Wow, finally!  We've had it lurking in the backs of our minds for a year, and Matt's been writing since March!  And last night, it made it's debut.  Well, kind of on Thursday night.....it was the final dress rehearsal in front of the staff.  I took the kids that night.  It was the first time I'd seen it as well.  I'd read the scripts and heard this and that from Matt, but hadn't really seen anything of the actual acting.  I was blown away by the coherence and power of the messsage!  Praise God!  I have witnessed in an amazing way how God slowly put this thing together in Matt's mind, and gave him each bit.

It is a powerful dose of truth and aims to reveal who Jesus Christ is....the Truth, the Light, our Hope!  Straightforward.  Way more straightforward than last year's show, which was wonderful too....but, a little more couched in warm fuzzy and spectacle. 

Satan has fought this show tooth and nail.  He has attacked Matt, our family, the cast, individual cast members, the technical details, even the weather!  I expected it this week.  Relationships inexplicably tense that had to be worked out, one cast member (with a powerful closing monologue) has a little boy with epilepsy who had an unusual 24 hours of seizures every half hour....causing him extra stress and little sleep.  Flu is going around...both stomach and cold.  Yesterday, I was moved to pray almost all day long for everyone involved.  That God would protect it all from Satan's counterattacks, that the Spirit would be there and move in hearts.  I knew for a fact that there were close to ten individuals attending opening night who probably did not know the Lord.  I know that God is going to use this....please continue to pray!

Tonight, I get to attend with my MIL, her friend, and my neighbors from across the street.  I can't wait.  Last night's audience was super....they wanted to laugh, they were attentive...it was a great way to start.  And everyone (according to Matt) seemed excited and happy as they left.  I can't wait to hear how certain people responded.  Our entire RVA office was there....the administrator and his wife, the teacher's assistant and her friend.  I'm pretty sure they do not know the Lord.  Tonight is another full show with people coming who need the truth.

Another cool side note is that Anna has a small part in the opening scene.  She has been unusually stage shy in the end (unusual for how dramatic she is).  And yesterday afternoon, I sat down with her to give her a pep talk.  I told her about the special message that God had given daddy to share in this show.  How God wanted to use it to bring people to know Jesus.  And how she had a special privilege and job from God to do her part in it!  That she didn't have to think about Anna or the people or being shy.....she just needed to be her 6 yr old self and do her job best for God!  I told her she needed to sit up (in the bed), speak loudly and smile!  And do her part with as much energy as she could, and remember it's not about her, but how God would use it!  AND......she did super last night!  Matt said she was visible, she spoke loud and happily, totally different than at the dress rehearsal.  We were so proud of her!  Even though her part is small, I loved that she could catch the vision and have a chance to do this with her dad. 

Well, I'm overflowing with thankfulness this morning....can you tell?  And Matt is a bit euphoric as well.  But it's still going to be a long weekend, and we not only have lots of housecleaning to do today, but also school (Johnny has a test on Monday) and more dinner theater! 

OH, and how could I forget????  Little Micaiah David Peters was born on December 2nd around 4 am.  Look up in the Bible where his name comes from (II Chronicles?).  A prophet who spoke the truth.  Pretty cool name, I think.  He was over 9 lbs and is doing great!  Congratulations, John, Andrea, Charis and Alathea!  And welcome to the family, Micaiah!