the BOY becomes a MAN today.....

This young boy is 18 today!! 

I can't even begin to think --where has the time gone?  

For the past 10 years - our lives have been dominated by soccer! 

And it has paid off - Scholarship to FAU to play Division I Soccer...Amen!  

And yet - he is still just my little boy.....

As I said - where has the time gone?  I know where it has gone...I can see it in the wrinkles around my face.  He was to be my 'easy delivery' - I was heading to the hospital and going to have 4 days of BLISS as he would be a C-section and I would get REST!!!   We had his name ready - Hunter Edwin Lowell Pritchard....after two paternal grandfathers that helped shape our lives. 

 The initials...H.E. L.P...well, that should of clued me in. 

 Anyway, after one attempt of him coming, I was sent home to WAIT another week.  On June 6th, 1995,  he did come - into this world - BLUE....but here. 

 His birth weight went from 8.6 pounds to 5.9 when we brought him home and the NICU nurses named him a 'whimpy white boy'....needless to say, he caused a good scare - but, God healed him and his lungs began to work as they should. 

 I never got those 4 days of rest....I don't think I rested until I went back to work  that August as I held him every day!  By then I had spoiled him and his sitter had to deal with a child that wanted to be held all the time.  Bless her heart -- Miss Joanne, his first sitter....We always laugh as he set her into retirement....Not really, but baby sitter #2 was Miss Nola - his 2nd mom and God knew. 

He was in great hands.  

Anyway, today he graduates from Okeechobee High School  and he turns 18 all in one shot.  

It seems again, very unreal...the photo of him in red is when he graduated from Kindergarten.  Rachel was his teacher - so very blessed to have Rachel and Todd both at the Graduation this eve as Darby will graduate with Hunter and the other 20+ TEACHER kids that were born that year....Vanessa, Katie, Dayla, Jacob,  Brooke,   ( and those were just the CES kids!)  .....and more.....  Rachel and Todd were some of HP's first visitors in the hospital!  

Anyway - I could write and write.  

I remember her telling me the kids would be the 'Class of 2013' at the time and it seemed so far away.

Again -- where has the time gone?  

This boy has become a man today in the eyes of the law. Taylor reminded him he could 'only buy cigarettes and go to war'.   It was sort of funny hearing that come from her.  Last night he was finally opening the package of the Cap and Gown to let it 'steam' out  and he was seeking her help to accomplish that.  He did not attend the Baccalaureate last night, ( so this was the first time he had actually hung up his Gown )  as he had mandatory practice in Boca that he had to go to - soccer first....but I was fully assured that HP has been prayed over LOTS lately!  

This boy was my 'cuddler' as a child and still will snuggle up to me here and there.

This boy was my  goofy kid, that kept us on our knees many times.

This boy was the one that endured countless trips south and stuck to  a goal of playing soccer well.

This boy was my fourth grader and I cherish that time.

This boy got in LOTS of trouble with Ben and Diego....

This boy made Mrs. Steiert smile often.

This boy was voted "most talented".

This boy has endured without a car...a job...and has been at the mercy of his parents for any spending money for years - cause Soccer sort of limits his time and he has never really complained once.  ( Well maybe once.) 

This boy was my HELP or HP or 'hunterman' as we called him.

This boy would crack us up all the time.

This boy would determine 'which' restaurant we ever stopped at - depending upon his attention span.

This boy would make up these words and use them over and over and begin a 'trend' with his friends..and for the life of me I can't think of one of those STUPID words as I write but I wrote them down in his baby book.

Speaking of baby book - this boy is the 2nd child...he only has a box of 'notes' for a baby book. 

This boy does not even have a pair of dress pants so his grandmother will take him today to accomplish that - why does it seem that the 2nd child gets forgotten at times?  

This boy has been nicknamed by his sister as the 'golden boy'....  She will claim we love him more - and she is so funny .....so funny!  

She teases but I know this boy is her favorite!  

This boy was my 'man' for a short time  as I would watch him check doors, lock doors and I knew he felt the pressure of being the 'man of the house' for a time but praise God he could watch another man fall in love with God and change.   God I am so blessed.  

This boy has changed in the past two years. 

I sit here amazed at what I want to share but time is escaping me.  

This boy loves Jesus and we know and believe - in his heart and head - he wants God's best for him.

This boy is smart....3.86...or maybe 3.88?  (Unsure - but he is a scholar athlete! ) 

This boy kept that GPA up - with all that travel and soccer - many nights doing homework at 11pm!  

This boy has a super bunch of friends that we have enjoyed for the past 2 years as we have lived in town and fed many a LATE night helping of brownies!  

This boy is sweet - and so sensitive, and funny!  

This boy has 'voices' that he uses to make you laugh....I should not add this, but we were clued in when he could quote and sound like 'mike meyers' of those famed British movies...and we'd laugh and then remind him -- THAT was not very appropriate - better not share that with others.   Talent...

This boy is deeply loved.

This boy is blessed. 

This boy is ours...Brendan's and Michelle's.....

This boy has brought MUCH joy and today this boy becomes a man - legally.  

18  

18 years old today - Happy Birthday Hunter Pritchard 

I love you - 'ma'

Lord,  this prayer is for my family and me.  I have not stopped thanking God for 

Brendan , Hunter and Taylor and me    . . . I pray for them  constantly, 17 asking  you God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give Hunter   spiritual wisdom[f] and insight so that he  might grow in the  knowledge of  YOU, God. 18 I pray that his  heart will be flooded with light so that he can understand the confident hope YOU have given to those you  call—MY  holy people who are rich and in  glorious inheritance.[g] 19 I also pray that Hunter will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with him.  Lord, Hunter is a  part of that body, may he understand that he is loved.  Amen. 

When all HOPE seems LOST.....

A message of hope.....for when you feel - YOU JUST can't anymore...... I have it 'pasted' in my bible, and dated as to when it was passed to me.  It was a direct message from God to me through another and I believe another needs to read and believe and soak it in....Amen!

 it was written by David Wilkerson .  It was his final message before his death in April of 2011.

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable.  Jesus said to Thomas, "you have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen".  John 20.29 

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer -- who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.   

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness - the end of hope - the end of all means.   A loved one is facing death and doctors give o hope .  Death seems inevitable.  Hope is gone.  The miracle prayed for is not happening.   

That is when Satan's hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions:  "where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises.  You trusted."
Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind:  "Prayer failed, faith failed, don't quit on god-- just do not trust Him anymore. It does not pay!"  

Even questioning God's existence will be injected into your mind.  These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.   

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word:  Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights - and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, "I am with you. I Cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. 

 It was no accident. 

It was no failure on your part. 

 Hold fast. 

Let me embrace you in your hour of pain."  

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail -- his love prevails.  Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word.  There is no other hope in this world.  

- David Wilkerson

Day #39 and Day #40...GOD is so gracious.....

Ok, I am very tired and have written this blog post in my head maybe 4x.  EAch time I change it a bit...but as I came to the 'end' of my 40 days of prayer I wanted to make sure that I said --HIS words --and not mine.

I started this 40 days of prayer because I believe the Lord gave me a 'job'....I was praying for six women in particular but HE brought several more into my circle of prayer time and HE also orchestrated much in our lives.  ....all in 40 days....

Yep.

I have heard people ask my Pastor, 'how do you hear from God?'  and I know the answer -- you will hear from HIM WHEN you seek HIM.

I so know this to be true as I remember being in counsel with a wonderful lady and as she counseled me I would email her in the am and then read scripture and ask her ...'is this what God is saying?'  And she would try to explain to me the 'how' and I was so confused, but the  HOW...really ONLY comes when you really SEEK HIM and read HIS word and meditate on the word and then do this over and over, and with prayer and careful listening...all of a sudden..you HEAR from GOD!  

Sometimes I hear from God through a song.
Sometimes I hear from God in prayer.
Sometimes it is an impression and then it is confirmed by another, or HIS word.
Sometimes HIS word for me just LEAPS off the page.
Sometimes it is via another - lately HE has been speaking to me through my husband!

It is the most remarkable feeling.  I usually explain it as, "I just know HE is saying, 'atta girl'!"    And I know, as it is impressed upon me -- with clarity - that HE wants me to do this, or HE wants me to think on this.....or HE wants me to know......

Anyway, as I said, I started this season of 40 days of prayer and it ended today. Today is Day 40. In the past 40 days, I have seen one of those women make a remarkable discovery and take a leap of faith.  I have seen another be 'hit' with an earthquake and she is shaking off the dust and grime but she will rise above the earthquake......!!  I have shared my  opinions to another and maybe I have severed that relationship.  I have given another some advice that was taken and to another it was not received well. I have experienced great peace and yet also great anxiety.   I have watched another dig deep and even another  be hurt even more.  I have hugged one that experienced GREAT loss, and I have prayed with another that is just ready to QUIT.  And there is more...so much more.

And then there is me....I am still this NEEDY woman at times, as my healing can jump on a roller coaster when something 'shakes' it up again.    And something did, as God so clearly reminded me today ...

That I must trust HIM in every situation.  I must NOT try and manipulate things --even when I believe they are for the betterment of something, and I am deeply loved and that HE won't forget about the healing that I still need.

HE is so gracious.....   State Cup was a 'goal' that Hunter has had for 4 years.  He has a National Title with the Super Y League.  He accomplished that as a freshman - 4 years ago.  3 years ago, he went to Southern Regionals as a team that qualified because they were considered #2 in the state.  They played their hearts out but lost in the quarterfinals.  I know - we were there.  It was a HOT Louisiana June and it was just a 'yucky' time in our family.  We laughed today, as Taylor, Hunter and I were reminded that the three of us shared ONE King sized bed there and I had to leave the hotel each day for 4 hours as I did the laundry or some of the team uniforms each day at the rinky dink Laundromat in a very shady side of the town.

  Anyway... the past two years have been frustrating as the boys would always get close but they never captured that STATE CUP title - today they did.  Today, the boys played their hearts out!   But I will tell you something, I knew in my heart that they were going to win - as God impressed upon me that HE was going to give me a gift - another delight.  HE wants complete healing for my family and as we will travel to Oklahoma in June...we will be going to compete in the Southern REgionals as a restored family and we will make many NEW and beautiful memories to go on top of the yucky ones.  This my beloved is HOW much I love you ....God is so gracious and I am so humbled....again, I am floored at WHAT HE does for little old me and my family.......

But I am reminded of the verse:

Jeremiah 7:23

New International Version (NIV)

²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you

....that it may go well with you ............I trust God.  HE is in control and when we obey HIM, HE is our God and I am HIS people.....and as the verse says - that it may go well with you - it is well with me....

It is going to be well with her...

My boy and the trophy!

It is going to be well with her...

It is going to be well with that one...
It is going to be well with that one....

It is going to be well with her and her husband...
It is going to be well with that precious one...

It is going to be well...for ANY of HIS people that obey HIM.

Lord, thank you for the 40 days of prayer for my sisters in Christ.  But mostly Lord, thank you for the 40 days which changed me again.....I heard you LOUD and clear today - I will remind myself that trusting YOU is what is intended for me.

This is challenging stuff...but I am up for the challenge - I Love you Lord, and I am humbled.
Thank you for giving me a 'redo' of Southern Regionals....this time, God wins!  
me

Day #36, #37 and today is Day #38....And God speaks.....

Today was a HARD day.  It just was.  It has been a LONG week for that matter--  our home, which we rent,  was sold today.
  ...............Got the news.  .............I cried.   "really?"................

We have been praying for the dear people that own this home,  that God would bring a buyer in HIS time for them.

HE did.

 The family that is buying it will love it as much as we do.

  This home,  which we have been renting now for 14 months,  has been my FAVORITE place....I wanted to buy it,  we wanted to buy it, but.....this is where the God speaking comes.....

God told me ( impressed upon me ) well over a year ago that, 'he would rebuild the home'.  He meaning - my husband.  When I got that from God, I really thought we would be building a home.  We even had plans drawn up and  made.  That did not pan out.  Then we rented a home.  I painted several rooms and we made it ours and spent our first Christmas with my parents in that home..... but God moved us  again to our present home....the one we will have to say good bye too!  

But, like I said ...God spoke.

However,  tonight my husband and I went to our property and asked God....what next?  But we both know that HE will provide another home to rent for the short term and now we are really ready to build a home.....as spiritually and emotionally  we are ready!   But....God still has to open some doors and so forth but knowing that  God will provide....and LIVING in that knowledge is the 'hard' part.

To be truthful, I would rather just curl up in my bed....and hid for 2 months...

I don't want to pack.
I don't want to find boxes for the 3rd time.....
I don't want to even think about finding newspapers to pack breakables....
But that is my flesh.

Sometimes it is just easier focusing on the problem  and being 'depressed'.

In a few days, I know God will clear my head and remind me ...HE has it!
In a few days, I pray HE will direct us as to 'where' we will be.

School will be over soon and our minds will be free to seek the next spot to move to -


We thank God for the past 14 months...by the time we leave, we will have lived here almost 16 months and we spent 5 months in our other rental...total that is almost 2 years.....

What God has done in the past 2 years is just amazing.
There has been so much healing...so many new memories...and just so much FUN in this home.

It will be a treasured memory for the rest of our lives!  
Thank you Lord!

Then I found this posted scripture via Beth Moore on Facebook.

Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you (Jeremiah 7:23).

Again, 

What God has done in the past 2 years is just amazing.  

There has been so much healing...so many new memories...and just so much FUN in this home.  

It will be a treasured memory for the rest of our lives!   

Thank you Lord!  

Obeying HIS voice is what we are to do.  And HE is our God  and we are HIS people.  

If we never would of 'had to' move from our first home, and had this journey in the past 2-3 years..we would not  be 'where' we are.   

Where we are spiritually...

Where we are emotionally...

Where we are in our lives....

etc.  etc......

We have walked in the ways HE has set before us. 

We continue to seek and ask to walk in HIS ways, which HE has commanded ....

...THAT it may be well with you.....

There it is...THAT is may be well with you....

THAT it may be well with you.....

THAT it may be well with you.....

OH LORD, wash me of my insecurity, wash me of my flesh that is just a little frustrated...and let me see as soon as it is YOUR time what is next....Lord, I will trust you in  THIS situation as well and I know and believe that YOU will bless and the NEXT spot you have for us will be EVEN better.  

Lord, my flesh just does not WANT to wait that long...but I will...as I know what you DO.  YOU do bless us beyond measure.....YOU fight for me...YOU fight for us, and YOU will provide.  

Lord, that it may be WELL.....

Lord, there are several other ladies that have had a BAD week as well....that it may be WELL with them....

Lord, guide them, help them FACE the HARD stuff and overcome their flesh....Give them a supernatural awareness of WHAT you want them to do -- they need a DIRECT word from you.  

You do that Lord - cause that is how awesome you are.  

Bless them this evening which that guidance and direction......even when it may be HARD!  

Amen.  

Day # 35 I too am a recovering Pharisee ...

I had to post this and give credit to the author..... I too am a recovering Pharisee.... Elisabeth Klein Corcoran

---

Hi, I’m Beth and I’m a Recovering Pharisee Posted: 15 May 2013 12:00 AM PDT So this past weekend I got to be on the inside of what goes into a service at my new church.  (I really need to stop calling it that…it’s been six months…it’s not my new church…it’s my church.)  Anyway, so I had been invited to share on creativity and pain with two other members of The Orchard tribe and we were sitting in our pastor’s office before the first service started.  We were hashing out who was going to say what and when and we were talking about how our pain had decreased our judgment and increased our compassion. I told them how I used to judge people who got divorced.  I told them how I used to size somebody up before getting together with them so I could decide how much grace I would show them.  (I don’t think I did this consciously; I think I did this because I hadn’t experienced the grace of God to the depths that I have now, so I only had so much of my own to hand out to others.)  And I told them how someone recently told me that her husband used to refer to me as a Pharisee when I was on staff. Back then, I would have taken that as the highest of compliments.  You better believe I’m a Pharisee and you better follow the rules I’m laying out as I try to get all of you errant supposed grown-ups to lead your small groups well so people feel connected, darnit!  Yes, I was a peach to work with. So, let me say, to every single volunteer who served with me or who I led during my time at Blackberry Creek Community Church and then Christ Community Church – Blackberry Campus, I am so very sorry.  I am so sorry that I was mean.  I am so sorry that I was short-sighted.  I am so sorry that I put my rules over knowing you as a person.  I am so sorry that alot of times you were just a name on a post-it that I had to cross off so I could move on to the next ministry conversation after church on Sundays.  I am so sorry when I used you as a pawn to get all the ministry done that I so desperately wanted to get done “for Jesus”.  I was a leader living in an introvert’s body and my social skills were lacking (still are at times, I’m afraid). And my personal life was a mess but I was both trying to act like it wasn’t and keep it all together at the same time; but those are no excuses.  I wish I could say my heart was always in the right place.  It was a lot of the times but some of the time I just wanted to get my version of God’s Kingdom built the way I wanted it to be built and I hurt so many people with my rough edges and short words and endless emails telling you what to do.  I am so sorry.  I was a Pharisee. But I’d like to believe that I’m not that way anymore.  To which my pastor replied, “Thank God!”  (In fact, come to think of it, if I were still that way, odds are I wouldn’t have been invited into that conversation.) Because now I see what I didn’t see back then.  That somehow every single thing that God wants to get done will get done.  That I can trust that the Spirit is big enough for all of this. That people are more important than programs.  That your heart matters.  That your pain is something I can learn from.  That the sentence “so, tell me your story” is about the kindest thing anyone can say to another human being, especially if they’re not checking their watch.  That I came this close to my entire life tanking but Jesus stepped in and said, “I don’t think so,” and reached down and turned everything around, and then reminded me that it didn’t matter really if I messed everything up because he wasn’t going anywhere and he was going to get me through it and he would never stop loving me.  And oh yeah, now that I had experienced all that, it might be a good idea to reach out to others who are hurting and show them the compassion that he had just shown me. I’m getting there.  But to prove that it’s a process, that I am in fact still recovering from my pharisaical ways: so we were sitting in my pastor’s office and I hear music, and I look down at the watch on the hand of the gal sitting on the couch with me and I think I see that it’s 5.  The service starts at 5.  My heart begins to race.  I’m trying to stay engaged and listen and keep eye contact but in my head I’m screaming, “The service has started! WE NEED TO GO!”  Just then, his assistant peeks her head in and says, casually, as if she’s done this a thousand times (because she probably has), “Service started.”  My pastor stands up which brings me unending relief, until he reaches in his pocket, pulls out his keys and tosses them to her, saying, “My shirt’s in my car…can you go get it for me?”  Church had started AND HE WASN’T EVEN DRESSED FOR CHURCH YET!  I’m dying, but we all stand to pray and we make it into the auditorium just in the nick of time.  And by just in the nick of time I mean with about twenty minutes to spare.  Okay, so I’m not a fully-recovered Pharisee.  But I’m getting there.  I’ll get there.

Day # 34....MISC prayers...

Miscellaneous prayers?  Really?   Is that an oxymoron?   How can any prayer be a miscellaneous request?    

Well....there are MANY different tidbits of prayers being offered up today.....

One right now for healing for a man and his family........he has had a miracle and yet, still needs more help in getting completely well.  

One needs some really BIG advice right now.....she wants to hear from God so intently. 

One has made a major life move...she is timid but wants to be free.....direct her Lord.  

One needs a good night's rest after surgery today -- she is my Grandma, her leg broke yesterday cause she is just old ( 91) and the bones are brittle, Lord, help her to sleep well.  

One needs a movement of God upon her marriage....

One needs a movement of God upon her heart....

One needs a hurting heart healed.....

One needs vindication.....

One needs comfort like NONE other....

One needs a good night's rest that NOW she is a mommy and tomorrow starts mother-hood!  

One needs......

One unspoken request....

Another unspoken request.......

One needs........ 

I need........ 

The list does go on - praise God we can bring them ALL to HIM, and HE knows are hearts and heads that if we forget one request...HE knows.  

But first I come to HIM and say - thank you Father...praise you for just being YOU...praise you for answering prayers ..yes, but thank you for just being my friend...my comfort...my support...my guardian and my hero.  Thank you Father for forgiving me....for loving me THAT much!  

Today in my quiet time, I read something from the Jesus Calling Devotional.......

Dear Beloved....Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things go according to your will?  If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in another direction, you deify your desires.  Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances.  !!  - God 

I found myself wanting something for someone so badly....that I almost wanted to orchestrate something and then HE reminded me that .....HIS will needs to be done.  

Did I trust God enough?    

YEP...so, I will lay my head down on my pillow and trust that tomorrow...is a new day.  

HIS mercies are new again in the morning and tomorrow - I am going to be WOWed again....

As GOD wins.  

Humbly, so humble by HIS faithfulness....amen!  

Day #33 - Jesus got words of affirmation too....

Today is Mother's Day....many prayers went up for moms all over the world.  Many moms had a harder day as their children celebrated in heaven or their own moms are now with Christ.  Many moms were homeless...many were suffering...and yet others, had no idea that by this time next year -- they would be moms.

It is hard to think globally at times, I mean we are such a self-centered people and barely see past our own stuff....but I got to thinking today as one girl came forward for prayer ....just how blessed so many of us are.

All she wanted was to be 'home with her momma soon...her court date was soon....she had to celebrate her birthday without her momma and she did not want to do that again'.  She is only 7 or 8.  She looks up at you as you pray and just smiles and each Sunday she comes forward to ask for prayer - faithfulness...she needed to hear Miss Linda say, "God is going to answer your prayers".

Words of affirmation.

Hope.

I am a words of affirmation person as well.  I need them.  I need to know that what I do and what I say is of worth and value.  I don't 'have to' have it all the time...but here and there....I want it.

I also want to hear my God say to me one day, "well done my good and faithful servant".

I do.

My husband has been teasing me a little bit this past weekend, as I opened my mouth and just mentioned that...I could use a card or just a little something...words of affirmation .....written words of affirmation.  However, he knows he does not HAVE to do that...therefore, the teasing.

I laugh.  I remind myself that I used to manipulate and guilt him to death about the NEEDING of a card or something and I would eventually get it - but, it was never what I truly wanted.  I wanted the affiramation to come from him .....without any prompting from the heart.

For awhile, the Enemy made me feel guilty for wanting that.  Now...I did make it an  idol,  but as I got healthy and began to see the problem with me manipulating it....I was able to see what I really did need.

I did need words of affirmation, that is a part of me.  That is how God made me.  It is just now, that God affirms me...when my husband does it too -- it is extra!  

So, as I titled this....today as Brendan and I were listening to a CD of a meeting where the Pastor was speaking about the Prodigal  Son, he shared a story of when Jesus comes to John the Baptist and asks to be baptized.  Of course John is like .."no Lord, you should baptize me".  But Jesus reminds him if scripture and that he is to baptize him.  Then the clouds open up and we hear from the heavens, "this is my son with whom I am well pleased".

And the Preacher spoke and said, "see, even Jesus needed affirmation from his Father".
Brendan and I looked at each other and smiled....we BOTH were so blessed by that statement!  

Even God knew that Jesus needed those words of affirmation.  Wow!

With that my prayer today for my sisters in Christ....

Heavenly Father, this prayer is simple...God, for the mothers out there....affirm them.  Speak to them in such a way this evening...this day...this moment that they can hear, "I am well pleased".  Amen!

To be exact...

The Baptism of Jesus

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”