Happy Birthday, Sam

Tonight was one of those moments in life that you know you will never forget.

Sam is going to turn 10 in a few months. He's a sweet boy and really has been sooo easy to raise thus far. I've made alot of mistakes as a mother...eh, wrong wording, I've sinned ALOT as a mommy and wife but we have really tried to teach Sam and Jo God's way and His truth.

I guess I just thought if we did that it would be much like a "formula". So many of us fall into that trap. This, plus this..equals= what we want, right?

Wrong.

Up until tonight, despite the love of God that Sam has seen through us and scripture, he has had no desire to become a believer. He was very clear that he knew what would happen to him if he chose to live for himself and he didn't care. Some parents have to worry about "talking" their child into faith but this was not a problem for us-Sam would not have it! The older he got the more I began to panic. What if he doesn't? What if I have the next rebellious child? What if he sadly decides to make alot of ugly choices before he sees his own sin?

I have begged God to open Sam's eyes. I've offered up my own life if it would draw Sam to the Lord. I prayed for God's grace not to bring the result of my own sin on Sam's generation but to bless my repentance...my turning and my steps of obedience.

So, tonight my sweet baby boy (not so much baby anymore but you know..) came to me after school and said that God spoke to him through a conversation with Matt and the story of Nicodemus and he was ready to "put his pride aside" and become a believer.

I questioned him and offered to have him wait but he would not have it! NO WAY...I need to do this right now!

I have never heard a more precious prayer in my life. Sam began to pray and shake all over and tears were in his eyes as he called out to God to forgive his sins and save him. He thanked God for speaking to him and told him he wanted to live God's way. It was beautiful. We were all surrounding him as he knelt to pray and I felt extremely blessed to be apart of the moments when Sam was reborn into a new life.

As much as I longed for him to do this years ago, I will say there is nothing like the prayers of an older child that you know has some maturity. I have no doubt that what happened tonight was real. I have even seen him respond like a new boy since it happened.

He called everyone he knew, basically. I think he would have told the story all night if I would have let him stay up. He is very anxious to get baptized next and will after a few meetings with our children's pastor. Our church lets you decided who will baptize you so Sam has picked Matt to do it.

So cool...

Josiah began the conversation tonight with a desire to become a Christian also. There's more for him to learn but he's very close and very tender to the topic.

If you are a believer-Praise the Lord with me tonight! He has drawn my son into the light!