reminiscence & nostalgia- baptism

''everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name''
acts 10 v 43

chai tea latte at suncafe. my favourite drink, after mcdonald's hot chocolate. haven't had either for a long time.

there were baptisms at new life yesterday. a wonderful testimony. a new life for many, a conscious decision to show to their world that God was real in their life. i remember that i went to planet coffee after my baptism. that was an age and a half ago. honestly. have i grown? i guess not an awful lot in the right direction.

jarrod told a true story. a story of the yellow ribbon around the old oak tree. apparently it's a true story. of a man who had to go to prison, who had shamed his friends and family. just before he was due to be released, he wrote to wife. he said that he'd be making the long journey home by bus. he would be going past the house. if his wife wanted him to come home he asked her to tie a yellow ribbon around the oak tree outside the house and he would get off the bus and come home. however, if he wasnt forgive, don't tie a ribbon and he would stay on the bus and go elsewhere. but, he would still understand. of course his wife tied a ribbon, not one but one hundred. that's God's love for you.

I'm comin' home, I've done my time
Now I've got to know what is and isn't mine
If you received my letter telling you I'd soon be free
Then you'll know just what to do if you still want me
If you still want me Just tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been way too long, do you still want me?
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
I'll just stay on the bus, forget about us, put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Bus driver, please look for me 'Cause I couldn't bear to see what I might see
I'm really still in prison and my love, he holds the key
A simple yellow ribbon's all I need to set me free
I wrote and told him please...
Just tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been way too long, do you still want me?
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
I'll just stay on the bus, forget about us, put the blame on me If I don't see a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round that old oak tree
I'm coming home
Now the whole dang bus is cheerin' and I can't believe
I see a hundred yellow ribbons tied 'round the old oak tree
I'm comin' home, I'm glad you waited for me
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Tie a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Tie a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Tie a yellow ribbon if you still want me
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree

another story. the lost son. or the forgiving father. no need for me to tell the story. God is that forgiving father, unmovable rock.

Almighty God, the great "I am'',
immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord.
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings, mighty conqueror.
And the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run was when He ran to me.

He took me in His arms, held my head to His chest, said,
"My son's come home again,"
lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes.
With forgiveness in His voice He said, "Son, do you know I still love you?"
He caught me by surprise when God ran.

The day I left home I knew I'd broken His heart,
and I wondered then if things could ever be the same.
Then one night I remembered His love for me and down that dusty road ahead
I could see it was the only time,
it was the only time I ever saw Him run.

And then He ran to me.
He took me in His arms,
held my head to His chest, said,
"My son's come home again,"
lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes.
With forgiveness in His voice He said,
"Son, do you know I still love you?"
He caught me by surprise and He brought me to my knees when God ran.
I saw Him run to me.

I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away.
But now I know that He's been waiting for this day.
I saw Him run to me.
He took me in His arms, held my head to His chest and said,
"My son's come home again," lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes.
With forgiveness in His voice
I felt His love for me again.

He ran to me.
He took me in His arms, held my head to His chest and said,
"My son's come home again,"
lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes.
With forgiveness in His vice he said, "Son."
He called me son.
He said, "Son, do you know I still love you?"
He ran to me (When God ran I saw Him run to me) and I ran to Him,
(when God ran) when God ran.

thank you God. i really don't deserve it. at all.