This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to officially dedicate, to our church and to God, our baby girl.
It's something we believe firmly in, and though we've dedicated Lily to God since long before she was even born, this ceremony is so symbolic and important to us. We had a chance to make vows to God and our church family, that we intend to raise Lily up to know Jesus Christ, and walk in His ways. We also had the opportunity to pray that she would one day make our faith, her faith. It's not something we can force or pass to her, it's only something that we can teach and encourage her in, and leave the results to God.
But this Sunday we got to make those plans of ours official.
Brad and I vowed, with God's help, to raise Lily in a Christian home, where grace and truth abound. Our church family also vowed to support us and pray for her and us as her parents. It was very powerful, and I surprised myself by shedding a few tears, as I listened to our church family pray for our baby.
Scripture that was recited at the dedication:
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.5You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of
them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when
you lie down, and when you rise. 8You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Psalm 78:1-8
1Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
4We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
5He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
6that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
7so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
8and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.
It's never easy to trust God. With your children - their faith, their future, their very - I'd say it's even harder.
But in faith, I say, Jesus, she is Yours.
But in faith, I say, Jesus, she is Yours.
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