A Present for Jesus

Ever since Martha was born, we have talked to her about how Jesus wants to save her, how He died just for her sins, and how He wants to live in her heart.
Over the last few months, we have talked to her about salvation in a more personal way.  Although she was understanding all we were telling her, when I would ask her if she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart, she would say, "I'm not ready for that yet, Mom."  I would then ask her if she would tell me when she WAS ready, and she would promise me that she would.
Recently, in our Family Bible Time, Matt has been teaching us about when Jesus was born.  This past week, we have been busy making Christmas ornaments from salt dough.  We have given many of them away.  We have also been talking about what each of us could give Jesus for His birthday this year.  The other night Martha said, "I could give Him my heart!"  We were thrilled to hear her answer that way, but we thought perhaps she was simply repeating one of the suggestions that Daddy had made about what to give Jesus.  We have also been listening to "Christmas Carol" by Patch the Pirate.  We have been listening to a little bit of it every night after supper.  Last night, "Jamie" (the orphan girl) got a new family and got saved!

 When we finished listening to and talking about the story, Martha said, "I'm ready, Daddy.  I'm ready, Mommy.  I've decided."  Matt and I looked at her, then each other - we were both surprised!  I was sitting at the table thinking, "Now what do I do????"  Then I came back to my senses and went and got my Bible.  In the meantime, Daddy asked her, "Are you sorry for your sins?"  She was very sure and firm as she replied, "Yes."  With Martha on my lap, I opened my Bible and once again explained salvation.  She clearly understood, and asked Jesus to live in her heart!

Her prayer (actually prayed in three parts) went like this:  Martha:  "Dear Jesus, I'm sorry for my sins. Amen."  (Mommy:  "Did you ask Jesus to forgive you?") Martha:  "Dear Jesus, please forgive me for my sins. Amen."  (Mommy:  "Did you ask Jesus to come into your heart?")  Martha:  "Dear Jesus, please come live in my heart. Amen."
I wish you could have seen the glow on her face.  She wanted to hug everything!  Now she is learning to not be ashamed or afraid to tell people that she asked Jesus into her heart.  After we had called and she told Grandpa, and we had tried to call Pappy, the next person Martha wanted to tell was "Tio Frank."  How I wish you could see right now, the beautiful moment that is now forever treasured in my heart and mind - the moment when she signed to Tio Frank that she had just gotten saved!
Her face (if it was possible) lit up even more when I explained that now her name in written in The Book of Life and can never be erased!  What a beautiful and precious Christmas gift Martha and our entire family has received this year!  And I know it is even more beautiful and precious to our Saviour!

When Super-powers Fizzle

I read a book once about a lady who was often asked, "What do you do?"  When she would respond, "I'm a Mom," she heard people remark, "Oh, that's all?"  Now we all know being a Mom isn't such a simple matter.  She finally came up with the following response:  "I'm a Mom.  What's your super-power?"  

Along with reading carefully through Proverbs this month, I've been doing a serious study of the Proverbs 31 Lady.  Yes, I know....I can already hear you groaning!  I groaned too, when the Lord challenged me to study this famous Lady of the Bible.  I groaned even more when the Lord challenged me to see how I measure up!!  If ever a Lady had "super-powers" that Lady had them!  When I look at all the things She did - consistently - I find myself thinking, "How in the world did she "keep all her plates spinning?  Didn't she EVER sleep?!?"  You would think I would be careful what kind of questions I ask the Lord, but since I haven't learned yet....

...here I am...letting the Lord show me ways I can apply "P31 Moments" in my own life.  One of my favorite places for thinking things over has become my kitchen sink.  Now before you start thinking how good I am to LOVE washing dishes, let me assure you - I HATE WASHING DISHES!!!  But my kitchen sink is becoming a special place to do some quality thinking (when I'm not hiding in the bathroom)!  Today, as I washed dishes, I got to thinking about that quote, "I'm a Mom.  What's your Super-power."  For me, one thing leads to another in my thoughts (like spaghetti!) and I ended up with the question, "What do I do when the Super-powers fizzle?"  No sooner had I asked my question, when in my mind and in my heart I could hear the song, "We have an Anchor."  Once again I am so thankful for all the times my Mom and I sang our way through the song book!  I knew that song was based on a verse in the Bible, but I wanted to know exactly what the Bible said so I looked it up - Hebrews 6:18-20.  What a blessed fact that Jesus is our Anchor, and He always helps us - no matter which of our "super-powers" fail!  Not only does He bring Scriptures and songs to mind to encourage us, but He also sends little blessings our way - time spent making Thanksgiving decorations with my kiddos, a young lady asking for discipleship, a right answer on a Language School Test!  The second verse of "We Have an Anchor" says,

"It is safely moored, 'twill the storm withstand.

For 'tis well secured by the Saviour's hand;

Though the tempest rage and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o'erflow."

Chorus:

"We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, 

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love.

When our super-powers fizzle, let's hold tight to our Anchor, Jesus Christ!

"Jesus This I Know"

My kids love music - especially Ian!  I have sung to them since before they were born.  One of their favorites is "Jesus Loves Me."  I can't even being to tell you how many times I have sung that sung!  And I gladly continue to sing it!  Both Martha and Ian are avid fans of playing my piano as well!

Playing Mommy's Piano - oh boy!

Music has always been an important part of my own life.  I remember singing with my Mom many times!  I always thought my Mom was the bravest lady I knew during thunderstorms.  I can remember sitting in front of our sliding glass door during thunderstorms and singing "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" and "Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul"!  I'm not sure why she picked those two songs - maybe because of their length!  I learned many years later that she was scared of those storms, but she didn't want me to be, so she sang with me.  Perhaps that is why I sing when there are storms - not just thunderstorms, but storms in life - what a comfort music is to me!  I can also remember singing in the vehicle with my Mom.  Most of my life, we lived far from town, so when it was time for grocery shopping - it was quite a drive to get to the store!  Mom would grab the hymn book (Soul Stirring Songs and Hymns - I still have that same hymnal - it's next to my piano right now!) and head out the door with me in tow.  She'd have me pick out a song, and we'd sing.  

One of our favorite places to sing!

I have to tell you though, when you start down the musical path with your children, be prepared to invent songs!  Some parents invent stories, I get requests for song inventions!  Yesterday Martha wanted me to sing the song about "The Dinosaur."  I had no idea what song she was talking about, but she insisted, so I invented!  A word of caution about inventing songs:  Try to remember the words, if not the tune of the invented song - you may be asked to repeat it!  I now have the original song "The Ballad of Dinosaur Jack"!  It's a song about a dinosaur (see what happens when your sons gets glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs for his birthday?) who has to ride a train to Sunday School!  (Some day I'll write the words down for your amusement - if I can remember them!)

Mom is in Heaven now, but I think she must smile every time the Lord tells her, "Sarah is singing with her kids again!"  I find myself singing the same songs again and again and again - but that's okay!  Yesterday we went to Callao as normal.  I think I sung all the way there and all the way back!  Yesterday's favorites were "Only a boy named David," "Zacchaeus," and "Jesus This I know."  You're thinking, "Jesus This I know"?  This is the title Ian has given to "Jesus Loves Me."  Kind of appropriate don't you think?  He's only two, but Ian has it all figured out - "Jesus This I know."  The wonderful, simple faith of a child:  We know Jesus - nothing else matters.