Brought Up From The Water Deep

In my life, I have been made captive through disappointments, guilt, hurt, self-hatred, and unforgiveness. So many times I have faced the mask of defeat, forgetting that God's love never fails. The fortresses that I have built on my own are in ruins, despite what the false exterior portrays. For so many years, this has been the case until a series of events and revelations entered my life that have ultimately changed me forever. One of those events was my baptism in Duns, Scotland. It was important for me to be baptized in the UK because it is where I re-committed myself as a Christian. Being able to stand up and share my bold and truthful testimony infront of strangers took faith that God was going to use my vulnerability, my story, for good. As I shared, I felt God loosening the last of the chains of shame, guilt and self-punishment. The verse Jeremiah 29:11 ("For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope...") came into a whole new meaning for me. When I was lowered into the water, I felt God's peace fall upon me. As I was brought back up, I felt that everything from my past had been washed off of me. No feelings of guilt, shame, or defeat. In fact, I felt the opposite. I was empowered, refreshed, encouraged and a child of God anew. I wanted to go out and share God's love with everyone. For once, I was released from the care of what people may think of me and of my Christianity. I knew that my calling requires my obedience, my love and respect for the sacrifice of Christ so that I may humbly be an example. This is why I chose Phillipians 2:12-13, 14-16 as my baptismal scripture.

Dearest Friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark word full of crooked and perverse people [live as lights in the world amongst a dark and crooked generation]. Let your lives shine brightly before them. Hold tightly to the word of life, so that when Christ returns, I will be proud that I did not lose the race and that my work was not useless. (NIV [NLT])

Every day I encounter a chance to be a light among the world. I am constantly reminding myself that Jesus died on the same cross for me as He did for others. He wants to offer the same hope to others through my imperfections and the grace demonstrated in my life. I must be careful not to be arrogant with the righteousness I have experienced but rather open my arms to others circumstances. I have a chance to serve God in little ways.

I want to encourage those who are considering baptism to not feel pressured into it, or feel like you have to follow others. Do it when you feel the Holy Spirit is leading you to. Who cares if everyone else has done it. This is your relationship with Christ, so follow the pace God has set for you. You'll know the time and the place. A friend of mine, Murray (whose blog is conencted to mine below), went to church dressed up in a silk shirt, not intending to be baptised that night, but the Spirit moved him, and he did it, silk shirt and all. Me, I've waited until my 21st year because I didn't feel ready until now. Baptism has allowed me to step into a new phase in my walk with Christ. I pray your experience with Baptism will bless you as much as it has blessed me.

Be encouraged because Jesus Loves You and has set you free!

In Christ,
Natalie M. Steele

Note: All blogs written and photographs taken by Natalie M. Steele are protected. Use of any pictures taken by NMS Photography, such as the above, without permission is seriously not reccommended.