"I Can't Go Another Easter Without Jesus In My Heart."

As a mother it is so fun to watch the Spirit of God drawing these precious children unto himself. Our oldest, Matthew had a full understanding of Jesus, His death, His burial, His resurrection and his own personal sin and need for a Savior at the age of 5. He asked Jesus into his heart on Easter Sunday when he turned 5. Caleb wanted to be like his brother and talked about asking Jesus into his heart for years, but footballs and subway sandwiches seemed to be more pressing than his need for a Savior until he was 8 and nothing else in this world was as important to him as having a personal relationship with Jesus. Joshua has been wanting to ask Jesus into his heart for a while, but Matt and I both felt that his understanding of sin and salvation was not complete. Easter Sunday morning I woke up my children and said, "Happy Easter Joshua!" He immediately began to sob. I will be honest, I thought he was crying because he did not get the "real" bunny that he wanted for Easter. I asked him what was wrong and he said, "Mommy, I can't go another Easter without Jesus in my heart." I asked him if he wanted to pray with me and he said, no I want to pray with you and daddy both so we waited until we got to church. He went and talked to his daddy about it during worship, but still he wanted to wait. I began to wonder if this was not to be the day of his salvation. I told him we would wait until he was ready. And then he said something that was so precious. "Mommy, I have dreamed of this day and practiced this day in my head for a long time and I know how I want it to happen. I want me and you and daddy to walk to the front and kneel at the cross at the end of the service and pray then." I was not about to take this dream away from him. At the end of the service we all three walk down front and Matt told Joshua to share his heart with Jesus and tell him what was on his heart and mind. This is what he prayed, "Jesus, you are so mighty and powerful and we praise you. We thank you that you died on the cross to take away our sins. I am sorry I have sinned and lied to my daddy and disobeyed my parents and told Caleb I never wanted to see him again. Forgive me Jesus. I want you in my life. In Jesus name Amen." After hearing the heart of this 6 year old there was no question in my mind as to whether he understood or grasped what he was doing. He got it. God had been drawing Joshua unto Himself and today was the day of his salvation. He gave it all up that day. He answered the call of His savior that day. As we stood there worshipping the Lord together I could not contain the tears. Oh the joy that flooded my soul was now pouring down my face. This is what I have prayed for since the day they were conceived. I have prayed that at an early age my children would come to know Christ and walk with Him all the days of their life. Joshua told me yesterday that since he has asked Jesus into his heart that everything seems different. He said he can see God's love for him in everything he looks at. He said, "Mommy, it is as if God is whispering in my ear all day long, "Joshua, I love you." Oh what rejoicing!!! He is whispering that in his ear all day long and He is shouting it from the roof tops and He is shouting it in all of creation. "JOSHUA, I LOVE YOU!" Easter (and everyday) we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Easter will also have another special place in my heart as will August 5. These are the days that 3 of my children went from death to a New life. I was able to deliver them into this world, but by the power of Jesus Christ and His resurrection HE alone is the one who can give them ETERNAL life! PRAISE YOU JESUS! "Oh praise the one who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead."