Dedicated To The One I Love

Midland Bible Church held its first public baby dedications today, thanks to its new pastor.

A baby dedication is a ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to raise that child according to God's Word and God's ways.  It's not a baptism, and nothing as such happens to the child, but Christian parents who dedicate their child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything in their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. The church also agrees to support each child and family in this endeavour.

Anyway, it's not something MBC has ever done during a church service before, so this was kind of a 'catch-up' for parents of children two and under.  Toots and Tiger were both dedicated in Hebron when they were around 6 months old, so this time it was Lightning and Joey.

Actually, I meant to ask MBC about it two years ago after I had Lightning, but you know, other things came up and I never got round to it.  But being far away from immediate family we've really come to understand what it's like to have a Christian family through our church, and the folks here have shown us so much love, and have spent so much time with our kids, that they really are also involved in bringing them up to know and trust God.

So thanks y'all!

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127: 3-5