Nothing in the world compares to seeing the work of God in your own children. Certainly no material possession or experience can come close. Even God's work in my own life does not stir up the same feelings as seeing His hand directly in the lives of my children.
I see it every day. The hand print of God. In fact, I see it a thousand times in a day. Often it is overlooked as part of life, but it is all part of God's work. The rare occasion that finds me still before God will bring to mind example upon example of God working in and through my children.
Almost not a day goes by that I don't pray for the salvation of my children. My hearts greatest desire is to see my children come to know Christ at a young age. That they will never know a day that they didn't know the Lord. And then I pray that they will strike fear in the enemy's eyes. I want God to use them in a mighty way for His kingdom.
Almost 2 years ago, Jacob accepted Christ. He still remembers exactly where we were. I pray it is always a vivid memory for him.
Today Zachary prayed to receive Christ. My heart is so full. There truly is no greater joy.
Over the last several months, God has allowed me to see small glimpses into how He is molding and shaping Zachary. I've seen God drawing Zachary to Him. It started as small things, like wanting to read his bible more, or talking about God more, or insisting we pray before meals including snacks and he wants to be the one to pray. I've seen his prayers change from things like "let me have fun" to "help us to think about You."
Zachary has often asked when he can become a christian like Jacob or when he can be baptized. I've always answered it by saying, "Zachary, when you are old enough to understand that Jesus died for your sins and you choose to ask him to forgive you and come inside your heart, then you will be a christian." Usually the conversation has ended. Of course, I am not the judge of when he is ready. God is. So I'm not sure why I've always answered him that way. Maybe because he is so young.
"Mom, I can't wait to die one day," Zachary nonchalantly said at breakfast. That is enough to stop a mom in her tracks. Trying not to appear shocked, I said, "Zachary, why would you say that?" He said, "Because then I get to be with Jesus forever in heaven." At that point many things started racing through my head. The obvious was this is a moment to continue planting seeds about the only way to heaven is through Christ. Another thought was "what if he grows up thinking he is saved because he believes in God and goes to church but he never truly accepts Jesus as his personal savior". Is he too young to even have these conversation with???
Zachary said, "I'll go to heaven because God is in my heart." I believe God allowed Zachary to say this in order to squash the thousands of thoughts flying in my head and guide me to an answer. I said, "Zachary, God will come into your heart when you invite Him in. He loves us too much to just come in without being invited." This time I said, "Zachary, if you are ever ready to do that, just let me know."
Wow, am I thankful that God can work through us despite our inadequacies!!
We loaded into the car to take Jacob to school. As we were driving, Zachary said, "Mommy, when can I be baptized." Jacob first responded, "Well, you have to be a christian first, Zachary." I explained to Zachary that baptism is only a symbol and that it is not what saves you. I told him that when he decides that he believes that Jesus is the son of God, died for his sins, and asks Jesus to forgive his sins and come into his heart, then he would be a christian. Zachary said, "I am ready to be a christian, now." Still not sure of what to do given his young age, I asked him a few questions. After he had answered them, I said, "Well, Zachary would you like me to pray for you?" He said yes, I held back my tears, then I prayed asking Jesus to come into Zachary's life. After we prayed Zachary said, "Mommy, am I for real a christian now?" I said, "Yes, you are and you always will be." He was beaming from ear to ear.
Through teary eyes, I looked into the backseat. I saw precious Zachary, smiling this proud, happy smile. Then I saw Jacob. The smile on Jacob's face absolutely melted my heart. To think back to it brings tears to my eyes. You see, Jacob has prayed for Zachary's salvation for 2 years now. The day after Jacob accepted Christ, he asked about when Zachary could be saved. He and I made a little agreement that we would secretly (meaning out of earshot of Zachary) pray for his coming to Christ. I had to explain that we couldn't pray about his salvation with him because it needed to be God's work. And we would not want Zachary to do it to "please" us.
Initially, I wrestled with the doubting thoughts invading my mind. Thoughts making me question if Zachary truly understands. Then a thought entered my mind that I believe God put there when I needed it. I realized who am I to decide when he is old enough to understand. God made Zachary. He put together his heart and his brain. He is the one that puts understanding into his mind and love into his heart. God knows Zachary's heart.
Later on in the day we were discussing something. I can't even remember what it was, but something having to do with Zachary doing something wrong. He said, "If I did that God would fly out of my heart and leave." At that moment Romans 8:38-39 popped into my head. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Considering I would never get all of this out before losing his attention, I simply said, "God's Word tells us that there is nothing in the entire world that will take Him out of your heart. He will never leave you." Zachary said, "OK!" Then he was off to play!
I will pray now for a growing up in Christ for both Jacob and Zachary while now we all pray for Andrew's one day salvation.
I see it every day. The hand print of God. In fact, I see it a thousand times in a day. Often it is overlooked as part of life, but it is all part of God's work. The rare occasion that finds me still before God will bring to mind example upon example of God working in and through my children.
Almost not a day goes by that I don't pray for the salvation of my children. My hearts greatest desire is to see my children come to know Christ at a young age. That they will never know a day that they didn't know the Lord. And then I pray that they will strike fear in the enemy's eyes. I want God to use them in a mighty way for His kingdom.
Almost 2 years ago, Jacob accepted Christ. He still remembers exactly where we were. I pray it is always a vivid memory for him.
Today Zachary prayed to receive Christ. My heart is so full. There truly is no greater joy.
Over the last several months, God has allowed me to see small glimpses into how He is molding and shaping Zachary. I've seen God drawing Zachary to Him. It started as small things, like wanting to read his bible more, or talking about God more, or insisting we pray before meals including snacks and he wants to be the one to pray. I've seen his prayers change from things like "let me have fun" to "help us to think about You."
Zachary has often asked when he can become a christian like Jacob or when he can be baptized. I've always answered it by saying, "Zachary, when you are old enough to understand that Jesus died for your sins and you choose to ask him to forgive you and come inside your heart, then you will be a christian." Usually the conversation has ended. Of course, I am not the judge of when he is ready. God is. So I'm not sure why I've always answered him that way. Maybe because he is so young.
"Mom, I can't wait to die one day," Zachary nonchalantly said at breakfast. That is enough to stop a mom in her tracks. Trying not to appear shocked, I said, "Zachary, why would you say that?" He said, "Because then I get to be with Jesus forever in heaven." At that point many things started racing through my head. The obvious was this is a moment to continue planting seeds about the only way to heaven is through Christ. Another thought was "what if he grows up thinking he is saved because he believes in God and goes to church but he never truly accepts Jesus as his personal savior". Is he too young to even have these conversation with???
Zachary said, "I'll go to heaven because God is in my heart." I believe God allowed Zachary to say this in order to squash the thousands of thoughts flying in my head and guide me to an answer. I said, "Zachary, God will come into your heart when you invite Him in. He loves us too much to just come in without being invited." This time I said, "Zachary, if you are ever ready to do that, just let me know."
Wow, am I thankful that God can work through us despite our inadequacies!!
We loaded into the car to take Jacob to school. As we were driving, Zachary said, "Mommy, when can I be baptized." Jacob first responded, "Well, you have to be a christian first, Zachary." I explained to Zachary that baptism is only a symbol and that it is not what saves you. I told him that when he decides that he believes that Jesus is the son of God, died for his sins, and asks Jesus to forgive his sins and come into his heart, then he would be a christian. Zachary said, "I am ready to be a christian, now." Still not sure of what to do given his young age, I asked him a few questions. After he had answered them, I said, "Well, Zachary would you like me to pray for you?" He said yes, I held back my tears, then I prayed asking Jesus to come into Zachary's life. After we prayed Zachary said, "Mommy, am I for real a christian now?" I said, "Yes, you are and you always will be." He was beaming from ear to ear.
Through teary eyes, I looked into the backseat. I saw precious Zachary, smiling this proud, happy smile. Then I saw Jacob. The smile on Jacob's face absolutely melted my heart. To think back to it brings tears to my eyes. You see, Jacob has prayed for Zachary's salvation for 2 years now. The day after Jacob accepted Christ, he asked about when Zachary could be saved. He and I made a little agreement that we would secretly (meaning out of earshot of Zachary) pray for his coming to Christ. I had to explain that we couldn't pray about his salvation with him because it needed to be God's work. And we would not want Zachary to do it to "please" us.
Initially, I wrestled with the doubting thoughts invading my mind. Thoughts making me question if Zachary truly understands. Then a thought entered my mind that I believe God put there when I needed it. I realized who am I to decide when he is old enough to understand. God made Zachary. He put together his heart and his brain. He is the one that puts understanding into his mind and love into his heart. God knows Zachary's heart.
Later on in the day we were discussing something. I can't even remember what it was, but something having to do with Zachary doing something wrong. He said, "If I did that God would fly out of my heart and leave." At that moment Romans 8:38-39 popped into my head. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Considering I would never get all of this out before losing his attention, I simply said, "God's Word tells us that there is nothing in the entire world that will take Him out of your heart. He will never leave you." Zachary said, "OK!" Then he was off to play!
I will pray now for a growing up in Christ for both Jacob and Zachary while now we all pray for Andrew's one day salvation.
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1 comments:
This is so exciting!
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