July 20 – “A quintessential Facebook baptism?”

We had one of those awesome displays of God’s power at church yesterday.  In more ways than one.  We began setting up for our usual outside service.  Sound equipment.  Chairs.  Tables.  Video.  All of our usual pre-service routine went pretty smoothly.  And then, about five minutes or so before time to start, the Praise Team suddenly kicked it into high gear again.  They started moving all their equipment further under the building.  Apparently someone had the foresight to check the weather radar.  A line of thunderstorms was moving in off the Gulf and was due to reach us any second.  Lots of folks pitched in to help move things around and get re-set, and we started pretty close to on time. 

Boy, was it ever a good move.  The rains did indeed come.  In buckets.  But everyone was safely under the cover of the building.  At one point we were singing the song, “Indescribable.”  It essentially praises the awesomeness of God.  One of the lines says in reference to God, “who has told every lightning bolt where it should go.”  At that very instant a clap of thunder resounded.  Awesome, to be sure.

We also had a baptism scheduled.  It was the quintessential Facebook baptism.  I know.  That one still sounds strange.  The lady posted on Facebook that she felt really called to be baptized by immersion.  She had a Catholic background, but through various Bible studies she had been involved with, she had learned that immersion would be the best picture of the personal relationship she had with Jesus.  As it turned out (coincidence??) one of our Seasiders who had been a long-time friend saw the post and encouraged her to connect with me.  She and her husband drove down from their home in The Woodlands for the service so we could get her baptized. 

For a while, however, it looked like any attempt at entering the Gulf might be in jeopardy.  Not because of Corona shut-downs, but because of the rain and lightning.  And then, just as we were finishing up the service, the sun came out and the sky cleared beautifully.  Another thunderstorm was approaching from offshore, and we could see the rolling clouds and flashes of lightning.  But it was certain that God had given us a window so we could celebrate another display of his awesomeness – a changed life. 

Galatians 1:3-4 says, “The Lord Jesus Christ … gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”

Father, grant strength to Cathy as she lives out her new life with you.  Help her to live out the joy you have placed in her heart.  Amen.