I got baptized !!!

Hello, my sweet friends, happy Easter!! What an absolute blessing it is to be able to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior and King! This weekend for me has been FULL of celebration. Not only do I get to worship Jesus with awe and reverence of his power and faithfulness on the cross, but I get to celebrate MY BAPTISM!! On April 20th, 2019, yours truly GOT DUNKED in order to solidify my relationship with the Trinity & to promise to boldly proclaim His name everywhere I go! HALLELUJAH! I feel lead to share the story of why I got baptized last night and what God taught me through the process. As you read this blog post, remember that this story is not my own, it is the Lord’s. Choose to seek His truth through the telling of this story!!

When I was 7 I got baptized in the Methodist church. I wanted to do it, but I only chose to do so because I was being pressured by the staff in the children’s ministry. I did not understand who God was back then, we didn’t have any kind of real relationship. When I look back on that moment I only see a meaningless, religious “ritual.” If you reflect on my past 17, almost 18, years of life, you could say I’ve been a Christian for nearly all of it. However, I wouldn’t be bold enough to say that I’ve always known the Lord, especially during my early years. If I’m honest, last May is when I first came to know Him. My curiosity and hunger for His word and presence became a lifestyle, and I actually began to connect and comprehend all of the things I had been taught in church.

Ever since the day Lord and I started our relationship, I have known He desired for me to be baptized again. It has been something pressed to the back of my mind day after day, but I never took action upon it. About a month ago I was sitting in church and they announced that they were doing their first round of water baptisms. IMMEDIATELY I whipped out my phone to sign up, what a gift from the Lord! Even though I was super excited to get baptized, I didn’t put too much thought into the concept of it before yesterday evening. I was taught as a kid that it was something you had to do, but there was never any excitement in it, its as if the holy spirit was completely removed from the process. As walked into the church’s fellowship room, where all of the people getting baptized were to meet, I was overcome by the reality of what I was doing. When I go into that water, I am dying to myself, and when I rise, the power of God is with me FOREVER. Whoa, that’s not what I was taught in Sunday school. 

Time flew by in a swirl of emotions as we prepared for ~the dunk~. Through all of my nervousness, leaders of the church were constantly praying over me in the most beautiful way, reminding me who God says I am and filling me with His truth. The moment I stepped in the baptismal, I was terrified. I have stage fright, so being in front of people isn’t really my forte. However, as soon as I was lead into the water, I felt immense peace. Nothing ~crazy~ happened, I didn’t rise from the water speaking in tongues (as pastor Eddie had warned me might happen, yay holy spirit!), I simply felt renewed. Like my heart and soul had been deeply cleansed of all inequities and transgressions. As someone who constantly beats herself up because of the ways she falls short, it was innately divine to feel completely cleansed, as Jesus intended. 

I won’t get into details of what happened after I stepped out of the baptismal. but the Lord spoke to me in SUCH clear ways. I feel as if the callings being placed on my heart were confirmed. The gifts I didn’t see in myself were brought to my attention. The ways the Lord reaches people through me were blessed. For the first time in a very long time I felt clarity, I felt GOD. If I can sum up what I learned from this experience, its that I don’t have to do anything but listen & obey. I do not have to take action into my own hands for God to appreciate me. I do not have to be “radical” to hear “well done my good and faithful servant.” I simply have to be, just be. What a beautiful and peace-giving truth my friends!!

My prayer for you all is that your love for the Lord isn’t based on what you have heard, or what you ‘assume’ to be true. I pray that it is/becomes personal. That you would lean on the Lord so deeply that you would hear and feel His presence. That his spirit would guide you in the way He desires, so that the kingdom may be advanced. That you would seek him intently and daily. He loves you passionately, and my desire is for you to feel that and receive it! 

Whether the Lord calls you to get baptized or to travel across the world, I hope that you choose to meet Him where He calls you. His truth is waiting for you! Take hold of what the father is giving to you. Prayers and blessings for you all on this beautiful Easter Sunday! Much love!

Nol