in charge (or not)

One of the reasons this time of the year is always so busy and rushed is the number of things there are going on at the school.

Today (and tomorrow - but I won't manage then) was the Infants' Nativity. A half hour musical, called 'Born in a Barn', attended by parents, grandparents and all sorts of others no doubt as well.

Brilliant! It always is. And 20 years down the line, I still don't know how they do it. I mean these are just the children of Primary 1 and 2. And the way they get them singing, acting, dancing and co-ordinated, too - it beats me.

And, of course, there's always an engaging simplicity about a thing like this. Seeing this major event again through the eyes of a little child.

One of the songs that they sang had the chorus - He's a King we can believe in. And at one point, too, the line was shouted out - "And it's true!"

That's the beauty of it, of course. It is so true.

The King has come. And we can believe in him. We do.

He's in charge. Even when we don't feel too in control of things ourselves.

Which could easily be the way I feel at this time.

There were people to see this morning. And before I knew where the time had all gone, it was after half past twelve. Which is when the lunchtime service starts.

I hadn't managed a lot of detailed preparation in advance. Not what I'd hoped or planned at any rate.

But he's the King. And he's in charge. And it means he takes control.

So the service was fine. What I said made sense - and it was really like I was getting preached to as well. By him!

In fact, I thought it was really good. His doing the preaching, I mean!

It all came together in quite an amazing and powerful way. He's the King we can believe in, and, yes, it's true!

A good job.

There were more folk to see in the afternoon - and I'm thinking by now the week is already half gone!

A bit like being in a river in spate and despite where you'd choose to be going you simply get carried along.

But I guess that's what happens when the Spirit of God gets outpoured. The Spirit outpoured is not just a wee highland burn, but a river in spate.

With a mind of his own. And a power you cannot resist.

Which makes life exciting, at least.

But it does mean I'm not in control. It's he who's in total control. The King.

It was good to be joining with others in prayer at the end of the day. Not twisting God's arm, as it were, but releasing the 'plugs' which otherwise hinder the flow of God's river of grace.

As the chorus of the song requests - 'flow, river, flow'.

It's white river rafting these days. And I'm certainly up for the ride.