I saw God today….

I've been to church, I've read the book, I know He's here but I don't look, near as often as I should.

His finger tips are everywhere, I just slow down to stop and stare; open my eyes and man I swear….

I saw God today.

At church today we celebrated the baptisms of five individuals. I happen to be a huge fan of baptism, something about the moment when someone is pulled up from the cleansing waters and you see that sparkle of hope, and newness that just radiates off of them. The moment that someone realizes that they have been saved….

It's a truly beautiful thing, I think that even if you didn't believe in God in any sense of the word that you couldn't help but feel something when you get to experience something like this with someone. For those of us that do know Christ, it often evokes a great deal of tears. Not because we are sad, but because we too remember the moment that we accepted Christ, and the moment that we knew we were saved. Beautiful cannot begin to describe it.

Today took on a whole new meaning of baptism for me. Today I watched as an entire family stood before our congregation to proudly say that they love God with all their heart. It wasn't too long ago that this same family was before members of the congregation and of their family and friends, but for a very different reason. Only a few months ago they stood before them to say goodbye to a son, a brother, and a friend. To say goodbye to a life that was cut far too short. Or so we thought.

Today however I think that things became a little clearer, in this amazing young man's passing he brought three people to Christ. Actually the number of lives he's affected and changed for the better will probably never be known, but today I experienced the power of forgiveness and the amazing power of God to heal hearts. As I watched this family confess their love for the Lord I thought about past situations in my life where I have chosen to be angry with God, to blame things on Him. Minor things, not getting jobs, not making enough money, not getting the things I want. And yet this family who had just recently experienced a life changing loss was standing before God, thanking Him.

After church our congregation gathered to celebrate, to celebrate the new lives in Him. I overheard the father saying that they wouldn't have made it through without God. I am reminded today that I am so blessed in so many ways, and that my God is a powerful God. He can change hearts and change lives, and all we have to do is ask him. He doesn't do background checks, there's no interview process, no check of our bank account balances; He just loves us, just because. And that is truly BEAUTIFUL.