Monday, September 26, 2011

Next Step

The Lillipad blog was set up to share some of my works, clothes, and gifts as well as to share a piece of my  life from time to time. Well instead of posting a picture of personalized clothing today, I want to share a different type of "clothing" and a different kind of "work".
 The work I am referring to is the work of Christ in my life.  I was raised in a home that attended a Lutheran church and I was baptized, which now I realize is more sprinkled (Christened) as an infant.  This at the time for my family meant that I was saved that if anything were to happen to me medically or whatever I would go to heaven. I also got confirmed at this church in my young teens. Years went by, I no longer attended a Lutheran church, I actually visited other churches with friends but to say I truely accepted Christ as my savior had not happened.  I went along with my life, met my best friend and was blessed to marry him, had our first child: a baby girl...all was well.  As for my walk with Christ, I prayed to Him..I thanked Him for the many blessings He gave us...I prayed to Him when in need...we attended a church in our town...I was informed that No Where in the Bible does it say that a baby was baptized and that really wasn't the way to get saved.  My husband and I were joining a church so I did get baptized within that church, b/c that was the thing to do and that was how I could join, I thought I was saved.  I did believe in Jesus..but had I TRUELY claimed Him as my Savior was I living my life for Him?  I thought so but over the years AFTER that baptism I started understanding it more and my relationship with Him Grew, I rely on Him, I praise Him in the Good and the Bad, I talk to Him, My faith is in Him, I Thank Him for Saving Me! Many many times after that baptism I would pray during invitation for Him to take over I would pray to be saved.  WHY did I always feel the need to pray that over and over. Maybe I wasn't 100% sure?  Could that be?  YEARS had gone by we moved to two different states, very involved at our church.  We lead a small group in our house, we serve in the Green Room, we teach our children about Jesus, I lead a book study,  I LOVE Christ and my faith is in Him..so what was wrong?  I realized Sunday that I was Baptized as a "Wet Sinner"  I truely believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior but I don't think I believed or fully understood that till AFTER I got baptized the first time.   SO my steps were a little mixed up. The Bible says over and over that we are to accept Christ and THEN get baptized.

Baptism is absolutely a step of obedience to God. The Bible is full of passages where Jesus and/or His disciples command God's people to be baptized, sometimes it is the presence of thousands of people, and sometimes there is no one else around.  In the case of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8), Phillip baptized him immediately AFTER he accepted the "good news about Jesus" on the road to Gaza.  Regardless of the audience, God is always present and it makes Him glad to see our obedience.  After Jesus' baptism, though it was not a public spectacle, God's voice from Heaven was very clear in saying that He was "well pleased" (Matthew 3) : NewSpring

  So as I sat there yesterday at a very impacting sermon in NewSpring my heart was pounding, my palms were clamy..I thought what would people think? what would my husband think? ...Then Perry said its not about what anybody else thinks, this is b/w you and God.    
Revelation 3:19 says Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.   
 That pounding of my heart I feel was the Holy Spirit knocking. It was clear and I heard Him telling me to Come! So I was ready...THEN my husband leans over and kisses me on the forehead and whispers, I need to get baptized today!  I was so blown away that God was telling us both the same thing, it was quite emotional.  We then both went forward as a married couple knowing what our NEXT STEP was.  We both got baptized again, on Sept. 25 along with hundreds of our church family who also obeyed and took that Next Step.  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" Rev. 3:22.   This time we Know without a Doubt our steps were taken in the right order.

Here are our baptism video links if you would like to see  http://vimeo.com/29571873   and   http://vimeo.com/29573655

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27   

So as I said in beginning of this post, this is more about the Work God did and is doing in my life..and being Clothed with Christ.  More than anything if you are reading this right now I hope you have Truely accepted Him as your Savior and Clothed yourself with Christ. Click on this link to watch the sermon that impacted us greatly   http://www.newspring.cc/series/revelation/next1/

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

back and bloggin

So I know I have been MIA in the blogger world.  I will be keeping up with this blog a bit more or will try so at least b/c I have now canceled my phanfare website.  I often ask new customers how they heard of me or where did they find me..maybe once in a blue moon they may say the phanfare website which was a picture site, 97% of my orders come from facebook. So I will post some items on this blog but most will be posted onto facebook and eventually I may put some on Etsy as well.  Here are a few pics of my latest work. 
Dish Towels make Great Christmas Gifts
Big Brother or Big sister shirts

Save those overalls and Lillipad can girly them up
blue/chocolate brown baby shower set

Go Dawgs! Check out The Lillipad on facebook for many more football T's