Water and the Word

Titus 3:3-7

Who knew baptism was such a controversial topic?  Well, lots of people, but I figured baptism is baptism, no matter when, where or how.  I've come to learn that the means and meaning of baptism have embroiled the church since the 16^th Century.  

My own baptism story is a little different.  In the Catholic church, a baby is typically baptized within a few months of birth.  I, on the other hand, can remember my baptism because I was several years old.  I don’t recall consciously deciding to say “Yes” to God, but I did know something special was happening inside St. Mary's that day.

As I got older, I learned I had taken part in a sacred sacrament that washed away sin and offered salvation.  Then in the 8^th grade, during my Confirmation, I renewed my baptismal promises, this time wholly acknowledging what I was saying “Yes” to. 

Fast forward to my children’s baptism.  Again, things happened a little bit different because my son was eight and my daughter, five.  They too have vivid memories of the day the benefits of baptism were bestowed upon them.

Preparation for today’s reading lead me to do some digging and learning about the history of baptism.  It also pointed me to Luther’s Small Catechism, which I didn’t have growing up.  Luther uses Titus to answer the question, How can water do such great things?

…For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8)

For me, the bottom line is… through baptism we are saved, “not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (v.5).  And whether we’re six weeks or 60 years, when water and the word combine, we are renewed in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for the blessings of baptism!

      

Chosen and hand picked by God

"The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be is people, his treasured possession." (Deuteronomy 7:6)

One of my greatest fears in school was being overlooked. When gym class played a team sport and the captains would choose their stars, those people who would carry the team to victory, I was pretty certain I would not be one of them. Many of us remember, and still today, feel the humiliation and pain of not being good enough.

Unfortunately, we often carry our inferior mindsets into our adult world. Most of us will grow out of this feeling of never being good enough; but some don't. Praise God I am a new creation. I know my short-comings, but more important, I know my strengths and I know who created me and made me who I am today. But, it wasn't always this way. I had to be renewed and transformed into a confident follower of Jesus.

Just to know I was chosen by God, to be a Disciple of Jesus Christ, is humbling beyond words. I may not have made the volleyball team, but I have been chosen. There are several clichés I could use here, but you get the idea. Once God got my attention through Renewal (Christ Renews His Parish) about 20 years ago, everything changed for me.

Now, it is my duty to see that I tell others about being chosen. It is time I share with all those who think the rejection of man has any weight in the Kingdom of God, that being chosen by God is all that matters. The Bible is full of stories of this, let's start pointing it out regularly, especially to those who desperately need to hear.
 
Deuteronomy 7:6-8

A Healthy Balance

The topic this week is Self-obsessed, not Self-aware

Self-Obsessed - preoccupied with one's own life and circumstances; thinking only about oneself.

Self-Aware - an individual who is tuned into their feelings, as well as to the behaviors and feelings of others.

Who would ever have dreamed a few years ago, how obsessed and how ridiculously attached we would become to our phones? I must admit, that even I, a 70-year-old woman, has a struggle with this.  It is interesting though, I use my phone to play games, troll around Facebook to see what family and friends are up to and even text a message now and then. But it can become a tool that feeds self-obsession.

I want to use a tool which promotes self-awareness. I found such a tool about 20 years ago when I first went through Renewal (Christ Renews His Parish), a Christian ministry which helps individuals mine their true self. This ministry was the first step for me into a realization that I was in desperate need of an attitude check and a heart change.

This event for me was the first time I let people into my life and my world. I learned over a six-month period that it wasn't all about me and that God had a wonderful plan for me. But, I still must review my attitude regularly. It's important that I begin my day right. That I turn to God for direction and encouragement. It is important that my focus is on Him and I pray that He helps me recognize when I am getting out of balance.


Psalm 6:1-9

Broken but not in pieces

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV)
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 

I have been keeping a journal for years now. In fact, I use a special devotional called Streams in the Desert and I often will note the year I am reading a specific devotion which touches me. Recently I realized that so many of my notations were from 2008. I was curious to see what was going on in my life that year to have so many margin notes referencing it specifically.

One of the benefits of journaling is the ability to go back in time and remember or relive some of those precious times by reading my own words. It is also a gift to be able to see what God has done in my life over the years. It turns out, 2008 was a turning point for me spiritually. It all began in the year 2000 when I attended Renewal, a Spiritual Retreat for Women.  God began a new work in me and he used 17 other women to speak into my life.

So, when I saw that Broken was the theme for our preaching series these next four weeks, I was excited. You might wonder why anyone would anticipate a series of this type, but I have discovered over many years, it is that very brokenness that drew me to God. I didn't know it at the time when I was crying out to Him with fists raised, that His plan was in the making. That he would heal my broken heart and use me; use my testimony, to point to Him.

I have sensed God reminding me of late, to live one day at a time. When I finally dug out one of my journals from 2008, One Day at a Time was the theme. It makes sense, as I was two years into our Celebrate Recovery Program and God was doing a mighty work in me and others around me.

1 Peter 4:19 (NIV)
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 


1 Peter 4:12-19