March 20, 1999, during my sophomore year in high school, I was baptized at West Houston Church of Christ on a Friday morning. My youth minister, Brian Mashburn, baptized me and my parents and brothers and one of my good friends, were all there to celebrate. I still remember how amazing it felt to think that God had made me whole and clean and had saved my life. I don't think I fully knew what I was doing or deciding back then, and to be honest, I probably won't ever fully understand it until I'm in heaven, but I am SO thankful for a God that loves us and pursues us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him. That day is still crystal clear in my head, how nervous and excited I was and how good I felt inside after. I remember being almost giddy as we went to lunch after to celebrate.
And now, twelve years have passed since that day, which almost seems unreal. I'm praying that each year I'm growing in a relationship with Him and that He's evident my my life and my thoughts and actions. Some days I feel successful in that and some days I still feel like the people Paul talks about that are still needing the milk when they should be ready for solid food. Regardless, looking back on the last 12 years, I am so thankful to God for how He has rescued and redeemed my life (and for how He continues to do so daily), for the patience He has with me when I continue to mess up with the same things over and over again and for how He is the only thing in this life that can bring true joy and peace and comfort. Even on days like today, days that are just hard for some reason or another, it's amazing to think that God is still working through those hard things, using them to teach us and mold us and draw us more in to a relationship with Him--reminding us how broken we are and how much we need Him, reminding us that this world is not our home.
Thank you God, for drawing me to you 12 years ago today. And thank you for continuing to walk with me and carry me through this life.
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