I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
On Sunday, February 9, 2014, my husband Brian and I were baptized by Pastor Falwell at Thomas Road Baptist Church in our new home town of Lynchburg, Virginia. Even though Brian was saved at age 8 and myself at age 11, neither of us had taken this public display of faith as believers.
The beautiful and Holy Spirit filled moment you see in the picture was the very opposite of how our morning had gone up until that time. From the start, the devil began his work in hopes of stopping this precious moment in our lives. Brian woke not feeling well but determined. I was worried about him and then of course, we were rushing and running behind, which puts everyone in an ill mood. Upon arriving at church, we find not one handicapped space for Brian so I forced him to get out at the door, which he hates, and Taylor and I left him to park the car. Unfortunately, as we ladies do from time to time, I had chosen a beautiful yet extremely painful set of heels to wear and by the time I reached the lobby of church my feel were throbbing.
We attended the first service but I continued to worry about how Brian was feeling and if he was overdoing it. When service was over I had to go back across campus to pick up Taylor so that she could watch us be baptized. When I arrived her girl's small group was missing. They arrived 15 minutes later and then we realized Taylor had misplaced her security sticker which had to match my sticker in order for her to leave with me! Thankfully, her small group leader vouched for me and we were off. With feet numb now from the pain we raced back to the sanctuary.
I found Brian standing with our friend Pastor Matt Wilkins. He turned to me and simply said, "Hey, Jessica, how are you?" I instantly burst out crying! I hated it so bad but all my emotion from the morning burst out. Without saying another word, Matt took our family together and began to pray peace over us. I could feel the peace of God coming over me and my weeping began to stop. We walked up to the baptistery and from there the rest is history.
I tell you today that anytime you are walking in the will of God the enemy will be present and will stop at nothing to interfere and cause you to give up. Don't give up! God will give you the strength when you are weak! Just look at the picture again. I made it to the pool and the devil didn't win!
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