ARE YOU BAPTIZED?

I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much lately. I shared that I’d been doing more writing for myself but I found out when I actually did go away to write 6 days ago that I had been in a writer’s block. Actually, there was some personal writing that I needed to do. Something that God was showing me to do that I’d been running from. Obedience is key for the rest of your life to work, HONESTLY! I hate it when I stupidly do that! I hate how gooped up it makes my life feel when I know something isn't right but I just won’t face it!

So, right away just 3 days later I received the inspiration from the Holy Spirit to write again. To start at the beginning, I went searching on YouTube for a video to send to someone. This is a worship song that we sang in church on Sunday morning where several youth plus others were all down front worshiping God and then we took communion as the worship team quietly sang this song. Just an amazing, glorifying time between our church family and the Lord! I knew my friend didn't have a copy so I wanted to share it with her. Instead of finding the best version of the song that I wanted to on, I ran into this video.  And, did it ever spark my memory. It came to mind to share it with you:

In 1972 I was sprinkled as a right of baptism in the Episcopal church. They normally baptize as babies but I started out in a Baptist church where they do not baptize until later when you are capable of making your own decision. We left the Baptist church when I was 8 and started attending an Episcopal church. I was 12 years old at the time when I decided to be baptized along with the ritual of confirmation into the Episcopal church. I can’t say that it left any more of an impression upon my heart except that of performing a known ritual. There are different beliefs about baptism but as a newly recognized believer in 1988 it was my belief that baptism is done in obedience to God and it has to be done with true belief in this by the one being baptized. I know this was not the case when I was sprinkled. Here are some links for you to search through and make up your own minds.

Google Search for the word Baptism

Definition

Bible Gateway Search

So, I believed that I needed to be fully immersed to be truly baptized. Now I don’t think that the place where you are baptized makes a big difference. I believe it’s the attitude in your heart; Why are you doing it? What does it mean to you?

While watching this video I cried as my thoughts went back to the time that I was baptized (immersed). For those of you who don’t know my past, you might read some of the archives. I rededicated my life to the Lord in July of 1988 after being arrested for selling LSD. After several months I knew that I would be going to court in December and I knew I would be going to prison. This was the scariest time in my life but as I look back this 25 years later it was the most wonderful time in my life. A transitional, a turning point! I walked away from that awful drunken, drugged up life almost all of my friends and began a walk with Jesus! Although most would see facing prison as just the worst time, Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” So remembering now is amazing. Five days prior to being sentenced I was baptized. I told the congregation of observers that I’d made a mess of trying to run my own life so I’d decided to let Jesus run it instead. I was immersed and came up bawling and completely soaked the pastor’s wife. The tears were not that of sadness but of joy! I FELT clean, pardoned, excited…my life was changed and now I was sharing it with the world (church congregation but still…)

When I got home, I called my brother (minister) and his wife and read the words to this amazing song to them over the phone:

"Walk With Me" by Whitecross.

Julie my child
Why do you run?
Why have you turned away from me?
You say it's hard
To live perfectly
And all you can see
Is how you fail me constantly
You fail me constantly
You fail me constantly

My blood has cleansed you
Your sins are remembered no more
So come on, and walk with me

Julie my child
I've set you free
For I want you to be with me eternally
I love you so
I want you to know
That I'm the one who's calling you home
Calling you home
Calling you home

My blood has cleansed you
Your sins are remembered no more
So come on, and walk with me
My blood has cleansed you
Your sins are remembered no more
So come on, and walk with me

Very hard to find a good video for this song since it was popular in the 1980's but I found a music video:

We had this album. I went by “Julie” at the time. This song was like God, Himself, talking to me! My brother and his wife cried! They were almost speechless they were so happy!

Jesus didn't care what I did. For the first time, I really got it that He’d forgotten my sins and just wanted me to come and walk with Him! I was saved at 13 but no one ever shared with me that Jesus wanted to have a personal relationship with me.

If you’d like to have your past forgiven and walk forward into a new life with Jesus, just pray this simple prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I need you. I repent for all of my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross to take the penalty for my sins. I believe you are God’s Son and I now receive you as my Savior and Lord. I commit my life to following You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

If you have taken the step and truly mean it in your heart, please comment on this blog post below and I will respond to you.
Romans 10:9 “… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”



May God bless you through my writing. If He has especially touched you in any way, please leave a comment below. Your comments are so very encouraging to me to help me to keep writing. Also, click on the “Uptweet” button on the above right and share! I pray you will keep coming back. I fully believe that my writing is by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so if I am writing, there is someone that needs to read it! Maybe it’s you? Also, please be sure to share any questions you might have with me and if you would like to keep them personal (just between you and me) please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at juliana.pace@gmail.com. If I don’t know how to answer you, I will may every attempt to refer you to someone for more information. Thanks and may God bless all your days!