Memories of Baptism

I don't remember the first time I was baptized. I know I was baptized as an infant because when I told my mother I was going to be baptized at 20 years old after professing Jesus Christ as my Savior, she told me there was no need because I had already been baptized. Neither she nor my father were believers at that time.

But I certainly remember being baptized after my conversion. I was going to school in Santa Barbara, California, living with a young family there, helping with their little girl for room and board. The pastor of the church I attended preached a message much like the ones Erik has been preaching and I knew that because Jesus said to be baptized, I needed to obey Him. The church had the service in the afternoon and I was very nervous and shy about being in front of hundreds of people and professing my faith. It was wonderful to come up out of that water and be congratulated by God's people who rushed around me in support and a show of love.

But the real testimony came after I got home. Stan and Helen Silva, the young couple with whom I lived, were having a large group of their friends over for a pool party and as I came in the door, Stan saw me and called me to the backyard. He knew I had become a Christian and had been teasing me about praying for everything and going to church all the time. He knew I was being baptized that day and took this chance to tease me again. He had me stand in front of their friends while he questioned me about this strange thing - an adult college girl being dunked in a pool like a religious fanatic. With my hair still soaking wet, I had a chance to share my love for the Lord Jesus with about 30 people who didn't know you could have a personal relationship with Him.

I was embarrassed, sure - but also proud to be able to overcome my natural shyness by the power of the Spirit in order to do what Jesus asked me to do - be obedient in baptism that others might come to know Him. I had memorized 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given you a spirit of fear but a spirit of love and power and self control." I'm glad I was forced to put that promise to the test.

The Evening Wolves and the Morning Watch

I've been oppressed lately by what Spurgeon calls 'the evening wolves', the thoughts and low spirits, the false accusations of the devil which seem to plague when the day is done and tiredness has set in. I know I just need to rest - there is nothing left for me but sin. Calvin says about Mary's song in Luke 1: "Sorrow and worry prevent both soul and speech from celebrating the goodness of God. Thus when Mary's mind exults for joy, her heart breaks out into the worship of God." The cure for the 'evening wolves'? Setting my mind on the morning watch. David says in Psalm 3: "I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the Lord sustains me. I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about." And then Shannon reminded me of Psalm 5:3: "O Lord, in the morning thou dost hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for thee, and watch." As I lie down to sleep I prepare my mind for waking to see the Lord (one way or the other!) reminding myself that I through the abundance of my Savior's steadfast love will awaken in God's house, worshiping toward God's holy temple.

The night before Ridley was to be martyred, burned at the stake for preaching the gospel, his brother came to him in prison and offered to remain with him during the night but Ridley declined, saying that "he meant to go to bed and sleep as quietly as ever he did in his life."

Hey, what have I got to be afraid of?