CRYING

I don't cry easily, though sometimes I wish I could. But one thing always chokes me up so bad I can't speak and I even have trouble breathing. That is when someone is baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.

This morning, an elderly lady was baptized. All I remember is that her first name is Nancy. Steve preached a good sermon, as usual, about discipline, and today's was about the discipline of teaching. When the invitation song was sung, Ms. Nancy and a younger lady, I guess her daughter, walked to the front. I'm sure they already had planned to do so, because the sermon wasn't one to really cause someone to decide to become a Christian - it was more of an encouraging sermon for those of us who already are Christians.

I think it was the first time that Ms. Nancy, the younger lady, and a younger gentleman visited the church I attend. Turns out the younger couple was from Georgia. Ms. Nancy lives in Aliceville, a small town about 2 hours' drive SW of Birmingham. She'd recently had surgery here in Birmingham. She stated that she wanted to be SURE that she was baptized for the right reason - not to join some church, but to meet with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and have her sins washed away by His blood.

Of course it is always so touching when anyone decides to obey God (Mark 16:16) but even more so when an older person obeys.

And I cried and could not sing the closing songs.

The angels rejoice when one person is saved.