“The e-mission of our church is to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord, evangelize others to know him as Savior, to encourage believers to become equipped and empowered disciples who engage the world with faith, hope and love…and the greatest of these is love.”
This statement is from the sermon today, as well as copied and pasted from the pastor's own blog that he has started doing. I love it! If you'd like to check it out, let me know and I'll give you the link.
I filled out the little paper in the pew today to indicate that I'd like to join the church by baptism. I have been saved for about 10 years, give or take a bit, but I haven't yet been baptized.
I didn't grow up in a church going home and while God was something I had a vague idea of, I didn't much know about Jesus, being born again, or being a Christian.
Then, my best friend, Chasity, brought it up to me one day. Basically, she told me that she loved me and didn't want me to go to Hell. So, I accepted Jesus Christ and joined the church that she attended. It was planned to baptize me in the spring when it was warm again. Some things happened and I no longer went to church with them.
I can't say that I took it very seriously for a long time. I cared a lot more about myself. I still do at times. I was like a lot of people are today. I preached and practiced only what I wanted to. If something didn't particularly fit me or the way I wanted and chose to be, I would work my way around, tweak it, or just simply ignore it. Not to say I'm anywhere near perfect now or anything. Far from it. I know I constantly repeat that, but I just feel the need to stress it and make sure it is known that I'm not claiming to be so. I have been accused of it.
Later on I found my way into a Holiness church. Everyone was so involved, the youth included. It felt good to be included, although I personally wasn't one that participated in some of the bigger things like music or plays. There was no rushing to finish a sermon by 12, no time limit for praise and worship. Sometimes it ended at 12 and sometimes we were there until 2. It was wonderful. There was lots of singing and people would dance and shout. People would gather and lay their hands on each other and pray, mostly aloud. There was speaking in tongues. During that time, I was still dodging the truth and doing my tweaking, but I definitely felt the Lord in my life.
At some point, like it sometimes does, things changed in the church. Some of the same people weren't there anymore. I started going less and less. The last time I attended, there was a young guy that was touched by God, and hands were laid on him and he was prayed for, and I think he may have chosen to accept Jesus into his heart. It was very touching, everyone was moved. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. This guy looked at me when it was nearing an end though, and he asked me, was I going to come back? I said yes. That has been, I don't know, at least 8 years, probably more. And to this day, I still think about it often, and I wonder if I will make the effort to go back and visit some time, if it won't be a lie that I told anymore.
I will announce when I find out when I am going to be baptized. If you'd like to come, I would love and appreciate it so much, it's really important to me, and I have been meaning to do it for so long, so just let me know and I will give you the information.
Today, we sang a hymn called, "When The Roll is Called Up Yonder." I couldn't help but to be tickled by thoughts of non southern people singing it. Here are the lyrics below. Enjoy, God bless, and thank you for reading my blog.
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll, is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
-ladyworpledinker
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