Well, this poor blog seems to have died over the last month. Can I blame that on moving? And having a short-term part-time job? Anyway, I seem to recall a long while ago promising to share pictures of my third brother Elijah’s baptism. So here goes.
December 28 2013 dawned cold and wet here in New Zealand. December is where summer weather is supposed to come here, but…well, it wasn’t here that Saturday! We bustled around preparing anyway, and prayed very hard that God would stop the rain just long enough for the baptism to take place without everyone being baptised!
And guess what? As 1 Peter 3:12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers….” That’s exactly what happened. All around us, even just a few kilometres off, the rain bucketed down. But for those few hours when we were down by the river side it was dry—and actually pretty warm considering the circumstances! God definitely put His hand over us that day.
This was very special to watch, remembering my salvation and baptism in 2010 and Simon’s in 2012. It was beautiful to hear the same vows told, and to repeat them in my own heart along with him. There’s just something special about a baptism that is humbling and yes, maybe a bit sad. But it’s even more exciting and very, very joyful. Another lamb in God’s fold. Another soul bound for the Promised Land. One more person to spread the good news all over the earth—until everyone has the chance to hear it.
This was the third time Dad has had the privilege of baptising his children. And I pray he will be able to continue to do it in the future. I found it very special to be baptised by him, and I’m sure the boys feel the same. :)
God is good.
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And now…on to the rain storm! I can’t remember, but I guess the rain kind-of cleared away the day after the baptism. On the 30th, a thunderstorm rolled through and we really got quite the downpour! Our veranda roof had decayed (it was made of plastic), so the rain just poured through it.
The rain lasted for about 10 minutes, and then cleared away. Since then, we’ve had a few showers but for the most part it’s been very, very dry. We’re now wishing for a little rain to come through!
Well, I should probably go. This concludes all my pictures of 2013, and now I can start posting some that I’ve taken this year. Hopefully, I’ll be able to catch up shortly! We’ll see. Currently, I’m working flat-out trying to get my novel edited before February 29th, which is the deadline for getting a free hardcover copy of the book. I read through 50 pages today which is an all-time record so far. Woo-hoo! Just 33 to go!
I probably have work at the vineyard in a couple days, so we’ll see how much editing I end up accomplishing. Oh yes—AND I’m supposed to start school this week. We’ll see how THAT goes as well! :)
Oh yes—an update on the moving: We’re getting everything settled in. A lot of the boxes are all unpacked, and the place is growing more homelike by the day. Maybe someday, once I’m all done with school and all caught up on JOJ and all done writing…maybe then I can do a tour through this place so you get an idea of what it looks like. ;) Or…maybe not. We’ll see how much time I have.
Mum keeps saying things will slow down soon, but in the foreseeable next week or so it doesn’t look that way. Maybe when winter comes? Hah, what a hope. Then I’ll be saying, “Maybe I’ll have time when summer comes?” I’ll just have to keep remembering to take time.
It’s late now, and I need to get my rest.
Until later,
Esther
Thanks for sharing! Instead of rain, we've been having soooo much snow in our area, so in a way I can identify :)
ReplyDeleteHi Esther,
ReplyDeleteHow nice that your brother got baptized in a river! Some of my sisters and I also got baptized in a river, one in a church baptistry and another in the ocean.
On another note, I was a little confused, it seemed to me you were saying in your post that you receive salvation upon baptism? Or was I understanding that wrong? I was just wondering.
Have a great day!
Whoops--I didn't mean for it to come across that way! No, I was saved in June 2010, and then baptized in early October. I do not believe that we are saved after being baptized--I believe the baptism is only a symbol afterward of what has happened in the heart.
DeleteThanks for pointing that out! :)