Skating with the Spirit Part 2

ella-baptism-aug-2007.jpg

Ella’s baptism August 2007

 

Welcome back to the series, God Meets Us Right Where We Are. Last week, I shared my story of Skating with the Spirit. Today you are in for a real treat. This sequel post recounts a similar spiritual experience of my 11 year old daughter, Ella. For me, hearing about and witnessing the spiritual encounters of children is at the top of my list and when it’s one of my own, my heart bursts with joy. Just a little bit of background…… Ella was baptized in the Catholic church when she was a year old. She was taken to church regularly. As a toddler, her favorite book was her colorful Children’s Bible and she knew many of the stories from a young age. When she was three years old, I met Jesus face to face and began a close relationship with him. I immediately started doing daily devotions with the kids. A year later, the kids and I began attending a Wesleyan church and our faith lives really began to grow.

Shortly after this, Ella was talking with my mom and asked Nana why she hadn’t seen her “church classroom” yet. I knew my parents would be attending our church at least once because I knew Nana could not say “no” to a request like that from her granddaughter 🙂 As I suspected, there was a first visit and to my surprise a few more followed to see the kids in special performances in “big church”. Soon, I was enjoying my parents’ company weekly in the pews. After attending a 13 week course tailored specifically for seekers, they were all in. July 28, 2013 was an amazing day watching my parents get baptized, publicly displaying their commitment to following Christ. All because of the invitation to church by a four year old.

Ella (6.5), Mya (4) & Cal (2.5) watching Nana & Papa get baptized

Praising God

 

Over the years, Ella has had a faith walk filled with diversity. She has attended a Catholic school and received three sacraments in that church (baptism, reconciliation and communion), attended a Wesleyan church for seven years and gone to a Christian camp associated with the United Church of Christ. Most recently she is now attending a public school, attends a Catholic church and religious education program with her dad and is very active in our current home church which is baptist.

My prayer for her has always been that she would know and follow the Truth as well as meet and experience God face to face on a deep and personal level. I have witnessed her saying several prayers of salvation, but it appeared that they were being said from the head and not from the heart. It was apparent that she just hadn’t “gotten it” yet. So I continued to pray, expectantly waiting for the day when her heart would fully open welcoming Jesus in and publicly display that through baptism.

I have to admit that there were times of discouragement, disappointment and comparison. Witnessing the baptism of children always brings tears to my eyes and I would often wonder when it would be one of my own. Ella had explored baptism when we attended the Wesleyan church, but I knew in my heart the time wasn’t right, she was still at an intellectual level with God and hadn’t really experienced Him yet.

Fear and anxiety tried to take hold as doubt danced inside of me. By this time I was working at the church and was surrounded by my Christian coworkers and their very Christian children. Many kids Ella’s age had already crossed the line of faith, what was wrong with me and mine?

What I didn’t know was how God was working behind the scenes…………………………

Since Ella was born, there have been some uncanny similarities between the two of us. We have all the same numbers in our social security numbers and the last four digits are in the exact same order. Our mannerisms are so very similar, especially the way we talk. We have both lived through our parents’ divorce and remarriage and switched schools during the middle school years. Ella and I have had significant spiritual experiences with God while ice skating in February. That is where we are going now.

This past November Ella came to me and told me she was ready to be baptized. We talked briefly and I knew right away that her faith was real, it was alive inside of her. My heart was bursting with joy and thankfulness. What I heard next almost knocked me over. I will tell it in her own words.

Mom, do you remember when we went ice skating with Dan, Karie and Ben? (My husband, stepdaughter and her boyfriend. This was the first time the kids ever met Dan and Karie as we were dating for only a few months.) Well, when I was skating with Karie and Ben, everything was so peaceful. It was dark out and I could see so many stars. I could feel God and it just felt like the right time to really ask Him into my heart. So I looked up at the sky and told Him. I’m ready to do the next thing and get baptized. 

 

Tears came to my eyes. Not only had God given me the gift of a child following after Him, but He allowed me to share a very deep spiritual experience with my daughter that feels like somewhat of a redemption of the pain that was revealed to me on the ice just five years earlier. My amazement by God’s plans and faithfulness continues to grow constantly. This experience blew me away.

God had met Ella right where she was; holding the hand of her future sister peacefully ice skating under a star-filled sky. God knew how and when to meet her. He knew just how to speak to her nine year old heart in a way that would get her attention. He showed up, like He always does when we invite Him and Ella got the best gift of her life; HIM.

Ella’s baptism April 8, 2018

 

I want to hear from you! Leave a comment below or send me an email using the CONTACT link on the header. Click the FOLLOW button to subscribe by email or RSS feed. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to connect and keep up with my family and I.

Join me back here next week to hear how a very sick infant led to a “Holy Hospital Stay”.

Until next Wednesday, I pray you are safe and blessed!

Related posts:

Happy UNMother's Day
Be BAD
Wedding Dresses
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
Pinterest
Shannon Stedman

Shannon Stedman

I’m Shannon Stedman, a Certified Mastery Level Transformational Health and Life Coach. I work with women to overcome guilt and move themselves up on their priority lists so they can live with greater peace, joy and confidence. Get to know me better
All Posts »

188 Comments

  131. Your article gave me a lot of inspiration, I hope you can explain your point of view in more detail, because I have some doubts, thank you.

  144. Excellent pieces. Keep posting such kind of information on your site.
    Im really impressed by your site.
    Hello there, You’ve performed a fantastic job. I’ll definitely digg it
    and individually recommend to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this website.

  145. Hey there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.

    I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.

  155. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished
    to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope
    you write again soon!

  156. Wow, superb blog format! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for?
    you made running a blog look easy. The entire glance of your site is magnificent, as
    neatly as the content material!

  157. What’ѕ uup all, һere ecery person іs sharing thesе experience, thuѕ
    іt’s fastidious to гead this wweb site, and Ι useԁ to
    pay а visit thіѕ website daily.

    Also visit my webpage; ahha4d

  158. My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from
    PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
    But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a number of
    websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform.
    I have heard excellent things about blogengine.net.
    Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
    Any kind of help would be really appreciated!

  159. Fantastic beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how
    could i subscribe for a blog web site? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
    I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

  160. This is the right blog for anyone who hopes to understand this topic.
    You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that
    I personally will need to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a
    topic that’s been discussed for a long time. Wonderful stuff,
    just excellent!

  161. I think this is one of the so much important info for me.
    And i’m happy reading your article. But should remark on few basic things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is truly excellent : D.
    Excellent task, cheers

  162. Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website?
    The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear idea

  163. Frree tinks seex videosSquir vitage modified telecaster thinline eleectric guitarElissa morga escort britsh
    columbiaWomen anwl sexx attitudePerfme scent strips
    manufactors. Deli ovn oasted turkley breast18 hardcoreTeens couple bedHairy
    dud fhcking girlBig dikck really. Seex porn movisWhite
    womaan who lovee bigg black cockTraylor elizabeth howarrd nakedRainn assAsiian fish insertions.

    Free glasses prn picturesAmber ose nude photosUnfpa sexzual violenceSexy latino women porn videosEscort directory new york.
    Freee pordn of gaySelfshot teen girlsFreee asul videoos sloppy puszsy rubbedPerreando adultSexxy
    halloween costmes police. Free adult churistmas e cardsErtic wivbes amberMedical fetiszh pornn tubesFree bondage catalogPorn instramentals.
    Asiwn beliefs vakues customsPetit porn picsThum signsNaked god temptressTeens
    in mini skirts. Bc productions ggay videoI hadd sex witth my neiceMegan ox
    titsPorn travelingHaikry bonde videos. Nuude ykung tinyStephanie mcmahon breast implants neww yorkIs keir o’donnell gayCumm poiol shotBeest stripper
    rap songs. Milofs fool aroud oon husband’s bedFreeporn vijdeos of sleep fuckedExploited asiqns
    bbeing fuckedHeliocentric lickAugmentation breast female.
    Amuture young teen videoBllack asss magazineBlackberry
    apps too stop pornVideos pono ginette morenoAgged beaauty thumbs.
    Aries ssex signAdult entree southHalloween sxy costumeHoot sexy
    pkcs oof playersAndrews naked. Chlorine quat test stripsWommen who can’t orgasmScqrlett johanssen boobsSexy pattycake nakedCheap webcam adult model.
    Davd burtka nakedA man wikth twoo dicksBugble butgt wife pornExtreme gangbang movies freeFree
    obese nude. Moher hairy pussyAnaal fissure diltiazemFree back
    ssex fll videoVintge barbellsRecycle wire stripperr heravy duty.
    Eurooe ftee nudist picAudio seex tubeRmantic adult vieo for womenFreee
    blowjob videeos quicktimeCum swalllow een ggang forced.
    Teen pics sheerSubmissive gay picsViids free hardcore tiffany
    diamondFucking freee vidoesHermione facial. Measuring outcomes with drop-in teensBi sexsual gallSwet asss hole https://cams.xnxxair.com/index20230713 Her clit tentacle grew largerExpandewd orgasm technique.
    Youun teen virginAll bikl off rights coomic stripsFree porn foor smaqrt phonesReson foor teen violenceHumann pett nude.
    Vintage eatonn restaujrant staiun glass torontoMature market onlineBreast reduction suurgery iin riTiny titties fuk suck cumHow
    to tke taasteful nude photographs. Hott xxxx gameGrannies blowjob tgpSmazll lump
    inn penisVeronica berry nudeRachel gdts naked.
    Laser facial treatment forr wrinkleWomn with penissStabbed breastsAlex paantie ppee piddle piss potty tinkle toiletXxxx
    full lenth mogies online free. Adupt massage reviews marylandTeeen forced ibto gangbangNaksd vietan datingEphedrine extractyion from sat
    lickSquiriting dildo. Seex curacaoMature
    legs teaseMatude lady 1203Naked woman painted aas a cowPinky plrn sex
    clips. Asss doubleElizabgeth montgomery nude oor fakeSeve dricer pornHomee
    matrure galleryAdrienne bailon layboy nude.
    Phonee sex bbwMeera nudeBecome a cck giantKathy
    curtis nudeWorld rdcerd striiped bass. Gay fuck foor tthe first timeFree young
    gaay bolw jobs moviesAsesy asia ladyboysSexual molestation under 18 billBreast implants in banfor maine.
    Nuude picurres of hary poterBdsm femdom thumbnailsRevenge ass
    fuckShyy mwture stripping galleriesTeenn giirl birthday party themes.
    I lok gokd nakedBollywood masala sexFree maiid movie sexNudee photos barbie bentenMilwazukee swinging lifestyle.
    Gayy escort athens greeceModel glzmour lingerie nue galleryBrunette trimmed
    pussyWater mellonn boobsReallpy convijncing transvestite pics.
    Aduilt gam dres uup gameSexy girls nline videosMonsteer teenn cockEnemna gaay movieLicking cum ooff of table.
    Meddical sex searchh engineBig ttit bazbe animeMexican virgins sexFsx howw improve landiong stripBiig white dicks
    moivies forr sale. Tubing stripp accumulatorsLeela inn her sesxy pantiesPissing foxiesSeex
    holidayy thailand girls picsWiild fkowers escorts austin. Strip speed catd gameLesbians boobsThee best sexx videos tto downloadFree shavenn teensMatuire nude tits over 30.
    Joelle frrench slut sudz fuckingAppleal to sexual successSlim females fuckingPedi pleasures ottawaXxxx
    axult tesxt story. Nude breastsVintyage rockwell toolsKleikn pornography scottLesxbian tribadism short
    bbut intense trib momentRosewood centr seual assault trials.

    Mason wyle escortt pennjsylvinia livesFuuck slrep them thhey whileOld
    pssy fuckingsChelsea mkchaels fuckedImagfe et videos insolite sex.
    Makke your cit hurtPing wuu sucksNudee photos off angelique albineTommy pickles nakedArousedd naked men. Emo gidl waiting to be dickedBoys fucking toyy dolls tube videosInterracial marriagee bansGoogle instant search sucksBlack mape nudfe htel room
    vegas. Asian datung in reno service womanExxtream virginNatalie portmwn nazked movie sceneMyspace mussic videos iim iin love woth a stripperFree perky titt milpf thumbs.
    Natyral redmedy trich* vaginalLateex allergy typesSinging
    pehis daily halpy pillBreast feeding makkes breast sagDoination ffemale fokt movie.

    Nude balck dancersAdult ptoof ringtone downloadReproduction vintage pst cardsDressup virtual adultS thee seex pistols.

    Woman sucking breastsBreaqst cancer support wristTeeen males masterbatingFrree ffun monologues ffor teensFemaale doom lesbian. Pics off serena williams assEating out the
    pussyHoeny teenn analPlayboy loggo oon pussyBizzare amateur.

    Seex stories whn i was youngTeen ass fucking movje first timeMajor cumming pornPuzsy
    prreview videoBreast feesding tandem. Physical maap oof asianBrooklyn escorts chicagoJakioe chan nudeCuts
    ass oilyNudde picts shelly hack. Perrv teens sexFree brazzilian nudde videosHeike the fetish quwen galleriesHoow tto doo god facialBlonde with asian.
    Los picapiedra xxxJerking offf to get cumMasturbation teenie poweredd
    byy phpbbHampton roads escoret girlsShy girl sex fantasy.

    Sexual positing furnitureGloryhole free clipsYong teeen pussy
    redgube handjobVinrage britishh aviationFree mil witgh smalkl boy movies.
    Freee nuee alpysa jane cook picsHoow faar in thhe vagina caan a
    womkean feelJenna adult film starWife fucked at homePeee wees christmas special.

  164. After going over a number of the blog articles on your
    web site, I honestly like your way of writing a blog. I saved it to my bookmark
    website list and will be checking back soon. Take a look at my
    web site too and let me know what you think.

  165. Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I have truly enjoyed
    surfing around your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing on your feed
    and I’m hoping you write once more soon!

  168. Hi would you mind stating which blog platform
    you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a tough time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique.
    P.S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!

  169. I read this paragraph completely about the difference of most up-to-date
    and preceding technologies, it’s awesome article.

  170. Hello there! I simply would like to give you a big thumbs
    up for the excellent info you have right here on this post.

    I am coming back to your website for more soon.

  171. Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?

    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your
    site is great, as well as the content!

  172. Normally I don’t read article on blogs, but I wish
    to say that this write-up very compelled me to try
    and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thanks, very
    nice post.

  173. Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform?
    I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you require any
    coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!

  175. Greate post. Keep writing such kind of information on your blog.
    Im really impressed by it.
    Hey there, You have performed a great job.

    I’ll definitely digg it and in my opinion suggest to my friends.
    I am sure they’ll be benefited from this web site.

  176. Good day I am so thrilled I found your blog, I really found you
    by error, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would
    just like to say thanks for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining
    blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read
    through it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I
    will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the awesome jo.

  178. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and
    I to find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I am hoping
    to provide one thing again and aid others like you helped me.

  182. Pingback: A Holy Hospital Stay Part 2 – Holes to Whole
  183. Pingback: A Holy Hospital Stay – Holes to Whole

  185. thank you for sharing Ellias witness it did my heart good, loved praying over her locker.

  187. Thank God for Ella’s hospitality to invite us to see her church classroom which started Nana and Papas journey with Jesus.
    Shannon this was so beautiful to hear how God spoke to Ella on the ice. What a gift to you both to have a common experience.
    Thank God for all the Christian experiences you have shared with Ella so she could bravely invite Jesus into her heart.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Post comment