The truth

I would like to share some exciting news..for anyone out there who might be seein' this.  

Joaren was baptized on Friday July 8th, 2011 in the early afternoon!!

It's amazing seeing God's power -the power of change, and the power of love that has come thru this little boy in just a few days.  Something certainly changed inside for him in those moments. He was set free, and it is beautiful to watch.  

Friday afternoon I was sitting on the couch with Joaren and Jace, and we were reading Colossians 2 together.  I have been going through a tough time with them lately, and something about that chapter stuck out to me to read that day. I wrote in on my arm the night before so I wouldn't forget, and finally got around to it that afternoon, (after Joaren reminded me that I wrote something there to remember to read).  

It certainly was a divine appointment because, I mentioned something about baptism and he stopped me in my tracks, with his little hand on my arm and said "mom I've got to be baptized!" "The bible says to do it, and I just need to do it." My response was something like " well, when I know you understand a little more about it, and you are really sure, then we can do that...maybe when grandpa has the next baptism for church, you can do it if you still want to..." 

I have done many things right away with the kids only to have them backfire bk of disappointment on one end or the other...or cheapened I guess I would say.  And I really didn't want this experience to be another one of those moments. It's too special to just pretend..although I don't believe it hurts at all to be baptized more than once in your life!  So, ANYWAY, he said "I am ready. I want to do it now. Lets go mom, out to the pool and do it. I'm not even gonna put my swim stuff on bk I don't think your supposed to do it that way."  So, I asked him what baptism was about to be sure he understood, and he talked to me about leaving his sins and troubles dead in the water, like washing them off, and coming out new, alive with Jesus.  -I thought that was a good enough answer for a 5 year old boy, and he then talked with me a little bit about another verse we looked at- Jn 8:31:32.  That confirmed his idea about leaving our sins behind, buried with Christ and being set free bk God is truth etc.  We went to a website about the purpose of baptism, and there was a very easy explanation that made total sense to him. It said something about the cross being God's invitation or offer of life with him, and baptism being acceptance of that... Perfect for a little boy with a grown up Spirit.

(To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.")

—John 8:31-32

So, Joaren very quickly said, "I need the truth stuff, and to like bury that sin and uh leave it in the water..ya know.." and before I knew it he and Jace ran to the backyard to the little pool that I had filled up with freezing cold water only 20/30 minutes before with the purpose of warming it up a bit in the sun..and hopped right in- socks n' all.  So, I went after them, and stepped into the water, and the rest is history.  We prayed a prayer together about leaving the attitudes etc. behind and asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking forward into new life with Christ and I dunked him. He got almost completely under but the water was soooooooo cold, that we splashed the rest on his face, and he was done.  I asked him how he felt and he jumped out of that pool and said "great! All that 'I don't love you' stuff is gone!"  

You see, Joaren had been saying that he hated me almost daily for weeks, and that he doesn't love me, won't accept love and on and on and on...Stuff that's not him, and should never be said.  It's stuff he doesn't know the full gravity of but says in order to try and get to me, or provoke an angry response..but I kept saying, I love you anyways.  

When we least expected it, God swoops in and drops this knowledge into his heart about baptism, and changes everything all in one day!  Thank you Father, for loving us so much!!!!!!!!!!!

"For you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".

He was set free and shared testimony of it boldly at church on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I am proud of my boy, but even more thankful to God- our deliverer is here, and he is so, so, good. He is so kind. -And always loving towards us.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love! He is making that evident daily in our home. We are living out lessons, and hopefully I can remember all of them so I can learn the first time around, and not have to go around the tree, over, and over, and over before I realize it is life to me and apply it full on.

Goodnight for now. To anyone out there. Goodnight. -May the Lord bless you and keep you, cause his face to shine on you. May the Lord be gracious with the light of his countenance and give you peace.