Rob and I were talking the other day about baptisms because they are having a baptism service sometime soon at our church. I get pretty excited about baptisms, and that might be an understatement, I get outright ecstatic. I can't help it. From inside my heart joy bubbles as people talk about what God is doing in their lives. I want to get up and dance and sing and wiggle...much of which would be frowned upon in some churches. I would actually dare to say that I like baptisms more than weddings. Rob was a little shocked by this, as he should be because it's not baptism blogs that I get lost in from time to time. If they had them I'd read them. Anyone know of any?
When I was baptized cried so many joyful tears. The feeling of God's presence embraced me and that was a feeling that I carried with me through later years when I would forget what overwhelming joy in God's presence felt like.
I tend to be a joyful crier. Baptisms are no exception to this rule. I normally tend to try to hide my tears as I sit listening to people tell their stories. I feel a little silly sitting there tearing up about a story of someone I don't know. But the stories are often so powerful! Even if it is in little ways that God spoke to people, the little ways that He whispered to their souls greatest need.
At my parents church I love the way they celebrate baptisms, and really I think it's the way they should be celebrated. None of this polite clapping once the person rises from the water. At Valley View Alliance people stand and holler and clap and whistle and shout. It's a beautiful celebration of this person saying publicly, "I've sinned, but God loves me and pursued me and I plan on living my life for Him, the One who never stopped yearning for me". In my opinion that's worth clapping about, and yes even wiggling about.
About a year ago I went to a baptism at another church, for a friends fiance. This was an exciting, exciting time! I was excited as we walked into the church an sat down, I was ready for a celebration. Though after the first person came up out of that water I realized this was going to be a more refined celebration. Which is great, it's a celebration none-the-less and this church obviously had a fantastic community of people. But...I couldn't contain myself when my friends fiance came up outta that water. I may have hollered, just a tiny bit. But apparently that tiny bit was enough to gain some stares from the youth and elderly of the congregation. It was a moment for great celebration, and that's what I was going to do. I was containing myself with just that one "Whoo!!" (Those last two sentences rhyme)
I'm not sure what it is about baptisms that make my heart bubble over with joy. I think that there are probably many reasons for it. One being that I love hearing about God working in people's lives. I love testimonies, I love the vulnerability that some people have when they go up to the front. I love the different ways that God pursues people and/or gets their attention. Each person's story is unique and beautiful and doesn't stop the moment they fold up their written story and get dunked. The beautiful part is that their story continues and it continues with God. Perhaps another reason I love it is because of the symbolism, of the person being washed clean. Sometimes all we need is a physical representation of what Christ did for us when He died on that cross. I love seeing the joy on people's faces when they emerge from the water, it's like they're floating on a cloud and there is a peace that surrounds them.
Ahh, baptisms. What a joy.
When I was baptized cried so many joyful tears. The feeling of God's presence embraced me and that was a feeling that I carried with me through later years when I would forget what overwhelming joy in God's presence felt like.
I tend to be a joyful crier. Baptisms are no exception to this rule. I normally tend to try to hide my tears as I sit listening to people tell their stories. I feel a little silly sitting there tearing up about a story of someone I don't know. But the stories are often so powerful! Even if it is in little ways that God spoke to people, the little ways that He whispered to their souls greatest need.
At my parents church I love the way they celebrate baptisms, and really I think it's the way they should be celebrated. None of this polite clapping once the person rises from the water. At Valley View Alliance people stand and holler and clap and whistle and shout. It's a beautiful celebration of this person saying publicly, "I've sinned, but God loves me and pursued me and I plan on living my life for Him, the One who never stopped yearning for me". In my opinion that's worth clapping about, and yes even wiggling about.
About a year ago I went to a baptism at another church, for a friends fiance. This was an exciting, exciting time! I was excited as we walked into the church an sat down, I was ready for a celebration. Though after the first person came up out of that water I realized this was going to be a more refined celebration. Which is great, it's a celebration none-the-less and this church obviously had a fantastic community of people. But...I couldn't contain myself when my friends fiance came up outta that water. I may have hollered, just a tiny bit. But apparently that tiny bit was enough to gain some stares from the youth and elderly of the congregation. It was a moment for great celebration, and that's what I was going to do. I was containing myself with just that one "Whoo!!" (Those last two sentences rhyme)
I'm not sure what it is about baptisms that make my heart bubble over with joy. I think that there are probably many reasons for it. One being that I love hearing about God working in people's lives. I love testimonies, I love the vulnerability that some people have when they go up to the front. I love the different ways that God pursues people and/or gets their attention. Each person's story is unique and beautiful and doesn't stop the moment they fold up their written story and get dunked. The beautiful part is that their story continues and it continues with God. Perhaps another reason I love it is because of the symbolism, of the person being washed clean. Sometimes all we need is a physical representation of what Christ did for us when He died on that cross. I love seeing the joy on people's faces when they emerge from the water, it's like they're floating on a cloud and there is a peace that surrounds them.
Ahh, baptisms. What a joy.
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