I've been baptized! (:

It's just so surreal to know that I've been baptized! Baptism - this has been lingering in my mind for perhaps 3 years now, and I've always been asking God for the right time. Finally, this Easter, with much prayer, dear and i decided that i'm ready for baptism and i went ahead with it. I'm filled with so much joy that I don't really know what to blog but just want to blog because it's such a special day for me and I want to remember the moment.

I've been looking forward to this Easter for a while, and still am very excited for the upcoming journey. I'm fully aware that a Christian's journey is definitely more than just baptism itself - it's a long long road ahead, and it'll definitely not be smooth-sailing. But I'm just swelling with joy as I know God is with me and I just feel so happy to be with God's family. The baptism process itself was really really fast, it was done before I know it! The water wasn't as cold as I expected, but it was definitely quite an experience to be immersed and pulled up with water filling my ears (haha!). When I came out of the water, I know I've been born again - just as Christ was resurrected. Hallelujah! Being baptized in Bethesda Frankel Estate Church was also a great joy to me as I'm finally a member! Since the day dear first brought me into BFEC, I already felt so welcomed with love. It felt like home. And I feel that's the way a church should be - a home for a family of believers.

What made my baptism so special is really, to have so many loved ones taking the effort and time to come and witness my baptism. The love that I've received today was really immeasurable and overflowing. Though I received A LOT of gifts (I really wasn't expecting to receive any presents! in fact, I didnt know it was "normal" to be receiving presents on baptism...cos it did feel like my birthday! haha! and i think i received a lot more presents than I would usually receive on my birthday lol), it really wasn't about the gifts. Sure, I'm extremely thankful for every single present I received, but it's really about the joy and love that they showered upon me. Seeing so many people whom I love showing their joy for me, in their own way, warms my heart a great deal. And I feel REALLY REALLY REALLY blessed to know each and everyone of them in my life.

I truly thank God for my earthly dad, who really took the effort to come for my baptism as he hasn't been feeling physically well for the past few days. He's suffering from some digestion problem lately, and needs to use the toilet frequently. Despite the inconvenience, he really wanted to come and witness my baptism for he knows it's a very special day for me. I really thank God so much for keeping my dad in good shape throughout the service. And the rest of my family too! My mum, to my surprise, did not question my decision about baptism. Instead, she supported me and not only came for my baptism, but also encouraged my auntie to come! Praise the Lord! I also thank God that my brother and his gf (who are not christians) came to witness too. My cousin, who just gave his heart to the Lord recently, came too with no hesitation. Thank God for my biological family and for dear's family too for giving me so much support and love.

And to my dear friends too (in no particular order) - my cell group, Uncle chung chi & Auntie Pooh Lii, Uncle Fritz and Auntie May (who sent their regards by sms from switzerland), Josephine, Jessica, Melissa, Yuting, Sandra, Andreas, Rahel, Guo Yi, Erlin, Jocelyn, Reynard etc etc. Thank you so much for showing me your support and being so happy for me in your own way. I don't know what else to say other than "Thank you!" with utmost sincerity.

To my better half, I'm so so happy that we're now members of the same church! And we will be officially serving in the same ministry together! I can't wait for this new journey ahead with you! (: Thank you for the lovely bible that you gave me...it's so sleek, and irresistable haha. We will have so much time to grow in the Word together! You've been ultra supportive to me, and I really appreciate every single thing of you! Though we each have our own iniquities, i'm just so glad to have God in our hearts - a common faith which we will hold on dearly to for eternity.

My baptism verse, specially chosen by me, dear and his parents, is really appropriate for a person with so much fear as me:

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB95)

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

God, I want to walk my life with You in my hands. Take me, and use me.