My 9 year old son Brazos invited Jesus into his heart on 11-4-09. I know the date for sure because as we passed "Short Stop" on the way home from church he asked me what the date was and told me to write it in my Bible. This was not following a Sunday morning service or an alter call of any kind. You see...we pulled into the church parking lot on a Wednesday night to drop off his big sister at church. He asked me to pray with him because he wanted to invite Jesus into his heart. I asked him if he wanted to wait on Banner, his Dad, or anyone else. He looked at me like I was crazy and said...Mom, will you pray with me? I did. I questioned, as all STUPID parents do about children really being able to comprehend salvation until the ride home. When he asked me about the date and then wanted to make sure I knew it...I knew that he KNEW! So simple...and so sweet! Brazos had heard the Word in his life and had been exposed to the truth. He had seen the Lord heal me of cancer, help him with his own fears at school, and calm his all of his little worries. Why would he not believe? My thought here is why can't we adults learn a lesson from our children and once again capture the essence and truth of childlike faith? Brazos told his family that he had invited Jesus into his heart. He stopped right there.
Bosque, 7 years old now, on the 4th of July this year was about to get into the tub. I was helping him with his water and sitting on the edge of the tub. He said...Mom, I want to get baptized. I followed up with my beliefs and said...Bosq, you know first you have to admit you are a sinner and ask Jesus into your heart to be your Savior. He responded with "Mom, I do know that and will you help me pray?" Again...STUPID ME, I said "Should we go and get your Dad, Banner, Braz, do you want to talk to Pastor Ken first?" Bosque said "Mom, can you just help me and pray with me now?" We prayed and the next day he announced quietly to everyone that he had invited Jesus into his heart and was going to be baptized AT CHURCH!
Brazos has always wanted to be baptized at our lake. I think it all began when I heard a Kenny Chesney song with Randy Travis many years ago at church in Dallas and later shared it with my kids. It was a thought of mine that one of my children could be baptized here at the lake if they wanted to and he did! Brazos takes care of the land here and already says that he will marry a country girl and be just fine right here in a house by us. He has covered more ground on his Polaris 4 wheeler than my other three children may ever cover here by our house in their whole lives. He is an outdoors man...shoots at anything that moves, and thinks that clearing a fence-line is FUN on a Saturday. Braz dressed up like George Staight and thinks Aaron Watson is the coolest singer in the world. Totally second to the simple, yet faith-filled salvation prayer in the parking lot at church, was his baptism day in my mind....but so fitting for him!
Oh, what about my Bosque boy? Well, he is another story all together. He was all over being baptized at FBC and looked at Brazos like he must be crazy to get in the lake! He put on his favorite baseball t-shirt, NIKE slides, some workout shorts, and headed on up the stairs at church to change into his white robe last Sunday. He did get very nervous at the end and asked me if there would be people in church watching...DUH! I told him yes, but that Pastor Ken would be with him. He made the walk into the water by himself and had the most serious, sweet, and a little bit scared look on his face that I have ever seen. He changed into his second outfit of the day, khaki shorts and an Eagle t-shirt, and was ready to finish church and get to Sam's to eat. A totally different kid from Brazos and a totally different look for the day!
I just love it! I love my boys! More than that though I love that the Lord is so faithful and that He is real! He is so personal and meets us all just where we are! Jesus Christ met Brazos in the church parking lot a few years ago and Bosque in the bathroom of my home! Why do we get so caught up in what we will wear and what everyone will think if we do this or that, and all of the rules that seem to come with being a Christian? The Lord does not call us to be legalistic, He just wants us to COME to Him, know Him, and try our best to follow Him.
I knew "about" the Lord my whole life, prayed, and had a pink Bible with my name on it, but I did not KNOW him as my own Savior until 9 years ago. He was with me all along but I seemed to run and look everywhere else. If you are running, looking and in need of help, look no further! He can save you and have your place in heaven ready, but He will also help you here on earth. If your marriage is failing, Jesus Christ says come. If you are lonely, He says come. If you are tired and weak, sick and weary, He says come. If you are in need of a Savior, He says come. No matter how you look, where you live, what your past may have been like, He says come. Why wait?
Romans 5: 6 tells us "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."
Now that a week has nearly past since our special day and we have a week of school under our belts, I sit and read this verse....taking it all in...."Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds." Psalm 73:18
