Surprise Baptism

Matthew 28:19
.....Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.....

It was a really good day yesterday....
One of those days where life is so good that you want to slice a bit of it off and stick in your pocket for later times. Later times when days go bad and things go south so you can pull that little slice out and remember how good that day was. I think scripture says, "Taste and see the goodness of God." So that little slice of "good day" you've been hanging onto will remind you of God's goodness even though the world says different.

We had scheduled a baptism at Rapha. 
It was visitation so the camp was crawling with family. Lot's of smiles...couples walking, holding hands and whispering "I love You" wanting this moment to last. No thoughts of using on this day. No thoughts of getting high...just enjoying the moment of being together. 
My partner in baptism, Wayne Wimpee, arrived and we rounded up the "baptize-ee's" and headed out to the creek.

Passage from Romans 6, coupled with the young man declaring his intent for being baptized, we made our way down the creek bank to the water below.
As usual, the first few steps out into the creek take your breath away.....cold water. Wayne and I wait for the young man to come to us.
Prayer together, and then the declaration of being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and we lower him under the water.
Bringing him up, he has a smile as big as Texas on his face. The young man embraces me and we pray once more. Hugs to Wayne, and he makes his way back to the bank.

As an after thought, and almost in jest, I yelled back up to those gathered on the ground above the creek, "The water's fine....anyone else want to be baptized today!" A man stepped out from the crowd and said, "Yes, I do."
We've never had that happen in the 15 years of baptizing in that creek. He shed his shoes and wallet, keys and watch and made his way down to the water. Meeting us out in the creek, he declared his profession of faith in Christ and told us that he had been putting baptism off. He went on to tell us that standing on the bank above watching what was going on stirred something inside of him. He said, "I just knew that I had to do this today." 
It was a way cool moment as we lowered him under the water and then brought up the new man.
God you are so unpredictable.....I guess that is why you got the job.

Last night's service at Vineyard Recovery Fellowship was another one for the books. God was very gracious during the worship time. Debbie Handy lead worship and she has an incredible ability and heart to take us to an intimate place in the worship. To sit and be with God...to experience His love and presence. We opened up the front for prayer and several came down to receive. Men on their knees, weeping.....men standing with faces turned to heaven, just letting God's presence and love cover them. Men confessing and repenting, receiving forgiveness. That is what this is all about! Change! Change as only God can bring to our lives. I really don't care if they remember the message I gave or not...I don't care if they remember any of the songs that were sung.....I pray to our God that they never forget what it was like to have the real deal God come down and just flood over them, changing them.
To know that something has happened during that time of receiving prayer. Something clicked and life is different now.

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.....
God on you....

mb

Special Announcement:
If you have a family member currently at Rapha, I want to extend to you an invitation to come and join them and us on Saturday nights at Vineyard Recovery. We are located on Broad Street down town Gadsden, between 4th and 5th street. Service starts at 7 p.m. At this time we do not have child care available, so keep that in mind. Kids are welcomed, we just don't have a nursery available.
Look forward to seeing and meeting you....

O.k....one last thing. Even if you DON'T have a family member at Rapha...you are welcome to come and join us. I mean, let's get real...the tv season is over and the re-runs have started. How many LAW and ORDER's can you watch? See you Saturday.
Michael Bynum