Friday, March 12, 2010

Immersion

I was baptized last Sunday. 



















This is the testimony I read right before:

















I was raised in a church, baptized as an infant, and can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a relationship with God. It seemed foolish to want to get baptized at the age of 33.


But a new relationship with Christ has been surfacing within me. One evening a few months ago, Mike ---and I started talking about the bible. He shared some passages with me that I had never given a passing glance to, but he talked about them with such passion and excitement and shed a different light on them. It opened my eyes to the sheer volume of information that is available to me if I would only open up the bible and start reading it. I left Mike's house thinking “I want to be that on fire for Jesus. I want to be that passionate about the bible”. So I opened up my bible to page one and started reading. I don’t know why it took me so many years to do that or why it became so apparent that I should do that during my conversation with Mike, but God puts people in our path to inspire us at just the perfect moment.


















I am overwhelmed by how it is changing my life. There are so many things I’m learning, so many truths being uncovered or confirmed. Now I am a bottomless pit for more knowledge, for more understanding. I just finished reading Lee Strobel’s The Case for Christ and I was astounded at the amount of evidence for Christ being a real person who really walked this earth and died for our sins and was truly resurrected. Now this is silly because I’ve always believed these things. But now they’re being revealed to me in a whole new amazing way.



















I’ve been a believer through emotion and faith. Now I’m also a believer through evidence and facts. So it really is like there’s a new believer being discovered in me, and it is so exciting. I find that I want to talk about the bible or Jesus with everyone!
















So I wanted to make the choice as an adult to be baptized, but I had doubts and personal obstacles to overcome. I didn’t want to seem foolish or self-indulgent. I didn’t want to be thought of as the believer of 33 years who gets baptized just for appearances. But Kent shared a scripture with me that clinched the deal and I’d like to share it with you. Written by Paul in 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verses 27-31: 27:





















But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord".


31 comments:

Joanne@ Blessed... said...

Wow, I'm so happy you stopped over at my place and left a comment. It was the breadcrumb that brought me here to this amazing post! (your family is just beautiful)

Congrats on your baptism. What a beautiful thing. I gave Jesus my heart as a young child, but was in my late 20's before I surrendered to Him my life. What an amazing ride it has been.

Buckle up that seat belt, prepare for the ride of your life!

CottageGirl said...

What a lovely post, Elle.

Congratulations on your growing faith. God is certainly showing through your face! You just shine!

On another note .. Your babies are getting so big! What a lovely family you have!

Again ... Congratulations!!!

Sarsa said...

Your testimony was so beautiful! When you read it last Sunday it was so heart felt and sincere. I loved how Bug ran onto the stage to watch you get dunked :) It was like she understood the importance of the action and wanted to see it up close. Your kids are so lucky to have you and Jay as parents and to be able to be raised in a house that loves Jesus.

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

I just loved reading about this!
Thank you for sharing it, photos and all!

Gosh, those twins are getting huge!
xo, misha

WhiteStone said...

My experience was similar to yours. My adult baptism had , shall we say, significant significance to me. And what followed was an incredible desire to learn more from Scripture than I had known before.

God's richest blessings be upon you!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Good for you Elle. It's sad but it's been long time since I've gone to church. I believe in God and try to be a good Christian but I know I've dropped the ball here.
~ingrid

southerninspiration said...

Wow, my friend, God is certainly causing growth in your faith and life...how cool, and so good for your children to see you live it out.

Suzanne

Heart2Heart said...

Elle,

Congratulations for sharing your amazing baptism with all of us. It made me feel like I was really there with you. There is nothing like dedicating yourself to the Lord no matter how old or young you may be. Life changing!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Unknown said...

I got so much out of what you shared. I'm proud of you that you felt that the calling to be baptized. There are times when the calling is there but no one seems to be listening to that call. You did and I'm sure others will do the same as a result. Loved the pictures too.

Meghan said...

YAY Linda! Congratulations!! That's so awesome... thanks so much for sharing the pics and testimony for us who couldn't be there! I love you!

Yelena R. said...

This is so wonderful! Your testimony is beautiful and it's great to see people like you living truly for the Lord.

InWeighOverMyHead said...

First, I am so taken with how beautiful you are inside and out. Second, congrats! :)

teamkyte said...

beautiful.

Debbie said...

Wonderful post!

Dana said...

What an awesome thing for you, just great! I am soooo happy for you and I know that God is going to meet you as you seek to know Him more! Blessings on you and your family, I love you!!

Velvet Over Steel said...

That is Awesome!! Thank you for sharing your story of faith and explained why you made your decision. You touched a lot of lives (and helped them) by doing that! So glad I stopped by tonight so I could read this! :-) So happy for you and your experience. Your family picture afterwards is awesome too!
Hugs,
Coreen

Buckeroomama said...

Thank you for sharing this... and congrats. :) This is such a beautiful testimony.

Pretty Zesty said...

aw, love the flower in her hair!

Muthering Heights said...

Congratulations!!!!!! :D :D

Unknown said...

Elle, I'm so happy for you! A very beautiful and touching post, yes, but it's you, pure you. Thank you, you inspire me very, very much. I hope we can meet some day, either here or There...I think we'd have lots to share. : )

Blessings to you. Andrea

Christina said...

Your sweet daughter right there with you...precious. Your words here are so very touching. I pray that God meets your desire to learn and grow with his great ability to teach and nurture!!
I need to be in that place as well...

The Blonde Duck said...

Popped in to say hi! How wonderful that you found God at this special time in your life (not that you'd lost Him, but you know what I mean...) :) I'm glad I could stumble in on such a inspirational post!

Mr. M said...

Congratulations...

Unknown said...

yay lady! I was baptized as an infant and got baptized as a 19 year old when I was in THAT place... there was no other option. Now I am a deep water Methodist! haha

:) beautiful! congrats!

Jackie said...

Hi Elle! Congratulations on your baptism. What a special event in your life to share with your kiddos.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Jackie

Dandy said...

Well congratulations my dear friend! You are absolutely glowing, just radiant in your pictures.

You put the biggest smile on my face :)

Dandy said...

I know we're being deep and meaningful here but I just had to come back and say....

You are one of the most gorgeous women ever. Ever!

Amy said...

Absolutely beautiful! What an amazing passage of scripture. I actually remember my mom reading that to me when I was an awkward pre-teen who felt like I wasn't good at anything.

golonghorns said...

How awesome! What a wonderful and inspiring post. God is so Good! Congratulations on your baptism and Thank you for sharing your testimony of a Father who Loves us more than we can ever know. I want to be on fire like that too! You helped to fill my cup this afternoon! Hugs, Jennifer

Flat Creek Farm said...

I don't think my first comment made it. What a beautiful testimony. I enjoyed every moment of this post. It makes me think - do I need to be 're-dunked' as an adult? Possibly! Thanks so much for sharing this. -Tammy

Flash Jorgensen said...

I just found your blog on fb and started reading your recent posts. Not that the others didn't, but this one caught my attention. I admire you and and your testimony. I believe in God and Jesus and know they are as real as you and me. It's even more apparent to me as a mother when I listen to my children talk about Jesus and look at his picture as if they truly know him. I have had many miracles happen in my life and I know they are a result of God's grace and mercy. May your faith continue to grow. What a beautiful story this is. I'm so happy to hear about it.