Yesterday, Mali was baptized during our church service. Right before the baptisms, the band played David Crowders song "How He Loves"! He does love all of us and Mali was there ready to show the church she had accepted His love. I can not even begin to tell you what a beautiful moment it was. Just beautiful! I know that I'm biased, but there was something just beautiful ABOUT Mali and ABOUT that moment. The video quality is not good at all, and yes, the pictures and video are actually pictures and video of the screen and not actually Mali!:) But you should listen to this video. Mali proudly proclaimed Jesus as Lord! Her sweet voice showed that she was genuine, excited and ready for this moment. Mali asked that Miss Kimberly baptize her. Part of me, well most of me, was sad that she didn't want Eric and I to baptize her. (Our church allows parents or people that played a significant role in the baptizee's salvation to be in the water with them.) But that is just a picture of Mali! She kept telling me that she wanted me and Eric to sit in our seats because we would make her nervous if we were with her. So, Miss Kimberly, our preschool minister, baptized her. And really, she has had an impact on Mali. The first time we met Miss Kimberly was during the Discover Hillside luncheon. Mali was able to go with Miss Kimberly while Eric and I got to know more about Hillside and joined the church. Miss Kimberly has loved on and smiled at Mali each Sunday that we see her. Even though our church is absolutely huge, Miss Kimberly has been very personal to our family and has always called Mali by name. The Clubhouse and Mali's Sunday School class have played huge roles and Miss Kimberly directs these. After Mali asked Jesus into her heart over the Christmas break, she couldn't wait to tell Miss Kimberly. So, Miss Kimberly baptized Mali. Mali proudly declared Jesus as Lord (I think I've said that a few times, but it is true and makes my heart leap with joy). Mali had many people there to witness her beautiful decision. Grammie, Mimi, Papa, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Hopson, Nana and Grandpa, Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris, Zach, Calyn and Beth Dallas, her friend Parker Peterson (who waited in the hallway to congratulate Mali afterwards and give her a HUGE hug), and her big friends Caitlyn and Cooper and Miss Kristi came in to the service to watch her too. We had a few other friends in the service too that were able to witness this. I can not even explain how amazing it was, and amazing because it was God working. It wasn't Mali doing something, but how God has brought her to this place. Mali was ready for this day...there was NO hesitation in her mind or heart, she just wanted to do this because she knew in her heart this was her next step to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord of her life. Mali has been waiting so patiently for this day. For a while, she was asking me every day when she could be baptized. She was ready! In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus says let it be so now when he is asking John the Baptist to baptize him "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.". Mali was ready..."let it be so NOW" was how she felt. I believe that this is HUGE in Mali's life and so important. That being said, I do not believe that it brings a finality to her faith. This does not mean she will never stumble, struggle or will always follow the path God has for her. I understand that each day, and some time moment, will be a choice for her in who she will serve. Baptism has not saved her, it is not the water of baptism but the grace of God and the blood of Christ that has saved her. 1 Peter 3:21 says "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ". Baptism has been a step of obedience to signify that she has chosen to accept this new life, Romans 6:3-4 says "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
Five years old is young, and we struggled with that aspect for a while, but we decided that we wouldn't tell her she couldn't do this. Yes, we did make sure she understood, but she was also certain and adamant and ready for this step. A lot of the time, I don't understand all of what God wants me to do in obedience to Him, but I do understand that He has said to do it. God told Mali to take this step and she wanted to and we weren't going to stop her. I'm praying that she won't feel the need to be re-baptized because she "didn't really mean it" one day, that she will hear and see this video and see the truth that is proclaimed through her voice and her heart. But, if that is the case, then we will encourage her to be obedient to the Spirit then. I was baptized when I was about 8 (I think) and even though I strayed away from God, I still knew that God had called me to that step at 8 regardless of my poor poor choices in between then and now and that each day I choose Him and that being re-baptized was not what He was asking me to do, I will pray the same for her (without the straying part!!!) that she will see the truth of this decision that she has made at the young age of five.
When I went to help her get dressed after her baptism, she was all cuddled up in the towels. I said something about the water must have been warm. And she said "I just wanted to stay there all day long". We had a good laugh! Wouldn't it be amazing if we just spent all day long basking in God's warming love???!!! After the service, Uncle Chris and Aunt Megan made a huge meal for us all to eat in celebration of this wonderful day. Unfortunately, Mali wasn't feeling up to much enjoyment, but we were blessed by family and friends nonetheless. We enjoyed celebrating all together!
I'm filled with such joy for this moment. Since I found out that I was pregnant with our first little baby, I have prayed that she would walk with God ALL the days of her life. I'm thinking five is pretty close to all of her days!:) I'm also filled with joy at God's faithfulness to answer my prayers and to lead her to Him despite me being her mother. I absolutely try and teach her about Jesus and I hope that my love for Him is conveyed to her but truthfully anything that she HAS learned about Jesus and His love and His death to save us all from our sins is absolutely by God's grace, because in the same fashion I have probably failed a million times to show her God's love, to teach her about Jesus, to pray with her at meal times, to pray with her when she is sick/fearful/angry, to consistently have a bible study time with her, to read to her from her bible every night, to teach her scripture to memorize, to go over my pink sheets from BSF with her, to post scripture on the 'fridge or dry erase board, to joyfully sing "This is the Day", or to fill our home with praise music, or to watch Veggie Tales instead of Disney movies...I wish my home was filled with these things more consistently (I wish I was more Michelle Duggar but find myself much more like Kate Gosselin..the old Kate Gosselin)...but God has led her to Him, He has pursued her (using me at times, using other amazing godly people in her little life as well). Mali has experienced God and His love and learning about him through so many people and I'm beyond thankful for those moments and those people. Let's keep loving this little girl, encouraging her to walk with God the rest of her days, and learn more about Him each day.
