Our church presents a live Nativity drive-through
coming up this weekend. And I am pleased
and excited about that. For the most
part. But, honestly, do you know how
many things could go wrong with it? It
could be so cloudy that the solar lights for the path don’t work. Half the cast could get sick. It could rain. We might get mobbed with way too many
cars. No one might show up. We might run out of cookies.
I sound like a joyful soul, do I not? Jesus has instructed me on this. Matthew 6:25 is pretty clear…“Therefore I
tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about
your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more
than clothes?” And if he has addressed
the basics, I can assume he has the rest covered as well.
And Paul assures me that all I have to do is ask. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in
every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
And worry does not plague me in a major way, never
has. But here’s how it works. I’m loading the dishwasher, writing out
Christmas cards, fixing supper. And
there’s this little butterfly of a thought flitting its way through my brain,
just out of reach – kind of like when I wake up and try to grab hold of my
dream.
It dances just out of sight, thumbs in ears and tongue
stuck out. “You can never do this. Think of what could go wrong. Why on earth would you even try something
like this?” And, if I’m not careful, the
butterfly grows to eagle size and my spirit just sinks under the weight.
But if I can reach out and catch that wisp of a
thought the instant it first frolics across my vision, I can grab it and
listen. “You CANNOT do this.” And at that point, I can control it. All I have to do is smile and agree with it! “You are so right! We don’t stand a chance. But here’s the deal. This is God’s show and he’s in charge of the
details.”
I don’t know if the weather will be good – looks like
it at this point. I see sun forecast for
the solar lamps. The power is
working. The cast seems healthy. But mainly, I don’t have to worry. I can be excited, anticipatory, and joyful
because God is not relying on us – we're leaning on him. I hope you’ll join us on Saturday or Sunday
night, December 3rd and 4th, between 5:30 and 7:30 PM to
usher in the Christmas season at our Emmanuel Baptist Church Live Nativity!
2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for
you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I
will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
