good, very good

Pittsburgh City Outreach service tonight.

the celebration is loud, joyous, passionate & irresistible. i sense the weight of changed lives represented by each praising voice. my soul awakes & i gratefully express the impact of the living God in my life: His sacrifice, teaching, salvation, love, hope, life.

i am kindred to the other changed souls here regardless of age, race, gender, status, personality. united by the Holy Spirit; bearing witness to one another with few words. a holy bond. it is good, very good.

this phrase sticks: “God will deliver you OUT OF the situation & He will deliver you FROM it.” i find refuge away from harm, but even more, i find freedom because [the thing] loses its foothold from the terrain of my soul. when God works you can take the girl out of the sin AND you can take the sin out of the girl. this is good, very good.

baptisms, 7 of them: Jason, his parents, Lee (my cousin), Jeremy, Sheila, Stephanie. this is a beautiful symbolic act for belivers to display obedience.

beauty

entering the water, fully immersed
body, mind, spirit, strength devoted to the Savior
Christ’s life given unto death for me

under the water in an instant
the old life dead, buried
Christ is wrapped, placed in the tomb

rising out of the water, inhaling afresh
life, everlasting life is now
Christ ascends from the death chamber to ever-breathe prayers
at the Father’s side

standing amidst the applause, the celebration given voice
new identity, marked in the moment
a dove descends, the Father speaks,
you are my own dear son and I am pleased with you

it is good, very good.