jason the baptizer in the river san marcos

even though i just created a blog and should be super happy and posting 3 times a day, this is only my second post. but you can only write something you think is meaningful every now and then, right? onward! praise God, I was baptized on sunday. it was amazing. yeah its just a half second dunk under murky river water where you almost take your pastor downstream and drown and are never raised to walk...but it isn't. it was the most amazing, spirit-filled event in my life. the coolness of the water; the cleansing; the words; the meaning; the symbolism. It is so joyful. even Jesus was baptized first thing! to feel like you are in the company of Jesus because you are participating in an event that you know He also participated in is sensational. the atmosphere of the experience was so beautiful. the calm river, interrupted by a small rapid, the trees, and the gravel beach was the perfect setting. not to mention 140 people thirsting to witness the public professions of faith of the 10 of us. i mean, i was super excited about that, but imagine the multitudes heavenly hosts singing praise to God and giving glory to Him every time one of us was buried and raised to walk in the Spirit.
JOY. Jesus Occupying You. i think that is a great definition. you can use it if you like. but that is what I felt sunday, and what i have known since i have known the Messiah and he has known me. pure joy and the peace of God. i pray that if you have not experienced the joy of salvation, that He would call out to you, and that you would respond by letting Him take over your life. The bread of heaven has been broken for you, and the cup of salvation is held out to drink. drink up! (thank you charlie hall, and ultimately God, for that beautiful line.)

timely or late

so i decided to start a blog. i first felt like i was starting late. like i could never catch up, and my posts would always be behind. i know that doesn't make sense, but it is the way i felt. and i thought how many, including me, have a way of feeling like God is late. that he does things on His time, that which takes too long for us humans. well that doesn't make sense either. and so i said, 'nope, God is always timely and perfect', and if i am feeling a push to start a blog, then i will consider it timely. i always thought i could use myspace or facebook, perhaps a journal, to write these types of entries, but it never happened. it seems that the simplistic form of a blog, like my xanga way back, is the best way to have a simple online journal. but instead of a made up world, with a fantastical story about mercutio (me) and cordelia (jessica), i'm writing real things. real thoughts, real questions, and real happenings in my life. why do i need a fantasy world when i'm married to my soulmate and best friend in reality?

real life is better than dreams when you live a life in joy. joy in Christ is love. that constant joy, that peace of God that surpasses all understanding, that is how you really live. since when does it feel so great to fall and be broken to pieces? to be destroyed? to be wrecked and to die? when you fall on the rock, when you're rebuilt behind the cross, and when you die to yourself and live for Christ. I think it is pertinent that my first blog be centered on and founded in the Redeemer, the Forgiver, the Great Counselor. it is where i must wait, and on what i must rest. i want to stand behind the cross, write through the cross, and live in humble thankfulness for the cross.

therefore my blog is titled the lion and the light. He is not tame and He is not safe (if you're concerned about the safety of your 'personal life'), but He is good. He is the King. He is the LION. i see Him and i feel Him moving, but most of all through Him i see everything else. He is the Son. He shines, and through me i hope that he points to himself. i hope to be a ray or a beam that sources from and returns to Him. He is bright and He separates all from darkness. He is the LIGHT.