Arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

What a happy tears day! I am so thankful that we listened to the Holy Spirit's prompting us to drive down south for Jesse's baptism on yesterday's Lord's Day. It was a blessed day beyond measure.

We awoke the family at 5:00 AM and was on the road headed south by 6. We had already lost an hours sleep because of daylights saving time. We were one sleepy-eyed family as we dressed in our church clothes and loaded-up in the van.

Jesse wanted us to be at church for both Sunday School and main service so we needed to be at the church before 9:45. I forget the name of the little town we drove to but it was in between Columbia and St. Louis. 

We stopped first at Jesse's grandparent's home and received a warm welcome. Jesse's grandma, Ann, felt as though she knew us from all that Jesse had shared about our family to her. She embraced me warmly and set to the business of matching children's names with faces. Nevie took right to her. I believe that it was that 'grandma type' that she picked up on and she let Ann rock and sing to her before we headed out.

Jesse's grandparents have attended the same Assemblies of God Church all of Jesse's life. The people there had watched him grow up as he stayed with his grandma through the summers. There was an excitement in the air at the anticipation of what was to happen following service.

Seems that the small church was having some baptismal difficulties that had resulted in draining the tub twice and using a roll of duct tape. Bad news for Jesse, as the water was too cold for the elder pastor to feel comfortable getting in himself. In fact, he said he could barely keep his hands in the water long enough to dunk him! He chose to stand by the backside of the tub as Jesse went in.

Our hearts went out to him as he seriously started to almost hyperventilate at the coldness of the water. But being a Marine he set himself to the task at hand. Stu commented that it was often uncomfortable to pick up your cross and follow Christ, a visual picture that Jesse most certainly got!

It is amazing how much difference the love of one person can do in another's life. In Jesse's case, his mother had never been there for him. Sure, he was under her care as a child, but she offered him absolutely nothing. Her boyfriends always came first and Jesse has shared that at least twice those same boyfriends had beat him up and landed him in the hospital with broken bones and stitches. His short Marine haircut shows off the reminding scares. His real dad has never been in the scene as far as he's told us, but Jesse was lucky. He had a grandma who cared. Her care made all the difference for this young boy. Her love and acceptance continues to spur him on to greatness.

You might think that Jesse is overly stern by his facial expressions. However, the Marines prefer him not to smile in uniform photos. He takes his commitment to the Marines very seriously. We pray that he will carry that commitment over to his walk with Christ.

I made Jesse a homemade card to commemorate this special milestone in his life. We decided as a family to each choose one verse that we thought might be an encouragement to Jesse and  write it on an index card to be place inside his card. We all wrote why we chose this verse for him and signed our names at the bottom. Stu had went upstairs with his Bible to choose a verse where it was quiet and he could think. I stayed at the dining room table. One by one the children brought me their index card with verse. Maison had us write out the verses to "Jesus Loves Me" on her card. When Stu brought me his verse I glanced at it in astonishment. Of all the verses in the ENTIRE Bible......Stu and I had chosen the exact same verses! I must share them with you. These are Jesse's verses.......

Ephesians 5:8-10 "For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ( for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth,) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord."

We also gave him a copy of Max Lucado's "He Chose the Nails." The writing style of the book will be perfect for Jesse and the short chapters and vivid word pictures will give him something to think about.

Two of Jesse's close friends also came to his baptism. It was interesting to watch their reactions to things as both of them do not profess Christ as their Saviour. I'm sure Jesse will be a great example to them.

We would love it if you too would join us in prayer for this new Christian.  He realizes that the prayers of other Christians are what helped him to this crossroad in his life. He has his whole life ahead of him. Our prayers can have an effect on how he lives it.