Proclaiming Christ as My Savior

Proclaiming Christ as Our Savior

My husband and I have recently made the decision to both get baptized. Some would say that being baptized is an outward expression of an inward change in someone’s life. That is how I viewed it. Once I surrendered my heart, my life to Jesus Christ I was born again.

“One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5

                                                     

However, as I prepared myself the morning of my baptism I began questioning if I was worthy enough to take this huge step in proclaiming Christ as my savior. I had fear that I would disappoint Him. That I would not do with myself or my life what He intended me to do. How could I be worthy of this amazing unconditional love? I have been far from obedient to Jesus Christ for way too many years. With all of the sinful things I had done throughout my life, why do I deserve forgiveness and love from Jesus Christ. Then I thought back on the beginning months of my journey to give my life to Christ. When I found myself lost, I reluctantly ran to Him. I found He was there for me with wide open arms ready to embrace every part of me. Not just the good parts, but all parts. He embraced my fears, my struggles, and my shame. He not only embraced the parts of me I did not like, but He was willing to make me knew again.   

At that moment I realized I am worthy. God knows that I cannot walk perfectly, but that I can walk perfectly in His grace and mercy. God knows all things. He knows the next step or decision I am going to make before I do; therefore, in that case I cannot disappointment Him. I was more than ready at that moment to give it all, my life, my heart, my word, to Jesus Christ. I wanted to work for Him in every way possible.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4

That morning, as my Pastor and I prepared for my baptism, I felt the Lord’s love consume my body. I felt His presence more than I ever had before, almost paralyzing. I knew at that moment I was ready. I was ready to be made new again. I was ready to give my life to Him.

Moments later my Pastor and I began to prepare for my baptism in front of our rather small congregation. The same congregation that taught me the remarkable things Christ can do for you if my faith is where it belongs. The people of my church had been my crutch throughout this journey my husband and I had begun. The love and support I received from them was yet another testimony of how the Lord can and does work through people. I wanted that. I wanted to help people the same way I was helped. I wanted to testify about this amazing savior that I had given my life too.

I walked into the water that morning as a shameful, hurt, confused lost soul. Even after all I had accomplished over the months of turning my life around and revolving it around Jesus Christ, I still felt somewhat lost. However, I am glad to tell you that the woman who walked out of the water that morning was no longer hurt, confused, or shameful. I was the furthest from it. I was complete. I was born again!

This past Sunday, I asked my Pastor if I could have a few minutes of his time after service to ask him a few questions about my baptism. As he always is, he was more than willing to answer any question I had. My relationship with Christ was still building, as it always will be. I asked Pastor Doug Allen what I could do to strengthen my faith, my love for Jesus Christ. I explained to him how on the day of my baptism I felt closer to Christ then I ever had before, but that feeling was fading. “How can I strengthen my faith?” I asked. Pastor Doug Allen responded with the biggest smile I had seen all morning, “You have to be willing, as I can tell you are. This is great!” Then he hugged me and said, “Testify.” He explained that I can help spread the word of God. I can reach out to next person I pass in the grocery store, or maybe a lost family member.

I took his advice to heart. I have decided to make reaching my new mission. I want to share how wonderful my God has been to me. I want to help someone see what life is really all about. I cannot wait to share that experience with you on my next blog. God bless!

Works Cited

Allen, Doug. Personal interview. 05 May 2013.

Ephesians. The Holy Bible New International Version. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1984. Print.

Johnson, Theresa. Personal interview. 03 May 2013.

Romans. The Holy Bible New International Version. Colorado Springs: International Bible Society, 1984. Print.

Completely Surrender

Our children will be more apt to love the Lord if we do.

 Raising my children to live for the Lord can only be accomplished by my husband and me leading by example. How can we ask our children to open their hearts to the Lord, and put Him before all things if we do not do so ourselves? We must first live for the Lord in every way possible. The first step to living for the Lord, and putting Him before all things is to welcome Him into our hearts and embrace His amazing love for us. Being in a relationship with Christ to me is much like being in a marriage it takes work. God wants us to be in his word and learn about him. Look at it this way, you cannot be married to a man that you know nothing about... how well would that work out? God wants us to surround ourselves with people that encourage our relationship with him. Your husband would not want you hanging around a bunch of women that did not want you to be married to him would he?

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength”. Ephesians 1: 18-19

I conducted an interview with a good friend of mine, Bethany Robinson, whom has helped me though this journey. I asked her about the steps one takes to preparing their self to open their heart to the Lord. How do I fully open my heart and allow Jesus Christ in? Her response was simply amazing. Bethany’s response to my question was, “I can't say that I know how to prepare your heart to make the decision to follow him, but I do know that in order for Him to really work in your life and blow you away with His amazing love and grace, you have to totally surrender to him. Not just the part of your life you are willing to give him control over, but the whole thing.”

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh with days to come".

Proverbs 31:25

Surrender to Him, what does this mean? Webster dictionary defines surrender as: to give up completely or agree to forgo especially in favor of another. However, when I hear the word surrender I think of it as negative. As one that has to “surrender to the Law”, or surrender in war. To surrender to God, one is simply acknowledging that everything we own (our cars, houses, and so on) truly belongs to Him. God is the giver of all things. When one surrenders to God, you are freed from the things or thoughts that had stopped you from wanting to put God first in your life. To surrender one’s life to Him does not mean that you have to stop things that you are doing that you grew up hearing was not a "Christian" thing to do. If God does not want you doing something you will know it.

This can be kind of scary… to surrender one’s life to the Lord. All I can say is do not let any “fear” stop you from the decision to be made new again, to be given a second chance with wide open arms from the one who unconditionally loves you the most. God will free you of your fears, and make your life better then you have ever imagined. Surrender yourself to the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desire.

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart”. Psalm 37:4

Works Cited

 

"Bible Gateway." BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 100 Versions and 50 Languages.   Biblica Inc., 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

E-mail interview. 25 Mar. 2013.

Glustsenko, Aleksandra. "Illustration - Vector Paper Heart with Quote from Bible about True Love." 123RF Stock Photos. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2013.

Proverbs. BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 100 Versions and 50 Languages. Biblica Inc., 2011. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.

Stone, Dave. Raising Your Kids to Love the Lord. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2012. Print.

Join me on my journey to lead my children to live for the Lord

Living for the Lord, is a statement I have heard repeatedly over the past few months.  What does living for the Lord mean? Well to me it means I always put God first. To do so, I have to allow Jesus into my heart. This is not something that just happens. I have to open my mind, soul, and body, and ask Jesus into my heart. This was the most precious, overwhelming, happiest time in my life. I felt weight lifted off of my shoulders. I felt happiness consume my entire mind. To be honest I just wanted to shout and dance. It is not something that you study. It is true commitment. Saying to God Himself, "I give myself to you Lord", and truly meaning it. At that very moment my life changed, but what about my family?

My husband, children, and I attend church, but that does not guarantee our children will follow in our foot steps. How can we get our children to live for the Lord? We can do so by incorporating Jesus in many of our at home discussions. Most importantly, we pray together. Prayer is extremely powerful. It does not matter the position you pray in. It could be as you drive your children to school, or as you see an ambulance fly by your house. I pray to the Lord as if I am speaking to my own father, because I am. He is my father; better yet, He  is everyone's Father, and no love is more true then His. As parents, my husband and I obviously want to raise our children live for the Lord and hope that they continue to do so once they leave from the protection of our home. We want them to always put God first, and more importantly, we want them to ask Jesus into their heart. In all, it is our duties as parents to help our children open their hearts and allow Jesus in. That is of course if you are trying to raise a Christian home.







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