By: Gina Caswell Kelly

Because of jobs in my life, I have been given the gift of getting to stand on the sidelines, along the gym wall, or wherever with my camera. I have taken thousands and thousands of sports pictures. From football to track to tennis to basketball and volleyball, my camera and I have captured it all. I have taken pictures at hundreds of events. My camera and I have had an exciting life. My career has changed, and I was worried that I would no longer have that opportunity, but fortunately, I have still been offered the chance to stand on those sidelines with a camera in hand. I love it! It is fun. But as I have learned through the years, it is not about the camera at all.


Our school superintendent and I were talking last year and he said, “You know your camera just gets you there. But your job on the sidelines is bigger than that camera.” I had to agree with him. It is honestly not about the camera at all. It is about being where God wants me to be.


I have had opportunities to pray with sweaty, tired football players. I have had guys come up to me before the game starts and say, “Mrs. Kelly, would you pray with me?” Of course, I do! The interesting thing is this; I don’t stand there holding my camera and say, “Let me tell you about my Jesus!” All I can see that I do is pat them on the back. Encourage them. Give them a smile. Show them I care. And through that, I am blessed to say they see Jesus. They see someone who does talk to God and will talk to God on their behalf. All because I had a camera in my hand.


I was talking to a young lady starting her first year of college this week. I only know her because of my camera. I would have never known her otherwise. She was texting me and sharing her thoughts about her future and what God has planned for her. She has been added to my scripture text list. All because I had a camera in my hand.


In Exodus, when God was trying to convince Moses of all that He needed him to do, He asked the question, “What do you have in your hand?” Moses had a staff or a shepherd’s crook. God used that staff over and over to show His power to Moses, Pharaoh, and the Israelites. God used what Moses had in his hand to change the lives of so many during that long period.


So, I am asking you today, what do you have in your hand? What do you have in your hand that will put you where God wants you to be? Will you be willing to be used by God? Will you be willing to use what is in your hand to stand where God has placed you and make a difference in your world?


I don’t tell you all this for you to think how special I am. I am not special at all! I am just a lady with a camera, who once in a while stands where God wants me. You don’t have to be special either. When God asks you what is in your hand, be ready to use that to make a difference in your world! 


We can all be difference makers! Just use what is in your hand!

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