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June 2002 Table of Contents
Petite Praisers
Lessons From the Garden
By Hanneke Jacobs
It’s funny how often the Lord speaks to me through my garden. The applications of seeds, soil, and plant growth to God’s truths are always endless. And each time I dig into the soil, I seem to find more.
It was late in the summer when our good friend, George Baldwin, approached my husband and myself to write a sequel to I Witness News: Live From Jericho.
“But this time, make it a Christmas one.” He said emphatically. Christmas should be easy, I thought to myself. It’s the classic story of God’s love shown to man.
But my husband scratched his head and thought long and hard. How can we make this different from all the thousands of Christmas musicals already in existence? How can we make an impact on children…one they will truly remember? long after the lights go down and music stops? The Christmas story has been written from every angle imaginable, he agonized. From the point of view of the donkey Mary rode, to the stars giving voice, to angels, to the wise men…. You name it, it’s been done.
True enough, I agreed. But there must be something God wants to say through us. And I headed out to my garden.
September in Southern California is usually unbearably hot, and it is hard to find any joy in the continual removal of overgrown weeds and dried-up blossoms. Usually people stay indoors this time of year, and air conditioners are going full-blast. But this was the summer of energy shortages, and mercifully, God had blessed us with a cooler- than-normal weather.
As I began to pluck the peaches off my tree, I was struck by a thought. See how many types of plants are growing in my garden? Fruit trees, a birch tree, several Caribbean maples. All different shapes and colors. Green ferns, white and yellow daisies, roses of every size, shape and color. AND EACH HAS A DIFFERENT PURPOSE IN GOD’S GARDEN.
I sank down with my basket under my peach tree and pondered that thought. We all have a purpose in God’s garden, I mused. Just like my peaches will make a delicious peach cobbler today. Just like the large trees are a haven for a family of birds. And just like the scented jasmine climbing up the fence are a delight to the senses. Everything has a purpose.
Just then, my 8-year-old granddaughter came out of the house. “Grandma,” She asked as she joined me under the tree. “All the kids on the street are good at playing baseball and I can’t even catch a ball! I wish I was good at something!”
I smiled at her. “Sweetheart, did you know God put you here on this earth for something very special?”
Her eyes opened wide. “What’s that?” She asked.
“Look at this peach tree,” I pointed to the slender arching branches. “Last winter, it was just a skinny little tree, without leaves, and without any thought of these yummy peaches. It had to grow a little. And now look at it!”
She thought for a moment, and then her eyes brightened. “Just like me.” She agreed. “Right now I’m still a kid, just growing.”
“And someday, you’ll be a beautiful young woman, with your own gifts and the talents God gave you. See, sweetheart, these gifts and talents are already inside of you. You just need to grow into them.” One big hug and she skipped happily away.
That’s it! I thought. That’s what God wants to say through us! His plan is always exactly on course. We just have to grow into it.
Five months later, the theme of I Witness News: Live From Bethlehem had found its mark. God’s perfect plan is embodied in His Son coming to earth to live and die for us. So that we might “grow” into His image, day by day, year by year, as we stay grounded in Him. He provides the water, the sunshine, the good soil. We just have to grow and produce the fruit!
Not long ago, I received several emails from the now-grown children involved in some of our first musical productions. Some of their fondest childhood memories were from being involved in these performances. And now that they have children of their own, they want their own children to have some of these same experiences.
And so the fruit keeps bearing...
To provide a tool for ministry to children is one of God’s greatest blessings to us. May He use us again and again as we surrender ourselves to Him. May the gifts and talents He has put inside each of us blossom as we “cultivate” them through serving others.
And may our gardens bear abundant fruit for Him.
Peter and Hanneke Jacobs are songwriters and musical creators who live in Orange County, California. They attend Saddleback Community Church. They have created and written many musicals for children, youth and adults. Their latest offering from Lillenas Publishing is “I Witness News: Live from Bethlehem.
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