Category Archives: reflections

May 2 2012

To be or not to be…

rebaptized? Now there is a heated debate, if there ever was one, of whether to baptize infants, children, or only those who can reasonably know what they are doing? So where did I land and how did I venture into this debate to begin with? Lord, help me…

Making a long story short, so I do not bore you, I was looking to change churches, denominations exactly, because of certain beliefs that I hold tried and true to my heart that were no longer part of the church I belonged. A friend invited me to her church, because she thought it was the best church ever. After much time, and searching, I agreed and trugged the family. There was one problem, they did not honor infant baptism, so if I wanted to become a part of the church, I would need to be rebaptized. I have a big problem with that! A major problem!

I am secure in my faith. I have no doubt in my mind that God loves me and that is why His Son, Jesus, died for me. The fact that I was baptized into the church as an infant (okay, so they sprinkled, and I wasn’t technically immersed as the word is taken to mean in the Greek) does that mean God cannot honor my baptism into God, the Son and the Holy Spirit as written in  Matthew 28:19 “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit . . ..” which is what the pastor said as they made a seal of oil on my head and sprinkled holy water over me?

I cannot give you a definite answer either way. I know, I am of no help here. Yet, I am not convinced either way, whether to be or not to be rebaptized. So, in the meantime, I will go on my merry way and look for a church that believes in infant baptism but does not step on my toes regarding certain issues that are creeping into the church today. We won’t mention those issues, because again, man makes isssues of everything!

Here is my very “personal” prayer that I will share with the world that stems from this dilemma. Thank you for listening and please feel free to leave comments. I would love to hear what you have to say about baptism!

Lord Jesus,
Hear my prayer. Give me peace regarding this baptism dilemma.
Lord Jesus,
I do not understand why it is so hard for me one way or the other.
The interpretation of your Word varies.
Does man manipulate your Word
or are these men well-meaning in securing a place
for the children to come to you?
You say to come as we are and then after we approach the alter
it becomes difficult to dot my i’s and cross my t’s.
I become so burdened with all these issues.

You never asked this of me before…
to be rebaptized!
I have heard you speak to me!
You have asked me to be holy as You are holy!
You have asked me to forgive those who have hurt me!
You have given me gifts to heal, bring mercy, encouragement and hope to the lost and lonely!
I have never heard You tell me that I need to be rebaptized?

Would it help if I was rebaptized?
Would that become less of a stumbling block for me if I just did it?
I cherish infant baptism.
It is a beautiful dedication by parents to honor You!
It brings death to the old self and raises the child into new life!
It puts the heart of the parent in the right direction to raise the child as a child of God.
Is it possible for that child to turn away from You?
Absolutely.
Like the lost sheep, Jesus will go and look for those children who stray away.
What a balm to any parent’s heart to know that You care and we can pray that Jesus
could intercede on that child’s very life.
This reminds me of the story of Hannah and Samuel.

Is there harm in baptizing little ones?
Is there harm in praying for the lost?
Can you not keep watch over these little ones brought to You
in peace and security under your wings?
Yet, how can a little child understand
the darkness of this world?
They grow up in a sterile Christian environment
and then
WHAM!
The world is a scary place.
One minute the child is walking a well lit path
and soon the light grows dim,
the air grows cold,
and the sound of screams are heard.
As parents,
how should we prepare our children
to understand they will suffer?
Jesus suffered.

Christianity is about a relationship
we have with Jesus,
Your Son,
God,
who has pleased you in obedience.
We are found worthy because of His work on the cross.
Let us be found ready,
covered in the blood of Jesus,
washed clean as freshly fallen snow,
buried to our sinful nature,
and born into a new creature.

Is my heart and mind in the right place?
Are there sins I need to repent?
Am I lost or found?
I believe you Jesus.

I believe who You say You are.
You died for my sins.
You know I struggle with hurting you on the cross.
I had a difficult time knowing I am such a terrible person.
Yet, You still love me!
You talk to me!
You have hugged me in my darkest hour!
You prepare and equip me everyday!
You make me new everyday and you fill my heart with music!
You want me to fill up with your peace, joy, love, faith, hope and patience!
I accept your gifts.

Let me not tromple those gifts as a pig with pearls
but to gently hide them from the world.
Let me give my treasured gems
to those who will treasure these gifts as I do.

Make me new today.
Remind me who I am!

I am a child of God!
He is my Father!
He is my brother!
He is my friend and counselor!

I am forgiven
I am healed
I am renewed daily
I am holy because He is holy
I am worthy of love
I am sealed by the Holy Spirit

I am because He is the great I AM!

Can we do anything wrong if our hearts are in the right place?
If we sprinkle instead of immerse are you displeased?
I wait for an answer and only groans of my spirit are released.
What of those who sin and do not repent?
Would that not grieve you?
I believe you would be grieved, deeply.
Jesus wept!

Communion and baptism are two sacred connections and not one of us
should hinder anyone from coming to You.
You are present in both.
Forgive us for not seeing the heart of Your reason for both.
(Did not Hannah bring you Samuel to be yours?
Did not Jesus sit with the Rabbis and teach in the synogogue as a child?
Jesus welcomed the least of these to be part of His kindgom!)

Let me move on in peace.
Thank you God for hearing me in Jesus name…AMEN!

P.S. Daily I wash myself in Your presence, that no unclean may be found in me.
Lifting my needs to You.
Praising Your Holy name.
Thanking You for helping and loving me always (Oh, there have been days you could have left me!).
Reminding me that any step too far from You is a step
needing forgiveness.
I am sorry for my unforgivness and harsh thoughts toward
those who have hurt me.
I am sorry for the error of my ways.
You love all of us and dearly want us to be close to You.
None of us can run to a Father who is stern,
but You are slow to anger.
Thank You for the work of the cross.
Thank you for Your Spirit who counsels me and brings me gifts
to encourage others.
Let nothing be a stumbling block to me.
Nothing!

In Your precious name, Jesus, my Savior,

Jeanne Elizabeth©

Apr 19 2012

Insurmountable

Forgive! …such an easy word to give out.

Okay Lord, in your loving arms I can forgive.

Then my sinful nature asks “Why?”
“Look what they did to me Lord? Can you not see their evil deeds against me?”

“Yes, I see.”

Forgive! It is the only way to find freedom.
Peace! Let your heart not be troubled child.
Mercy! Show compassion to the lost.
Joy! It is your strength to hide in me and lose yourself and your evil ways.

“Did I not forgive you?”

“I did not want to nail you to the cross.
My tears flow
and wash your feet
but you still cling to the
CROSS!”

“You died….
for me…
and the whole world…
and you wait patiently
for all hearts to turn back to you.”

“I need your grace again…
I sin day and night…
in my anger I plead for justice
but in my heart I plead for mercy.”

Indeed I forgive Lord.
Renew me daily lest I fall.

We find in Romans 12:14 these words: “Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.” Oh Lord, give me lips of honey. Soften my heart that no hatred can find home. Till the earth of my soul, that no seed can root that is only a weed. Forgive my unforgiveness that hides from sight, lurking, waiting for a chance to strike. You fashion your children in ways that produce fruit, let my vines be bountiful this year. Hold my tongue against sinful words and keep my thoughts pure. AMEN!

Apr 19 2012

Spring Hike 2012

It is that time of year when great friends, food and faith mix together to create memories that carry you through the rest of the calendar days. The exhiliration surrounding my departure to go to the hills is welling up in my soul! If you could hear me, deep inside, you would realize heaven!

My history with the spring and fall hike returns to October in the year 2004. My soul urged me to break away from my life for a moment, to take time and reflect where I was, where I was going and where I wanted to be. My family blessed me before I left with well wishes and hugs. I was at total peace that whatever happened, all would be well.

The first retreat indeed was magical. God met me there. Just the right music, conversation and prayer. I met a wonderful woman, who being a complete stranger, departed a beloved friend. And tomorrow we will reconnect. All the days before will vanish and all the days ahead will disappear and for a time we will just sit and stare and wonder at God’s creation and care.

As it turns out I want to always be there, in the hills of Brown County Indiana. Yet life does not happen there, it is only shared.

Dreams of deer frolicking in the woods
Not wanting anything
but having everything

Visions of birds circling the air
Gliding past vast woods
and sparkling brooks

Falling leaves and budding trees
snow capped hills and frozen pond
Silence!

If you have a prayer request, please leave it below and I will keep it hidden in my heart to give to God, in the hills of His bosom. Shalom…

In His love,

Jeannelizabeth©

 

Apr 10 2012

E is for elegant…

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extravagant, enduring and endless bloom. Well, the bloom will fade, but pictures last.

E is also for extraordinary, as this winter and spring have been. My mother said tulips were blooming on my birthday back in March of ’67! So not every Spring is wet and miserable.

Enticing, exciting and exhilirating! My heart pounded as I turned the corner. A swallowtail butterfly perched, flitting from bloom to bloom, turned camera shy and sailed on the wind before I could snap a picture. The bumblebees were extremely busy…

Enriching, educating and enlightening! Quite some time was lost in watching the bees work heartily, moving to and from each blossom, extracting yellow powder. Their legs were coated with puffs of life!

I was reminded that I missed the desert bloom in 2005 when a wash of color spread from mountain to valley. It was a perfect scenario of plenty of winter rain with spring temperatures that exploded into reds, oranges, purples, yellows and greens.

Evaporate. Extinguish. Ebb. Expire. End.

Psalm 39:4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is. 

5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. (NIV)

Mar 24 2012

Just as I am, says the Great I AM

Who am I that the Lord would look down on my condition and find pity? Who am I that the Creator of all that is seen and unseen, would find the time to minister to my soul? Who am I that I should find peace amidst my pain, grace in my iniquities, joy in my troubles? I am my beloved’s and He is mine.

Who is this man Jesus? Many call Him a great teacher or prophet. Many call Him crazy. I call Him Lord! I call Him King! I call Him day and night, in my sorrow and in my joy, to express gratitude that He saved a wretch like me.

The murmurs of my soul, not expressed in words, winds its way through the atmosphere and perches on His shoulder to whisper agony. My moans move Him. He never leaves nor forgets those who hear His voice. It is a thunder and a soft wind. It is a kiss on the cheek and a baby’s tiny hand. It is a flower that blossoms and a seed that bursts forth. It is the stars, the moon and the sun. It is my heart beating and my hands clapping. It is fellowship and it is solitude. As Proverbs 3:6 says, acknowledge HIM in all things, and your paths will be made straight. Blessings friends, Jeannelizabeth©

Proverbs 3:19-20 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,  and the clouds let drop the dew.

Mar 24 2012

Sing a New Song

So I am restored.
Not completely.
Some days I feel some pieces

are missing
and instead of searching,
I rest in God’s arms!

I have a new song.
Is it familiar?
Not really

because my old self
has passed away
and the new has come!

Prayer: Lord, I was a believer at age 8. I have had my bumps in the road. Quite a few! and the stains cannot be completely rid of until I am reunited with my true home. You have blotted them out, the stains! In your mind, they are past. In my mind, they circle like the sun does the earth and the moon does the sun. That is why I rest in your arms for strength; to renew my mind, to find joy in my sorrow, to seek your counsel and read your Word daily. I am new everyday!  Jeannelizabeth©

Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Mar 22 2012

Memories

I choose not to look back, although I will always remember you. I am sad that you cannot see my kids grow up, to grow old along with me. I always thought you and I would say goodbye, but we never were able to. You left suddenly. I was stunned. I could not move for years but slowly came from my coma and smelled the flowers, listened to the birds and watched the world spin from below the heavens.

I pray you grabbed the Savior’s hand, as He reached for you. I remember preaching to you about the reality of Jesus and how Santa Claus, although real in spirit, is not the idol that should be first in your life. You were hurt by my words and ran to mom, who spanked me. I was only trying to help.

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I could be wrapped up in bitterness. Life has certainly been hard. Yet, today, I can honestly say I am full of the Joy of the Lord. He has blessed me and like the Phoenix that rises from the ashes, I too have found my wings. I have been through the fire, the fire that refines, but it has not ended my life. Instead I am renewed. I am a new creature. I imagine you would be proud that I have found strength, despite my troubles. You always beat me in our running races, and of course you made it to heaven before me. I am not far behind. I will not give up. I will persevere knowing I have a reward waiting for me.

“…since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” Hebrews 12:1-2

“…if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.” Romans 8:25-26

 

Double Rainbow
Feb 2 2012

The Promise

Click…The Promise and then your web back browser to return to this page to finish reading my post.

This picture was taken in Morocco, March 2011.

2 Peter 1:4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. New Living Translation (©2007)

Write down the images that came into your mind, soul and heart while listening to the music. Send those thoughts up to your Father in Heaven who is looking down on you today. How did they interact with the Word of God as written in 2Peter 1:4? Make this your prayer… Jeannelizabeth©

Did you enjoy this piece of music? It is found on the album Once In a Red Moon by Secret Garden.