Hello! My name is Lina, and my soul is yearning to learn more of God, and who He is, and reach people's hearts with this profound message. I may be only a teen, and I may be small, but I am mighty because I have the Spirit of God in me! I have grown up in a very strong Christian home where the love of God is taught daily, and I have been so fortunate to have that. But, I realize that not many people do have this opening to who God really is. He is NOT some figment of my imagination, or something that has been shoved down my throat. He is a living God that has shown Himself to me in different ways, and I could never disbelieve. But, I will get to that in future posts.
I have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, but until a few weeks ago, I had not been water baptized. Although I don't think it is essential for salvation, I think it really shows the level of commitment for God, a consecration if you will.
Getting water baptized was not even on my radar, because I thought that I was already on my 'A game' with God (what a dumb idea!), until one day when my parents and I were watching a pastor preach on TV. I don't even remember what it was about, but I think the pastor must have mentioned something about baptism, so that set my brain a-firing. We were going to have some friends up to our house that weekend, very strong Christians, and I immediately came to the thought that I should be baptized in the lake that next weekend with our friends. As I was thinking all this, and letting it soak it, my mom looks at me and asks, "What are you thinking about?" Of course, I always say nothing, so I ask her what she was thinking about. And this is what grabs me. She said in a low tone, "You getting baptized in the lake this next weekend." I was so shocked that I just looked at her funny and was like "What?" And she repeats it, and it hits me, that if this isn't the Spirit of God working, then I don't know what is! So I tell her that I was thinking the same thing, and that basically finalized the fact.
My dad baptized me that next weekend in the lake by our house, and as I was in the shower washing off all the muck and grime of the lake, I realized that in a way, I felt different, and at the same time not. The muck and grime that was a residual from the lake did not reflect the muck and grime in my heart. I HAD been washed clean. Everyday, for that matter, but it was different this time.
As I was in the shower, I was just praying, "What next Lord? What do you want me to do?" And it just came to me. A blog! I love writing, I think it is one of my spiritual gifts, a way I commune and dwell in God. And I know that it is sooo cliche for a teenage girl to have a blog, but really, I am not here to look at what other people have done an shy away from it only because it has already been done! This is a 'journal' for me and God to look at, and for the people who are supposed to see this as well! This blog is mostly to help grow my spiritual walk, but I also think that it is going to be used in another way, hopefully to help those who need it most!
So, if anyone is seeing this blog, I hope it doesn't come across as braggadocios or vain. I just really want to tell my story, so then my readers can really understand where I am coming from. I hope that this encourages you in your walk, or maybe even helps you start your walk.
Every post I will leave you with a verse to think about; this one I have chosen for today has been on my mind a lot: the topic of fear. I will expound on a later post, but here is something that I thought was profound and someone actually read to me, but in the Message version. I know that the Message version is not literally the Word of God, but it really does illuminate things that may otherwise be hidden or obscured, especially when we are trying to get the 'message'! Ha.
Luke 12:29-32 MSG
“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
Today, my prayer is that we would all be filled with the Spirit, and that we would come to such an overwhelming knowledge of God that we should NOT be afraid, but continually trust in Him, and "Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions." He is so mighty and faithful, he has our whole life planned out for us, so why do we worry? He is SO good, I hope each one of you will be able to really come to know His just HOW faithful He is, in every sense of the word. And me too! So if you are reading this, pray for me, and I will pray for you! It really works you know!
I love you my brothers and sisters of Christ, but more importantly HE love you! Wow.
One last thing. Cast your cares on HIM for He CARES for you.
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