New Beginning

Most babies of my generation were baptized within a month or two after being born.  I was no exception.  My parents put me in a beautiful white gown and had me baptized in the hopes that I would have a relationship with Jesus.  For the next several decades I had a great Sunday relationship with Him.  I did my duty and volunteered at the church when asked.  I took my turn leading Sunday school and helped out with VBS every summer.  This is good enough, right?  Not really.  Something was missing.  A real relationship with Christ was what I was looking for but it wasn't the winter of 2009 that I started to get to know Him.


It is so hard to build a relationship with Christ if you don't surround yourself with other believers that also want to know Him personally.  It's not a coincidence that my relationship with Christ grew as my relationship with Darren did too.  I could never do justice to his testimony but in a nut shell, he began is walk with Christ while still trying to live in this world.  As those things faded away his relationship with Jesus really took off.  That's when we met.


Even though I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I still wanted to hang on to parts of this world.  It doesn't work!  On Sunday, August 14 I decided that enough was enough and if I was going to call myself a believer then I was going to have to take the first step and be baptized again. This time it was my choice.  Now, I didn't just walk into church and say, "ok, baptize me!"  The month of August at Lifepoint has been dedicated to All Things New.  Each Sunday we have been talking about how each of us can give more of our time and energy to the church and saying that now is the time to start our new life with Chirst.  More than 250 over two weekends came forward to commit their life to Christ!!!!  


So, this rainy Sunday morning I go to church not knowing what to expect.  We sang a bit.  Took offering (at the beginning? odd.) and Pastor Daniel came out.  My favorite part.  His sermons ROCK!!  "You can't call yourself a follower of Jesus if you don't take the first step." is how he starts.  I'm thinking I'm good since I already accepted Him as my Savior but I was wrong.  He's talking about baptism.  I was gone in July when they did it last time.  I made a mental note that this must be a monthly event and I would be prepared for it in September if we were in town.  "NO!  NOW!"  That's not Pastor talking to me but Him!  And He's a bit impatient with me.  God understands that He made me stubborn but still gets impatient with me.  I'm ok with that.  I have that effect on everyone.  Now the objections begin.  But, I'm not dressed for it.  "We have clothes for you to change into.", Pastor says. Oh.  I was baptized when I was a baby.  "You need to make it your choice in order to truly follow Christ.", Pastor says.  Ok.  I need to pray about it.  "Really???", God says!  At that point anyone who was taking this step in their life was asked to come forward and God said "GO!" I went.  On this rainy Sunday in August I chose to step out in the rain and get wet on purpose!


I am so blessed to have a Father in Heaven that loves me enough to send His Son to die for my sins and gave me someone here on Earth that helps me and encourages me daily in my life long walk with Him.