Amazing Grace - How Sweet the Sound

Friends, there are only so many truly important events in a person's life. 
Births of babies are right up there...
Weddings are precious celebrations...
Even deaths - if the deceased is a follower of Jesus Christ - can be considered a "celebration".
But today - yesterday really - one of those rare, precious, eternal moments visited my family.
I cherish the day I married my husband.
I treasure the day each of my children were born.
But yesterday, June 12, 2010 is certainly one of the most important days in my life...
I'll get to the "why" in just a moment.
I've often said that my life's great Opus is that of being a mom, and raising my children in the ways of the Lord,
There is one thing I've longed for - only one thing that matters to me - that my children will find themselves in the household of faith.
Yesterday, my youngest daughter, Abigail, was wrestling with faith.  We've had a long couple of years with what I knew to be several "spiritual skirmishes".  The Lord had warned me that the road ahead for Abigail was one of rebellion and sorrow.  I pondered that for a couple of weeks, and finally became so grieved that I decided to approach my Lord in a way similar to that of Abraham when he approached God asking for the souls of the men and women in Sodom and Gomorrah. 
Only this request was for my precious Abigail - my "Father's Joy".  I decided to take a firm stand in the gap for my daughter, and asked the Lord to show us how to avert the destruction that was ahead.
I know that the Lord is good.  I know that the Lord is faithful.  And I know that He hears His anointed ones. 
So I asked the Lord, in faith, to turn this path around for my precious girl.
As we sat talking to Abigail yesterday, I told her that battle lines were being drawn in the Spirit, and that sides were being chosen.  I told her that a decision was being required.  Was she going to serve and follow Jesus Christ?  Or would she serve herself and follow a path that leads to death? 
At first, the answer was - I don't care if I'm a rebel - the battle was heated...
But finally, Abigail made a declaration from her mouth - I want to serve Jesus. 
So we asked how we could help...
You see, we thought Abigail was already saved, or born again.  She had prayed the prayer as a young girl and had appeared to follow Jesus...  until the last couple of years when things just didn't seem to be "matching up". 
We found out last night that Abigail had been leading a double-life.  One of outward church going and doing right, but of inward hypocrisy and game-playing. 
Abigail asked us to pray for her.  So we gathered around, her dad, sister, and me.  Abigail said - I need to rededicate my life to God.  So she began to pray.  As she prayed, she began to sob and the words out of her mouth were precious - I give my whole life to you, Jesus.  I know the road ahead will be hard, but I have counted the cost and I'm choosing to serve You. 
Then my daughter looked up at me with those beautiful brown eyes, and gorgeous, teary smile and said - I've just been saved!
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ made a spiritual and total covenant with my Abigail last night!  She and I both laughed and cried for two hours.
My burden for her soul has been lifted, and the joy of the Father is mine.  And hers!
Abigail said she needed to be baptized, so today all of Harvest Church celebrated with us as Jeff baptized his youngest daughter.

Lord, thank You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness in the life of the Kear family.
We can never thank You enough.  So we give You all of our lives...  Use them for Your Kingdom.