I Made a Movie
Even after it is over; I am sitting here in awe that our
movie went to the BIG screen. A few
short months ago I was sitting in bed pleading with the Lord to use me to be a
great youth pastor and to keep my class interested in building a relationship
with His son Jesus and now I am pondering how we went from there to riding in a
limo, walking a red carpet and watching our hard work shown in an actual movie
theater while spreading the Good News to the multitude. I am blown away and blessed by the truth in
His words, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I remember the morning well; as soon as I woke up God spoke to my heart, “make a movie”. I recognized the familiar sound of His sweet gentle voice. That voice has become the driving force in my life. I listen for it continually throughout my days. I listen for the directions, the correction, the teaching, the love, the reminders and the peace it brings. This morning was no different. He was directing me down the path I should take, but I was scared. I did not know the first thing about making movies. My husband had bought me a very nice hand held video camera for my birthday because I wanted to record my sons’ basketball games, Christmas morning and other family adventures. I was clueless that it would ever be used for an actual movie.
I responded to the Lord that I did not know how to make a movie. With the same unwavering sweet voice as before He responded, “all you need is a camera and willing participants.” Well, I had the camera now I just needed some actors. I presented the idea to my Wednesday night bible study class and they were all in. I thought to myself where do I go from here. I continued to pray. I wanted this movie to be more than just catching some crazy youth group moments on film; I wanted it to have a purpose and a meaning. I wanted my class to draw closer to the Lord, each other and I wanted growth. This was my continuous prayer throughout the entire three months it took us to complete the movie.
It came week by week. I prayed about what to do and the Lord would give it to me. We used every Wednesday for over two months and we even met outside of the church to film non-church scenes. It was amazing to me how easy it was. Every week just seemed to flow. I would stand before my class, present that nights scene to them, give them a few minutes to think about what they would say and how they would act it out and then they would just do it. I am so proud of each and every one of them. They did not have scripts; just improvisation. Did every scene go according to plan? No way! We probably had as many bloopers if not more than what actually made it to the final editing for the movie, but it was fun. As the weeks went by we had new students come out; we always had room for extras. I also watched God answer my prayer for my original class to draw closer together. It is so important for young Christians to have a strong peer group.
As our filming was coming to an end I began to think about the night I would show my class their hard work. I wanted to do something special for them. I wanted them to know how much I loved them and more importantly how much God loved them. I wanted them to be proud of what they had accomplished, proud of their faith and proud to show their friends. This movie really had become a big deal. Everyone was buzzing about “Second Chances”; this is the name the Lord gave me about half way through filming.
I have always been a dreamer. Ever since I was little I have reached for the stars; the bigger the better, the more the merrier etc. My walk with God has not been any different. I have always sought to please my Savior to the greatest of my ability. My prayers have always been big. After all my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He created the universe and all that is in it, why would I put Him in a box? Sitting in my office at the church one day, the idea popped in my head, we should try to show our movie in a movie theater. Provident films has certainly made a way to big screen and since God is not a respecter of persons then there was not any reason why ours could not go to the big screen as well. I sent a text to one of our church members who was also in the movie asking him if he could look into it for us. He got in touch with me about a day later and said yes he had found a theater. My initial reaction was pure astonishment. I jumped out of my seat, squealed like a kid on Christmas morning and shouted “Thank You Jesus!” Then I started to get nervous. Our movie was actually going to be shown in a real movie theater and I needed help with editing, big time!
Just like anything we go to do for the Lord, the devil tries to get all up in it and mess it up. This adventure was not any different. After blasting all over Facebook our movie was going to the big screen, I started getting calls from my liaison, Jeff, that the fees were racking up for this particular theater. I got that sick feeling in my stomach, the knots in my throat and the doubts in my mind. I prayed. I knew that God had opened that door and that no man could shut it. It had to of been as soon as my prayer reached heaven that I got a phone call from Jeff; his boss was going to pay for the entire thing. My God is an awesome God! I want to add that his boss is not a devout Christian, he does not attend our church and from what I have heard never spends money (that is why he has it…ha-ha); but our God can do anything through anybody at any time. The show must go on!
It was all falling into place. We were done filming, the theater was booked and the invites had been sent. However, I still needed help with editing. I had been using software that came with my laptop and it was good, but I wanted great. I was in Costco, shopping for church supplies when I ran into a good friend of mine. She started asking questions about the movie and I shared with her my editing dilemma. She gave me the name of a good friend of hers that was a professional and there was the end of my editing problems. I am not going to say it was an easy process. The devil fought us tooth and nail and there were times when I really thought I was going to have to cancel the whole thing. In the midst of my doubts God spoke to my heart and reassured me everything would be great. You truly reap what you sew.
After months of filming, editing, planning, stuffing swag bags, passing out flyers and taking care of minor details our day came. An extremely long white Hummer H2 Limo picked us up in the parking lot of our church and we headed to our premiere. When we got there, a crowd waited alongside a red carpet to greet us as we climbed out of the limousine. Camera flashes were going off, everyone was smiling and my cast looked like they were floating down the aisle. I could not have been more proud of them or more proud to be a Christian.
After we finished taking pictures we went inside to find our seats that had been reserved with gold stars. I sat down and looked around. There were too many people to count. I was amazed. I sank into my seat, took a deep breath and the movie started. When I heard the music and saw our work appear on that huge movie theater screen I almost cried. In my spirit I sat there praising and thanking God for all He had done. I knew that He had paved the way for all of it.
Some may argue that it was all too much; we could have done without the theater, the limo and the red carpet. I say my God is the King of kings, Lord of
I remember the morning well; as soon as I woke up God spoke to my heart, “make a movie”. I recognized the familiar sound of His sweet gentle voice. That voice has become the driving force in my life. I listen for it continually throughout my days. I listen for the directions, the correction, the teaching, the love, the reminders and the peace it brings. This morning was no different. He was directing me down the path I should take, but I was scared. I did not know the first thing about making movies. My husband had bought me a very nice hand held video camera for my birthday because I wanted to record my sons’ basketball games, Christmas morning and other family adventures. I was clueless that it would ever be used for an actual movie.
I responded to the Lord that I did not know how to make a movie. With the same unwavering sweet voice as before He responded, “all you need is a camera and willing participants.” Well, I had the camera now I just needed some actors. I presented the idea to my Wednesday night bible study class and they were all in. I thought to myself where do I go from here. I continued to pray. I wanted this movie to be more than just catching some crazy youth group moments on film; I wanted it to have a purpose and a meaning. I wanted my class to draw closer to the Lord, each other and I wanted growth. This was my continuous prayer throughout the entire three months it took us to complete the movie.
It came week by week. I prayed about what to do and the Lord would give it to me. We used every Wednesday for over two months and we even met outside of the church to film non-church scenes. It was amazing to me how easy it was. Every week just seemed to flow. I would stand before my class, present that nights scene to them, give them a few minutes to think about what they would say and how they would act it out and then they would just do it. I am so proud of each and every one of them. They did not have scripts; just improvisation. Did every scene go according to plan? No way! We probably had as many bloopers if not more than what actually made it to the final editing for the movie, but it was fun. As the weeks went by we had new students come out; we always had room for extras. I also watched God answer my prayer for my original class to draw closer together. It is so important for young Christians to have a strong peer group.
As our filming was coming to an end I began to think about the night I would show my class their hard work. I wanted to do something special for them. I wanted them to know how much I loved them and more importantly how much God loved them. I wanted them to be proud of what they had accomplished, proud of their faith and proud to show their friends. This movie really had become a big deal. Everyone was buzzing about “Second Chances”; this is the name the Lord gave me about half way through filming.
I have always been a dreamer. Ever since I was little I have reached for the stars; the bigger the better, the more the merrier etc. My walk with God has not been any different. I have always sought to please my Savior to the greatest of my ability. My prayers have always been big. After all my Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He created the universe and all that is in it, why would I put Him in a box? Sitting in my office at the church one day, the idea popped in my head, we should try to show our movie in a movie theater. Provident films has certainly made a way to big screen and since God is not a respecter of persons then there was not any reason why ours could not go to the big screen as well. I sent a text to one of our church members who was also in the movie asking him if he could look into it for us. He got in touch with me about a day later and said yes he had found a theater. My initial reaction was pure astonishment. I jumped out of my seat, squealed like a kid on Christmas morning and shouted “Thank You Jesus!” Then I started to get nervous. Our movie was actually going to be shown in a real movie theater and I needed help with editing, big time!
Just like anything we go to do for the Lord, the devil tries to get all up in it and mess it up. This adventure was not any different. After blasting all over Facebook our movie was going to the big screen, I started getting calls from my liaison, Jeff, that the fees were racking up for this particular theater. I got that sick feeling in my stomach, the knots in my throat and the doubts in my mind. I prayed. I knew that God had opened that door and that no man could shut it. It had to of been as soon as my prayer reached heaven that I got a phone call from Jeff; his boss was going to pay for the entire thing. My God is an awesome God! I want to add that his boss is not a devout Christian, he does not attend our church and from what I have heard never spends money (that is why he has it…ha-ha); but our God can do anything through anybody at any time. The show must go on!
It was all falling into place. We were done filming, the theater was booked and the invites had been sent. However, I still needed help with editing. I had been using software that came with my laptop and it was good, but I wanted great. I was in Costco, shopping for church supplies when I ran into a good friend of mine. She started asking questions about the movie and I shared with her my editing dilemma. She gave me the name of a good friend of hers that was a professional and there was the end of my editing problems. I am not going to say it was an easy process. The devil fought us tooth and nail and there were times when I really thought I was going to have to cancel the whole thing. In the midst of my doubts God spoke to my heart and reassured me everything would be great. You truly reap what you sew.
After months of filming, editing, planning, stuffing swag bags, passing out flyers and taking care of minor details our day came. An extremely long white Hummer H2 Limo picked us up in the parking lot of our church and we headed to our premiere. When we got there, a crowd waited alongside a red carpet to greet us as we climbed out of the limousine. Camera flashes were going off, everyone was smiling and my cast looked like they were floating down the aisle. I could not have been more proud of them or more proud to be a Christian.
After we finished taking pictures we went inside to find our seats that had been reserved with gold stars. I sat down and looked around. There were too many people to count. I was amazed. I sank into my seat, took a deep breath and the movie started. When I heard the music and saw our work appear on that huge movie theater screen I almost cried. In my spirit I sat there praising and thanking God for all He had done. I knew that He had paved the way for all of it.
Some may argue that it was all too much; we could have done without the theater, the limo and the red carpet. I say my God is the King of kings, Lord of
Lastly, I want to encourage anyone reading this, do not give up on your dreams. All things truly are possible with God. If you are seeking to do His will, then He will open doors for you that no man can open. All I wanted was for my class to draw closer to Jesus. God heard my prayer and saw my heart and then the doors started opening.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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