Baptism

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Last Sunday, I got baptized. It was the best day of my life.

First spending the whole day at the beach w/ Linds Rach & Lauren, and then affirming my faith, after the absolute worst year of my life made it to be a pretty great day. Honestly, just looking out into the ocean and the horizon that whole day made me remember that this thing is all temporary. But it's still beautiful if you focus on that.

He has given me a peace in the past few weeks I never thought I would ever get back again. He washed away all of it; the sin, the hurt, the regret, the depression, all of it. Walking out into the water was the best moment. "Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead." Phil 3:13. October 24. The water in the Atlantic Ocean is freezing. We were laughing all day how it was going to be so cold when I walked out there.

It was warm. I can't describe it any other way, the water that was so cold all day was warm. They baptized me, and I got to walk back to shore and see 12 of my sisters waiting for me. I am so amazed and blessed they all came out for it. Yet the one image that I don't think will leave my head happened right before the baptism. I was waiting under the tent on the shore, and Lindsay and Rachael walked over and just stood there holding hands and both smiling so wide. And that was when I realized they were still here. My two best friends. The ones who saw every single thing. The only two people I let into the worst 10 months of my life. The only ones who told me day after day, there would be light again. They were still here. After everything. They hadn't left me, regardless of all the crap I know I had put them through. And here they were, on the best day of my life. I am blessed beyond comprehension.

"A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34

I'm not the most knowledgeable Christian. All I know is that I was so lost and He found me in the pit. I wore my sin every day of my life, and He made me realize Jesus already wore my sin and died with it on Him so I wouldn't have to. I wallowed every single day in the darkness, and He finally opened up the door, and showed me the light again.