I have been writing screenplays since the late 1990s. I was inspired when I became tired and bored with the movies that were out there. I decided to write and imagine one I wanted to see and that would thrill me. My early attempts were modest to say the least. But I kept at it. Several years later and I started winning some awards for my screenwriting. I did not want to write about winning an award here on this website since I generally prefer to remain nondescript and did not want to be self-aggrandizing. However, I received a word in my spirit that said that I did not receive that gift for MY glory, but for His. That has stayed with me and I hope it will continue to do so.

I had to be reminded that everything that I have received, even those things I think I have, “earned” and that I have experienced, the good and the bad, are tools to be used for His glory. So I have written about the award(s) and been forthcoming and honest about it, thanking the Lord when I would prefer it to be hush-hush.

I have also had to learn to allow other things, less positive things, which I would prefer to hide, to be used by the Lord. Whenever I hear someone get up and talk about being a former druggie, prostitute, gang member, or whatever and how Jesus turned their life around, I am greatly inspired. Now, I have never smoked anything but a cigar and I have never visited a prostitute (but that does not mean I have not been tempted) but I have sinned and I do have issues I struggle with. WE ALL HAVE THINGS (big or small) WE STRUGGLE WITH. Those who can admit them and can say, “I need the Lord’s help” are truly a lot further along than a lot of us. He may call you to be honest about your failures and/or temptations. He may especially if you can say that He has delivered you or is delivering you (day-by-day) from them. You cannot hide it from Him. Ask Him for the help to turn that test into a testimony! Be willing to turn your mess into a message. Turn your award toward Him, for His glory, not your own. You may say to yourself that you cannot because you are embarrassed but your accomplishments, mistakes and experiences, even your life, are not your own, they are meant to glorify Him.

2 Corthinians 5:10 For we must all of us appear before Christ’s judgement-seat in our true characters, in order that each may then receive an award for his actions in this life, in accordance with what he has done, whether it be good or whether it be worthless.

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