A New Birth Day

We had some pretty exciting stuff happening around here a couple of weeks ago. While reviewing Lindsay's memory verse for the week (Philippians 4:5), we got to talking about Jesus returning to earth and taking all believers to live with him forever.  When I asked her if she would go to heaven, she said, "Well, Kimberly told me the words to say, but I don't really know what that means."

Talk about opportunity!

I tried not to get my hopes up.  We had talked many times in the past and she just didn't have a clear understanding of the price Jesus paid for her.

"Will you read the story to me again, Mama?  The one about Jesus dying on the cross?"

Music to my ears!

"Of course, dear."  We opened up our Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes and read through the account of Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Lindsay turned to me and said, "I want to believe, but I just don't know how to do it!"

Enter the analogy of a gift.  "Just imagine I have this beautifully wrapped gift in my hands, with a big bow on top," I told her.  "It's not your birthday or any special celebration, but I just want to give this gift to you because I love you.  What would you do?"

She giggled.  And said she didn't know.  So I handed her a book.  "Let's pretend this is the gift! What would you do?"

"Well, I would take it," she said.

"Right!  And that is just how you believe!  Just accept that Jesus loved you, Lindsay, enough to die for you and he is offering new life to you!"

"I want to do that," she said.

And she prayed.  Hallelujah!  The angels were singing, along with my heart.

Jesus moved right into her heart, and the resulting life in her has been astounding to watch unfold.

Is she still Lindsay?  Yep.
Is she still naughty? Uh, yeah.

But there are these little glimmers of something new growing in her soul that peek up out of the overgrown weed patch of a heart which has never known a Savior.

I am eternally grateful.