I Identify With Jesus!
Today I made a huge outward cry of my faith, (see video below, excuse my ugly crying, I was so excited!) I got baptized! I was "baptized" as a very young child, but my parents made the decision for me, and today I made the decision for Christ. Just a couple years ago I didn't think that I needed to get baptized again. I remember dating someone who was also a Christian and he made a HUGE deal about it, and I was honestly hurt because I knew that I was a Christain, that I was going to heaven, and so what if my parents made that decision for me, it worked out right?
I didn't do the research or pray about getting baptized again until much later, about 2 or 3 months ago. I had just started going to a new church this past October that doesn't recognize infant baptism. And I was like, oh yeah, thats kind of cool, and God slowly put it on my heart that I needed to do it again, I needed to make this choice for Him because it was MY salvation not my parents.
So I thought "Okay God, I will get baptized again when I am ready." Mind you, this is already past when God called me to become a pastor. So I made a plan that I was going to read the entire bible before I got baptized again, because then, I thought, I would be ready.
Then I met with my pastor at Next Level Church a couple times for lunch, and after reading a few articles, and reading a little more of my bible (Lord knows I don't do enough of that!) and praying a whole lot more about it, I thought "I need to do it soon, I need to do it next time I have the chance." and I saw so many scriptures like...
Two of my friends from college came to see this amazing moment, Carolyn and Michaela, who have really been there for me in the craziest times in my life, and have shaped how I live and have given me exceptional role models of Christain women to look up to. About a year ago Michaela got baptized, and it was so great to see. Today, Carolyn made the spontaneous decision to get baptized too! I GOT BAPTIZED WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS HOLLA!!! It was amazing. I couldn't be happier. I am so excited to see where God takes all of us next. I am so happy, my heart is full today. Thank you to my amazing boyfriend Giovanni, who brought me to such a loving community that is NLC. Thank you to ALL of my CRU family at Plymouth State, you have always kept me accountable and showed me how to love. Thank you to my family at NLC Concord and NLC Somersworth. NLC is just a big house with many rooms! Thank you to Pablo who has continued to give me exceptional council as I make the journey through undergrad preparing for seminary. But most of all, thank you to my Abba Father, my Lord and Savior. Without your breathe in my lungs I would just be dust. Continue to keep this fire in my heart burning for your glory God. Send me, lead me, and guide me. AMEN!
I didn't do the research or pray about getting baptized again until much later, about 2 or 3 months ago. I had just started going to a new church this past October that doesn't recognize infant baptism. And I was like, oh yeah, thats kind of cool, and God slowly put it on my heart that I needed to do it again, I needed to make this choice for Him because it was MY salvation not my parents.
So I thought "Okay God, I will get baptized again when I am ready." Mind you, this is already past when God called me to become a pastor. So I made a plan that I was going to read the entire bible before I got baptized again, because then, I thought, I would be ready.
Then I met with my pastor at Next Level Church a couple times for lunch, and after reading a few articles, and reading a little more of my bible (Lord knows I don't do enough of that!) and praying a whole lot more about it, I thought "I need to do it soon, I need to do it next time I have the chance." and I saw so many scriptures like...
Acts 22:16
16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (ESV)
And then my pastor said something great, and I knew that this was from God. He said..
"If you can't do the FIRST thing that God commanded of you,
what makes you think you can handle anything else?" - Pastor Pablo Lopez
So I signed up for the very next baptism weekend at NLC. The weeks leading up to today were not fun or spiritually fulfilling and I thought it was all me, I thought that I was just in a rut. I had bronchitis, (still recovering), and I was in bed all the time, and I was lazy with my bible reading because I was so tired. Then I wasn't able to sing on the worship team this morning. When I got to church one of the other singers was sick too, and my friend Jess came up to me and said "Satan is here this morning." And I was like "OH MY GOODNESS YES IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!" I make a decision for God, and the weeks leading up to it I am too sick to go to bible study, too lazy to read, and I didn't run to Jesus. And now another singer is sick?! NOT TODAY SATAN!!! The enemy knows when something great is happening for the Kingdom and it ticks him off. Today 56 people across NLC (we have like 12 locations now I think!) got baptized and proclaimed their faith. The battle still continues, but we have Jesus and He already won the war.
Two of my friends from college came to see this amazing moment, Carolyn and Michaela, who have really been there for me in the craziest times in my life, and have shaped how I live and have given me exceptional role models of Christain women to look up to. About a year ago Michaela got baptized, and it was so great to see. Today, Carolyn made the spontaneous decision to get baptized too! I GOT BAPTIZED WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS HOLLA!!! It was amazing. I couldn't be happier. I am so excited to see where God takes all of us next. I am so happy, my heart is full today. Thank you to my amazing boyfriend Giovanni, who brought me to such a loving community that is NLC. Thank you to ALL of my CRU family at Plymouth State, you have always kept me accountable and showed me how to love. Thank you to my family at NLC Concord and NLC Somersworth. NLC is just a big house with many rooms! Thank you to Pablo who has continued to give me exceptional council as I make the journey through undergrad preparing for seminary. But most of all, thank you to my Abba Father, my Lord and Savior. Without your breathe in my lungs I would just be dust. Continue to keep this fire in my heart burning for your glory God. Send me, lead me, and guide me. AMEN!
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