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.