Dedicated

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Dear Sweet Charlie,
Today was a big day for our family.  Today your Daddy and I stood up before the congregation at Grace Christian Fellowship and dedicated you to God.  In so doing, we promised you, ourselves, each other, our church family, and God, Himself, that we will strive to do absolutely everything possible to ensure that you fully understand the foundation of this world.

God created the world thousands of years ago and created man to live in it as His companion.  When man sinned, we were all painfully separated from God because He is perfectly just.  The only way back to Him is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to earth to live and to die for us, and pay the price for our sins.

Charlie Bear, your Daddy and I have so many hopes and dreams for you.  We look forward to your first day of kindergarden, your first home run, your first fish, your graduations, your wedding, your own children, and everything in between.  We look forward to getting to know you even better as you grow, and laughing and loving all the way -- but all of that is meaningless without faith in God.  Everything good and beautiful in this world comes from God and everything good and beautiful in a person comes from His Spirit. 

We pray that you will come to understand and appreciate this truth as soon as possible, so you will know the security and hope and love that come only from Him, and whether you face peace or sorrows, you will know that it is "well with [your] soul".

You were dedicated alongside others whom we hope will be life long friends: Samuel Lanz (your beloved Philip's younger brother), Brendan and Seth Garlick, Ryleigh, Jacob, Carly and Mason Altman, and Alethea Hill, but today's ceremony did not complete or assure anything for any of you, it simply demonstrated that we, as parents, are commited to you and your spiritual welfare, and know that we will need help showing you and keeping you on the correct path.
 
You, Charlie, are blessed with an amazing family spread across this country, many of whom are already praying for these very same things, but now we also have your church family focused in the same direction. 

Your eternal security is the very most important thing in the world to Daddy and me, so we will continually ask for and expect help from other believers -- it is far too important to entrust to ourselves alone.

We know that your family and friends and church will support us in every way to show you what really matters in this world, but ultimately your relationship with God will be between you and Him.  Thankfully, He is the one person that doesn't need our help at all.

Charlie, you are a reward we do not deserve, a love we could not imagine and a joy we cannot contain.  We delight in you each and every day and are so grateful to call you Son.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

So Blesses

Daddy presenting you to the church

Mommy trying reign in your need to be heard

                       It Is Well With My Soul
Words: Horatio Spafford, 1873. Music: Philip Bliss, 1876

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, it is well,
With my soul, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath she'd His own blood for my soul.

It is well, It is well,
With my soul, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
It was nailed trough his cross, and I bear it no more,
Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, It is well,
With my soul, with my soul
It is well, it is well, with my soul.