Salt and the Spotlight

Using your talents for God can take many different forms depending on the wonderful gifts God has blessed you with.  Recently for me that looked like playing a princess named Gwendolyn.

I was approached early June about serving for kids camp at my church.  The camp was set in medieval times; it was all about the light and the dark in this world and how we as Christians are supposed to be truthtellers. What a wonderful message!

             The person directing it knows I am heavily involved in theatre and wanted me to play the fun and very imaginative Princess Gwendolyn.  She thought I’d be the perfect candidate as she had seen me perform before and knew I could do it.  Unfortunately, I had to decline because I was going to be out of town during that week.

             I was bummed out, but just brushed it aside because there was nothing, I could do about it (note: nothing I could do).  As the weeks went by, I kept on feeling a nudge in my heart that I needed to do this. So, I prayed that if I was supposed to God would make a way.  A couple days later my trip ended up being cancelled!  I texted her that same day saying I would be able to fill the role of the bubbly Princess Gwendolyn. 

 We started rehearsals shortly after, and I quickly realized I would be spending all my Sunday afternoons running lines and blocking.  Admittedly, I started to complain; it wasn’t a dream role for me or a super high-end production, it was just a fun church skit.  Instead of seeing it as a way to use my gifts to serve God I was looking at how it could serve me, and I did not like what I found.  There were a few times I wanted to skip rehearsal, I even made up a couple excuses of why I couldn’t go.  Then God convicted my heart.  The Lord had blessed me with such a wonderful gift, and I was unwilling to give it back to glorify him.  I had prayed for opportunities to share God’s love through my art and praise him; now that I finally had one, I didn’t want it!

After that I asked that God would redirect my heart from “having” to serve to “get” to serve. I decided to put all I had into the 4 days I would be performing.  I showed up and had a wonderful time!  I ended up talking to the wonderful lady who asked me to be in the play; It turns out she was also a performer! A person I can relate to! After some talking, she gave me this book on acting which has quickly became a favorite of mine and a big tool.  God didn’t just use me to bless others, but he used others to bless me.

The kids all had an amazing time and loved our skit! They got to learn about the importance of putting on the full armor of God.   On the last night I had this group of little kids come up to me and ask about my castle and pet dragon George.  I let the girls try on my tiara and tried to answer all their questions to the best of my improv abilities; I even got a workout in running away from them while they tried to pull of my wig (Yes, that really happened, and they found it to be hilarious)

 As I was driving me and my little brother home that night, I couldn’t help but think about all the big ways God showed up for me in those 4 days.  I realized what a privilege it is to be used by God, and to get to give my gifts up to glorify him.  The simple act of obedience that each volunteer showed will have an eternal impact in ways we might not ever fully know.  

Any and all gifts the Lord has given can be used to further his kingdom.  If I hadn’t said yes there wouldn’t have been someone to play Princess Gwendolyn, and God wouldn’t have been able to teach me that my gifts are not my own, but his that he has placed in me to bring glory to him. 

            No matter your passions or talents, God placed them in you for a purpose.  Trust in him and surrender your gifts to him. You never know the eternal impact it could have on not only others, but you.

                                            Verses to dive into this week:

Ephesians 6:10 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.


James 1:17   Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

1 Corinthians 10:31  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.