Laced With Grace

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:27,28

This past Sunday we had a special service at church.  Actually, we had church poolside so we could witness the baptism of 3 of God’s children.  Regardless of your belief on the proper form of baptism, I assure you, we met most everyone’s criteria because it was pouring down rain!  So, each person baptized was technically, dipped, sprinkled and poured upon.

The first to enter the backyard pool was a young man from our church, 10 or 11 years old.  The next was a young girl, around the same age. They both gave testimony to the saving work of Christ in their life and how they wanted to do this as a symbol of walking with Him.

We all cheered and clapped for these two young Christ followers and recognized our role in continuing to encourage and equip them over their remaining years at our church.

The next to enter the water needed a little help.  As much as I love the two children that were baptized, this was the baptism of the day for me and probably most everyone else.

Three years ago our pastor and his brother in law went to visit a neighbor to get to know him better.  The man was widowed twice in his life time, never had children and he had a real brashness to him, including cussing like a sailor. As the course of the conversation turned to wanting to know what his views on God were, he was very outspoken and clear. “I’ve got no use for God, I’m an atheist/agnostic.”

The three men hit it off, however and began to meet on a regular basis, just to discuss books they’d read and to pass the time.  Almost a year later, it was the week before Easter and our pastor invited the man to church.  “NO!  I’ve never darkened the doors of a church and I don’t intend to start now!”  When our pastor explained we meet in a store front and not a regular church building it peaked his interest.  Easter Sunday, in walks the man who made it clear to all he’s an atheist/agnostic, but really likes Bo (our pastor) and Mark, so he thought he’d come and see what a non-church church is like.

For 2 years he rarely missed a Sunday.  Each of us prayed for him, looked for opportunities to love on him and show love through acts of kindness like painting his house and fixing an occasional meal or inviting him into our home.

Because he loves reading, I invited him to come up to the reservation and help me with the summer reading program.  The children loved him and so did all the staff.

There was a real battle going on for the soul of this man.  On a couple of occasions he was coming to church just to tell everyone he’d had it, no more of this for him.  But both times he was greeted and embraced and told how much he was loved before he could even get the words out.  So he stayed.

Recently, the battle ended.  Satan lost and the victory belongs to the Lord!  He placed his faith in Christ alone for his eternal salvation. Two weeks ago it was announced that he wanted to make a public profession of his faith by being baptized.

And so it was, this past Sunday Wesley, a former atheist/agnostic and now a believer in Christ, at the ripe old age of 81 entered the waters of baptism.  There he stood in the teeming rain grinning from ear to ear as he publicly stated he loved Jesus more than anything and will be living with Him for forever!  And now to symbolize his faith he was buried with Christ through baptism into death, and raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so he might now walk in newness of life.

Wesley summed up his day by saying, “This has been the greatest day of my life! You all are my family.”

It didn’t matter that it was raining, there still wouldn’t have been a dry eye poolside this past Sunday.

You’re never too young or too old to begin your walk with Christ.

Marsha’s Musings

A few weeks ago I was driving home and my mind was on the many things I needed to get done before I could leave for His speaking engagement.  I said it that way on purpose.  It is not mine.  I am not a speaker, but a writer.  There are days though, when I wonder if I’m even that.

I was, for the umpteenth time, asking the LORD if He was certain He’d made a wise decision in asking me.  I was praying for the ladies that I was to share my heart with, I was praying for His direction and for the women I had heard from just that very day that had an urgent need, and to sum it up, I was just praying. And crying.  With me, that sort of goes together.  It was sprinkling rain and the skies had gone from blue to gray to blue.  Scattered with clouds, they resembled the way my heart  had began to lose some of the anticipatory joy that I had had earlier in the week. 

Lost in my own thoughts, and driving through the misty eyes and rainy skies, I glanced over to my left, across the four-lane road, and saw the most spectacularly colored rainbow.  Not the normal rainbow.  This one had colors that I’ve never seen in a rainbow! So vivid!

This picture that I took while driving, does not do it justice! Just as I put my camera back in my lap and was exclaiming to my Father how incredible His artwork was, my phone rang.  My baby sister, Aimee called to talk with me on the way home from work.  I shared with her the rainbow story.  How my heavy heart was just turned over with joy at the hug I just felt from the LORD. 

As I continued to drive, I continued to watch the rainbow, telling her that I had only seen either one end or the other of a rainbow, but never the full picture.  I even went so far as the tell her “I sure would be tickled if God decided to show me the whole thing!”  We laughed and I felt better as I drove on toward home.  As we ended the call, I made my way to the turn lane to turn onto another road carrying my busy self home, and I glanced out the window just before the tree line blocked my view.  I saw-the-other-end-of-the-rainbow!

Tears of joy instantly sprang to my eyes! I cried out with delight at the beautiful sight and imagined what this might look like from the heavens.  That rainbow was my precious Father, extending to me, His darling child, His great love.  Showing me that He hears every heart’s desire.  Even those that are rarely spoken outloud.

I thought of Noah and what the rainbow meant to him, but even more, what my voice meant to God. (Genesis 9:12-17)  He loves to surprise us with His sweetest blessings!  So often we are so caught up with the dailyness of life that we overlook the gift. 

Suppose I had been in such concentration over the details of the coming weekend and week? 

Suppose I had stayed in the shell of my problems? 

I suppose I would have missed the most beautiful rainbow this side of heaven.  There is one even more spectacular!  (Revelation 4:3)

Take time this week to look around you.   When all you see are problems ahead, try shifting your focus.  See the colors in the sky, in the ever changing leaves.  Whether it is in the sunsets, or sunrises, or leaves that fall to the ground, He planned those beautiful sights with you in mind!  He wants to knock your socks off with His glory!

…Karen from “Mommy of Three“. Congratulations Karen!!!! I will contact you via email to get your snail-mail address.

Thank you all for entering the giveaway. We pray that God may use this blog to encourage you where ever you are at in your life.

Be blessed today and always…