"Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature: 
old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new."
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

I saw it happen twice this week.

The first time was when I noticed the change in the dandelions growing wildly in my backyard.  One morning as I rocked my baby boy in the patio swing we have out in back of our home, I noticed hundreds of bright yellow dandelions in full bloom.

You couldn't help but notice them, almost hugging the ground and as thick as carpet in some areas.  I remember as a small boy picking them and taking them to my mom.  You'd have thought they were a dozen of the finest red roses delivered by the most exquisite florist by the way my mom bragged about them.

And now, they are growing in my own backyard.  My son kind of looked at them as he sleepily lay in my arms on the swing.  One day they were bright yellow, hugging the ground...

...and the next they were wisps of white on much taller stalks.  They had made an obvious change in their appearance.  They were still the same "flowers," but their appearance was completely different.   It was hard for me to imagine that they were growing in the same spot as they were yesterday.  The scenery had changed.

Like I said, I saw it happen twice this week.  One of the times was when the dandelions went through their change...

...the other was when my father when through the change that only Jesus can bring.

Praise the Lord, I am rejoicing to say that on Easter Sunday last week, my dad accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord!  After many years of praying and numerous talks and letters, my dad felt the knock at the door of his heart, and he opened it for Jesus to come inside.

I am still in joyful shock.   The Lord is so amazing.  Here is a man that many people thought my never come to Jesus.  A man who would leave the room anytime anything relating to God or church was mentioned.  A man who wanted nothing to do with the Lord.And yet, he went through an amazing change.  First, he hugged me with tears in his eyes and told me the great news. 

Oh, but that's just the beginning!  My mom (who is a Christian) told me that he has began praying before meals, asking the Lord to bless.  She related to me that he had shared his salvation experience with a waiter as they dined out last Friday night. 

My dad was supposed to make a purchase from me this week and asked if he could make it in two installments instead of one...

...he told me his tithe had to come first.

Tonight, he went down to the altar and prayed and then announced to the church that Jesus had saved him.  Later as we talked, he told me he had given up worldly music and was thrilled about what the Lord had freed him from.

Like a dandelion right before my eyes, my dad went through the change  - the change that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can make.

My nephew CJ (my dad's other grandson) came with him to church tonight.  Afterwards I asked him if he had known that my dad got saved.  He said, "Yes, I guessed it."  My wife asked him about it and he said...

..."Grandpa has been acting REAL different!"

You see, when Jesus makes His home in your heart, people notice.  They notice a difference as plain to see as the bright yellow dandelions turning into white wisps.

Anyone who knows my dad, knows that He was changed.

Christian, what about you and I?  Do people see the change in us?  Do they see something different about the way we act and about the things we say?  Is it easy to spot differences in how we live - the music we listen to, the movies we watch, the way we work and play?

Do we look different than the rest of the world?

What a blessing it would be for those around us to be like my little CJ and exclaim in a definitive voice...

.... (your name here) has been acting REAL different!

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!