Decisions

I decided to come to Christ about 5 yrs ago. And when asked if I have ever been baptized I of course responded yes! When I was an infant, I was baptized and raised Catholic. Catholics do infant baptisms. I also had Natalee baptized Catholic...that was 5 years ago. I didn't know where I was in my faith and I didn't know where I was going with my faith either but I knew I needed God and that I wanted Natalee to know God. I knew I needed more than what was happening. A friend of mine told me about this church in Mundelein and my family and went. And we kept going. We fell in love with the people there. The fellowship. The overall experience. ( Just to let you know the song Word of God Speak by MercyMe  is playing in the back ground right now and I am getting all choked up) Natalee loved going to church. That alone just melted my heart! Torrance's faith was growing and I could tell mine was too. I got involved in Women's Ministries, Missions, and I also attended many ladies bible studies. We participated in many doings at the church. Not just Sunday Worship.

God had a plan. A huge plan! I remember it very clear actually. My husband was in Miami, FL with a friend of his and I took Natalee to church. God was speaking and HE WAS LOUD!!! It was one of those services that you could feel the Holy Spirit there. At one point during service, Pastor asked (with our heads bowed) if anyone here would like to receive Christ. Tears poured from my face! I knew this is what I suppose to do! The door was wide open and Jesus was telling me to come in! And I did! I walked in the door...tears falling and on my knees. It was like a weight of YUCK was lifted off of my shoulders. I called my husband after service and cried on the phone with him and just prayed.

I wish that I could tell you that it has all been peaches and cream since then. It hasn't. There have been times that I have turned my back on God. Chose to be tempted by the Enemy. Done things that I am not to proud of. But found my way back. Re-dedicated my life to Christ and have asked for forgiveness and moved forward in my walk. This past week, has been full of surprises. And I can sit here and tell you that God had His hand in it all. Everything from becoming healthy, to seeing an old boss, to seeing old friends, to ministering to a brother in Christ. It has been God all along for the next great thing to happen in my life. I can't deny that! I just couldn't.

Today at service, we talked about how Palm Sunday and Praised God for all of his blessings. Then Pastor talked about Baptism. That it is a personal choice and that as long as you have excepted Christ, you are welcomed in the Kingdom. But my heart was swelling. Swelling and swelling. And about to burst. Pastor stated that there will be Baptisms during service on Easter Sunday and if anyone was interested to see him. Well...guess what. My heart was pounding! I knew this was my next step. I knew I needed to be Baptized. I already have received Christ, but to be baptized in front of my brothers and sisters...publicly...is an amazing gift that is being offered to me.

God's hand is truly in this! Not only is it Easter Sunday, but my husband's birthday, and the one day that the children will be in service the entire time. God is good! His timing is always perfect. It is always perfect.