Lessons in Laodicea

Thanks for all your kind comments on my "Big unveiling". Y'all are too sweet! I'll post another section of my story later this week. :)

Hey Friends :)

A bloggy friend sent me a note the other and shared she wanted to hear more about my filming in Turkey. I learned so many "lessons in Laodicea" ~ I'd love to share more with you!

You have to know ~ I went to Turkey excited...but also knowing I was in way over my head!

Me, a Bible teacher in Turkey? The one who doesn't like cameras and has a testimony like this?! Really?

Not to mention, I needed to have 7 full teaching sessions PLUS 7 intros/closings memorized and ready to share to the camera at any moment.

No podium.

No cue cards.

No teleprompters.

Once we were on location in Ancient Laodicea, I didn't teach the sessions in order.

Depending where we were filming at Laodicea (i.e. the stadium, the theater, the Syrian Road, etc....), as soon as we finished one session, I'd just quickly change outfits and pick right up in the next teaching, and sometimes in the middle of that teaching.

For example, we finished Session #7 near the stadium, I changed my clothes in the middle of the ruins (don't worry, the guys looked away), and immediately had to pick up in the middle of teaching # 4.

(Pic below is right before we began shooting # 4. And yes, I am standing on glass overlooking more ruins! See me scrambling to get my head around the new material.)



If it sounds difficult and confusing for me, it was.

The production was set up this way to save our precious time. The ruins of Laodicea are quite large (covering a huge area of land), and it would have taken forever (and been exhausting!) walking back and forth to the restrooms between every scene/teaching change.

Friends, this production was by far the hardest thing God has ever asked me to do.

I longed to see the faces of my Monday night Bible study girls, and not just my reflection in the camera lens. I desperately wanted/needed a coffee break. I was convinced God picked the wrong girl.

I wish I could tell you I was strong and confident and just totally trusted the Lord.

Um, not so much.

Except don't tell the crew. On the outside, I kept smiling and was prepared to be flexible and serve in any possible. Fred and the others just saw...


On the inside I was crying out something like this, "God, this is too hard. I can't do it. How am I supposed to pick up the "Gold teaching" when we were just talking about "Lukewarm Living". God, this is just too hard. I can't do it"

Finally I cried out, "Oh God, would you reveal Yourself to me??? I need to be reminded that you are here with me!!! Can you show Yourself to me, please????!!!! And soon?!!!!"

Just then I looked down, and covering my feet were flowers surrounding the ruins nearly everywhere I looked like this...


(You may remember last year God used "daisies" to remind me of His presence and love when lice had taken over our house. Yes, lice. (Feel free to itch now.) You can read a recap here.)

I sensed God saying to me in Laodicea..."Yes, Cindy, it's too hard. No you can't do it. BUT I CAN. You just keep focusing on Me and I'll do the rest".

Can I just tell you....almost everything we filmed was in "one take" (yes, they called me a "one take wonder") and the Director Fred Hollis had wonderful things to say about how quickly I caught on.

Only God!!!

John 14:21 AMP

....whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]

Are you faced with a situation that feels too hard for you to bear?

Circumstances that seem overwhelming and you're in desperate need of His Presence and strength?? I pray John 14:21 will become a reality in your life. May God reveal Himself to you in a very specific, physical, tangible way as you call out to Him! :)

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*, my dear friend! Have a joy-filled day!