Something miraculous happened to me while traveling to church on a cold Sunday night... My family became stranded on the side of the road. At least that's what I thought at the time. This "mishap" was actually the beginning of a series of tests, and events that would happen in my life to bring me closer to my father in heaven. See, we were never really "stranded" because the Lord was at our side. We were never alone, or without help. He was always there... He IS always there, guiding us, helping us along each and every day to fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Today my husband and I took another step forward onto the golden pathway that God has carefully constructed for us. Today Mark and I walked together in Christ. Today we made a commitment, dare I say, stronger than that of marriage. We did something more symbolic than the exchanging of wedding bands... We were baptized together... Mark and I were both baptized as young adults. In fact we both dedicated our lives to Christ around the same age. We were both baptized around the age of fifteen. However, when we were baptized we were not immersed in water. Mark and I both were only sprinkled. The church that we are attending, and that we are becoming members of is a Baptist church... And, the Baptists do not recognize being sprinkled as being baptized. Therefore, Mark and I had to get baptized again in order to join the church.
Although, I didn't understand why I had to get baptized again, I did it anyway. I thought to myself "Hey, I wonder how many people can say that they were baptized twice?" I didn't really think that anything special would happen upon this baptism because I was already saved. And, the Holy Spirit already lives within me.. Boy was I wrong!
At the end of today's church service the Pastor called us to the alter (invitation)...As I walked up the aisle leading to the alter I felt as if I were going to cry. But, fought back the tears, and put a smile on my face. My mind was blank as I did a series of things that eventually led me to a small stair case across from my husband with a pool of water separating us. The first thing I did was I undressed and put on some sort of blue, water proof, zip up suite. While putting on the vinyl suite a very nice woman guided me through the actual baptism process... The Pastor will put your hand over your mouth, bend your knees, etc... But, her words didn't quite prepare me for what happened. The Pastor asked for Mark and I to come into the water at the same time. He raised his hand and said something that I agreed to. Then within a few seconds my head and whole body was submersed in a pool of water. It all happened so quickly that I didn't have time to think. The only thing I really remember is having my eyes closed for a while after being risen from the water. Next, it was Mark's turn and the Pastor dunked Mark under the water...
On our way home I was a little disappointed that my mind had been blank during the baptism and that the Holy Spirit hadn't overwhelm me as it had the first time I was baptized... This nagged at me all night until I finally called Mark into the kitchen to talk with me while I did the dishes. He made me feel better by saying that the reason I didn't feel the same as I did the first time is because I was already saved, and that I had already been Baptized. This made sense, I mean after all, that is what I expected to happen in the first place. Although Mark made me feel better, I still felt like I had missed a step. As the night progressed I read many bible verses about baptism. And, at some point while reading the bible verses, I got it. Suddenly I understood and recognized the missing step... I didn't repent before I was baptized. I stopped reading, and bowed my head in prayer. While asking God to forgive any and all sins that I may have committed between my first baptism and today's, my body became weightless, and my heart felt like a big hot air balloon. I suddenly felt more uplifted than I had in a while. And, I felt as if I had more room in my heart than ever before. Then, I realized what the true meaning of baptism was. A baptism is a cleansing, or a rebirth. But, you can not be cleansed of your sins unless you ask to be. However, this particular baptism was so much more than a simple cleansing...
Today I was baptized with my husband. Today my husband and I ourselves were not reborn. Today our marriage was reborn, and strengthened by the one who brought us together, Jesus Christ. On the thirty-first day of January Mark and I not only recommitted our lives to Christ, but we also committed our marriage to Christ. TOGETHER we walk, TOGETHER we dedicate our lives to Him. Together we took the steps forward to committing our family to a church family. What greater event, what greater thing, could a Christian couple possibly do than to be baptized together in a church in which God has led them to, and by a Pastor that speaks directly to their hearts every Sunday? I don't think that anything I will, or can do, this year will top the experiences of today.
As long as Mark and I follow the path God has made for us we will never be lost. As long as we trust and have faith that our lives will always turn out right no matter how "hard" it may seem at times, we will never go astray. There will be times when we don't understand why we must do something, but we have to do it anyway. We can not see where the end of our path will lead, and we don't have to. As long as we have faith, we don't need to understand, or see our paths... We must just walk the path in slow strides, taking one step at a time. He will never lead us to a dead end, or leave us stranded in the dark on a cold night. So, trust in the Lord. I pray that you will walk the extraordinary path designed for your life, and that you will always trust in the one that loves you unconditionally.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Matthew 18:19-20
Acts 22:16: " And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
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