A Love So Amazing...

So.  I feel awesome.  I am happy, I am at peace.  I am so filled with God’s presence that it is indescribable.  I have written about the peace that God gives.  Yet, I don’t think I have ever understood the full extent of it, I don’t think I will ever truly know how far God’s peace and mercy goes.

So.  My oldest son and I were baptized today!  I had no idea it would be so amazing.  I committed my life to God long, long ago.  My faith ever and always growing and developing.  I had a few opportunities to be baptized in the past few years, for one reason or another I did not do it.  I have thought about it often.  Jesus was baptized, he told the disciples to baptize others… When our Pastor mentioned an upcoming baptism service, both my oldest son and I jumped at the chance.  It was time.  It is time.  I was very proud to watch my son be baptized, then it was my turn.  What an experience!  It is very difficult to explain, the love, the peace, the joy…

Dear Lord,

You amaze me continually.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for choosing me, for adopting me into your family!  Every time I open my eyes, I am filled with your love and grace.  Every time I step out my door I am overwhelmed at this world you have created and the majesty that surrounds us!  I have no concept of how people can deny your existence!  You once reminded me that I was a part of this stunning creation of yours.  You reminded me that you, who made all that surrounds us, also crafted me.  You know me, you love me, you amaze me!  I feel your hand in my life, your touch in my soul!  Thank you, Lord!  I will serve you all my days, I will love you with all that I am!  My hands are yours to command Lord.  Please guide me and let my heart and mind remain open to all you have for me!  Please help me to keep on my armor at all times, and always fight for you Lord!  Dear Lord God, I love you!  Please, “let my life-song sing to you”!

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Acts 22:16  (NLT)

What are you waiting for?  Get up and be baptized.  Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.

God is With You

Have you ever made a mistake in life and been disciplined for it?  As a kid I remember fighting with my sister.  My dad put us each in opposite corners of the room to wait for the bus (it was before school).  It was the only time I remember being punished by my dad (a look or word was usually enough).  I have no idea what the fight was about, but I remember that corner and the regret I felt for fighting with my sister and disappointing my dad.  I also remember not wanting to be in that corner because there was a spider crawling up the wall!    I also received a detention in high school, for reading… while the teacher was going over an Algebra test… he also took my book away… my mom’s book.  I took my punishment, I knew it was fair, I apologized and mom’s book was returned to me.  I never read in Algebra class again… in fact it was the only class I did not read for fun in until college.  We do things wrong, and if they love us, our parents or teachers or authority figures discipline us, not to be mean, but to help us learn right from wrong.  God does the same thing.

Revelation 3:19 

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.

Hebrews 12:6

For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

Sometimes it hurts.  It goes back to the phrase “you made your bed, now you have to lay in it”.  A lot of our miseries are direct results of our own mistakes.  God probably doesn’t have to actively discipline a lot because he can let us deal with our messes.  But he is always there to love and support us through all we must go through, all the lessons we must learn.  He is a loving parent, a loving teacher, a loving guide who doesn’t just throw us out to get through things on our own.  He is always present, always there to love and support.  All we have to do is turn to him.

I want you to ponder something for a bit…  Sometimes the things we go through hurt… a lot.  But, if the hurt is meant to save us from a worse fate, isn’t it worth it?  If the hurt we experience is turning us away from a path to hell, isn’t it worth it?  Think of it this way.  If your child or loved one is about to get ran over by a bus, you would charge out there and slam your whole body into that person, plowing into them and knocking you both to the ground to save their life, right?  Your child and you may be hurt, they may have pain, road rash, and broken bones from the impact and fall… but they are alive.  The pain is a better alternative than death.  Remember that when learning a particularly grueling lesson, the pain is a better alternative than death…

James 1:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.