All About Prayer

Brother Johnny preached on prayer Wednesday night.  It was a powerful message from Ephesians 6:5-18, the text verse being 18, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

When we pray, we must enter three places:

*A hidden place, Matthew 6:6.  That's the place where we're alone with God.  Where all is shut out and we are shut in with God.

*A heavenly place.  This is where the battles take place during prayer.  This is the place where we need to be wearing the armor of God.

*The Holy place.  Behind the veil of prayer.  This is the place beyond the hidden place and heavenly place, where the battle of the mind has been won and we become hooked in where we are talking to God and God is talking to us.

Some of the quotes he stated tonight were:

*The armor of God doesn't do us any good if we keep it hanging in the closet.

*Satan is not threatened by a soldier sitting down.  But by a soldier on his knees in prayer.

*When it comes to prayer, we have to praise our way in.

*The Devil believes in prayer more than we do.

The Coat I Wear

Once again, another blog post inspired by Facebook.  I can't help it.  Some things just make you think and you have to say it in a blog post because it's much too long for a status and then other facebook friends complain that it's too long for a status.  SO!  A blog post, my thinking becomes.  Which sometimes, can be quite dangerous when you think about it.  Or rather....  when *I* think about it. 

Anyway, they posted Matthew 6:1, "Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise, ye have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven."  The verse was captioned with my friend's thought, "I wonder how many Christians wear it like a high dollar wardrobe."

That got the wheels turning in my head.  Which was a good thing, I assure you.  I understand he was wondering about who wears their coat as one of the modern day Pharisees.  But his thought made me think of the coat I wear and what it means to me. 

I thought about the parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14).  There are those who have rejected the invitation to the marriage supper of The Lamb.  They have turned their backs to Him completely, going about their everyday business, as though they haven't the time or need for Him.  And then there are those that have accepted and wear the proper attire.  They will be there in garments bright and fair, greeted with a smile and open arms.  Unfortunately, there will also be those that show up who have not actually accepted Him, wearing the garments of flesh and world.  They will be rejected.  Turned away from the marriage supper, never to be seen again.

I remember when I first put on this new coat I wear.  I was fourteen years old.  Holy Ghost conviction fell on me one morning when I was asked to give my testimony of when I was saved.  It was like a light was turned on and I realized that I had no testimony of that time and place when I prayed, repented of my sins, and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.  Come to think of it, it was THE Light that was turned on in my thinking and that shined a light on my darkened heart.

As I think back to that moment, and as I "look" at the coat I wear today, it is no longer tattered and torn.  It no longer stinks and is no longer dirty.  It is one stained with the blood of my Savior.  Paid with a price that is far above what I could think or ask...or pay.

This new coat keeps me humble, for the simple fact that without it, I know I would spend eternity in a literal, burning Hell.  If it were not for His grace and mercy, I would have no beautiful coat to wear.  I would be lost without it, depending on my works to get me into Heaven.  Just as the king provided garments for his guests, it is God that provides salvation for man.

I read something in an article, not long ago, I thought it would fit well with this post: "When the religions of the world are stripped down to their basic tenets, we either find man working his way toward God, or we find the cross of Christ.  The cross is the only way to salvation.  Our wedding garment is Jesus Christ, Himself, and unless we put Him on, we will miss the wedding feast." 

I also thought of the song, Two Coats.  They use to sing it at church but we haven't heard it in a while.  This is how it goes:
~~~~
Two coats were before me, the old and the new
I asked my sweet Master, what must I do
The first coat was ugly, so tattered and torn
The other a new coat, had never been worn

The first man was earthly, and raised from the ground
We bore on his image, the whole world around
The next was my Savior from Heaven so fair
He gave me this new coat you now see me wear

Now this coat, it suits me, it keeps me so warm
It's good in the winter and it's good in the storm
My Savior has blessed me with a garment so rare
He gave me this new coat you now see me wear

CHORUS
I tell you the best thing I ever did do
I took off the old coat and put on the new
I tell you the best thing I ever did do
I took off the old coat and put on the new
~~~~

Memorial Day Weekend, 2012

Bruce and Justin, both, worked first shift Friday, so we started our Memorial Day weekend that evening.  It was so good being together as a family for four days in a row.  Doesn't happen here much any more.

Saturday morning we loaded up the cars, along with my mother and our Tater-bug, and headed up the road to our friend's home.  It has been so long since our families have been together.  As a matter of fact, they've had the marriage of their oldest son, three grand babies, and another one on the way since we saw them all last.

We had a wonderful day.  The weather was beautiful.  The food was delicious.  And the fellowship was a blessing.

Sunday, we had two good services.  Pastor and Mrs. Ava were on vacation this weekend with their family.  So Brother Johnny preached both services and, as usual, did a great job.  I love to hear him preach.  He preached both services on "I'm A Basket Case.  But It's A Good Thing."

I did get tickled at him one time.  He's been dieting and somehow a livermush biscuit was brought up.  Come to think of it, a livermush biscuit is often brought up when he preaches.  haha 

Anyway, he said, "When I reach that magic number, I'm gonna have me a livermush biscuit in this hand, a corn dog in this hand, and I'm gonna choke it down with a pile of hush puppies."

Then he used an illustration about the boy with the loaves and fishes and the baskets of food left over.  Needless to say, perch was brought up and several other things too.  When services concluded, we had been fed real good on the WORD of God.  But we were all craving fish, livermush, and hush puppies.  No one could decide where to go eat after church.

I got up today and went shopping at Ingles.  Bought everything we needed for a cookout and had our mothers over.  Tater-bug had to go home and we missed her being here, but Justin's friend, Evan, came over and it's always fun when he's here.

We had some good conversation and laughs, followed by a nap and a war movie.  

Today was more than just a time of food and fun.  It was about remembering our fallen soldiers.  There have been two things I've read on facebook this weekend that has stuck with me and I wanted to share them with you.  And lest you think I was being nosey again on someone's profile, I promise I have not.  These two things I read this time came from friends.

This came from Daniel and I thought it so fitting for Memorial Day:

"These heroes are dead.  They died for liberty-then died for us.  They are at rest.  They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, the embracing vines.  they sleep beneath the shadow of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or storm, each in the windowless palace of rest.  Earth may run red with other wars-they are at peace.  In the midst of the battles, in the roar of conflicts, they found the serenity of death." --Unknown

The other came from my friend, Amanda:

"I once asked my dad, an Army Veteran who saw action, what his favorite military holiday was and its significance to him.  He said Memorial Day, and told me you don't wish a Vet a "Happy" Memorial Day.  he said memorial Day is remembering those who paid the ultimate price beside them - their war brothers and sisters, and for a Vet, there's nothing Happy about those memories.  He said Veteran's Day was for the "happy," but Memorial Day is for thanking......"



Ways to Add to a Happy and Rewarded Life.

The original title for what I am sharing was How to Live to a Happy and Rewarding Life.  I, however have a deep personal opinion that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to living a happy and rewarded life.  However, there are things in life we can do to add to that.  When I found this today I thought I would share it.  Wanna know how I found it?  Being nosey.  If you're on facebook then you know it's a social network and people you've never met before will often comment on things you have commented on and you can always click on their name and see who they are.  Unless they have everything private.  Which is what I recommend.  Anyway, I clicked on a friend's friend's name (did you get that) and found this. Don't condemn me.  It's a social network and to be expected.  :)   

*Take time to smell the roses. (Personally, I'm not a big fan of the smell of roses.  I need to tell Bruce that in case I die before him.  Not that it would matter.  I'll be enjoying the sights and smelling the other beautiful flowers of Heaven.  And I know this isn't referring to actual roses.  It just made me think of that.) 
*Take a nap on Sunday afternoon.  (Can I get a witness?  I LOVE that one.  LOL)
*Drink eight glasses of water a day. (I love water.  But I need to strive harder for those eight glasses.)
*Never deprive someone of hope.  It may be all they have.
*Give thanks to God before every meal.
*Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry." (When we first got married, I wasn't afraid to say it, I just didn't say it because I was stubborn.  I don't have a problem with it now.)
*Don't take good health for granted. (Known too many people to die from bad health to take it for granted.)
*Don't interrupt. (Don't you just get a little annoyed when someone does that?  So rude.)
*Improve your performance by improving your attitude. (You know what, this is so true.  If you have a positive attitude, you will have a positive performance.  And a negative attitude will produce a negative performance.)
*Wave at children on the school bus. (I do this and also children walking up and down our street.  Although, I really don't know why.  They never wave back.  They play at my house with my kid, eat my freezie pops, and play our wii.  They just won't wave.  LOL)
*Leave everything a little better than you found it.
*Keep good company. (uhh huh)
*Keep your promises.
*Be kinder than necessary.
*Judge your success by the degrees that you're enjoying peace, health, and love.
*Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
*Never give up on anyone, miracles happen every day.
*Say thank you a lot.
*Stop blaming others.
*Take responsibility for every area of your life. (YES!  Wouldn't this be a better world if people would take responsibility for themselves instead of putting their mistakes and sins off on everyone else?  Adam started that, you know.)
*Be there when someone needs you.
*Be someone's hero. (No cape required.)
*Choose a charity in your community and support it generously with your time and money. (We choose our local church.)

I thought these were good.  Something to blog about, anyway.

We're celebrating Memorial Day with friends.  I am very excited about it.  Our families, as a whole, have not been together for far too long.  Looking forward to it!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Wonderful Weekend

This was a very good weekend.  We had much to celebrate and much to thank the Lord for.

Besides seeing two people saved in the services Sunday, we had a great blessing Sunday night when this dear family followed the Lord into baptism.  They have been coming for quite some time.

The mother was saved several months ago, followed by her two sons, her daughter, and then her husband.

This is the daughter.  She is a sweet girl.  

This mom has prayed many prayers and has seen God save her entire household.  I can't even begin to tell you how it felt to see them all baptized at one time.

Eager to see what the Lord does in their lives.  They have been a blessing to watch as they grow in the Lord.

Sunday night, Mrs. Anna had a celebration with our Sunday School class for her husband, Brother Dusty.  He received his Masters of Science in Theology.  Loved his cake.

Congratulations, Brother Dusty.  I didn't know you could do it. LOL

We had another blessing last night seeing Brother Clint and Mrs. Donna Kerns.  Always a joy to see them and hear them sing.  Love these two blessings!  And my Pastor, of course.  :)

Friday was Hannah's 17th birthday.  We celebrated by having her best friend over Friday and then Saturday we met the grandmothers at Sweet Frog in Gastonia.  If you've never heard of Sweet Frog, it is a yogurt bar and it is GOOD!

Big Daddy, Little Hannah...

My yogurt was yummy!  It was made to perfection. ;)

You grab the size bowl you want, fill it up with all the yogurt flavors you want...

Pile on the toppings you want...

and create a yogurt masterpiece.  Good stuff.  If you haven't tried it, swing by there.  I know you'll love it.

For her birthday, Justin bought Hannah this shirt from Sweet Frog.  We thought it was cute.

Fully Rely On God.  Now every time I see a frog, that's what I'll think of.

Hannah and her buddy, Taylor. :)  What a crazy pair these two are!

\

Taylor made Hannah this beautiful picture keeper to hang on her wall.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  Hannah loved it and has it hanging on her bedroom wall with lots of fun photos on it.

She had a great birthday and I am so proud of her and the girl she is...the woman she is becoming.

Another milestone in her life this week, was when we went to order her class ring, as she'll be a senior next year.  Can't wait for it to arrive.

Friday night we attended a graduation service for some pretty cool kindergartners.  They attend a Christian school in the area and we actually knew several of them.  So it was fun to see them "in action" as they received their diplomas.

Aren't they cute?

And Saturday night we had our Patch/Sigma Bowl.  In the past it has been the Patch class that goes against the parents at the end of the year on Bible trivia.  But this year, Brother Johnathan and Mrs. Jennifer combined Patch and Sigma lessons.  The topic during this year was Old Testament Survey.  At the end of the year, the Patch team would go against the Sigma youth on their knowledge of Old Testament Survey.  I just knew the patch kids were going to stomp Sigma.  But nope, Sigma pulled it through and there you have it. This was the first time in nine years, I think, that Patch did not win the Patch Bowl.  And being on the losing end of that bowl for eight years, I must say it felt good to see Sigma take it.  :)  This was the best Patch Bowl we've ever had.  Brother Johnathan and Mrs. Jennifer did a spectacular job!

\

Top Ten: Kayson (not pictured), Gracie, Mary Elizabeth, Haili, Hannah, Robin, Dylan, Mason, Matt, and Harrison.

Hannah and Harry took top scorer for the boys and girls.

And Harrison's team won for team points. 

Hannah brought home the Esther Award.

And top scorer for the girls in Sigma.  I don't know what she said to Pastor but it cracked him up.  LOL

Top scorer, of course, placed her in the top ten.

Besides Top scorer, Harrison also took the trophe for saying the most verses this year. Proud of him for that.  I wanted this picture with Mrs. Kim.  After the banquet, I no longer have any children in the Patch the Pirate program.  I was very sad about that.  Mrs. Kim has helped in this particular class since Justin's time in that class and I appreciate her so much.  She is faithful and a godly testimony to the children in her class.  I will be so sad not to have children under her leadership.  But I know that every child passing through her class will be a special child in her eyes and they will benefit, just by having her in the class room. 

Thank you, Mrs. Kim, for everything you have done for all three of my children.  You are truly a blessing to this family!

Although I am sad that Harrison will be losing Brother Johnathan and Mrs. Jennifer as his Patch teachers, I am thrilled beyond words that he will be gaining them as his Sigma youth leaders.  These two have taken the bull by the horns, so to speak, and have run the race well being over the fourth, fifth, and six grader Patch class, and also Sigma. 

They have done a FANTASTIC job and I appreciate every minute and sacrifice they have made for these classes.  I love you both...and your little boys too!

: o)

Wonderful weekend!

When Life Becomes a Washed Up Tie

Bruce's truck had a gas leak the other day so he was catching the gas in a container until he had time to work on it.  Well, Sunday, when he went to check on things before the evening service he got gas all over his beautiful tie.  It stunk so bad.  I took the kids on to church and he showed up later, after having changed his shirt and tie.  I really loved that tie, too.  It goes so well with the shirt he had on, which goes so well with his eyes.  In my opinion, anyway.  :)

When I was doing the wash last night, there it was.  Hanging on the back of a chair.  I knew better than to throw it in the wash.  I knew if I did, something good was not going to come of it. 

I did it anyway.

What was I thinking?  His tie is a mess.  It looks like a limp tube, the stitching has come undone around the bottom and there's white lining falling out of it.  Oh dear.  I just don't know what I can do for it.  And it wasn't a Wal Mart tie either.  It was a really nice one!  No doubt, bought by my mother at some point... (because I buy Wal Mart ties.)

Isn't life like that sometimes, though? 

There are things we know we shouldn't do because the Bible warns us not to do them.  And yet, we do them anyway.  And then our life begins to stink with the smell of sin.  So we try to clean it up ourselves, and just make a bigger mess of things, when really, we just needed to turn everything over into the Lord's hands and make it right with Him first.  He always knows how to clean us up, even when we think we aren't worth cleaning.

We stand back, looking at our mangled and torn up lives, wondering how God is going to fix us and make our life beautiful again. 

But it's not up to us to wonder that.  All we have to do is trust Him.  He is God and He can take those things that have crushed our spirits, those things that have hurt us and brought us so much shame, and He can use them to build us up to bring Him glory and honor.

I thought of this song as I pondered over these things this morning:

Something beautiful
Something good
All my confusion
He understood
All I had to offer Him
was brokenness and strife
But He made something
beautiful
of my life

My hands, I don't believe, can do anything for this poor tie, but God...  He can take our broken and torn life and make it into a masterpiece, if we will just place ourselves in His hands.

The Bible says in Hebrews 5 that there are pleasures in sin for a season.  Seasons change from one to another, over and over.  They do not last.

BUT!

Psalm 16:11 says "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is FULLNESS OF JOY; at thy right hand there are PLEASURES FOR EVERMORE."



     

Mother's Day, 2012

Mother's Day celebration started off on Friday for me.  Bruce gave me an appointment to get my hair done, my secret pal gave me a gift certificate a while back for a pedicure, and then I spent a few hours shopping.  So it was a day of pampering and malls!

Although I do believe in pretty toes, especially this time of year, it was my first pedi and I can assure you it will not be my last.  I enjoyed it very much.  I went ahead and upgraded my gift certificate to a deluxe and got the works.  WOW!  I totally enjoyed it. 

Saturday morning we had our moms over for a Mother's Day brunch.  I fixed bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, livermush, grits, and two flavors of muffins with milk and orange juice.  It was delicious, if I do say so myself.

For their gifts, we bought them each a beautiful burgundy pocketbook and a black, beaded, glass necklace.  They loved both of them.

Justin has been house sitting for someone for the last few weeks so it was nice to have him come by for the brunch.  He bought me a beautiful ice cream cake from Dairy Queen that we were all able to enjoy later.  AND it was oreo.  He knows me well, that son of mine.

When it was time to cut into the cake, I couldn't do it.  I had let it set out for at least twenty minutes, but it was still really hard.  So Bruce tried and it was very hard for him also.  At one point he pretended to cry because he wanted a piece of it so badly.  LOL

We had a good time with our moms and it was an honor to honor them in our home.

Before we left for church Sunday morning, Hannah and Harrison gave me an artsy gift they had worked on from the three of them.  I thought it was really cute.  Hannah got the idea from a friend on facebook and did one for me.  It was crayons they hotglued along the top of a white cardboard and then blowdried so it would melt down the board.  At the bottom they wrote, "Like a rainbow, you brighten our sky."  I have it standing on the bookshelf Bruce made me and I love it.

Bruce asked if I wanted to go out to eat for Mother's Day after church.  No way!  I don't like eating out on Sunday.  But definitely not for Mother's Day.  We stay so busy on Sunday, I just wanted to eat Pizza Hut take out and get a long nap.  I got it!  Bruce called from church to order the pizzas and after lunch I had a three hour nap!  THREE HOURS!  It was great.

Before we laid down for a nap, though, they had a few gifts for me.  Hannah and Harrison gave me a gift bag with two pretty headbands, a bag of LINDOR white chocolates, and a beautiful necklace in it.

Bruce gave me a gift bag with some zebra print flip flops and a cheetah print carrying case for my kindle fire.

And then when I got to church for the evening service, Justin showed up with a big basket full of all of these goodies.  It was great!

Sweet Pea scented candle, the Japanese Cherry Blossom collection from Bath and Body Works, a set of foot scrub and softening treatments, pumice stone, things to do French manis and pedis, Calgon bath pearls, a "mom" coffee mug, scrubbie, and teddy bear.  

GREAT basket. 

We had two terrific services at church and a blessed day and weekend all around.  I feel blessed because I AM blessed!  I have been given a thoughtful husband, a loving mother, and three beautiful, precious children.

God is good to me.

Marriage Defined

So how 'bout that NC vote FOR Amendment One? 

Actually, how about all the hubbub surrounding it?  I haven't watched the news once about it yet.  But I sure have seen a lot of smack talk and jeering on facebook.  It's really been something to watch...and participate in.  I would expect the smack talk and jeering from the world, but I've been most disheartened by those professing Christianity.  Apparently, "the church" is divided on the issue as well.

Say Whaaa???

Who would have thought we would see the day when the church was divided on the definition of marriage?  All because we don't want to offend the sodomite. 

In a recent discussion with someone claiming Christianity, they proudly admitted they were against Amendment One and found me using the word "sodomite" to be offensive.  Well, yes, I must agree that I am sure it was very offensive to her.  God's Word is always offensive to those who do not wish to live by it.  And the word "sodomite" is God's word, not mine.  If you look up the word in the dictionary, it plainly tells who and what they are.  Look up "gay" and it waters it down to keep the sodomite comfortable in their sin.  The biggest mistake the church has made, thus far, is trying to appease the pew sitter. 

Jesus never said anything to help the sinner be comfortable.  He never made them feel they were loved by Him, therefore, it was ok to stay in their sin.  No, when Jesus came on the scene, there was always a change in lives.  It was never "come as you are, leave how you were" with Him.  It was "come as you are, leave your sin behind forever."

Somewhere along the way, the pulpits across this nation have become nothing more than a drive thru of fast food TEACHING.  Because, obviously, the PREACHING of God's Word is no more.  If it were, the church would not be divided on the issue of Amendment One. 

You know, Bruce and I have sodomites in our family.  We have couples in our families living in adultery and fornication.  But we still love them.  We want and desire God's best for them.  But does our love exceed God's will?  A better question to ask the church is, does CHRIST'S love EXCUSE His will?

No, I do not believe it does.

God is against homosexuality.  As a matter of fact, there are many sins mentioned in the Bible, only a few say they are an abomination.  Homosexuality is one of them (Lev 20:13).  Abomination means that God DESPISES them.  Does that mean God measures our sin on a scale of one to ten?  No.  But it does mean there are some sins that He absolutely despises.  And if God DESPISES it, should the church not despise it also? 

Does this mean we should hate the homosexual?  No, of course not.  God loves them and so should we.  But we should also despise the sin, as our Heavenly Father despises the sin also.

Many Christians who voted against the Amendment said they were doing so because they wanted to protect the rights and freedoms of those who do not believe the way Christians do.  On the surface, I suppose that sounds good.  I mean, shouldn't all good Americans want to protect rights and freedoms?  I know I do.  But if going against God and Christ's teachings means I can't vote according to Scripture and my conscience... well, let's just say I'd rather cast my vote as a citizen of Heaven than one of America.  

I don't care what other people say, this country was founded by men and women who wanted the freedom to worship as they chose and they did not want anyone telling them how to worship.  BUT!  Those men and women also founded this country on the Word of God.  You don't have to be a Christian to live here.  You don't have to believe everything we believe.  But we were...ARE...a Christian nation.  

Christians in NC did not make a law banning same sex marriage.  Law makers did.  Christians did not help write Amendment One.  But we sure did help it into our state constitution.  And I am proud to be a North Carolina girl because of it.

North Carolina is the thirty-first state to pass this Amendment to our state's constitution.  Which leaves nineteen states open to anyone wishing for a homosexual union.  'Nuff said.

It is my right, as an American citizen to cast my vote.  Even if the Amendment had not passed, I would have been thankful for the opportunity to live in a democracy, where the people have the say.  

And the people have spoken.  

Not as many Christians as I would have hoped and thought.  As a matter of fact, I can't even imagine the margin of percent had Christians voted God's mind instead going AWOL on Him and voting their own

(Prov 3:5-6) 

But the people have spoken, none the less, and so God has blessed. 

If God can use Gideon and only 300 men to win a war against thousands, well, obviously He can do the same today. 

And There Ya Have It

Far as I know there were nine or eleven of us that got baptized.  I was a nervous wreck.  You wouldn't believe some of the things the devil put in my mind about what could happen.  Thinking on them now I laugh at myself, but at the time, I wasn't laughing.  I have also been sick with a head cold.  My ears are stopped up and I told Pastor I thought I'd just wait until next month and if I did, it wasn't because I was ingoring his counsel.  He said he understood, and then JOKINGLY remarked that I had been in rebellion this long, one more month wouldn't matter.  LOL  But during the service, Pastor wanted Brother Mark Leonard to preach.  He preached on the "The Other Side" and said that when God wants us on the other side, He will get us there, no matter what.  I knew God wanted me to be baptized and that sick or not, He would take care of it.  So at the close of the service when Pastor called for those getting baptized, I stepped out and went.  I'm glad I did.  The devil can never bother me about it again!   

 Not my favorite picture, but hey, I'm alive.

 It was a blessing watching Harrison get baptized also.  It thrilled my heart to see my youngest follow Christ into baptism.  Praying for him that he will continue following Christ's footsteps in everything he says and does. 

Thankful for friends that prayed for me and my silly insecurities.  Thankful for Brother Tony Hutson for preaching the way he did on baptism.  Thankful for the Holy Spirit's conviction in my heart to make that step, left behind years ago. 

God is good!

To Be or Not To Be.....Baptized?

While we were in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with the youth group, Brother Tony Hutson shucked some corn on being baptized.  I have a confession.  I have not been baptized since I was saved at the age of fourteen.

I've thought about it over the years, but never talked with anyone about it.  In my heart, I knew that I should have been baptized, but I just figured so many years had passed it just didn't matter any more. 

I do not believe that you MUST be baptized to enter into Heaven, I Peter 3:21.  I do believe that baptism by submersion is a sign to others that you are following Jesus Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection.

To make a long story short, after hearing Brother Hutson's sermon on baptism, the Lord has been dealing with me about it.

This past Sunday morning, my Pastor made mention that he was baptising this coming Sunday night.  Well, this week, Harrison told me he heard Pastor say that and he was ready to get baptized.  So we talked about it and he answered the questions I asked him and I felt confident that he was, indeed, ready to get baptized.  Spoke to Pastor about it Wednesday and Harrison is all set for baptism Sunday night.

I also talked to Pastor about myself.  I was baptized at age five, but never felt conviction to salvation until I was fourteen years old.  That was when I gave my heart to Christ.  So when I was baptized at five, I really just got wet.  After talking to Pastor, I will also be getting baptized Sunday night.

Another confession is that I am afraid of water.  I can swim, but I never do.  The devil is really using the thought of someone putting me under water to scare me.  But, thankfully, Pastor assured me he hasn't lost one yet.  LOL

Yes, to be baptized.  My son and I will be taking the plunge together...no pun intended.
:)

Romans 6:4 "Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."