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!

The Big Unveiling!

Hey Friends!

Y'all know how I've been talking about Kokomo and my testimony and Day of Discovery for months now, right??

Well I'm super excited to have the official "ok" to share with you the DVD artwork and a little video promo. Woo Hoo!

First, I just have to say...y'all are the best!

I was meeting with one of RBC's video editors yesterday, and she was telling me how when I was filming in Turkey last month, my *She Sparkles* friends made a huge impact on their FB page and website.

You know what that tells me? You were praying and wanted to see pictures and answers to your prayers. Yay! You bless me more than you know!

So we want to share the blessing! This amazing video editor has made some special promo clips for me to share with you ~ little "sneak peeks" until the DVD is ready to air!

What fun...except, I have to tell you - it's still super weird and hard and nauseating to see myself on camera. Ugh.

But for you, my dear *She Sparkles* friends, anything. :)

Let's start with the program title. The RBC team has named my personal testimony.....are you ready???

Insert drumroll.....

"He Loves Me - A Woman's Journey to Peace featuring Cindy Bultema"

And the cover (it's a little fuzzy, but I think you can get the idea) ~
I have to tell you, even though I didn't have anything to do with the title or the artwork, I absolutely love it! It reminds me so much of Psalm 18:19 -

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

I've had many a good cry over it already. Another story for another day... :)

And here is a quick 45 second intro to the video....



I'll also soon have clips of me sharing about the cocaine addiction and David's death (baby steps here, friends....), so when I get the nerve, I'll be sharing those as well!

And as you probably remember, Mother's Day is the official air date of my full 30 minute program on Day of Discovery (local schedule here) .

If you like what you see, please continue to visit Day of Discovery here or here and thank them for their hard work and investment in this project!

I'll never understand why they asked me to be a part of this humbling work, except...you know what I'm going to say....only God!!!

And thank you, dear RBC team, when I kept saying, "there's no way I can do it. I just can't look into a camera and talk. It'll never work. I need my Monday night girls there. I can't talk into a camera"...thank you for not deciding at that moment I was was too insecure and change your mind. I wouldn't have blamed ya if you did :)

You know what I've learned, friends??

Our God is such a God of miracles. If He's called you to it, He'll get you through it. And not just through by the skin of your teeth....but victoriously. I'm not saying it's going to be easy. I'm not saying it won't cause you to leave your comfort zone! I'm not saying it won't cause sweat or tears or doubt or maybe even a bout of laryngitis or walking peumonia. :)

But I do promise you, based on the authority of God's Word, that in Him you have Strength. Hope. Victory. Courage. Confidence. And oodles of Peace and Joy!! Woo Hoo!

What is He calling YOU to, sweet friend?? In what areas of your life is God asking YOU to leave behind your fears, inadequacies, and lists of why He should be calling someone else....and step out in what God is desiring for YOU to do??

I'd love to hear from you!!

Thanks for stopping by for the "big unveiling!" God's richest blessings to you~

Marriage Monday's: The Other Lover

The Day of Discovery video of my personal testimony will be aired on May 13th (less than a month away!) Stop back this week for a "sneak peek", behind the scenes footage, and more!

Hey Friends!

Y'all know I love my man! John and I will be celebrating 12 years of marriage this summer! Can I get a Woo Hoo?! :)

Whereas we are as different as night and day (yes, exact opposites!), I love every minute that I'm with John, and try really hard to be the Godly wife God desires for me to be.

Except we all know I'm so not perfect.

Anyway...let me back up.

Do you remember I shared on Friday I was taking the weekend off? My mind and body is still recovering from my whirlwind March (Turkey & Spring Break trips back to back), and I feel dangerously close to a melt down.

And if Mama melts down it just ain't pretty.

Saturday morning I turned off the computer and redeclared to myself I was going offline for the entire weekend. Not a huge deal, right?

I do like to check my email (and FB and blog updates) - but it's not like I'm online that much when my familiy is home. (I don't think so, anyway). My office is right next to the kitchen, so if I happen to walk by, it's convenient to stop and see what my friends are up to or shoot off a quick email reply...but I'm sure my family doesn't even notice. Right??

Back to this weekend...so Saturday afternoon, John sat down at the computer. Quickly he called for me. "Cindy, there's something wrong with our computer! It's not working!"

He was being completely serious.

I shared, "Honey, It's not broken - just off. I turned it off for the weekend.".

My man shouted "SWEET!".

I was completely confused. John again shouted, "SWEET!". I finally asked what in the world he was talking about.

John shared very matter-of-factly, "Oh good. Finally I'll feel like I'm most important again".

Picture me - speechless. Feeling heartbroken that my man would think he was less important than a computer. And in shock to realize what my nonverbals were saying to the man I love so dearly.

My online time was communicating that "the computer" was more important than my marriage.

Ugh.

You have to know that this is a painful post to share. My conversation with John left me sad, especially thinking my choices had been hurtful to him. But I'm so grateful I could speak Truth to my husband. I'll definitely make different choices to communicate who (besides Jesus) really is the love of my life.

I love my man and not my computer.

How about for you, my dear *She Sparkles* friends. What does your online time communicate to your husband? Your children? Your neighborhood?

What steps/boundaries/safe guards have you put in place to keep first things first? I'd love to hear (and learn!) from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God's richest blessings to you!



P.S. Today I am thrilled to join my dear friends Julie from Come Have A Peace and Jen at Soli Deo Gloria. Be sure to check out these amazing sisterhoods ! :)

Let's PLAY (& lots of WINNERS!)

Hey Friends!

Happy Weekend to you! What's on your calendar this weekend??

I hope your weekend includes times to play!

I'll be honest...my To-Do list is 10 miles long, my Spring calendar has quickly filled up and I have 2 full suitcases still (ugh!). But in an effort to be a human "being" and not just a human "doing" - I'm going to go OFFLINE (yes, I said it - hold me accountable!) and be intentional to PLAY this weekend, be FULLY present and just plain ole enjoy my life!

What will that look like? I'm no sure yet...but I'm going to try and use all 5 senses!

I'm going to use my....

* eyes - to view the beautiful colors of spring, see people and places and things from God's perspective, and view the wonders of "new life" in springtime in Michigan....

* ears - to listen to the birds and the laughter of my kids and if the weather man is right, the gentle pitter patter of the rain...

* mouth - to taste something wonderful and yummy and savor every bite (and not just shove in a protein bar while I run out the door). I'm not going to worry about calories or "points", but just taste something delicious. Any suggestions??

* touch - I've been trying to be intentional about stopping and touching and really feeling my surroundings. My kids when I snuggle close at bedtime. The blanket covering me while I read my Bible study. My dog when he is hungry for attention....

* smell - the flowers, the fresh grass, the springtime candles in my home...

You get the idea! Let's commit to spending some time playing, enjoying, and being fully present this weekend.

Anyone with me? How will you play this weekend??

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. God's richest blessings to you!!!



P.S. Here are the winners from my most recent giveaways....

TobyMac ~ Lindsey Gutbrod! Congratulations Lindsey and family! I'll send over some details from TobyMac's promoters for the April 19th concert and Meet & Greet!

Baker Book House "Fun Pack of Books" ~ Lacey from the Rumley family. (Lacey, can you send me your contact information?)

Ann Voskamp's 100o gifts ~ Sara B. (Sara, can you send me your contact info too?)

Thanks to everyone who has entered my recent giveaways. I love sharing things I love with y'all! :)