dunked.

"And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

~1 Peter 3:21

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baptism is such a holy sacrament representing the way we have been reborn into a life of unending redemptive grace and salvation. it's also humbling. so humbling in the way it reminds of the life we have been given that we simply do not deserve in the slightest.

who are we to receive the gift of eternal life and the love from the Father? we are the very ones who sent His son to the cross, to take on our sin and shame and pour Himself out to redeem it all. and too often we look at this fact with a lack of thanks and reverence. our human tendency is to let pride overwhelm the gift of grace the Lord has anointed us with, resulting in us not fully living in the freedom that the blood of the Lamb seeks to provide us.

baptism proves time and time again that the power the Lord holds is so near and present, not only in my own life but in the lives of fellow believers. sitting surrounded by my family in Christ on baptism Sunday, hearing all of the ways the Lord has redeemed and saved what should be unsalvageable, has left me in continuous wonder of the faithfulness that rests in the promises made by the Father. promises that simply shouldn't be possible on sinful earth... but hey, with God.... anything truly is possible amen?

hearing people speak in full surrender about the Lord taking them from death to life provokes a response from my heart to just fall to my knees in a prostrate position before the King. a state of complete, reverent awe of the all encompassing ability of God. the circumstances He chooses to take people in-complete and utter death-to a life that gives purpose and a deep rooted joy that is inexplicable... there is nothing I look at with greater reverence than that.

this is a fact that should leave us with tears streaming down our faces in understanding of how the Lord redeems the unredeemable by the blood of His son. it's a sweet gift from God to be in the presence of a life that has been changed, who is choosing to stand and proclaim unashamedly of the good grace of their great Father.

having the opportunity to proclaim the way my Lord has taken the most shattered parts of my life and shaped them into vessels that sing His praises broke chains in my life that I had been bound to longer than I can remember. proclaiming the good name of the Father to be my master and Lord of my life allowed me to look lies dead in the face and let them know, "you. have. lost." hands open, publicly surrendering completely to the will and direction of the Lord's calling.

walking out of baptism weekend I was left with what I can only call a sort humble awe. awe of the way He redeems darkness. humbled at the fact that he chose to do such for me. a completely undeserving human, brought near to the feet of the Father because the sacrifice made by the Lamb. all I have is a hallelujah for it all, for His kindness toward not only me, but to all that claim the salvation of the cross. His love is far greater than any are able to comprehend, so let us live our lives allowing that love to bind us to His heart. consumed completely by a sense of constant wonder toward Him. awe-struck wonder- that we serve a God who chooses to take what is broken and make it oh, so beautiful.

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"I'm bowing down, I surrender now

my eyes have seen, the King of glory"

~Passion