Today, June 8th, was a special day that I (John) wanted to celebrate and post on our family blog. Tonight around 8:30pm before going to bed, Gianna put her faith/trust in Jesus to be her Lord and Protector.
Recently, she has been memorizing some Bible Verses that have prompted a lot of questions from her about Heaven, Hell, Jesus, Salvation, etc. Over the past few months, as we review her Bible verses, she often ask lots of questions of me when we are having a nightly talk and prayer/worship time together after bath time and reading books. We will just sit in a chair together and talk in the dark. Tonight, she asked me to pray with her and ask Jesus to be her Savior, Lord, and Protector. She committed herself to being His Bond-Servant (a servant who serves someone because they have a deep love for them) for her life on earth as well. Here was her prayer she repeated after me. After her prayer, Gianna thanked me for sharing about Heaven and Hell with her. I told her she is now a child of God forever. He will always love you and He will always protect you. He is always faithful to His children. Then, she went to sleep. Praise God.
Gianna's Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for creating me in Your Image. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know my purpose on this earth is to glorify You and get to know You and help others know You as well. Please forgive me for my sins. Please forgive me for when I do what I want and I am not a good listener to what You want from me. I know I will never been good enough to get to Heaven without Your help, and there is no other way to get to Heaven except by trusting you to help me. Please come into my heart Jesus and be my friend and protect me. One day, when I die, please take me to Heaven with You. I put my trust and faith in You alone. I want to be your bondservant for the rest of my life. Help me to be a good listener and to know you more everyday. I want to be like You. I love you Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Gianna's Memory Verses
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life with I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.
Philippians 4:6,7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gianna's Favorite Praise Songs
1. As the Deer Panteth for the waters, so my soul Longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee. You alone are my strength, my shield. To You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee.
2. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy Presence, O Lord. Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy Salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.
3. Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. And He shall lift you up, higher and higher. And, He shall lift you up, up into Heaven. And He shall lift you up.
Angels in Heaven and Mom and Dad (John & Meryl) are celebrating as another child of God is born again tonight!! Tonight is Gianna's spiritual birthday (her 2nd birthday).
Thank you Lord for loving my little girl like You loved me. Thank you for giving her a heart to ask questions and want to know about You and how to be saved. Thank you for helping her understand and trust in You, and for pursuing her. I know she would never have responded how she did without you first pursuing her. I am reminded of when you came to see Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they sinned against you and felt shame and guilt for the first time. You came to the Garden and simply asked, "Where are you?". You are faithful to pursue those you love. None of us would come to You without you first loving us. No words can express how grateful I am that You loved us first, and gave Your only Son to die in our place on the cross so that we may have eternal life as a free gift if we believe and trust in Him. All Praise and Glory belongs to You. I love you Jesus.
