This past weekend I was at a "Young Adults Conference".  [Thankfully, they weren't carding at the door.  I'm 32, which apparently makes me a "full fledged" adult.  (Gasp!)] 

Jason Upton lead worship and was a featured speaker along with Abbie Ruibal.  Abbie's father Julio was martyred in 1995 in Cali Columbia.  A huge part of Abby's sharing was asking what we are willing to lay down for the Lord.  It was intense and humbling. If you ever have the opportunity to hear her speak, I recommend it.

As I've been thinking this week about letting go and being a living sacrifice like The Bible talks about in Romans 12, I've also been thinking about the arts.  I want to be sure that I am holding my creative gifts out with an open palm, not a clenched fist crying "Mine!".  Something Jason Upton shared in one of his messages was that we should pray that God doesn't allow us to be succesful in things we aren't created for.  That's a strong thing to think, let alone pray, but I can see the value of it.  If it's not succeeding with God behind it, it's not something I want to be a part of.  Plus, I'll be wasting time when there is something much better and more beautiful for me to be investing my time and creative energy in.