Jesus Is Alive...

...these are the words Olivia spoke tonight as we came to the last story in her toddler Bible. It's the title of the story, and we've read through the book so many times she is beginning to verbalize what she remembers.

It started tonight when we first opened her Bible and turned to the second story. She lifted the flap on the picture revealing a man inside a boat, pointed and said "Noah."

I could have fell out of the bed except that I was on the side pushed up against the wall!

You see, first of all I had been feeling a little bit like a failure in this area. Olivia knows all about Pooh & Tigger, Bob & Larry, Elmo & Zoe, and Alex & Leah (from "Signing Time), but I had been convicted about how much more time these characters fill our daily lives and speech than the living, breathing Word of God. God is still speaking to me about changes I need to make, but He also reminded me tonight that the few things I have done to teach Olivia about God have not been in vain. His Word does not miss the mark even for a two year old! I may fall short, but God and His Word do not!

Second, it excited me because Olivia has been a little behind with her speech and language. She talks a lot...seemingly nonstop at times...but so much of what she says is lost in translation. We've been going to speech therapy and working hard at getting the beginning sounds of her words to come out. Well, to hear "Noah" come out clear as day the first time she ever said it and then to hear "Jesus is Alive" almost clear as day thrilled me!! It was a gift to hear her say these things as her speech therapy begins to help us understand all the wonderful things she is saying.

She must have sensed my excitement because we just laid there in bed saying back forth to one another "Jesus is Alive," "Jesus is Alive."

It reminds me of the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...He is alive, and because He is alive we all have the opportunity for complete forgiveness from anything we've ever done and ultimatley the gift of living with God forever in heaven...if we just believe.

So, with the help of my little two year old Olivia Hope, I urge you to believe in your heart and say with your lips, "Jesus is Alive!"