Something Bout That Water...

It was 1994 and I was 14 years old in this picture. I remember arriving at Hopewell Baptist Church being dressed in all white, putting on a white robe before walking past the pulpit that led to the baptism pool. When it was my turn to go in, I stepped in the water. I remember it being really cold but that didn't matter that much to me because there was a feeling FAR GREATER that suddenly came over me.

Older people used to call it the Holy Ghost. Listen....At 14, I didn't know WHAT TO CALL IT, but I knew that whatever it was had certainly CALLED ME.

I started trembling, shaking, shouting and praising God in a language that I'd never spoken before and (to be honest) have never spoken again. I used to hear people speaking in tongues at church but I never knew what those words meant. I'm not even sure that I thought it was real. It looked like theatrics to me UNTIL it happened to me. As a matter of fact, when I was probably 6 or 7, I used to get chastised by my stepmother for laughing at folks at church.

Don't judge me, I was a kid and I'm sorry....it was funny to me. Honey.... my stepmama would give me that eye in church, like you better knock if off. My older cousins (Lisa, Shawn, Tiffany, Jeff, Darren, Cherie) who would all be on the back pews would definitely try to save me by tapping me to stop laughing.

Inevitably, it was always too late cause by then, the ushers were racing to fan the person shouting. The folks around them were scattering as their hands flew from here to there. At that age, it was hard for me to contain my laughter and I was ok with whatever "fussing at" that was SURELY coming my way when we got home. I had no clue at the time...

Nevertheless, at 14...HERE I WAS, acting just like the folks I used to laugh at. In the midst of my shouting, I heard Pastor Palmer say "Whose child is this?" He was speaking to the crowd of people watching. I could hear muffled voices all around me but didn't know what was being said. However, I could hear the pastor clear as day!

"Whose child is this? There's an anointing on her life"

A WHO..... a WHAT, unt unh, not me, stop playing. I swear those words shook me back to my self. But, there was no going back. I couldn't UN-HEAR them. As he dipped me in the water, I came up soaking wet and spirit filled. I would never be the same again!

Looking back, here's what I learned from that day....

1. Life happens, we all fall short of God's glory but when the spirit is in you, it's in you! Call on it when you need it. We have not because we ask not.

2. You can feel unworthy and God will STILL use you. Listen...I drink, curse, party and still pray & repent. The difference is when you know better, you do better. Slowly but surely, I do better each day and my spirit is always there to convict me when I fall short.

3. You can run from your divine assignment but the Holy Spirit has a way of pulling you back in. Allow yourself to be pulled before you are dragged. Listen to that still small voice that whispers before it screams. Regardless of whatever faith you follow, there is a force that is greater than you!

4. Use what you got, right where you are and let that be your ministry. I am no pastor, preacher or teacher but I know that the Lord is using me as a writer and storyteller helping me master that ministry. Cause in the end, God is gon get his glory, either through my words or my testimony.

5. Your gifts will make room for you...

God said write the vision and make it plain. REVIS WROTE IT!

Playlist

• "I know I've Been Changed" - Lashun Pace

• "We Must Praise" - J Moss

• "The Battle Is Not Yours" - Yolanda Adams