A Baptism of Renewal

On Wednesday I was presented with the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River. Now, I have already been baptized, it was May 10th '77 and I was nine so I didn't give it much thought until Pastor Billy Richards shared on the significance of being baptized again could be for us and letting this be a significant act of worship and love for the Lord.

I spent time reflecting last night on what being baptized again at this time in my life could mean to me and I felt impressed with the thought that for me this could be a commitment to finish well. Being 41, I like to think that this is the halfway point of my life and not only do I want to finish well, but I really want to lay it all on the altar with no regrets going forward.

I also journalled that I wanted this to be my desire to be more Spirit-led. So, after going back and forth even early in the morning, I resolved to make the decision and let this act testify to it. I know crazy, but the really awesome thing was that as Pastor Billy prayed over me, he prayed for the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon me and the ministry to which I've been called. Then after being baptized, Mary Jane from Rexdale Alliance also spoke into my life about the power of the Holy Spirit to be upon me as well.

Needless to say it was an emotional morning as my mom was also there to witness the event.

So, what do you do after you've been baptized in the Jordan River? You go for a swim of course and so Pastor Billy, his two sons, Brennan and Benjamin followed me as we swam across the narrow river! Our tour guide mentioned that was a first for him to see pastors swimming after a baptism.


From the Jordan River, we were off to Nazareth where we visiting the church of Annunciation where it is believed that Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel as well as the church of Joseph over the general area where he may have lived as well. Both Catholic churches are full of stained glass, icons and of course worship of Mary. Underneath the churches are remains of excavation that belonged to that time period as well.

From there we spent time on a Christian site which modelled what life in Nazareth would have looked like during the time of Jesus. It helped to really enable us to understand the Agrarian culture and how Jesus' parables would make the text come even more alive here. Milton has the Walk To Bethlehem and we did the Walk to Nazareth here. We also ate a traditional 1st century meal with flat bread cooked on a fire, lentil soup, olives, hummus and apples with some kind of dip for dessert...then we went to the souvenir shop and bought ice cream! lol

After that we travelled to Beit Shean and looked at the impressive remains of Greek culture and also reflected on this being the Philistine city that took King Saul's head and hung it on their wall only to have it recaptured by the Israelites and returned for a proper burial.

Ok, so our day is not done and we still had to travel through the desert like terrain from here to Jerusalem. We saw the city of Jericho on the way as well as the nomadic Bedouin people.

Before leaving Beit Shean, I took time to read from Psalm 84 in the NLT which was the passage that I had read in my devotions this morning. It was incredibly appropriate!!

5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
⁶ When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
it will become a place of refreshing springs.
The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
⁷ They will continue to grow stronger,
and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

⁸ O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
Interlude

⁹ O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
Show favor to the one you have anointed.

¹⁰ A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
¹¹ For the L ord God is our sun and our shield.
He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
from those who do what is right.
¹² O L ord of Heaven’s Armies,
what joy for those who trust in you.

After passing through security we entered the city of Jerusalem and began by going to the Mount of Olives and we looked out on to the city at sunset. Ran, our tour guide, led us in a special Hebrew blessing welcoming us to Jerusalem with a Jewish practice similar to communion with the breaking of bread and wine. He read from Psalm 122 and we prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and spent time in worship here.

By this point it was almost 7pm and time to go to our hotel, but we ended up being held up for an hour as an accident took place on this very narrow passageway by the University of Jerusalem.

We were thrilled to arrive here at 8pm to a great buffet!!