Bio/Testimony

Gabrielle Skodacek

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! (Psalm 30:11-12)

It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? The Lord can take a young woman like me and have my heart echo this song of David. I never would have thought this even possible about 5 years ago. I was raised in a Christian home and gave my life to the Lord when I was just a wee thing. However, I did not stay on track with God. I walked away from Him, but because He is so faithful, He was always there waiting ever so patiently. He was even there when I was going against everything He had taught me. “You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.” (Psalm 30:3-4)

Ever since I was a baby, I loved to sing. I would sing my little heart out even if I sounded awful. When the Lord had saved me from the pit, He immediately called me into the worship ministry. I was attending
Calvary Chapel Hidden Valley when the Lord first used me to bring glory to His name. I got involved with the youth worship team, and soon got involved with the main worship team. The Lord was changing me into the girl He wanted me to be and He started a MIGHTY work in my life.

By the time God called me to go to my Dad’s church, I had been 100 percent transformed into a different person – for the better. Quickly I got involved in helping lead worship at
Calvary Chapel Mission Hills along side of my Daddy, Greg Skodacek - the Worship Leader. Since I started being used at CCMH, God taught me how to play the Guitar, Cajon, Tambourine, and Egg Shakers. He has been showing me that He wants me to play skillfully. “Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.” (Psalm 33:3) So taking this verse, and applying it to my life, I have been trying to practice more and be skilled in the things God has given me to glorify Jesus name and edify the body of Christ. God has been opening up doors for me to lead worship for small Bible studies, and other Youth Groups. It is a true honor and blessing to serve with this worship team, that the Lord has so perfectly put together, and to serve with this gift, with which the Lord has blessed me.

I am amazed that God, in His great love, called me out of the pit of darkness, changed me, and chooses to use me for His glory. This portion of Scripture is one of my “life verses”. I pray it would become yours too. “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

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