Yesterday was a special day, not just because it is Sunday, which is always special here. My husband and I are quite involved in our church. We are the worship leaders-him on guitar and leading singing, I am on the piano and singing. We have other members of the worship team, but we never know who will show up, so Matt and I are the backbone. Not only that, but he is very involved in the technology area, creating a website, putting the sermons online etc. And we both help with the children's ministry, him more than me.
But, that's not what I'm talking about. Yesterday we had a baptism service. Our church doesn't have a place to baptize, so we all go on Sunday evening to one of the church members' pool, and have a service. My husband played a few songs, our pastor gave a short message about water baptism and what it's purpose is, and then two of my daughters- Alexa who is 9 and Sarah who is 7- along with my nephew who is 10, were baptized. What is so awesome is that it was THEIR idea. They decided they needed to do it, and we told the pastor and they set a date for a service. Two other little girls were baptized too. Last year we had a service and I tried and tried to get Alexa to do it, but she wasn't ready. And then, it was her and my nephew's idea this year.
This is a big deal, because it shows that they have an understanding of their personal relationship with Jesus, and that they want it to be made known outwardly. You have to be brave and step out to do something like that in front of so many people. I recorded a video yesterday but we haven't gotten it uploaded yet. I plan to when it does and then you can watch these little children make their decision known to the world.
It helps me to see that even though at times my girls don't seem to listen to me, or care, they really are understanding more than I realize. They have learned compassion for others, child like faith and trust in God to provide, to heal and so on, and that His Word is the truth, all from us and our church family. This is amazing because they are so little. Because my faith and understanding has grown, I've been able to pass it on to them at a much younger age, and they're way ahead of where I was in my understanding at that age. My goal in raising them has been to give them even more than what I had, though I had a lot, and it seems to be happening :)
I don't want to say that I'm proud of them, but I am, and a better word would be Blessed. I have been able to see some fruit of the work I've put in. There are a lot of times that the devil comes knocking, trying to make me feel like what I do is nothing and unimportant, that I've not accomplished much in my life and so on. Honestly, it's hard to see that that is a lie at times, because I can't see the bigger picture or the fruit of my work, but then, I do get to see it and that is a reward! I was able to see that all I do does have a purpose, and it is working, and they are receiving it and using it. That is a wonderful blessing and is truly a great reward. And I know that I wouldn't be able to do it without the power of the Holy Spirit. My husband and I rely on Him to lead us, and He does.
There's no better way than to live for Jesus.
"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68
When life sometimes feels very hard, when a difficult situation or even an impossible looking one comes up, and thoughts of just quitting try to circulate in my mind, this verse almost always comes to me. What else would I do? The only answer is to dive deeper into Him and lean on Him, keep His Word before my ears and ears, renewing my mind to believe the impossible, that He will make a way, cast my care on Him and He will fix it, because He loves us.
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