Thoughts on Salvation and Such

The Summer before Emily started Kindergarten, my friend Amanda had her second baby.  I made a meal for them and carried the girls with me to deliver the meal.  It is a beautiful country drive from Amanda's house to mine.  As we drove back home, we were having small talk and listening to their Vacation Bible School music c.d.
All of the sudden Emily says with urgency and strong conviction,  "MOM, MOM.......I just asked Jesus into my heart!!!!!"
I told Emily how wonderful this was and all that.  She wanted to call her Daddy and grandparents and tell them her good news. We began talking that very night with Emily about what it means to be saved from your sins.  Steve and I quickly saw that there was a lot that she was very confused about.  We looked at that time in the car as one big step toward God.We talked to her about baptism and she told us that she wanted to get baptised so her sins would be washed away, but she added that she had to take swimming lessons first.  We tried to explain that baptism does not wash away your sins.  We told her that baptism is a picture to show others you are now following Jesus.  Jesus told us in the Bible to be baptised,  but it does not save you.  Emily also believed that she had to be good.  We told her that being saved from hell does not mean that we have to be good.  Jesus did all the work for us by dying on the cross.  PRAISE the LORD our salvation does not depend on us!!!! It is God's grace!!! We told her that it was more than just saying you believe in Jesus, but it is giving all of yourself to Jesus and loving Him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.
We have not stopped talking about that.  She has not stopped asking us questions either.  Her understanding is becoming more and more clear.  She is realizing that she is a sinner and her only hope is Jesus.
Easter Sunday, we had Junior Hill as our guest evangelist.  He is one of my favorites.  He makes the gospel message very simple and many children in our church have been saved when Junior Hill has been at our church.  Steve and I had been praying the week before Easter that Emily would be convicted of her sin and want to be saved and baptised.  We prayed she would listen on that morning.  She listened well that morning and even had some great questions during the preaching.  The invitation came and we all stood and sang.  Emily looked VERY VERY serious.  Steve looked very intense as well.  He would close his eyes and pray as others sang.  I knew he was praying for Emily and the salvation of others.  I was praying as well.  The invitation lasted a long time and Junior Hill would say,  " I feel there is still a little boy or a little girl that needs to come down."  Junior Hill told the children that their parents would be happy to walk to the front with them.  Emily would look at me and Steve.  I just knew that it was "the day."  I sat down on the pew to be eye ball to eye ball with Emily and I whispered,  "  what are you thinking?"  She looked at me with tears in her big blue eyes and said,  " I'm thnking about the Easter bunny.  I am so sad that he did not hide any eggs for us."  THE EASTER BUNNY????  The Easter Bunny?  Seriously?  I just wilted.  WILTED.
No one is saved without God drawing that person to Him.
She just has not had that conviction yet.  WE ARE PRAYING.

Monday night after we read the Bible and prayed in bed, Emily told me that she had asked Jesus in her heart on the playground that afternoon.  She proudly told me that she had asked him in 3 or 4 times.  I explained that once you ask Jesus in, He is NOT leaving, NOT EVER.  She looked at me so confused with her little hand on her heart and said, " Well,  I know He gets hungry in there and has to get out to eat."


Oh we love that sweet girl so much!!!!!!!!!  We are excited for the day that she becomes a Christian!