An "A-ha" Moment

Anything we do these days usually involves some imaginative play. Annika is just at that age when every other sentence begins "Ok. Pretend that...." The last few weeks the end to that sentence has usually had something to do with Elsa. Most of the time we pretend she is with us where ever we are going. I like this game too. The other day I asked Annika what she was looking forward to teaching her new little sister. Oh, did she have ideas! Topping the list was soccer and basketball along with spitting her toothpaste in the sink. All essential skills in Annika's mind. Then I told her she was also going to have the job of teaching her little sister how to be a Lindquist.  That's when I realized I had stumbled upon yet another picture of a believer's adoption into God's family.

When God awaked my heart to see my sin, my need for Him and the grace offered through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, I responded in faith and gratitude, humbly trusting in this gift for my salvation.  I was adopted into God's family, a true child of the King!  Paul explains it beautifully in his letter to the Ephesians 1:3-10.  As a new child of God, I walk in obedience to His plan for me.  Though once I was far from Him (Ephesians 2:13), but now I am saved by His grace to do those "good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)  I need to learn how to live as His child and how to reflect my Father in heaven.  This can only come, through the Spirit's help, by humbly being obedient to His word and allowing Him to work in me for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13) I need to be taught how to be a child of the King.

I am thankful that He has saved me and is daily chipping away at the parts of me that are not very Christ-like.  It is a slow process and I am grateful for His tender patience with me!  As we teach Elsa what it means to be a Lindquist, we will also show her what it means to be loved by the One who set this whole crazy adoption in motion.  "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (Psalm 139:16) We are even now praying for her heart to be ready and open to hear of this loving Father who gently draws His children to Himself, awakening dead hearts to walk in new life.  His awesome love and grace brings me to my knees in worship.  What an amazing God who thinks of crazy ways to gather His children to Himself and gather the Lindquist family from the far corners of the earth.

Praise His Holy name!

This is not a new photo, but I wanted to refresh everyone's memory on just how cute the newest Lindquist is.  Love her to pieces!