Water Baptism Anniversary

Note: Wednesday, 28 November 2007

• Water Baptism Anniversary

  It was on this date in 1993, Sunday, November 28.
  My 14 year old nephew, Dwayne and I were off to our water baptism at the Y.M. C. A. Here is my testimony on that account.
  
  I wrote some of this in my Salvation Issues Blog on August 26, 2007. It starts off with a question. I had an issue that brought me confusion before I got water baptized. I did added more too this since August on this blog.  
  

  ---

  I have been thinking... When did all this confusion start?  I cannot recall. But I do recall on the Day After Thanksgiving 1993. Things became weirder and weirder and the question of my salvation began to deepen.  
  
  It was the day after Thanksgiving Day, on November 26, 1993. We gather for Thanksgiving Worship and Communion Service. While we were in praise and worship, something weird happened to me.
  
  It was like some one pulled the plug on me and I loss energy. I could not feel my legs as I stood. I could not hear clearly---so I stopped singing. What was this?
  
  Then something in my belly came upward and than suddenly stopped. Than the sound came back up. I could hear clearly again. I did not know what was going on with me.
      
  I made it through the service. I questioned what happened to me. I did not tell anyone because I thought nobody would believe me.
  
  So I keep it to myself. I started to seek God more and reading my Bible more. By the way, I took part in my very first communion in Church that night.
  
  
  Sunday, November 28, 1993 was my Water Baptism Day. I could not wait to be submerged into the water. I had thoughts that was trying to tell me that I was not saved. I wanted this water baptism so much. I had to wait unto it was announced in church. 
  On that morning of my water baptism, I was reading from the book of 1 Corinthians 14 from the New King James Version.  I could not focus on what I was reading. I read and re read and had trouble reading the verses. (I kept fighting to read.)
• 
  I kept reading anyway. Then I came time to read verse 9 b, I read it in a new way. For  [ I ] will be [ blessed ] speaking in the air. That caught my attention. If you have been around me, (in person) you would notice that I am not much of a talker.
• 
  Anyway, I wanted to make sure that I was saved before I was water baptized. If I was not saved than the water baptism did not count. I just got wet for nothing.
  
  Water Baptism is a very important moment in a Christian's life. Jesus was water baptized. So I wanted to follow after Him.
  

  ---

  Well that important moment happened for me on that 4th Sunday of November '93. Those who came for the water baptism gathered at the Y.M.C.A. I cannot remember if it was 1 pm or 2 pm. We had praise and worship.
  
  Then it came time for those who wanted to be water baptized to form a line. One by one we enter into the water. There was Pastor Brian Z. and Pastor Nick D. that did the service.
  
  For those who are curious about my water baptism. There were 25 of us. I was # 22. I was ready to go under. I wanted to bury my old life and come into my new life. Pastor Nick D. had the honor to baptizing me.
  
  As it was my turn to step in the water, the joy came within me. I was so happy. I made my way in. When I got to Pastor Nick, he explained to me what I needed to do.
  
  I was about ready to do what he said after he told me. Pastor Nick stop me and said "not now." I had to wait until he told me to.
  
  When it was my turn to be water baptized, Pastor Nick asked me my name. I boldly said my full name so everybody could hear it. Pastor Nick as me if I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I joyfully said YES! I cannot recall the exact words but, Pastor Nick ask another question...Will you follow Jesus? I said YES!
  
  Then Pastor Nick said "I baptize you in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son and the name of the Holy Spirit." And after that it was my "time" to go under into that watery grave and be washed from my past.
  
  As I was under the water, I felt like I did on that Friday Night in Church. It was like I had an unplugged sort of feeling. As I came out of the water, I was a very happy woman. I even clapped my hands. I said "YES! YES!"
  
  As I was making my way out of the pool, I looked over at Dwayne. He was being baptized after me by PBZ. There where two others after Dwayne.
  
  After this wonderful moment of time, we made our way to dry off. I had a joyful spirit about me. We made it home. I cooked some spaghetti. 

  ---

  I had this thought come to me as I was reflecting back over these last three months of my special days in September, October and November.
  When I came to Word of Life Church for the first time, I wore a purple shirt, black dress pants and a causal red jacket. When I got water baptized, I wore causal purple shirt and causal light blue pants and bare footed. When I was at the Garden Tomb I wore a causal purple jacket, causal black shirt and blue jeans and tennis shoes.
  
  I had a thought: Royalty wear purple.
  From My Book Of Thanks:
  I am so thankful that I am a follower of Jesus Christ.
  I am so thankful that I was water baptized.

Calvary's Tree

Notes: Sunday, 18 January 2009

• Calvary's Tree

  I was re reading some of my poems I wrote. I came across one about that I entitled: "Calvary's Tree." Where Jesus was laid on a cross on a hill in Jerusalem, Israel.
  
  I forgot that I wrote this poem. It was dated March 24, 1999. It was 4 months after I was at the Garden Tomb in November of 1998.
  
  I recall on a Sunday night, some of us walked to Calvary Hill. It's near a bus station, in Jerusalem. We walked to the front of hill which was the bottom.
  
  We were in the dark. While we were there, some of us got some rocks. I still have mine. I thank God for His grace and mercy.
      
  Here is that poem:
  Calvary's Tree
  A walk by night To view the sight
  Amazing grace Where God had placed
  
  Upon this hill His Son was killed
  Suffered for all  So sin would fall
  
  Peace within be That we could see
  God's love for us His gift a must
  
  Confess believe Speak to receive
  New birth again Agree, say Amen.
  
  Salvation, Free Calvary Tree.
  
  On My Journey Of Transformation:~Susan~
  
  I will love You,, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horns of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. Psalm 18:1-3
  
  Words from Wisdom Proverbs 18:4
  The words of a man's mouth are deep water, The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
  
  Have A Blessed Week!
  God of Peace, Grace and Hope be with you all.
  Take care

Goal Setting Revisited

Goal Setting Revisited

 It was a year ago that I set out for a goal of trimming down my wardrobe. Did I accomplish me GOAL. Yes, I have a lot of fewer clothing than I had last year. 

I thought to repost this. I aim to start to do this again on November 16... with one exception on something. Update is underlined.  What am I going to where tonight for Church?

---

Reflections: Thursday, November 16, 2006

Goal Setting I was going through my closets today, trying to figure out what to wear for the upcoming weekend. After a while ... I made a decision. I need to trim down on my wardrobe. I am blessed with things to put on.  Clothes, shoes, jewelery, hats, scarfs, coats...It seems like I have so many ...that I can't make up my mind what to wear sometimes.   Some of my friends would describe me as a "model". I like to dress nice. I grew up with limited things to wear. I was the youngest growing up in the family of sibling 18.  The boys (3x5) out numbered the us 3 girls.  Through the ages I became influence to dress up more as I would go places. I don't like going places. Let alone dressing up and going to wedding, family and other gatherings... Like about 5 church "programs" I went to before actually liking church in Sept of '93.   Now, I like to dress up...even going places... At times my two sisters and a niece  give me some of their stuff that they are done with.  So, I blessed with things to wear.  More things added to my wardrobe. This does not include what I buy myself.  I have been on a spending freeze of clothes for a while. It's times to sort and look for things that I need to give away. Lord, help me! Goal Setting: I don't know how long it will that me to sort through my items.  Departing from things I think that I will wear. Maybe I can hold on to this as a memory of once was. Noooo! I give myself about four to six months to have less things in my closets.  Why so many months? I got a lot stuff in my closets and "things".  I know through time I will accomplish my goal.  Goal Setting... I can not allow things to posses me. ( UPDATE: 2007 I still receive clothes from my sisters and niece. I have things, They should not posses me.) Shalom           May the peace of God direct your path.

Internet Persona Much Differ From Real Life?

Note: Wednesday, 13 May 2009

• Internet Persona Much Differ From Real Life?

  Does your Internet persona differ much from you in real life?
  Why or why not?
  
  My internet persona does differ some what from my real life in some ways. I seem to express a lot of my opinions and beliefs more openly as my internet persona. I have time to express my thoughts on the internet than sharing in with people in person.
  
  I don't know why I do this. I seem to be more freer on the internet than I am with people in person. My "real life" so to speak isn't like this internet world. There are a lot things that I won't share on the internet.
  
  What I do in "REAL LIFE" will be known to those around me. There are times I could say some of the things that I say on the internet that some don't what to hear. Or I may get questioned to why I say what I say.
  
  But in this internet world, I have every little response to what I say. I have begin to seeing this internet world as "an informational arena". It's a place to share with those "tunes in" into what we share on the internet. We can say what we what to say in our own little worlds.
  
  May we have balance in what we do. May we use the internet with wisdom. May we grow in what we do as human beings.
  
  On My Journey Of Transformation
  Internet Persona Much Different From Real Life?
  
  Doing Life In The Kingdom Of God
  Journaling_Susan
  
  Psalm 133:1
  How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!