We're always evangelizing...preaching the gospel to our children. Every day is missions.
In spite of reality, it's not every day we're faced with an awareness of our life and death situation.
Sometimes reality stings.
"I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.
Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him,
for he is your life and length of days."
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Beck will be having major open heart surgery very soon. The thought of it makes my heart buck in denial. It's been hard to look into his eyes, his sweet little happy-Beck eyes that shine and light up the whole world when he smiles. I can't gaze too long right now,
or I crumble. So instead, I gear up strong and focus on what matters most for him in this hour. Jesus.
We've been here before. I remember the feeling.
Evangelizing Bea. We did. We do. We preach Jesus to all of our children daily. But this time in Beck's life is especially special. This is the real deal...when a person faces life or death and we know we don't have control of the outcome. But we know the One who does. This Jesus, the One who created our Beck and destined him for us long ago, long before we found him, the Jesus who never leaves or forsakes, He's been with His Beck all along and He'll be with him in surgery and after when tubes and pains and scary things cause our little one fright. Yes, Jesus will be with Beck and He is good.
"Be strong and courageous.
Do not fear...for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.
He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
So as we look forward to what's nearly ahead and try to not overthink it, evangelism is front and center.
Reading back over my words before Bea's open heart surgery, I see we were in the same place then,
"We are uncomfortably aware of how brief Bea's time on earth may be. We are
equally aware of how brief
each of our lives on earth actually are in the
scope of eternity and this fuels our ammunition for evangelism."
Indeed, hearts fueled and focused and primed for the future trust we must place in the hands of God,
we expectantly await the grace that we'll all know during the course of this season of surgery.
We press in more intently and hone in on the opportunities we have to share Jesus again.
Eyes on Him. Don't look down.
These words will be on high rotation in my mind to encourage my tender mother's heart.
Jesus, please help us use words from your Word to continually make your love real to Beck, to all of our children and to anyone else we have the blessed opportunity to share with! There is beautiful hope in you! Thank you for your saving truths that crush the enemy's schemes! Thank you for redeeming and restoring and helping and loving and molding us in your image as we turn our eyes and hearts to you in faith, like little children. Thank you for carrying us when we're frightened and for loving us even when we crumble. Please infuse Beck's little heart with the realness of who you are and teach us how to instruct him as we pour into our son and love on him in these next precious normal moments together and as we're evangelizing Beck.
"For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in [Jesus] will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."
Romans 10:10-15,17
(He got a heart on his juice on the airplane!)
