May 23rd has always been a special day for me.
For one, May 23rd is the day I was brought into this grand place called “Earth” (thanks Alan and Stephanie!). But this day is so, so special to me for other reasons than it being my birthday. Thirteen years ago on May 23, 2004 I decided to say “yes” to God.
The week leading up to my birthday in 2004, I remember sitting in the drive thru line at Taco Bell in my Dad’s red Ford truck when I so nonchalantly told him I wanted to get baptized on Sunday at church. I remember my Dad doing a double take at me like, “Did I just hear you say what I think you said?!?!?” And it was a done deal.
I remember the day so vividly. Sunday, May 23, 2004. I remember going down to the very front of the church, confessing my love for Jesus, repenting of my sins, and then going to the baptistry to be baptized. My Dad was the person who baptized me….I sure do love that man.
One thing I will never forget about this special Sunday in 2004 is what happened when I was baptized. I didn’t share this with anyone until years….I mean YEARS later. But I remember when my Dad dunked me under the water it was as if time froze for a split second. I saw the brightest white light I have ever seen in my whole life blinding my eyes as I went under the water.
Being a little, lanky, awkward 10-year old with bangs I was kind of freaked out and had no idea what I had just seen. But as I have gotten older I totally believe what I saw was a light from heaven, and I felt like the Lord was saying, “Welcome to the Kingdom.”
Thirteen years ago was my first time to truly say “yes” to Jesus.
“Yes” to love.
“Yes” to abandon.
“Yes” to peace indescribable.
“Yes” to joy uncontainable.
“Yes” to trials. So, so many trials.
“Yes” to obedience (still working on this one…it’s a daily struggle).
“Yes” to friendship with God.
“Yes” to truly, truly experiencing the Holy Spirit. (Jesus told his disciples it was better for him to leave so that we would have the Holy Spirit…..and let me tell you something: Jesus was not lying.)
“Yes” to risk.
“Yes” to community.
“Yes” to growth.
“Yes” to doing the impossible.
“Yes” to forever with my Father.
I wish I could explain everything I have ever experienced with Jesus over 13 years in one blog post, but there are too many stories to tell. In my walk with Jesus (so far), there have been days filed with joy, love, and laughter. There have also been days of misunderstandings, uncertainty, and questions that never seem to end. But there is one thing in common amidst it all: Love remains. Love is the constant. Never leaving, never failing, never changing.
Saying “YES” to Jesus has slowly, but surely become my greatest delight. My greatest joy. My greatest adventure. And God has so graciously given each one of us today to choose to say “Yes” to Jesus, again and again. One more day to trust Him. One more day to walk with Him.
God has given us this day to say “Yes” and to begin writing a better story for our lives. He has given us another day to be ourselves, completely ourselves—with all of our messy hair, coffee stains, and dirty kitchen sinks. He wants every part of you and me, and He wants each one of us to say “Yes” to Him with all of our hearts.
May we never be robbed of the joy of another day to live, breathe, and be fully alive with Christ. May we all strive to live and love every day to the full.
To say “yes” more often.
To go on adventures and to take more time out of our day to meet strangers. To always make those around us feel loved and cared for. To be amazed, intrigued, and awestruck by the simplest of things knowing that it was created by the God of the universe.
And that same God who created all of this…created me…created you…created us.
And He created us to say “Yes”.
Here’s to walking in obedience.
[This is a photo of me and my grandparents right after I was baptized.]
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