Ecumenical Baptismal Vows

Good morning to my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. This morning as I woke up (@4:30 AM) 😉 a phrase came to my mind, "Reject satan." Which I took as a message from the Father of all and I looked up baptismal vows. I have taken liberty to make some adjustments but I believe 'He' has given me a better more usable and acceptable version that anyone of any faith denomination could use. Why would the body of Christ need a formatted version of baptismal vows? He, Father God, has put it on my heart that it is more imperative than ever for people of all walks and lifestyle to come together and to individually and uniformly make declarations of rejecting the devil and to openly speak that we believe in His only begotten son Jesus Christ and to attest that we acknowledge the body of believers, the Ecclesia. If others will use this that would be great but the real goal is to begin to throw off the shackles of sin and death and the lies of satan and to verbally openly speak into the world that WE BELIEVE IN JESUS! 

Here is the result of my time this morning. Use it or not, but speak into the air where you are standing and say that you reject satan and all his lies. That you believe in Jesus Christ and His holy church and that you acknowledge His body of believers. This last part is so important because we cannot in right mind and spirit remain separated by the lies of satan but rather come together in unity of our belief in Jesus and to reject the lies and shackles of sin. 

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Baptismal Vows

. Do you reject Satan?

R. I do.

V. And all his works?

R. I do.

V. And all his empty promises?

R. I do.

V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, (Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other) creator of heaven and earth?

R. I do.

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you and sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel), was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

R. I do.

V. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church (Ecclesia, “gathering of those summoned”), the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

R. I do.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins (1John 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world). Father, God, through the power and intercession of Holy Spirit, keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever, amen.

How Do Write a Tear Drop

My loving Father how worthy are you for your generous gifts fall like raindrops from the sky. 

I have been reflecting on your presence and your thoughtfulness throughout all generations but to say you have forgotten me, to think you have overlooked this most least of your servants would be to say the sun is not bright or the earth does not host new plants and trees. Oh my Father, how great and awesome is your desire to lavish love and good gifts. 

My Father I say thank you over and over because I cannot write tears of thanks and appreciation. How can I spell the dampness they make on the paper and the ink runs as they soften the paper. My Father, that you have not ignored your child or set me on a shelf of useless relecs but you have positioned me so that you look upon me every free moment and you think to build me more into the likeness of your beautiful son, Jesus. 

By now my paper is damp with tears and I still do not know how to write them but if I could I would present them as gift in honor of your majesty and grace, kindness and mercy. 

Forever my pen will attempt to write the treasures in my heart for you. I love you my good good Father, amen. 

My God is Like a Freight Train

 

My God is Like a Freight Train

I speak as to how I feel about the God who is as tough as steel.

Some say that his heart is larger than all having feelings for the small,

but I have seen other. I look to him as he charges down through history,

shooting steam from his stack as he moves forth across the tracks of

life that seem to resemble lives from the past.

I see him as he leaves the station, setting out into time itself, hoping to

keep his living faith, living in us, alive and well. This powerful, monstrous in size

behemoth- to it there is no stopping. I wish I could stop it... it charges at

ramming speed toward a destination that I cannot see.

Where is he going (I shout) will he only bring to a shambles all

that stand in his way? I wonder if he sees what he is doing.

My God is like a freight train that has no definite destination other than

to win the heart of man. Like a spring day, I come along the path not

expecting to be consumed by his might. Some say that he only goes

where he is invited but I have seen other. He stands in the shadow when

death is near. He lurks in the background when sadness befalls one.

He hides when answers are due and he is silent as I call to him and ask "Why?"

My God is like a freight train as he brushes past my sin and falls me to the ground. I ask how long I should stay down so that he would not crush me, he answers not. I ask if I may come to him in the need of my heart?

He says, "If you can come in humility?" and so I try.

Why do I see him like this you ask. To take a look around you would

yield the answer. Sin was let into this world so that we would know the difference between it and good. Death was allowed so that we would appreciate life. The devil was allowed so that we would run and cling to him who is

the Divine in all the heavens.

He is bold, he has a plan and it is determined to be known. He is

convinced that love is the way and lavishes it upon humankind. My God

is like a freight train and there is no stopping him. His son fell on that dreadful

day as testament to the extent of burning and yearnings of a God who is

like a man gone mad with his lust for love.

Can we not see that there is no other than thee?

Can we not fathom that it be possible to expose your bleeding

heart to the world? What is your power, your energy? What gives you the grit

and raw willingness to raise your hand and protect us from harm when you know

full well that we do not regard the gift you have given?

That is why my God is like a freight train, he runs at full steam and breaks through all barriers that lay across his path. He shall...he must... for our sake's.

Lou Giacona © 2022