the Grabers: Transformed

trans·form

tran(t)sˈfôrm/

verb

past tense: transformed; past participle: transformed

make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of.

"lasers have transformed cardiac surgery"

synonyms: change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmute, mutate;More
- undergo a transformation.
  
  "an automobile that transformed into a boat"
  
  synonyms: change, alter, convert, metamorphose, transfigure, transmute, mutate;

God's plan for us is that we be "transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18

This past weekend, Al and I drove out to Denver. Our baby girl was going to be baptized!! It was a totally unexpected trip but when we got the call that she was ready to do this, we were so excited!!

I enjoy the drive out there.

The old windmill and the new ones.

I was quite surprised that we couldn't see the mountains until we got about 30 miles away.

They are quite hazy and we were told it is from the smoke from the fires in Washington and California. My brother lives only 30 miles as the crow flies from the fires, but he lives west of it and he doesn't see much smoke at all. And here it is almost half-way across the country!

We went to Mindy's and had dinner with Mindy and Bryan.

We stayed up late talking about the work Christ has done and is doing.

Mindy accepted Christ following Awana back in September, 1992. Her friend, Christy had some influence in that. She came home and asked lots of questions and we prayed with her to ask the Lord to be her Saviour.

Allen and I chose not to have our children baptized after our children made the decision to accept Christ. Many families do choose to do that.

I was baptized when I was 12. My brother and I were going to be baptized in the ocean, but the riptide was strong that day and they didn't let us into the ocean. So we did it at the Aburastu Christian Church.

Allen was baptized when he was 16. Their Sunday School class took a catechism class and then the whole class was baptized. I don't have a picture of that class, but here is the youth group. At church they made the youth sing in the choir so their parents could watch them. to make sure they weren't causing trouble!

It wasn't until afterwards that we really, truly understood what it meant to follow Christ and to be committed to Him. To in essence, draw to a line in the sand and say "I am dedicating my life to Him". We wanted our kids to come to that decision and make it real for them.

And Mindy made that decision.

The church she attends has baptism twice a year. This was an outdoor baptism. And it was a beautiful day for it!

It began with worship.

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing, let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior, the Hope of nations.

Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save.
He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave.
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me--all my fears and failures.
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow everything I believe in.
I surrender. (I surrender.)

Yes! He CAN move a mountain!!

There were about 50 people being baptized that morning. Mindy was in group 2.

Hoo-ray!!!

Her daddy and I cried through the whole thing!!

Mindy's good friend, Jeremy came to witness it too.

As we were leaving, the worship team was singing this song that our worship pastor introduced to us. I will always be reminded of this day when we sing it now.

Oh, happy day, happy day

You washed my sin away

Oh, happy day, happy day

I'll never be the same

Forever I am changed