Tuesday, May 29, 2012

My Baptism

        I got baptized on Sunday May 20, 2012.  This my own personal choice, and  I know this isn’t for everyone.  I’m not writing this in my blog to tell everyone to go out and get baptized by any stretch of the imagination.  I just wanted to share my story; because maybe one day someone will read this blog, or maybe even share this blog and read my story and it will help them on their personal journey to their relationship with God.
          I won’t go too much into detail of how I came about to my decision to get baptized, because this would be a really long blog, and too much to write.  So I’ll give you the downtown (fast) version.  I had a few incidents happen in my life at the end of 2012.  Nothing I am proud of and something that I had to deal with.  It affected me, my husband and my family.  So in January I had I guess “seen the light” for lack of better terms.  I just saw life in a different perspective, I thought about things differently than I ever had before, and I saw that I needed to turn my life around and work on my relationship with God.  I had one, it just wasn’t as rock solid as it should be.  So in turn, I started to read the bible, actually read it and understand it.  I had my bible reading plan that I got of www.biblestudytools.com  After reading the bible more and working on my relationship with God, I decided getting baptized would further help me on my journey.  I would be sharing my testimony with the world and making a statement by living my life for the Lord.

          Below is my faith statement that I read.  I hope this speaks to some people and I hope this helps people out.  I put my soul into this, and I meant every word of it.  Feel free to share this with those you think needs a push in the right direction,  I encourage you to!

Valerie’s Faith Statement

          Before I surrendered my life to God, I was insecure in my faith, I didn’t know how to talk to God, I was dishonest more than I was honest with myself,  my family, my friends and my dear husband.  Most of all I felt separated from God because I thought I had made too many bad decisions and hurt too many people in my life.  I was portraying this persona of a person I wanted people to see on the outside, but inside there was turmoil and confusion on what I was doing with my life, knowing what the outcome would be if I kept making the same bad decisions and choices in my life. 

          My husband Kenneth and I made a decision that we wanted to join the church and become members.  At that time, we meet with Scott for the new member classes, and he asked us “if you were to die tomorrow, do you believe without a doubt that you’re going to heaven?”  My husband said yes, very confidently and with every ounce of his being, I however didn’t have an answer.  I felt ashamed and embarrassed.  My husband looked at me, took my hand and squeezed it and he gave me a big hug.  Trying to hold back tears, I knew I wanted to have a relationship with Christ and be able to answer that very same question like my husband did, with confidence and courage.

          My husband is a man of God and has been my biggest supporter and confidant.  Kenneth never shies away from a question I have to ask him about the bible, his faith or his relationship with God.  Kenneth has been right in front of my face for the past 9 years of my life, with the same beliefs from the day I met him.  I however have had a roller coaster of a ride with my relationship with God.  It just took me 9 years to realize that having Kenneth in my life and having him supporting me while I build my relationship with God has been biggest blessing, and I will never forget it. 

          I now am proud and confident to say that I have a rock solid relationship with God and I don’t feel separated from him anymore.  On this journey I have learned that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.   The Lord has gotten me through some very tough times in my life recently, and I know He will get me through anything and everything I am faced with.  Kenneth and I are expecting our first child in October and I am happy to be able to say that our child will be raised by two parents who live through Christ and who know Christ.

Brightest Blessings,
Valerie
       

2 comments:

  1. God Bless you on your baptism! How brave you are to share your faith and how blessed your little one is to have two parents walking in Christ's footsteps!

    And I think it's awesome that Brother David baptized you...he baptized me on Dec. 16, 1992 and that's the church where Jason & I got married. Maybe we'll see y'all there one day when we're up visiting my family!!

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  2. I think it's great that you share your baptism on your blog. I think it's awesome that you got baptized, it's a very personal decision, I was baptized last year, after going to church for 3 years and 1 year of studying protestant religious education.
    Btw. I enjoy reading your blog :)

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