I am really glad today is here.  It is December 4th, the choir musical is this morning and when I come home about 12:30, it will be finished.  As I write this I realize that the old me would actually write this and spend the time this morning enduring the performances to the end knowing I didn’t do all I could.  This morning God showed me something I haven’t realized until now.  (He has been showing me many of my character defects of late).  The old self has always known he wasn’t able and the light was only on him and these weaknesses.  Today, God broadened the scope of His Light for me so I could see a bigger picture.  One of the things I’ve struggled with in doing big productions is the time factor weighing against the worthwhileness of the production in bringing people to God’s kingdom.  We all spend so much time in prep and see nothing in fruit from it except the sayings like:  “Oh, that was wonderful”, “Wow, you guys did a great job”, “I loved it when….”, etc.  Today, God showed me that these times are seed planting times.  Today’s event is very emotionally stirring.  It surfaces things people bury–what Celebrate Recovery calls our Denial.  It is events like this that awaken the need for people to reach out to a ministry that can help them find the PEACE OF CHRISTMAS.

The burden of doing well in the program is my part as well as each of the others involved.  It is God’s Holy Spirit that will ignite within those who come their need to address what may be buried.  The new creation I now am can join this group effort.  I can stay in the spirit of the program praying for those who experience it and need to be awakened.  I lose this opportunity to be God’s servant if I stay in my old self worrying about “my part”.  It is amazing the peace that comes when God enters the picture fully because it is now HIS PICTURE that I’m participating in.  I help plant the seeds and let God do His part.  How Great God Is.  I love being one of His gardeners!