Happy Tears

March 05, 2005

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen!

Almost two years ago, I was clinging to this verse as I prepared to ask my parents if I could do the missions Bible study at church, go to Jericho, and start attending services on Sunday morning. Beside this verse in my Bible, I have written, "03-05-05, HE IS ABLE!!" And God has proven Himself to be able over and over again. But for many years, even before that March two years ago, I have struggled to balance honoring my parents with being effective and obedient in the church that God had placed me in. I wanted to be baptized in the worst kind of way. I had several long talks with Danny about baptism, and in my case, balancing that with honoring and respecting my parents. I didn't see any way to get baptized without being kicked out of my family and my home. Even though I continued to pray about it fervently, I had decided that I was going to have to wait until I graduated from high school and moved out.

Now fast-forward almost two years.

December 8, 2006

Psalm 37:3-6 Trust in the Lord, and do good, dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him. And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Tonight, I was sitting in my parent's bedroom, and we were reading a book for school. We had finished, and I was getting ready to leave, and Dad says, "Hold on a second, Carrie, we need to talk to you." I knew right away that it was something serious. He began to say that I was almost 18, and could pretty much do whatever I wanted to. He went on to say that he knew that I was happy in the baptist church, and although he was a little sad that I had rejected the catholic church, that if I wanted to become a member there, I had his and mom's blessing. He also said how proud they were of me that I had made such an effort in these last several years to honor them, and that they could see how much I had grown in that church.

For lack of a more eloquent phrase, I was so happy!! I hugged my parents and thanked them, and as soon as I walked out of the room, I broke down into happy tears. I am laughing and smiling and thanking God through the tears that are streaming down my face. Since all my talks with Danny about honoring my parents, it blessed me so much to hear them say that they had noticed, and appreciated that. They asked if I would please keep going to church with them while I live at home, and I'll do that. It's only an hour a week; a small price to pay!

I GET TO BE BAPTIZED!!! Just writing that made me start crying again; I am so overwhelmed at the faithfulness of God. I look back at the journey I've taken to get here. A journey that started way back in 2000, I think it was, when, through a strange set of circumstances, I realized that God had somewhere else for me to be besides the catholic church, and I recommitted my life to Him, and started trying to find that place. After two years of praying for a church, and a way to get there, since I knew my parents were bound to be opposed to it, God sent Beth. That started me going to youth group on Wednesday nights. And finally, youth group led to youth camp, eventually to Sundays and Sunday nights, to Jericho and working at kids camp. I know that this is where God wants me and where He wants to use me.

And with baptism, there are so many other cool things that come with that!!!! I can be a counselor at kids camp!!! I can work in VBS, I help with kids on Wednesday nights, I can teach Sunday school!!!

I can't wait to tell Danny! And Alise! And Beth! I'm writing this post on Friday night but I'm not going to post it until I talk to Alise, because I don't want her to read it before she hears it from me. God is so faithful!! Just when you think that all your prayers have been in vain, and that He has forgotten about you, He proves Himself to be so incredibly faithful.

Psalm 34:1-3 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.