My Baptism Anniversary!

Luke 3: 16 "John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

I am coming up to the 1st anniversary of my baptism and I wanted to share with you all some reflections of how my life has changed in the last year. It has been quite a journey from that cold plunge in the sea on a packed Looe beach!

Before I carry on, I just want to say a massive thank you to my best friend who gave me that first seed of curiosity. She is so inspiring and so humble, she would never admit that she was so instrumental in bringing me to Jesus, and I am certain that she has brought so many others to Him. I also want to thank my Church family and our Vicar for being so welcoming, encouraging  and supportive to me and my family, you guys are literally the best people and we feel so blessed by your friendship, love and fellowship.

During this year I have developed a servant's heart. I have a passion for helping people and I find it a real joy to help people in the name of Jesus!

Since my baptism last summer I have felt compelled to always "do more". I feel a constant prod from God to "do more".  In this last year I have organised an event to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, organised an event to "Fill our Foodbank", signed up to help with Sunday School and the youth club, helped out in the Church office, became a member of the PCC, helped to run an Alpha Course, started this blog, signed up to a Leadership Course, taken on the Church's Social Media accounts, served coffee, scrubbed the toilets in the Church halls...pretty much when any opportunity pops up to help, "Here I am!".

Here's a fun fact, my name is Tiffany, which comes from the word Epiphany. Epiphany translates as "manifestation of God". Manifestation translates to "dancing hand". So my name means "dancing hand of God"...I feel like I'm living up to that right now! Haha! 

Two years ago I was shy and self-conscious. Definitely too anxious to put myself forward for anything that put me in a spotlight. I suffered with depression and anxiety for a couple of years before moving to Liskeard and never thought I would be where I am today. God plucked me from such a dark place and dropped me straight into His light.

I am having the best time!  My family are also growing in Christ and it's just so amazing to witness!
My children attend the Church youth club, the Christian after-school club and Sunday School. My husband is currently on an Alpha course, which is so exciting for us all! My eldest daughter was also baptised last year and she is having a great time getting involved in the youth activities. She is also part of the Junior Worship Team at her school. She asked us for a Bible for her birthday and my heart melted!

Please don't confuse this post as boastful. This is me saying that I have a fire sparked in my soul and I have let it fully consume me. We all have that spark as Christians. That spark comes straight from God Himself, just as Jesus promised in John 14: 15-17  “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

 It is His spirit burning in our hearts and we can and do sometimes choose to extinguish it when it feels a bit "too hot". When we don't want to risk being burned. We pat at it and blow it out. But God will always reignite that spark, like a pilot light in a boiler.

Just imagine what could happen if we all let God's spirit burn through us, lighting us up so that we shine openly and brazenly for all to see! How many other people's lives could we illuminate? Fire catches and spreads so easily and quickly...

In saying that, sometimes life itself can extinguish that fire. Evil whisperings of doubt in our ears can make that flame flicker, our own stubbornness and selfishness can snuff it out in an instant. We can become discouraged and our spiritual thermostat winds right down.

We need to feed that fire with the fuel that is God's word. With prayer and with fellowship that brings encouragement and stokes the embers of our souls.

I once asked my friend "How can some people have such complete faith and KNOW that God is real, yet loose their faith and their belief?" For all that I have witnessed and experienced, I could never imagine losing a faith that is so set in concrete. But it happens, doesn't it?

My friend replied with "bottle that feeling, because you might need it later".

I remember once singing in church during one of the Worship services, and I looked around at everyone singing; some dancing, some with their hands in the air....and I thought for a split second "what if it's not real?". Then my mind was flooded with memories of physically feeling God's spirit, of answered prayers, of the exact verse that I needed to hear popping up all over the place at that time, of the time that I dreamt of our Church leaders wearing "St Martin's" Tshirts before being told they were already being ordered...too many "coincidences"....and the thought of "is this real?" was replaced with peace and conviction as I carried on singing.

So where will I be next year? Only God knows, and I'm so excited to see what He has planned for me next! 

I pray that I will continue to let that fire burn with a white-hot fury for all to see... and people do see it...4 of my friends are on the Alpha Course with my Husband! 

I pray that God continues to work in me, through me and for me.

I also pray that if you are reading this and you feel as though your fire isn't burning as brightly as it once was, that you will feel encouraged to add fuel to your fire, un-bottle that first love you felt for our God and we can shine brightly together with the love and light of our Lord Jesus. Amen!