a child-like faith
I know I talk about Madison all the time, but she teaches me so much and God really shows Himself to me through her.
Today when she got home from school, she wanted to sit outside on the patio to eat her snack. She told me that the leaves were shaking because they were cold and she told them to huddle together because GOd told her to tell them that!
She makes me smile. I am so amazed at how she sees God through everything and how she doesn’t question if He exists. She just knows that He does.
Did you know that if people don’t embrace Jesus as their Savior before they reach their teenage years, their chance of doing so at all is slim? The numbers are over 30% between ages 5-12, less than 6% for ages 13-18, and a little over 6% for 19+ (according to George Barna). Wow. I am one of those 6% because it wasn’t until I was 24 that I accepted Jesus Christ.
I remember going to Vacation Bible School when I was 3! Is that possible? I remember I had a yellow tshirt with the blue words “Jesus loves me” written across the front. I remember learning the songs… Jesus loves me this I know… Jesus is the answer what a friend is He… I remember singing them in the shower when I was 5 and we had just moved to Georgia. I didn’t know much about Him, but I was obviously thirsty to know Him at a very young age and it stuck with me…. even when I didn’t go to church after that. A seed had been planted…
More about that tomorrow.
Today when she got home from school, she wanted to sit outside on the patio to eat her snack. She told me that the leaves were shaking because they were cold and she told them to huddle together because GOd told her to tell them that!
She makes me smile. I am so amazed at how she sees God through everything and how she doesn’t question if He exists. She just knows that He does.
Did you know that if people don’t embrace Jesus as their Savior before they reach their teenage years, their chance of doing so at all is slim? The numbers are over 30% between ages 5-12, less than 6% for ages 13-18, and a little over 6% for 19+ (according to George Barna). Wow. I am one of those 6% because it wasn’t until I was 24 that I accepted Jesus Christ.
I remember going to Vacation Bible School when I was 3! Is that possible? I remember I had a yellow tshirt with the blue words “Jesus loves me” written across the front. I remember learning the songs… Jesus loves me this I know… Jesus is the answer what a friend is He… I remember singing them in the shower when I was 5 and we had just moved to Georgia. I didn’t know much about Him, but I was obviously thirsty to know Him at a very young age and it stuck with me…. even when I didn’t go to church after that. A seed had been planted…
More about that tomorrow.
Do you remember your earliest memory of hearing about Jesus?
Posted by
at
00:41:08
‘linked to your blog from my buddy Keith’s (http://whupperarnett.blog.com/) and couldn’t help but respond to this when I read it - great writing throughout your blog by the way.
I’ve only recently begun to appreciate the many, tremendous blessings I had as a child and an active church life was one of them. But it wasn’t “going to church” that was the blessing so much as the true Christians who demonstrated Jesus’ love directly at Vacation Bible School, Sunday school classes, etc.
I don’t know if I can place my finger on the exact first instance of hearing about Jesus, but the first time it started to sink in (though I didn’t realize it then) was at VBS when we memorized and made posters related to a verse (partial verse really) from Proverbs. That verse was “A friend loveth at all time…” and the teacher said something about Jesus being the one true friend who can really live up to that standard without fail (the bit about “and a brother is born for adversity applies pretty well, too, but wasn’t discussed). Today, whenever I hear or sing the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” - man - I just can’t believe all the times when that friendship has been so critical in my life and has brought me through. And trying to be as near that sort of friend to others has become a lifelong ambition of mine. (By the way, my poster was nothing to look at - I’ve never liked “doing art” much, but I still remember it had a rainbow and sun on it with the words of the verse in big, brown letters.)
Another early instance of hearing about Jesus that stuck was more of a relational example than a “hearing”. When I was very young (probably around 3), and my family would visit my mother’s family in NC, we would always attend the church where my mom was raised and where my elderly grandmother attended. While I certainly didn’t understand the words I was hearing, I’ll never forget the earnestness of my grandmother singing in worship. In particular, I can still hear in my mind her high, somewhat nasal voice, singing boldy (if not skillfully) the words to “Rock of Ages”. The effect on me was something like: if someone as wonderful as my grandmother believes something so completely and sincerely, and receives so much joy from it, then it’s probably worth my believing too. Time and history, mine and all the world’s, have proven her right in her belief and I thank God for the examples of her and so many like her in my life!
Oh, I can’t fail to also mention a great record (yes vinyl, not a CD) I had as a child that had “dramatic readings” of bible stories and a comics-style book that illustrated the stories being told. I’d listen to that and follow along in the book over and over again. If it weren’t rude to go on so long, I’d tell how that record inspired the start of a real prayer life.
Planting seeds is so important - and so effetive in those with childlike faith - thanks for the reminder!
Rob