It has been a few years now since I found Faith. Shortly after Emma was born I we started attending CBC regularly and I really loved hearing Robert Emmit preach there. I was moved and brought to tears so many times during his sermons. It was over, what I consider, a short amount of time that my heart opened to God...Faith in God...and an unshakable belief in God. Robert retired from CBC unfortunately, for me, and I have to say that I took a few steps back in my journey. That said I never stopped pushing forward and after moving to Leon Springs we found Curry Creek. Its also a non-denominational church (once a Baptist church) and John reminds me a lot of Robert. I hear him, understand him and am also moved by his sermons.
There were a few times I started moving in the direction of becoming baptized but for some reason I wasn't ready whether I realized that or not. After some thought about baptism and my Faith I knew it was time and I knew I wanted John to do it. That said I was still not prepared to do it in front of a crowd and was pretty steadfast in that thought. I went to John stating such and he really challenged me to think about why I would want to do it privately. So after meeting with him that day, talking with my parents, and Ben I came to the conclusion that I was embarrassed to have Faith...embarrassed to share my Faith. It was like a lightning bolt realization and from that moment I felt at complete ease not only about being baptized in front of a "crowd" or our congregation but my Faith and the Faith of others. It used to bother me tremendously to see people raise their hands in church as if holding their hand to God and now I know its because I was jealous of their belief...of their Faith. So while I am still very conservative in my Faith and probably won't be raising my hand in church I respect those who do.
With my family by my side on Sunday, August 12, 2018 I made my commitment to Christ and was baptized! It was a moment I will never forget! Having my dad there was especially important as Faith, belief and baptism is so important to him....important for him to see me reach that part of my journey on my own. I wasn't nervous in the normal sense of being nervous...maybe anxious? Most of the congregation came out to witness my baptism which you would have thought, at least for me, would have really made me nervous but it didn't. The support and joy in their eyes, for me, was just amazing and SO moving. In fact I think it gave me more peace than I already had.
I can't say I feel different and really can't put my feelings into words. It's a feeling though...and one I hold dear. May the Lord continue to bless me and my family. I pray for those on the same journey I was on...that they also find Faith.
Messages from Ben and my Dad:
Dad:
Nothing could have prevented me from being with you today.
Perhaps the single most important decision you could ever make.
Words cannot express how happy and how proud of you I am and how pleased I am that you and you alone made the decision to accept Christ as your personal savior.
I love and adore you in too many ways to count and have unending respect for you.
Mark 8:36
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
You and You alone are about to cause every Angel in Heaven to rejoice and sing and shout; celebrating a new Child of God; and they all know it’s about to happen.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9
Luke 15:10
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
Ben:
Good luck- I’m proud of you
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