Dancing Through Life (16 page)

On the other movie, my driver was very interested in knowing more about the Bible because his sister kept telling him he needed to read it. He thought it was a sign I was reading mine in the car. I told him it was! I told him God was after his heart, and I was just there to nudge him along to get to know the God who made him and loves him and wants him to know Him better. And then we had many wonderful conversations about God during our three weeks of driving an hour and back each day. No, they weren’t all about God, but several were. I’ve found that being a “doer” of the Word and not just a “hearer” causes those kinds of conversations to happen a lot more often.

One particular morning, having just shared the gospel with someone, the camera operator, after a scene, said to me, “You have such a calmness about you today. I don’t know what it is, but there’s something so calming about your presence and a positive energy coming from you that is fantastic. I don’t know what it is, but keep it up. It’s nice to be around.” I just giggled inside and praised God because I knew exactly what it was. God’s favor was resting on me just like it did on Esther. The king might not have recognized what it was that drew him to Esther, but when she had the chance, she took the opportunity to share her beliefs with him. I knew that later, at the right time, I would share my source of strength and peace with that camera operator.

I know I talk about sharing my faith with others a lot because it’s important to me and I really do it. The Bible tells us to go into the world and preach the gospel message, which is the greatest gift of love any of us will ever receive. I feel like when I don’t prayerfully set my mind on doing that, I miss opportunities not only to plant a seed of faith into someone’s life, but to grow mine as well. That’s why before each movie I make, I pray for divine conversations on set and opportunities to share the gospel with others. And let me just say that this isn’t the only thing I ever talk about. It probably only amounts to 10 percent of my conversations a day if that, but I purposefully seek to find a way to open that door if others are open to talking about it. I would never force this conversation on anyone if they weren’t up for it.

Accepting Your Assignment

As I look back over my
DWTS
journey, I am so glad I decided to live with conviction instead of bending to the opinions of others. What if I had said “no” to this opportunity because some people worried I might compromise? I would have missed the chance to share my faith with millions of people. What if I hadn’t been true to myself because I worried that I might step on some toes? Maybe the ride would have gone smoother. Maybe not. But I wouldn’t be able to look back with pride, knowing that I had stuck to my convictions every step of the way. What if I decided that standing with conviction was simply too tough and chosen the easy path instead? I wouldn’t be able to look my kids in the eye and encourage them to stand up for what they believe in the face of opposition, knowing that I hadn’t finished the race.

The truth is, God calls all of us to live with conviction. In fact, He has given us each a very specific assignment. “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23).

Whether you’re a mama who spends her days kissing boo boos and dishing out Cheerios, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company with a billion dollar budget to balance . . . whether you have a million Facebook friends, or none at all . . . whether you are young or old, rich or poor, an artist, an architect, a nurse, or a waitress, God has this assignment for you . . .

Do it
all
for Me. Live your life to honor Me, even when there is a cost.

If God can use a beauty pageant for a pagan king to save His people and draw many more to Him, He can use you. If He can use a reality show about dancing to tell His story to millions, He can use your life for big things if you will let Him.

One commentator wrote about Esther’s story this way:

He used the beauty pageant. He used the playboy king. God’s purposes touch the lives of the rich and poor, rulers and commoners, the godly and the wicked. There’s nothing in this world outside the influence and sovereign purposes of God.

We also learn that each of us has an assignment. Esther’s assignment of petitioning the king was risky and frightening. The outcome was uncertain. Mordecai emphasized that God would accomplish His purposes even if she refused to cooperate. But if God got someone else to do the job, she would lose the blessing, joy, and reward of faithful obedience. God provided Esther the strength and wisdom to do what He asked her to do, and the outcome was beyond what she could have imagined. Her story challenges us to look beyond our circumstances, limitations, and fears and ask the Lord, “What is your assignment for me?”
18

As you read my story, that is the place that I want your heart to land. God has an assignment for you! He wants your life to be like salt, adding flavor to every situation. He wants you to look like a bright, shining city on a hill, something remarkably different from the ordinary landscape around you. He wants your story to point to a bigger story of His great love for each of us.

Sure, standing with conviction takes courage. You’ll probably feel like you’ve been strapped into a roller-coaster ride with plenty of peaks and valleys! Sometimes you will want to scream with excitement. Other times, you may find your stomach is in your throat. But ultimately, if you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.

I often think of the circumstances Esther faced. Life or death. Literally. And here I am, in the twenty-first century, not necessarily making life-or-death decisions, but decisions to honor God, my family, and my people that could ultimately cost me my job that I love. It really puts it in perspective. As much as I desire to make a living and support my family financially and appreciate greatly all that I have, speaking up for my values, my morals, and my God doesn’t seem so difficult anymore compared to what Esther faced.

As you finish Esther’s story, you will see that one choice to stand with conviction led to more choices to stand with conviction. She was emboldened to continue to fight for what was right and do all that she could to be a blessing to God’s people. In the same way, my
DWTS
experience, though rocky at times, just increased my desire to live my life for God’s glory. I want the same for you. My heart is stirred by imagining what could happen if each of you decided to do everything for God’s glory and to let your beliefs change how you live. If you get to dance along the way, even better!

With that in mind, would you join me in asking this question?

God, what is Your assignment for me?

Appendix A

I
f you’re looking for a church that balances grace and truth, here are eight questions to consider.

Q. Does this church believe that the Bible is God’s Word?

The Bible is the plumb line for truth!

John 17:17 says it plainly, “Your word is truth.” Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that “all Scripture is breathed out by God” (
esv
) and useful in teaching us how to be more like Him.

The Bible isn’t just a good book. We can’t throw it on a stack of other spiritual teachings and lump them together as “good” truths. Likewise, a church where teaching is heavy on personal antidotes and funny stories and light on biblical teaching isn’t directing us toward the kind of truth that matters most. Look for a church that clearly believes that the Bible is the very Word of God and that it is where we should turn for answers.

Q. Does this church believe that Jesus is God’s Son?

Does this church teach that Jesus is simply a good man or one of many spiritual teachers? If so, it’s not the right place for you. When Jesus lived on the earth, many people tried to take the position that Jesus was just a teacher, or just a good guy, but Jesus corrected them. In fact, He was put on trial for those claims. Here’s what you would have heard if you had been sitting in that courtroom (taken from Mark 14:61–62).

Judge:
Are you the Messiah? Are you God’s Son?

Jesus:
I Am. One day you will see me sitting by God in heaven.

Jesus was sentenced to death because He refused to back down from His claim that He was God’s Son who had come to rescue us through His death. If a church presents Jesus as something other than who He claimed to be, it’s not a good fit.

Q. Does this church present the gospel?

Jesus said it Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Distorting the gospel was a problem even in the earliest churches. Preachers would add to the message that Jesus’ sacrifice was our only means of salvation. Maybe we need Jesus
and
good deeds to be saved? Maybe we need Jesus
and
to follow all the rules to be saved? But in Galatians 1:9, Paul blows the whistle and says, “No way! Don’t stand for any other gospel than the one Jesus preached!” (my paraphrase).

Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin. By believing in Him and surrendering our lives to Him, we are saved by grace alone and made right with God. Make sure that the church you attend preaches the one and only gospel. It is because of His grace, that we would choose to honor God and live a life pleasing to Him.

Q. Does this church care for the lost?

In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus gives the first church leaders a two-part mission: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Your church should be actively seeking to make disciples. That means reaching out to those who do not yet know Jesus. Pay close attention to how your church interacts with the community. Do they seek to love and care for those outside the church walls? What indicators are there that they are interested in the spiritual needs of those who don’t know Christ?

Q. Does this church provide opportunities for me to grow?

The second part of the mission Jesus gave as part of the Great Commission was to train disciples. That means teaching the Bible to Christians.

Ask yourself:

• Are there opportunities at this church to grow in my knowledge of the Bible?
  
• Are there wise, older women here who can demonstrate mature faith?
  
• Are there opportunities for me to be stretched through service to others?
  
• Can I participate in training other disciples through this church by teaching Sunday school, leading a small group, etc.?
  

Q. Is Jesus the head of this church?

The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the head of the church (Eph. 4:15). Every church will have human leadership that may include a pastor, elders, deacons, and administrators, but ultimately it should be obvious that the human leadership wants God to be in control.

Look for leadership that makes prayer a priority and has checks and balances through God’s Word.

Q. Is repentance a dirty word here?

We all love feel-good sermons, the kind that send us off to Sunday lunch with warm fuzzies in our tummies. These might be sermons on God’s love, or friendship, or the resurrection. There’s nothing wrong with these sermons, but be wary if every message you hear at church is designed to make you feel good and avoids a regular call to repentance.

Jesus sure didn’t shy away from repentance in any of His sermons. Matthew 4:17 tells us, “From then on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!’”

James 5:16 commands us to confess our sins.

If the leadership of a church never teaches on sin, hell, and our need to repent, move on.

Q. Is this church “salt” and “light”?

In Matthew 5:13–14 Jesus was describing the believers who make up the church when He said, “You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.”

As Christians, we should stick out because we let the Bible inform how we live instead of the culture. Look for a church that tries to influence the culture rather than being influenced by the culture.

Appendix B

I
’m often asked how my faith is so strong. It’s because I spend time reading and studying the Bible. Without knowing the Bible for myself, I wouldn’t know what was truthful or false. I also wouldn’t have the faith I have today. If you don’t know your Bible, you won’t know God. I’ve been doing group Bible studies for many years. Some years I’d meet weekly with about seven women at my home, and other years I’ve met with larger women’s groups at church. Spending time daily studying God’s Word is essential, and following that up with a weekly group study is where I’ve always seen the most growth and understanding in myself. There is also built-in accountability by simply showing up and when we dig in, hear stories and testimonies from other women who have a deeper understanding of some of the Scriptures, or simply more life experience, it grows us beyond what we can just do alone. That’s why community is so important and biblical.

My favorite studies have been the ones that have weekly DVDs to watch along with five days of homework in between. A few of my favorite Bible teachers who have these types of studies are Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Kelly Minter, and Angela Thomas. Here are some specific studies I’ve grown from.

Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman
by Beth Moore

This is the study that brought the book of Esther to life for me as I mentioned in chapter 12. I discovered my life verse while doing this study and was inspired to boldly stand for God’s truth.

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophesy
by Beth Moore

My all-time favorite study is
Daniel
by Beth Moore. I did it many years ago, but it’s still a study I think about often and continues to prick at my heart when I make life and character decisions. Daniel’s story is all about courage and conviction. Before I did this study, I only thought of the story of Daniel as a man who was spared in the lions’ den because he honored God. My knowledge was basically at an elementary Sunday school level, until I did Beth’s study. I had no idea what a brave man Daniel was, not just because he faced the lions and had faith, but because he didn’t compromise his convictions from the first day he was brought into the chief official’s presence after his city had been besieged. He and a few friends separated themselves from the others in such a way that the king took notice. He couldn’t find anyone equal to Daniel in wisdom and understanding. Daniel lived a countercultural life and people noticed! He was elevated in position and yet never compromised himself as he climbed the corporate ladder and had his character attacked by those who were jealous. Daniel had the type of heart and conviction I want to emulate.

Gideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength
by Priscilla Shirer

I learned a lot from Priscilla Shirer’s study of Gideon last year, especially finding God’s strength in my weakness. The first step to Gideon’s greatness was that he was an open vessel, willing and eager to be used by God. I can relate! It’s my life’s mission to be that vessel and instrument of God even when I don’t feel like I’m experienced enough, good enough, wise enough, or strong enough.

At the end of the study, my eyes were really opened and I could relate to Gideon more than I wished to. Gideon figured if God showed him favor in one area, He’d certainly continue to show favor no matter what Gideon decided to do, even if he never talked to God about it. Gideon was wrong.

Here’s a brief overview of some of the notes I took at the end of the study. You’ll notice they’re not all complete sentences. I was just writing what I was thinking. At the time, I was struggling about whether or not to continue the speaking circuit at women’s inspirational and Bible conferences at various churches all over the country and tours like Extraordinary Women that I’ve been doing for the past ten years. While it is a huge way to share the gospel and my testimony to others, I was simply getting burned out. I felt a pressure and guilt that I would be letting God down if I didn’t continue because He gave me the platform in the first place. I asked myself if I was throwing away a God-given opportunity. I also would hear hundreds and thousands of women’s stories who were blessed or related to mine when I spoke. That was an amazing feeling and sense of accomplishment for kingdom purposes. There was also a sense of financial security being on tours that was scary to give up. The time commitment to each event and scheduling up to two years in advance was also obligating me to pass on opportunities that I would have considered my first passions and dreams. And yet, I could never get around the fact that sharing the gospel is always a win-win situation. The study of Gideon was one of the instruments and confirmations I needed that helped me make my decision.

These are my own questions and answers to myself:

Question:
What “logic” (in reality: lies) does the enemy use against me to disguise the spiritual nature of my struggles and mask his role in them?

Me:
(speaking Satan’s lies in my head) God has failed you, Candace, in showing up for you at your speaking engagements when you’ve asked for specific requests to grow and challenge you in this area. He’ll just do it again, so stop asking. Obviously He doesn’t answer you, so just stop the speaking circuit.

Lesson learned from Gideon:
What if finishing well means not finishing? I realized I need to be aware of when my time is up. I never thought of this! Stopping doesn’t always mean defeat. Could it be time to pass it on to someone else? Wait until another season in life? Philippians 3:13–14

Mark 1:35–38—How did Jesus’ communication with the Father keep Him on track?

He stayed focused on His true task by being in constant communication with God. He stayed committed to His divine purpose for the Father, even if it meant disappointing the crowds. This was a big nudge to my soul. It would be okay to disappoint the crowds, if it wasn’t what God intends for me at this time in my life.

I’ve been fitting His purpose into my life instead of pursuing His purpose. I have it backwards. It so easily gets twisted and off track. When was the last time I asked God, “Do You want me to continue speaking? I just assumed You did because it’s for Your glory and I’ve been doing it for so long. Help me put down my own agenda and seek Yours. I know I do all things for You, God, but I don’t always ask You if it’s what You intended for me. I could be missing out on something else You have for me? I know You work for the good of those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose. Romans 8:28

But changing some of these things scares the living daylights out of me! I don’t want my dreams in other areas taken away from me. And yet, I don’t have any reason to believe it will be or wouldn’t be blessed by You as long as I pursue You in all of it. I know it’s about being willing and open.”

It’s a relief to know that even if I don’t finish triumphantly, God can and will still use me for His purpose for the sake of advancing His kingdom. That’s not a cop-out for character or conviction; it’s a pressure release and a weight I don’t need to be carrying around.

I am a redemption story. My sin = His glory.

My redemption = His purpose, His plan, His glory.

Ultimately, I decided to stop speaking indefinitely and not commit to any future speaking events for a year, and then reevaluate at that time. And while it felt like a huge risk to stop the speaking circuit, God has opened many doors to my first passions in acting and entertainment, and 2014 proved to be an extremely successful year in many ways that could not have happened had I decided to continue booking speaking dates.
Dancing with the Stars
was one of them. I know there may be some skeptical people thinking a reality television show shouldn’t come before sharing the gospel with others, and it didn’t. God is still using me and allowing me to do it, simply in a different format that fits and fulfills who God inherently created me to be.