What a fantastic weekend in the Lariviere house! I had a great week leading up to the weekend that I was (and have been) looking forward to. I have been a Christian for a couple years now and I knew it was time to be baptized! An exciting step in the life of a Christian. It was exciting and exhilarating and just so awesome to be able to proclaim my life is God’s in front of family, friends and my church family. By the way – for anyone who is local – Caledonia Gateway church is truly amazing!!! The people are fabulous, the minister is young and fresh and so excited to talk about God…and he explains everything so well!! There is a service every Sunday – one at 9:15 and one at 11:15. There is FREE child care for both services so that you can actually enjoy the service and really listen to what is being talked about….and believe me, as someone who used to go to church once a year and sit with grandma’s and listen to opera sounding hymns…I never EVER thought I would go to church voluntarily as an adult. I LOVE IT!!! I love Gateway, I love our pastor, I love the fellowship and the caring and the spirit that moves through our church-please come and join us!! Okay, so here are some pictures from Sunday…the first one – I’m on the stage in the baptism pool with our pastor Steve. I’m giving my testimony of faith – how I was lead to faith.
After I nervously read my testimony, it was time to answer pastor Steve’s questions…then the big moment…
The excitement poured through me and I think it showed on my face.
The question I guess for a lot of people who don’t believe is “how do you KNOW” that God is real? Or “how do you KNOW” that the bible speaks the truth and isn’t just written by someone years ago? A part of it is called “FAITH”. I will tell you a little of my story. I have always believed there was a God. I always prayed when something was wrong or things didn’t go my way (the last time you were in a horrible situation did you say “please God help me”?). So I always believed. I never “knew” about Him, or prayed like I was talking to my father. I just believed there was a God. Through out my last 11 years as a paramedic, I have come across some pretty unbelievable scenes. I have met a lot of people and one of the people who had great influence on me was my (now husband) Will. I would talk to him about “religion” and explain that I believed in God but that’s about as far as my beliefs went. I knew I hated going to church and remember it always being boring. I even had my baby baptized because that was thing to do? I used to go to United Church (and please forgive me if you go there) but my experience in a United church was that everyone sat in pews (I think that’s how you spell it?) lol…and didn’t say a word to each other unless they were over the age of 70 and had been going to that church since childhood. I’m not slamming United, I’m just sharing in what I experienced in the United Church that I attended. The songs were boring, the sermon was boring and rarely ever kept my attention and I always found myself looking at my watch to see when it was over. So one day Will said to try a Baptist church…so I did. My first Baptist church was Binbrook Baptist. I couldn’t believe the difference. I walked in and it was like walking into a high school classroom before the teacher arrived. Everyone was chatting and laughing and smiling and it was just so great!! I loved it! AND get this – they had a BAND that played the music! Not a piano or an organ but a BAND!? I’m thinking “uh – THIS is church?” I really enjoyed it. Then I thought I would go to different churches to experience different ones – so my next stop was Gateway in Caledonia. I LOVED IT!!! Every Sunday that I went – I cried. I didn’t want to, I didn’t mean to…I just cried. I felt so emotional all the time! The sermons spoke to my heart. The amazing band that plays fantastic music at the beginning of every service melted my soul and literally made me weak. Why would this happen? I knew – I KNEW there was something to it. So I began to ask questions. I was told that to become a Christian I just needed to ask Jesus into my heart. Lol..now how funny does that sound when your first of all not a Christian and second of all – perhaps not a believer? So I would always say there has to be more to it. There HAS TO BE MORE TO IT! You mean I just “say” those words and I’m promised Heaven? No way. For me, I knew I had to FEEL it. I had to FEEL that I truly BELIEVED that the Lord sent his one and only son to the world in human form to die on the cross for MY sins. I had to believe it in my heart and KNOW it in my soul. For months, I would go to church, cry during the service and always leave feeling hungry to know more. One night, while my daughter slept, I just prayed and I cried and I prayed and I cried and I just said “God, I want to know you are real. I want to believe that you sent your son to die for me. I want to ask Jesus into my heart and I want to live for you…but how do I KNOW”? and I kid you NOT…I heard my name as clear as having a conversation with a friend…I heard “Tonia” – on my left side behind me…I literally turned around scared out of my mind that someone was in my house…and there was no one. God said my name…and that very moment I became a Christian.
It is an amazing journey. When I’m sad, I lift it up to God. When I am in need – I pray and He delivers EVERY SINGLE TIME! When I swear, which is not often, I find myself feeling shameful and guilty…I know God is real…and it’s amazing the feeling that gives me knowing where my eternity will end up! Want to read a couple great books that may help you understand the Lord a little better? 1 – Heaven is For Real. 2 – 90 minutes in Heaven. I’ll just leave it at that – but I tell you, you won’t regret it! AMAZING!
Okay now that I have told you my life story (lol)…after my baptism we headed home for celebration. My husband ❤ :
My 11-year-old daughter who told me after the service that my testimony made her cry…
(I know – it’s fuzzy – but hey, I didn’t take the picture) lol…
This last picture means a lot to me. When you think of the typical teenager, what do you think of? Lazy? Mouthy? Irresponsible?…well this is Evan. He is my stepson…and he is a great kid! After the service on Sunday – he hugged me like he has never hugged me before…and he said “I love you mom”…which he has also never said before. MELT MY HEART! I’m so happy and so blessed and so thankful for so many people in my life. My in-laws live upstairs, my “son” and daughter live with us…we have jobs, and passions, and a marriage that I ADORE…and it is ALL because of God! All because of HIS divine plan. Here is my boy….who I’m so blessed to have in my life:
One last message….GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!! See you all at church!!! Happy Monday everyone!!!!
