Dedication

This event was for Ann and I an event of celebration of James' arrival and God's faithfulness to us, an opportunity for us to show gratitude to God and our friends who have meant so much to us over the last 10 years, and one of dedicating James and ourselves to God.

 

We very much wanted to do this with some friends in a way that was more personal than standing up in front of a church starting at 1000 people that we really didn't know. So we invited friends over to our home where our mentor Randy Raysbrook and his wife Marilyn led us through this process.Afterwards, Ann cooked for everyone. It was, as usual, great!

 

The picture on the left is on ofJames' baby table. A lot of the stuff on it is stuff that I wore back in the day. In it, you can see a framed poem that my mom gave me.

 

 

 

Not flesh of my flesh

Nor bone of my bone

But somehow miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute

You grew not under my heart

But in it.

 

After Randy gave a brief introduction, I talked about Isaiah 61 and how much that had meant to me, particularly in the last year and half.

 

He has sent me to ... to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes, the oil of gladness

instead of mourning, and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

 

Randy then talked about Hannah, a childless woman in the Old Testament. Eventually, God gives her a child that she names Samuel. Her prayer of dedication is

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."