Baptism || When Jesus Calls Me to Die

I was baptized when I was eight years old, and I remember three things:

// my daddy baptized me in sweetly warm water

// a beautiful worship song played

// and I simply did it because I loved Jesus, and He told us to obey

Little Hosanna had so much she didn't understand. She didn't know what baptism represented or the beauty of it, but she knew the God she loved said go, so she did.

I wouldn't change that. But this week as a friend shared about their upcoming baptism, I realized how little I knew. So I dove into a word study and found a core truth that's so hard and beautiful with which I can do nothing more than lift to Jesus and whisper, "help me."

I learned,

 

I'm in love with Jesus more than anything in this world, and it's the most wonderful thing I've discovered in life. And yet as I follow Him, He whispers this:

come and die.

I want to balk and run from it, grab my dreams and hopes and say, "didn't You give these to me? Why do I have to surrender them again and again?"

come and die.

Baptism is joining Jesus in that death.

I read of the Israelites, riding victoriously from Egypt after they escaped their captors, but then they came to the water. There was a turning point.

They were God's people! They were chosen, and God Himself led them by a fire by night and a cloud by day!

But until they walked through that water, they weren't free. The Egyptians were coming, and unless their God intervened, they'd forever be slaves.

So He did. God let them pass through the waters on dry ground as a symbol of baptism, and on the other side, they found freedom and life and joy and a future hope. Their promised land awaited!

Jesus asks me: am I willing?

Am I willing to pass through the waters and let myself die to find freedom when I rise? Am I willing to let go of my dreams and hopes to embrace His?

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Now are your ways My ways," says the LORD.

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts."

- Isaiah 55:8-9

The Bible continues describing the beauty of baptism throughout its pages, and I could list references to keep you busy for hours. *wink* But what I read is that baptism comes from a heart of repentance. It's an important part of entering the family of God. And the Holy Spirit is a special part of it all (which is awesome, 'cuz it means God literally gets to live in us as a Helper!).

As Jesus died, when we're baptized under the water, we join in His death, and as He rose, we rise out of the water into a new life with Him. What's amazing is that when He returns to bring His Kingdom, we'll rise again with new physical bodies and inherit the Kingdom with Him!

But today, I'm left with a decision: is Jesus worth it?

Is He worth giving everything for?

And yet being a follower of Jesus isn't a slavery where He steals what we love to grasp all the glory for Himself. He's a transcendent God who treasures His people and, knowing what's best for them, leads them in the way they should go. We give Him glory because that, in turn, fills us with the deepest satisfaction and joy we could ever experience!

I've had no joy greater than the joy of knowing Him.

He is a God of peace and love and all that's good, and He desires us to know Him intimately, to converse with Him, to live life with Him.

But it starts with a decision.

Will I come and die so that something greater might live?

...unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

- John 12:24-26

The One we follow gave His very life, suffering a terrible and ghastly death, and,

...a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

- John 13:16

 

And so I surrender to Jesus.

I accept that whatever He says goes. That His plan is always best. That He may give and take away as He sees fit, and I will stand before Him and worship.

It's not always easy to walk through the waters, but it is the most beautiful and fulfilling calling. So I'll wipe away tears and skip through dry ground.

I challenge you to sit with the Lord and open your heart to the One who calls you "beloved." Surrender to Him, cry to Him, love Him, and be loved by Him.

It's so sweet to be loved by Jesus.

What is your baptism story? Are there waters you're walking through? Let's share below!

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

- Isaiah 43:2

 

 

 

 

~♥~

 

May You Be Found Faithful

Everyone has a job; what's yours?

I challenge you to pause and answer that question. What is your job?

I don't merely mean the job that pays your salary or what you answer when someone asks, "what have you been up to?". Not the place you grudgingly drive to every weekday because you have to. Because we have those tasks we do, but they aren't who we are.

I wonder what is your God-given job? What is the passion or dream or simple work He put into your hands and whispers, "go for it"? 

What were you created to do that God is calling you to be faithful in?

That's your job.

Last month, I found myself wrapping up one of my Farm Tales drafts and setting it aside as my illustrator continued her work, and I felt my arms wide open as I whispered, "God, what's next? What do you want me to jump into?"

He didn't answer immediately. But the next day, a dear friend sat chatting with me, and she asked about my writing projects, saying, "So what does your writing look like? Do you write every day?"

I laughed as I told her I might not even write every week, explaining it away with excuses about how busy I was with siblings, my paid job, and the other tasks on my schedule.

But she smiled. "If this is a job God gave you, shouldn't it be a priority?"

It hit me.

I'd say my job is to go to work at the music store, serve customers, keep things clean and organized, and go home. Or I might say my job is being a big sister and being faithful at home.

And those are my jobs. I work at them with all my heart, seek to do them well every single week.

But if God gave me a specific job, shouldn't that be just as important as driving to work every work day?

Shouldn't I dive in headfirst, be passionate, devote myself to finishing this calling He set before me?

So I did. July was a lovely month of pursuing the calling God set before me, and it was adorned with answered prayers and sweet moments with God as we wrote and edited and completed the work He set before me. I realized again why I love being a writer. I joy-ed through my work.

And as I did so, He whispered the reason why we do every job He sets before us:

...continually set your hearts, before all else, on His Kingdom and the salvation that comes from Him...

- Matthew 6:33

It's not just doing the thing we're good at. It's the fact that Jesus is going to return with His Kingdom, establish a New Earth, and we get to live with Him forever! It's the craziness that He offers forgiveness to every heart who humbles themselves before Him.

My job as a writer is to set my own heart on His Kingdom and create words that, I pray, draw others to His salvation.

May that be the reason I do every single job. May I write faithfully, heart set on His Kingdom. As I serve customers and love siblings and mop the kitchen and chat with friends, may that be the ultimate purpose behind it all:

seek first the Kingdom.

If the job is incredibly hard or if it's simply mundane.

Friend, may you be found faithful in your roles. If you run a household and wash laundry and wipe snotty noses, may it be a joyful sacrifice where you meet Jesus in the chaos. If you're a creator who uses your fingers to write stories, carve wood, paint masterpieces, send snail mail, lift others up with music, may you do it for and with our Savior. If you drive to work or do school, may it be with all your heart as for the Lord.

I challenge you to pause, sit with Jesus, and seek His heart. He is the best friend you could ever have, and He wants to live life with you. Ask Him what His jobs for you are, but more, ask Him how you can seek first His Kingdom.

Not just work harder. Not be a better person.

It's a relationship with a God who covers you with His love, who wants to live life with you, who wants to use you to impact this world!

(it's pretty exciting!)

Press on sister. Run the race brother. May we be found faithful when He returns with His Kingdom. ♥

What jobs has God set before you to be faithful in? Let's chat below!

Whatever work you do, it is from the heart that you are to do it, as though you were serving the Lord and not mere men, knowing that it is the Lord from whom you will receive the inheritance as your reward. It is the Lord, the Messiah, to whom you are truly rendering your service.

- Colossians 3:23-24

~♥~

Books Update || Here's Author Life

 

Hello!

For anyone who hasn't been here for a while, welcome friend! I'm Hosanna Emily, an ordinary girl following an extraordinary God and a seeker of beauty in the midst of life. *hugs*

What I write here are glimpses, like journal entries, of the beauty God reveals as my Teacher. I write them to remember, and I write to hopefully encourage you to press on in the battle of faith, hope, and love:

love, to spur you on to know Jesus intimately, to have a love relationship with Him which results in obedience to His words which are precious

hope, to understand the future God has for us which makes ordinary days become something incredibly purposeful and helps us see beyond the darkness

faith, the action of believing because of the love and hope, the determination to be found faithful, the continuance despite whatever this world throws at you

Those are my goals with this blog, but I have another little gift I share here. I like to call it my superpower.

I write books.

I published The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser in 2016 (a MG mystery) and The Torch Keepers in 2019 (a YA fantasy novel). Since then, there's been many books in the works, but it's been hush-hush here.

It's time for a books update. (yay!)

At the beginning of this year, God told me this was a year to pursue four books, to work on them faithfully for Him, and to see fruit. I can't wait to share book titles and covers and all the fun things! But here's where I am today, and I hope to keep you updated as the stories are birthed into the world!

The Farm Tales are two separate books that are both set on a farm.

Farm Tales #1: A middle-grade story featuring twelve animal characters who are invited to become a unique farm family in which adventures are explored, jokes are cracked, and funny animals of all sorts learn Truth that propel the characters to a longing desire.

Progress: This manuscript is complete! My illustrator is wrapping up her work, and this is the first book I want to slip into your hands. It's a story to make you laugh and think deeper. The illustrator has done a detailed, fun job with the characters, and you'll love them. =)

How to Help: Once this book is ready for publication, I'll be asking for a team to come with me and share! Share the cover, quotes, all the fun stuff. And my heart is to have this book readily available. I want to share it with young readers everywhere and pray it helps them see that youth can live radically for Jesus. I'd love if anyone gave extra copies to their young friends!

Farm Tales #2: A picture book of a farm of cows who must be faithful in the time of waiting for their Farmer to return. For young children, it's a story of looking forward to Jesus' return, of holding fast to the jobs He has given us, and of the vital importance of sharing the Gospel. All behind cow faces and a fun story, of course. =)

Progress: This manuscript is complete, and I'm praying for the perfect illustrator to create this beauty!

How to Help: Pray that God makes it clear who should illustrate this book.

The Sequel: Where The Torch Keepers left off, this YA book resumes the fantastical story of the Kingdom of Érkeos as the Prince continues to establish his regime against the King's rule. With roaring volcanoes, mystical creatures from ancient folklore, and a little family of orphans who resist the enemy's lies, it's an allegorical tale of what it looks like to be found faithful.

Progress: I'm in editing mode and soon to be sending this off to round #2 of beta readers. This has been so fun! As I edit, I've prayed through this story and asked God for wisdom, and He has answered so. many. prayers. I've learned to ask expecting answers, because He supplies the story ideas I need!

This book has made me laugh and cry as it's been my dream story for four years. There's still work to go into it and plot hols to mend, but this is a book that's somehow part of me and I hope will impact you to fall in love with our own King.

How to Help: Please pray for continued wisdom in this book process, and if you're interested in being a beta reader, contact me for info on how to claim your own early copy!

A Book of Poetry: With poems extending from revelational moments in life to the tiniest fragments of beauty captured in words, this is an anthology of stories, colors, emotions, and truths wrapped up in poetry.

Progress: Poems are written, and starting next month, I'll be eager to arrange, proofread, and design this collection! I dream of it being a sweet bedside book wherein one can find encouragement and truth for any life moment.

How to Help: If you're a poet who wants to contribute or offer help beta reading the poems, contact me! Otherwise, I'll have more exciting opportunities for you to join this process once it's further along, and I'm stoked about sharing these heart-words with you!

That's author life right now! I'm so so blessed to be exploring these stories and doing what I love best in making truth-filled books for you to enjoy.

Thank you for all the prayers and help and encouragement, my friend!

So let's chat!

Which book are you most excited for? What are you currently working on? Comment below!

Hold fast to what you learned from me as the pattern of sound teaching, with the faith and love that are found in union with Messiah Jesus. Those precious things that have been entrusted to you guard carefully, by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

- 2 Timothy 1:13-14 

~♥~