."

"Do you think there haven't been plenty of times I just want to cry out and ask the Lord why me?  I hate to admit it happens more often than I would like but Lord shows me that despite everything he has a purpose and plan for me.  Kelsea he has a purpose and plan for you as well and do not think that your life is not equally as important as mine.  You have helped me through this more than you realize I know I don't thank you often enough but I am thanking you now.  I know that when I was shot I was not the only one hurt but more than that I know that we both have deeper scars that are being healed by the grace of God."