Born again

Sorry I haven't written in a while...life has been busy! Being a youth minister's wife definately brings both rewards and challenges every single day. A few weeks ago we started having our youth group over to the house on Tuesday nights for movie night. It has been going pretty well, but I definately lost it last week and had my first "talk" with the kids. It was hard, but very much needed. That was one of the challenges...but then this past Sunday came one of the best rewards thus far.

Clint had the opportunity to baptize a 7th grade girl in our youth group. It is the first baptism he's performed and I was just so nervous for him. During our invitation song the young girl rose from her seat and started making her way down front. Clint met her there and before I knew it, tears were just streaming down my face. I was so proud that Clint had studied with this young girl and that she so strongly was making a committment to Jesus. It was so precious.

Clint got up in the pulpit and announced that Stephanie was going to get baptized and tears started dripping down his face. He was nervous, but extremely proud too. When Clint and Stephanie entered into the water the look on their faces was so memorable. Clint explained baptism like a marriage and his words were like none other. God has definately given him a unique gift. I think the entire congregation was in tears. When Stephanie rose from the water my emotions were so overwhelming and I could truly feel the Lord's presence in that place.

During her baptism, Clint talked about how Stephanie was going to die that day, and be raised up a new person. A person who was from now on was choosing Jesus above all else. He talked about this death we have and how we are born again. A little boy in my Wednesday night class was so tickled to see Clint in the water that he was giggling throughout the entire thing until Clint began talking about this death. When Clint said that Stephanie was going to "die," Joshua (the four year old) leaned over to his mom and said..."Is Clint going to kill her?"

I love the innocence in children even at a precious time like this. Have a blessed week.