I'm a Christian woman, happily married to my best friend, Neal. We have 3 grown sons, Gary, Dale, and Carl, 3 sweet daughters-in-law, Chelsea, Janelle, and Emily, and 5 grandchildren, Rich, Jude, Amara, Jed, and Atlas! Neal preaches for the Cumberland Trace church of Christ in Bowling Green, KY. We love the Lord and His church!
Ask any Christian and they will probably tell you that the most meaningful moments are witnessing someone put on their Lord in baptism. It never gets old!
Here are just a few reasons why baptisms bring such joy:
Memories. You can’t help but think back to your own baptism, that very pivotal moment when you obeyed the gospel and had your sins washed away (Ac. 22:16).
Family. A new brother, a new sister. Whoever came up out of that water is now a part of your family, thanks to the uniting blood of Christ (1 Tim. 3:15; 5:1-2).
Priority. Sometimes a soul is ready to obey the gospel late at night (Ac. 8:25-33). We experienced just such an occasion this week as a dear lady didn’t want to wait a moment longer. It was after 10 pm when she arrived at the church building. I loved seeing the individuals who were willing to come at a moment’s notice to be there for her!
Rejoicing. The best pictures are the ones that capture that first moment out of the water. They’re experiencing that beautiful “new life” promise (Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17) and you can see it in their eyes. And what a contagious joy it is! When you look around at those gathered, you see it on their faces, too (as you see in the photo below).
Encouragement. Negativity is all around us and sometimes it seems like things are going downhill fast. But every baptism is a reminder that the Word is still powerful, that hearts are still searching, that the church is still growing, and that God’s purpose is still reigning (Mk. 16:15-16)!
We often look forward to the happiness of Heaven. Surely baptisms are a taste of the joy to come and make us long for it even more!
“Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”
Life isn’t meant to be lived in isolation. As I shared in an earlier post, we need each other. We need the comfort, encouragement, and strength we offer one another through the challenges that come. But oh how the church provides even more than that! Our church family sweetens our lives through fellowship. What makes this fellowship so special?
We’re like-minded. We’re united by our desire to follow Christ. We certainly don’t expect perfection from each other, but we can relax in each other’s presence, knowing that we will enjoy a spirit of harmony. “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
Age doesn’t matter. Of course we might find that people in the same phase of life have more comfortable similarities, but the beauty of the church is that we’re FAMILY. And as it is with our physical families, age doesn’t matter. We love each other, learn from each other, and want to be with each other (Ac. 2:44-46).
The fun feels good. Whether we’re playing games together, preparing a meal, enjoying a night out, doing a project together, or throwing a party, it’s going to be good, clean fun. We don’t have to worry about how we’ll feel later because we won’t be making regrettable choices. We know how to have a good time in ways that still honor Christ (Rom. 12:2)!
I think the world should see Christians having fun together, enjoying each other’s company, acting like we WANT to be together. Jesus said that our love for one another is how others will know that we’re His disciples (Jn. 13:34-35). Sweet fellowship. Let’s talk it up and invite others to be a part of it. And let’s create more opportunities to enjoy it.
“…that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith“
(Romans 1:12)
Learning “The Chameleon” game at the Adkins’ house (photo credit: Cassie Adkins)
This past Sunday, a man rolled his wheelchair-bound mother into the auditorium of our church building. As she passed by our pew, I leaned over to tell my young friend Collins that the sweet lady in the wheelchair recently got baptized. Collins said, “Was it hard for her to get in the water?” I answered, “Yes, it was.” It was actually very difficult for her. A couple of nights earlier I watched her slowly make her way up a few stairs to the changing room, flanked by her son and daughter-in-law. Halfway up, they had to give her an inhaler and let her rest. Several of us watched a little later as she came up out of the baptistry water, happy, but hanging on to Neal’s arm and gasping for breath. Her conviction led her to get in the water. Her bravery moved the rest of us to tears.
I’ve seen many other baptisms where it was ‘hard for them to get in the water’ but it had nothing to do with physical limitations. I knew a very vocal atheist who surprised everyone when he embraced and obeyed the Truth. I met a young couple who obeyed the gospel knowing their family wouldn’t approve. (They were actually disowned by their family.) I’ve seen individuals put on Christ only after painfully acknowledging that what they’d always been taught was wrong. I’ve seen people willing to get baptized knowing full well they were going to have to significantly change their worldly lifestyle. You can’t help but be moved by such examples of humility and faith!
These memorable moments have been happening since the very beginning of the church. Can you imagine what Paul must’ve felt as he went from “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” to becoming one of them (Acts 9)?
Every single baptism is special, but I’m especially thankful for those who were willing to overcome obstacles. Perhaps your own conversion story involved something that made it hard to get in the water. If so, I hope you realize that, in addition to making the very best decision of your life, you also inspired others by your courage!
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
The greeters are the friendly faces who welcome visitors and members as they show up for worship. Some people are greeters because they signed up to serve in that role for a certain amount of time. What a wonderful thing to do! Others are greeters because that’s just who they are. Wherever folks enter the building, they are typically nearby with a warm smile and a “good to see you!”
I can easily think of several people I know who will brighten my day when I see them. They’re reliably friendly and fill my heart with their sweet attention. I believe our congregation is welcoming, and they are the reason why.
If you feel like your church family is less than warm or welcoming, the good news is you can change that. All you have to do is be a greeter yourself! If you are consistently warm and friendly, then you are making your church family that way because you ARE the church.
I hope all church greeters know how dear and valuable they are. They help everyone feel seen. They make sure no one leaves without being spoken to. They are helping the Lord’s church make a great first impression on those who are visiting for the first time.
We should all be greeters, shouldn’t we?
“By this all people will know that you are My disciples,
What is the very first hymn you can remember singing in worship? Neal asked this question in class recently when teaching the Psalms. He said the first one he can recall is “Farther Along.” The first one I can remember as a little girl was “Old Rugged Cross,” led by a skinny old man named Mr. Ketchup in a small church in Florida. Looking back, he probably wasn’t that old and his name was probably Ketchem. But the song that was clearly a favorite of his has remained a favorite of mine as well.
Many of my long-time favorite songs have special memories tied to them. “A Beautiful Prayer” makes me think of sitting next to my grandma and hearing her sing alto. “Where The Roses Never Fade” takes me back to singing 4-part harmony with my family (I was tenor). And “Heaven Will Surely Be Worth It All” will always remind me of my earliest years with Neal because we sang it often when dating and first married.
I could go on and on, and would enjoy it immensely. I could talk about the songs that my sister and I sang together while washing dishes (“The Steadfast Love of the Lord”), or songs Neal and I sang with our boys when they were little (“Wonderful Love of Jesus”). I imagine you have your own list of songs that are close to your heart.
I have all of these “precious memories” (ha) because every worship service I’ve ever been to has been filled with singing. What a gift God gave us when He commanded it!
“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).
What is it that’s so special about lifting voices together in praise? The harmony, the unity, the emotion, the conviction, the joy…? It’s a lifelong blessing. New memories keep being made and new songs are learned (my current favorite is “Behold Our God”). Singing ties us together, reminds us who we are, and sets our minds on things above (Col. 3:1-2).
I thank God for that. I’m thankful for song leaders who put their heart into it and for the Christians around me who do the same. I’m thankful for friends through the years with whom we’ve gotten together just to sing. I’m thankful for our young friend, Collins, who sits with us in worship and sings out with her pure, sweet soprano.
Oh, the power and beauty of congregational singing! Let’s make the most of it! Let’s get together more often to sing!
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise” (James 5:13).
When I read Psalm 16, I envision David looking up as he says, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You” (v. 2). Then I picture David looking around as he says, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight” (v. 3). What a beautiful psalm and prayer, one I heartily echo. “You are good, God, and I love You. And Your people are good, and I love them, too.”
David goes on to thank God for His guidance:
“I bless the Lord who gives me counsel” (v. 7).
“You make known to me the path of life” (v. 11).
And he also thanks God for His presence:
“Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken” (v. 8).
“In Your presence there is fullness of joy” (v. 11).
We can praise God for those things, too, and sometimes His guidance and His presence are experienced through His people. Think about the times you’ve received spiritual counsel from Christian friends, preachers, Bible class teachers, or elders. We know God uses His people for instruction (Rom. 10:14-15; 2 Tim. 4:2). And how can we not see God when we spend time with those who are doing their best to look and act like Him (Gal. 2:20; 1 Cor. 11:1)?
Perhaps the best part of this short psalm is how often David freely expresses his happiness:
“delight” (v. 3)
“pleasant” (v. 6)
“beautiful” (v. 6)
“glad” (v. 9)
“rejoices” (v. 9)
“fullness of joy” (v. 11)
“pleasures forevermore” (v. 11)
We know David’s life wasn’t perfect or trouble free. He speaks of his pain in other psalms (see Psalms 6, 13, and 38). And yet his joy is undeniable. How is that possible? I think the answer goes back to the opening lines of the psalm. He looked to God for goodness and also saw goodness in the people of God. I love how David unashamedly praises God’s people. There was no doubt how he felt about them. “The saints are the excellent ones! I delight in them!” We’d get some funny looks if we went around talking like that. But I imagine we could all benefit from looking for and believing in the goodness of fellow Christians. And then freely sharing it with others. (Shouldn’t the people around us have an idea that we love God’s people and enjoy being with them?) Then we, too, will experience the joy, gladness, and pleasure of keeping God before us and His people around us.
My sister-in-law, Mendy, recently shared a sermon by Jason Chesser. In that message, Jason was talking about the fact that Christians need each other because we’re weaker without each other. He mentioned the parable of the lost sheep (Matt. 18:10-14) and said, “No wonder the shepherd was willing to go off and leave the 99 sheep in search of the one. The 99 sheep had each other. The one who wandered off alone was vulnerable.” Amen to that.
There’s a statement I’ve heard a lot through the years, usually in a hospital room, at a graveside, or on the front pew after someone has come forward requesting prayers:
“I don’t know how anyone could go through life without a church family.”
Perhaps it is in those more difficult moments that we realize just how much we rely on each other. You can see the gratitude or relief in someone’s eyes who has been brought a meal or prayed with through loss or hardship. You can watch someone stand up straighter who was surrounded by loving fellow Christians after confessing sin. You can certainly see a sweet smile on the face of a lonely widow who has been invited to lunch or dinner with your family.
I’ve seen church families rally around those who were wrongfully accused, financially struggling, spiritually weak, or physically depleted. I’ve seen Christians help shoulder the marital and parental burdens of others. I’ve seen church leaders courageously and lovingly lead their flocks through natural disasters, economic crises, and even a pandemic.
And personally, my family has experienced the love, support, and help from fellow Christians more times than I can say.
God knew we would need each other. I hope we all make the most of that! But if your heart is going through a struggle and you feel lonely, please don’t try to soldier on alone. Reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ and let them have the opportunity to be by your side.
We’re to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thess. 5:11). We’re to “stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). We’re to “bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2). And we are to “abound in love for one another” (1 Thess. 3:12). Sometimes it’s in our giving to others in these ways that we end up receiving exactly what we need ourselves.
Hiram Kemp preached a sermon yesterday entitled, “Ways to Glorify God in 2024.” One of the main points was “Love the Local Church.” I appreciated so much his emphasis on recognizing our need for each other. (You can listen here, starting at 1:32:08.) It also gave me an idea. A few years ago I spent a year sharing “52 Ways to Grow Closer to Christ.” I’d like to do that again, only this time focusing on His church. Surely our relationship with Christ deepens when we grow our love for the people He died for.
Reason #1 to love the church: Because Jesus does.
A quick read of Ephesians 5:25-32 leaves no doubt about how Christ feels about the church. In this one short paragraph we learn that He:
“loved the church” (v. 25)
“gave Himself up for her” (v. 25)
“sanctifies her” (v. 26)
“cleanses her” (v. 26)
“presents the church to Himself in splendor” so she can be “holy and without blemish” (v. 27)
“nourishes and cherishes” the church (v. 29)
Why? “Because we are members of His body” (v. 30).
I want to love what Jesus loves, and He loves the church. His agape love for her motivated His feelings about her, His estimation of her, and His actions toward her. He sacrificed Himself for her because He wants what’s best for her.
As we begin a brand new year wearing the name of Christ, let’s love the church as He does. Not in some broad, nebulous way, but in a very personal, specific way. How can we love our own church families more? What are some selfish interests we need to put aside so we can serve sacrificially? How can we prove by our words and deeds that we want what’s best for the church? When we prioritize Christ by showing this kind of love for His church, the world will take notice.
That’s a great question! We often hear of the importance of being able to forgive ourselves, but is that actually in the Bible? We’re commanded to forgive others in multiple passages, but where is there any mention of forgiving ourselves?
While there isn’t a verse that states “you should forgive yourself,” it is certainly implied.
First, let’s make sure we understand how we’re using the word “forgive.” When God forgives us, He is removing the guilt of our sin. He is wiping away our sins (1 John 1:9). When we forgive others (or ourselves), we are not doing that. Only God can do that. When He asks us to forgive others, He is not asking us to take away the guilt of their sin. That’s His job. He is asking us to not harbor ill will toward them, to let go of our anger or any grudges, and to offer that forgiveness from the heart (Matt. 18). So when we forgive ourselves, we’re not saying we have the power to forgive our sins. That’s God’s role only. But we are saying we can release the burden we carry because of it. We can trust, from the heart, that we can let it go.
Second, consider Paul’s example. He had a “former life” he wasn’t proud of (Gal. 1:13). If we’re supposed to forgive ourselves, why doesn’t Paul say anything about forgiving himself? He may not come right out and say it but it seems like he does describe it. Paul wrote about “being anxious for nothing” and praying for the “peace of God that passes all understanding and guards your hearts and minds” (Phil. 4:6-7). He said even though he “persecuted the church,” he wanted a “righteousness of his own…through Jesus Christ.” How? By “forgetting what is behind and reaching for what is ahead.” That is the perfect definition of what it means to forgive ourselves (and others, for that matter). He then goes on to say “all of us who are mature should take such a view of things” and “join together in following my example” (Phil. 3:6-17).
Third, consider Peter’s example. Jesus told him that Satan was going to go after him and he was going to give in. Peter replied, “I’m ready to die for you!” Instead he denied Jesus. “When Jesus looked straight at Peter…he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62). How that must have weighed on him! But somehow he went on to serve as an elder in His Lord’s church (1 Pet. 5:1) and serve on mission trips (Acts 9 & 10). When struggling with forgiving self, it can be very helpful to read 1 & 2 Peter with Peter’s denial of Jesus in mind. “Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1 Pet. 1:2). “Cast all your anxiety/ worry on Jesus because He cares for you…and the God of all grace will make you strong, firm, and steadfast” (1 Pet. 5:7,10). Peter was able to move forward because he trusted God’s grace. And that gave him peace, strength, determination.
Fourth, what would NOT forgiving ourselves look like? It would involve hanging on to the burden of guilt and being weighed down by it. Or not being able to let the shame go. Perhaps it would include being unsure of our own salvation because of it. But it seems like all of the reassurances that God gives of His complete forgiveness are to remove those very feelings we might struggle with (Heb. 8:12; Micah 7:18-19; Psa. 103:12 and so many more!). He wants us to have faith and confidence in our salvation (1 John 5:13), in our cleansing (1 John 1:7-9), and in our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Forgiving ourselves just means that we take to heart God’s promises and assurances. We reach for that with both hands instead of dragging remnants of our past behind us.
Finally, why is it important to forgive ourselves? Paul wrote to Christians about how to treat a brother who had seriously messed up. He said, “forgive and comfort him…reaffirm your love for him.” Why? “So he will not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.” He went on to give another reason, “If there is anything to forgive, forgive…in order that Satan might not outwit us” (2 Cor. 2:5-11). Forgiveness is so important to the spiritual wellbeing of others and their ability to move forward and stay strong. Those same reasons are no less true when it comes to the importance of forgiving ourselves. Another reason it’s important to forgive ourselves is because it changes how we live, think, and act. There’s an observable conduct that points others to God’s mercy. Paul mentioned this when he called himself the “chief of sinners.” He said finding mercy allowed him to show others what Jesus is like (“longsuffering”) so others may believe in Him (1 Tim. 1:15-16). One more reason it’s important to forgive ourselves is that it will affect how we treat others. “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Cor. 13:5). One might argue that this involves how we love ourself, too (Mark 12:31), but it’s perhaps more important to note that how we handle our own past mistakes could impact our ability to love others. We need to let go of them (in essence, forgive ourselves) so that we can offer that same love and grace to others as we’re commanded.
Neal and I are killing time in a hospital waiting room. We’ve been responding to messages, doing schoolwork, reading magazines, and playing cards. You see, our son and daughter-in-law are upstairs in Labor and Delivery. Our very first grandchild is ready to make his grand entrance into the world!
I can’t help but notice how very wonderful everything seems today. It’s bitterly cold and drizzly outside. Normally I don’t like being cold but I hardly noticed it when we trekked across the parking lot. Later, we ran across the street to Kroger to grab a notepad for scorekeeping. The first thing I saw in the store was a box of Valentine’s Day themed Moon Pies. They were a cheery red and the sign said, “I love you to the moon and back!” I said, “Aw! Look at these! How sweet!” We ordered some hot drinks to enjoy back in the waiting room. It was the best chai latte I’ve ever had. We played Five Crowns and for the first half of the game Neal was thoroughly trouncing me. I didn’t even care (and that’s saying something).
Why is everything so beautiful today? Because all I can think about is seeing our precious grandson for the first time. I can hardly contain my excitement!
While we were waiting on our drinks, Neal said, “Your eyes are sparkling.” When the barista laid down my drink, I blurted out, “Our daughter-in-law is across the street having our first grandchild!” She laughed and said, “Congratulations!”
He’s coming! And I want everyone to know. I’m breathlessly waiting. My heart wants to burst with the joy of it all and he’s not even here yet. I didn’t expect the anticipation of it to be so sweet.
Oh my friends, what a reminder to share our joy and excitement of the greatest event of all. It will be a glorious day, and the anticipation of that should show on my face. I shouldn’t be able to keep from telling even random strangers, “He’s coming!” And I can’t wait to see Him for the first time face to face.
So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Life and Favor (Job 10:12) 