Mark The Baptizer

Thank you, Jesus, for my husband and his humor. In this moment, it feels like Divine Humor that Psalm 37:37 is doing a “prime-prime” jig in my spirit.

This morning, on our way to church, I was sharing with my husband about the yod—the smallest letter in Hebrew, yet the one that represents the very hand of God. How fitting that in His kingdom, what seems smallest carries eternal weight.

The nudge to share with him occurred during an old Oleta Adams song and I had just looked up the lyrics to a different Oleta song nudged into my heart.

After Cole’s Everlasting Love

When we arrived, we had a few minutes to visit with others. I walked over to meet Miss Shonya, as she was sitting alone. Only hours later can I see what He did there! It was perfect to send me to meet someone who appears alone to humble me. Simple obedience yields such precious fruit.

Her words didn’t humble me, the way she looked at me did. Such patient eyes…it felt like Jesus was looking at me .

We sang #55 , Holy, Holy, Holy for the first time today, after noting it the first time we visited Creekmont. Miss Autumn, a precious child, was baptized. The tears were not controllable.

We also sang The Only Name. I am NOT surprised there is a version from Big Daddy Weave.

Shad taught straight from Matthew 5:17, right where Jesus says that not one jot or tittle will pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. The same passage that had been stirring in my spirit yesterday found its echo from the pulpit today. I noted the WORD was preserved by salt and light before it was written by scribes. Only God!

For the sake of posterity, I am to note three key points made which spurred my spirit beautifully.

One was about valuing the stars in the sky. If they only appeared once a year, the entire world would be filled with wonder. We sure would miss them if they disappeared! Naturally, I was sitting there thinking of Father God’s “tiny but infinitely powerful hand” tossing the stars into the universe to delight us. We plan to lay in our backyard tonight and just ponder them together.

Second was a powerful truth that obedience tells the world who you belong to. Wowza! My obedience is far from perfect, but I can taste and see the fruit from it in ways words fail to express. The proverbial title to my heart, mind and spirit says “OWNED BY YESHUA”.

Third was Jesus NEVER retaliated.

God doesn’t miss a detail—He confirms His word again and again.

Praise, praise and more praise.

Shad shared that someone in the church had baptized two people yesterday. We both appreciated how names were not mentioned and the glory was all given to God. He deserves all our thanks and praise!

That said, the person who baptized two men yesterday was my husband. Sarah worked with us for over a year but left to take care of her dying father almost two years ago. He passed away in recent months and they finally had an opportunity schedule the baptism when they could have their entire family present.

Last Sunday was our third experience at Creekmont General Baptist Church. Mark talked to Shad and Calvin and received permission to baptize non-members. How wonderful! They joyfully opened the church and their baptismal for my husband to baptize Chip.

We think it’s so cool that part of his journey to Jesus began in a vape shop , one where conversations about faith never stayed bottled up! Godversations can plant or prune, that is for certain. In addition, Chip help lead his teammate, Christian, to be also be obedient to the call to be baptized. Now the second baptism feels like a divine exclamation point!

The pastor even returned early from vacation to be present, and others from the church encouraged my husband afterward. But what fills me most is not the applause—it’s the posture. My husband’s readiness to serve, to say yes to the Spirit, and to do it with genuine humility.

As I write this, he’s driving two of our longtime small-group friends to the airport for their trip to Italy. That’s who he is—serving, giving, carrying others forward while God keeps unfolding His own story through our lives.

The vision we shared last night about #WOJOY Tiny houses further amplifies his heart. In short, the retirement dream is to have land and a Tiny Home community where we can help widows and orphans get back into WORD and LIFE. Transformation, God’s Way.

Every detail—every jot and every tittle—reminds me that nothing is wasted in His hands.

After the service, I went to hug Becky, Shad’s wife. I could not contain the giddiness over what I was compelled to write out yesterday. Oh, the joy of the nod to the YOD!

When the Holy Spirit says “SHARE”, obedience is the only answer.

Father God, thank you for all the new songs in my heart. Thank you for our new church. Thank you for Brother Shad mentioning Cece Winan’s version of Because He Lives”, written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. 

“God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. // Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!“. 

Thank you for the reminder of how “bummer lambs” know the voice of their shepherd. You re-taught me that in the past three days. Shad used an example of someone having a bad heart and the exact phrase of “what a BUMMER” was used. Not odd, but very much a Godwink. Instantly, you transformed that into a personal reminder to me to stay attuned to your voice. #YESSIR #ISWYDT

Yessir, when the world likes to say, “I’ve got you”, or “you’ve got this” or any variation in between, I will stand firm that Jesus holds it all together (Col 1:17) and is the alpha and omega of “I GOT YOU”.

For this unbelievably fertile orchard you have given me, I will never have enough praise. But you get every iota, jot and tittle of all I am or will ever be. How could I not burst out in praise …you deserve it from every rooftop!!!

Please keep close to Miss Autumn, Chip , Christian and all newly baptized children. Please extend special provisions and protection from the enemy bound to attack. keep drawing ALL of your children closer and embolden them in your desire to set us apart. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

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