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Michelle’s testimony, spoken just moments before her baptism.

Michelle’s testimony, spoken just moments before her baptism.

I share with you today, as briefly as possible, my calling from the Lord. I have had what you would call a "Wake-up call". I have always believed in God, but until this time that belief has held no meaning - who was He and what was I to do? I never really pursued the answers until now. I always thought that being a good person who never meant to hurt anyone or anything intentionally was all that was needed to get to heaven. Oh, how wrong I was!

I have to say that I have thought about whether my getting sick were punishment for my fleshly past and disbelief. But then I realized that in my past I was completely ignorant of God, so how could I hold myself responsible for not knowing I needed to live with the divine Light inside me? And even though this illness could take my body at any time, I am at peace with it because I know that the Lord has given this suffering to me - not as a punishment, but as an awakening for starting my quest for the Kingdom. I have now been born of God and mature I must, as quickly as possible. I realize that I may not finish my quest for the Kingdom before my flesh is taken. But again I am at peace because I know that even 1000 years of outer darkness with all of its sufferings will be a small price to pay for the eternity that awaits me.

A dear friend introduced me to the saints here in Irving about 6 months ago, and from the very first meeting I felt a fellowship that I have never felt before. To be honest it was a bit weird and made me a little uncomfortable. But after speaking with some brothers and especially some sisters, who are now my dear friends, I’ve realized that being uncomfortable was ok. I’ve learned a lot from them and the meetings, and have received a new way of looking at my life and my world.

Suddenly my things are not really important anymore, and the little issues, problems, etc., that come about every day are no longer bothersome. I’ve learned that the big things that happen to me are not necessarily my only means of gaining the Lord inwardly. They are an opportunity to do so, but hopefully the big things are few and far between. It is the little things that happen everyday that are my big opportunities to gain Christ, because they are constant.

I’ve learned that to walk with our Father in the Kingdom, all I have to do is ask Him in prayer. I know that I’m expected to fail, and fail I have, and that’s ok, because by failing I’m just given another opportunity to gain Him in asking Him for forgiveness. And on those rare days when no little or big things occur, I just pray and thank Him for a wonderful day.

As I was writing this, and reading it, and re-reading to be sure it contains all I wanted to say, I realized again how very simple it is to gain the Lord. Then I wondered how anything so gracious, glorious and rewarding could be so easy - BUT I’m not questioning it. This reminded me of a young brother who shared a few weeks back on a Lord's Day that he didn’t know why a mathematical equation worked in calculus; he just knew that it did and relied on it. That’s kind of what I’ve gotten out of how easy it is to gain the Lord.

All of this is adding up to something very special: Today I am going to be baptized, and I have my family and friends here to witness and celebrate this occasion with me. Today is the day that I kick Satan to the curb. He no longer has a hold over me, because I know that whatever may come my way, I can handle it because I have the Lord, my Savior and Friend, on my side, and that with all the support I have from my brothers and sisters, and from my family and friends, I won’t be able to lose for trying. So with that said, I say, "Bring it On!" I’m ready to make the most out of every opportunity I’m given towards my quest for the New Jerusalem.

As I get baptized today I want to thank the saints for taking me by the hand and helping me to see that it’s ok to be human as long as I live with the divine life inside me. It is now my responsibility to live each day using my new awareness of prayer and the consciousness of the Lord within me, because thanks to the Father, my ignorance of Him no longer exists.

Posted by FaceinaCrowd at 01:18 on September 22nd, 2010 at 1:18AM
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Michelle’s testimony, spoken just moments before her baptism., posted September 22nd, 2010, 1 comment