Catching you up!

What's going on cyber world?!?! Man, it's been forever since my last blog so I'm seriously dusting off the cobwebs on my blogger acct. Needless to say, much has been going on and I'm excited to share!

I recently got Baptized!!! I know, shocking huh?! I surprised many that assumed I'd already been dunked. But nope! It was my 1st time! It was pretty cool. God has a continuously evident sense of humor with me and He loves to take me out of my comfort zone. So my baptism was not an exception. I joked that it was His payback at me for not getting baptized at 12 with the rest of my peers at a beautiful beach or clean baptistry inside a nice church. But nooooo... it ended up being a this murky lake in TN. But hey, what better place to lay to rest the dead man -woman- inside me!!! Bury that sucker deep down those murky waters where she's never to be seen again (Col 2:12)!

It was nice to have my family and church family there witness and support me on my decision and public proclamation of faith. It was a lovely service and there were 5 other people that endured the waters with me. All in all it was a great baptism service! But I also learned something! As you usually do when you seek and obey God and you walk in faith. Everything you do is an opportunity for you to grow and find Christ.

As I got out of the water and was greeted with congratulations and hugs, someone asked me how I felt. They asked me if I felt anything. I honestly shrugged my shoulders and on the inside kind of felt a little bad that I didn't feel anything. I mean, was I supposed to? Is there something in the Bible that says that God is always going to allow you to feel something emotional when you follow and obey him. If that's the case, then I'm in trouble! Cause, like I said, I didn't feel anything special. I felt confident that what I did made my heavenly father proud and that He was pleased with me!

Here's what was cool! The day before my baptism, I was in a prison ministry event in Lincoln, IL. We were in a yard at a women's facility where it was really hot and really humid! But we were determined to bring the love of Jesus to the women there and show them a great time! We had some music going and we were dancing and having a blast before we begun the program. And while the electric slide song was playing, I was fighting back tears!!! The entire time, it was like God was breaking my heart for these ladies that are so hurt and broken and they need Jesus so bad! I had my shades on because I didn't want to look all coo-koo crying my eye balls out while we're jamming to the electric slide and Aretha Franklin's "Respect"!

So, why the teary story? Well, because what I'm trying to say is that I feel God! I do! Often and sometimes seldomly! For me, as is usually the norm (accompanied with HIS sense of humor) it's at the oddest times, in the randomest places! He LOVES to jack me up when I least expect it almost to continuously show me that He is with me everywhere! And that he is EVERYWHERE!!! Don't you love that?! I do!

So my conclusion and lesson learned: Was God with me in Prison this weekend? YES! Was he there jamming with us as we showed the inmates a great time dancing the electric slide followed by blessing them with the opportunity to receive the gift of salvation?? YES!!! So, was He also there when I was cracking up, scared of snakes in the murky water, getting baptized, coming out of the water, yet feeling absolutely no human emotion? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love that my Daddy challenges me, makes me question these things so I continue to seek him and HE continues to reveal himself to me... even when I can't see him or feel him. HE IS THERE!!!!

Check out the video of my baptism below and be encouraged when you don't "feel" HIM, HE IS ALWAYS THERE!

Love,

Emille

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SWGHnl2pas