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[Candice]

I will just start this discussion with HELP!

It has been my hope and prayer that our 15 year-old son would believe and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. However, it hasn't happened and I've come to the LORD (and friends and hubby) on many occasions in tears. Through Victory Over the Darkness, I received great release from the LORD that it is not me who saves him.

HOWEVER, if anyone hear has adminisions, exhortation, encouragement or miracles to share, please do. It appears my son blames me a lot. Now I know he's 15 years old. This morning, on his own choice that I allowed him to make, he had a rash on his face from acne soap. He accusingly asked me (as if I advised him to use the soap in the first place) as to what to do about it. I told him it would pass and not to use it anymore. He is really a "good kid" (and I quote that since none are good; no not one), exceptionally intelligent, 4.2 grade average, but not social - all measured by the world's standardsl. He plain worries me. But, fear, for the most part is gone. I no longer blame myself that he's not chosen Christ. I know God must draw him and that's all I pray as far as his salvation is concerned.

I see kids at church (Baptist) whose parents seem content that their kid "accepted Christ" and were baptised. Even so, those kids could care less about God. It's almost cultural there.

As I turn my eyes to my son, I see my focus gets off Christ very easily.

Question: is it possible that my son can be used by Satan to destroy me? Destroy in that I get very distracted. Even, and I hate to admit this, that I don't want to be around my son. He is always pulling jokes, saying little sly comments, etc.

I don't want anyone to feel compelled to answer here because 1) some of you may be shaking your heads, 2) you don't have any answers; 3) you don't know because you don't have unsaved kids (halleluja).
Candice

[chipped china]

Here are some excerpts by Paul Bunyan "Saved by Grace" I've been reading. We all have loved ones that aren't saved yet. For me when I realize that I have no control over who is saved my best strategy is to show that person the LOVE OF CHRIST.

First, then, we may be said to be saved in the purpose of God before the world began. The apostle saith that "he saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tim 1:9). This is the beginning of salvation, and according to this beginning all things concur and fall out in conclusion—"He hath saved us according to his eternal purpose, which he purposed in Christ Jesus." God in thus saving may be said to save us by determining to make those means effectual for the blessed completing of our salvation; and hence we are said "to be chosen in Christ to salvation." And again, that he hath in that choice given us that grace that shall complete our salvation. Yea, the text is very full, "He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:3,4).

Bunyan goes on to teach: And hence "saved" is put before "called"; "he hath saved us, and called us"; he saith not, he hath called us, and saved us; but he puts saving before calling (2 Tim 1:9). So again, we are said to be "preserved in Christ and called"; he saith not, called and preserved (Jude 1). And therefore God saith again, "I will pardon them whom I reserve"—that is, as Paul expounds it, those whom I have "elected and kept," and this part of salvation is accomplished through the forbearance of God (Jer 50:20; Rom 11:4,5

And here lies the reason that long life is granted to the elect before conversion, and that all the sins they commit and all the judgments they deserve, cannot drive them out of the world before conversion. Manasseh, you know, was a great sinner, and for the trespass which he committed he was driven from his own land, and carried to Babylon; but kill him they could not, though his sins had deserved death ten thousand times. But what was the reason? Why, he was not yet called; God had chosen him in Christ, and laid up in him a stock of grace, which must be given to Manasseh before he dies; therefore Manasseh must be convinced, converted, and saved. That legion of devils that was in the possessed, with all the sins which he had committed in the time of his unregeneracy, could not take away his life before his conversion (Mark 5). How many times was that poor creature, as we may easily conjecture, assaulted for his life by the devils that were in him, yet could they not kill him, yea, though his dwelling was near the sea-side, and the devils had power to drive him too, yet could they not drive him further than the mountains that were by the sea- side; yea, they could help him often to break his chains and fetters, and could also make him as mad as a bedlam, [3] they could also prevail with him to separate from men, and cut himself with stones, but kill him they could not, drown him they could not; he was saved to be called; he was, notwithstanding all this, preserved in Christ, and called. As it is said of the young lad in the gospel, he was by the devil cast oft into the fire, and oft into the water, to destroy him, but it could not be; even so hath he served others, but they must be "saved to be called" (Mark 9:22). How many deaths have some been delivered from and saved out of before conversion! Some have fallen into rivers, some into wells, some into the sea, some into the hands of men; yea, they have been justly arraigned and condemned, as the thief upon the cross, but must not die before they have been converted. They were preserved in Christ, and called.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8).