There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24.

For, if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

I was five years old, and we were coming home from a church gathering one Sunday night. As I hopped out of our twelve-passenger van into my father’s strong arms, I told him: “Daddy, I want to get in the water, too. I want to be baptized.”
My older sister had recently become a Christian and gotten baptized. Likely, I didn’t understand everything about it, but I remembered the water, and it was something I wanted to do. So, my parents stayed up late with me that night, explaining once again the Gospel message.
In our tiny living room by the front window, I got it. I realized that I had sinned, and sin was rebellion against God’s perfect law, which separated me from Him. I understood the Good News that Jesus had come to earth to take my sin penalty (death) on the cross, be buried, and rise again on the third day to bring me back to the Father! This truth became my joy: “For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life! For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17.) That night, I confessed my sin to Jesus and asked Him to be Lord of my life.

As a little girl suddenly filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, I did what came naturally: I went to share with my older sister. I ran into the room we shared and leapt upon her top bunk. Then, bouncing up and down in excitement, I cried, “Sissy, I’m a Christian now! I’m a Christian now!” My sister sat up and smiled, saying something about how happy she was. Later, I figured out she didn’t even remember me doing that!
I got to be baptized a short time later, aware that it was an outward expression of my new faith in Christ.

I came to Christ in childlike faith and He brought me into the Kingdom of God {Luke 18:16-17}. Yet, He also gave me the Holy Spirit to teach all things {John 14:26}. By the Spirit, Christ has matured my faith in Him, building my trust and knowledge of Him, teaching me how to defend my faith and how to share it with others. More and more, I have learned what it means to set my mind on things above {Col. 3:2}, be merciful to those who doubt {Jude 1:22}, and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests {Eph.6:18}.

The Holy Spirit has taught me how to see the spiritual battles I am facing, and graciously given me the insight into the Word to speak truth in my heart. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” {Eph. 6:12-13}.
By engaging my readers with thrilling adventures and valiant heroes, I hope to shine the light of salvation through my books, and strengthen and equip young Christians to stand firm in their faith, having the answers from the Word of God to speak truth into their spiritual battle. 

There are still things I must take with childlike faith, trusting God, even when I don’t get it. The beauty of it is that God knows exactly what He’s doing and “we know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love Him, who were called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” {Romans 8:28-29}.

As a five-year-old girl, I wanted to be baptized in water to show to other believers that I belonged to Jesus, too. Now, I understand that Jesus’ baptism by fire was truly what I wanted and needed. To belong to and become like Jesus is to be baptized by the Holy Spirit – and we are never the same afterward!

Mark 1:7-8:
And this was his (John’s) message: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”