Child Dedication

Yesterday at church we had a child dedication service.  Eric and I made a public covenant to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and to do all we can to encourage a vibrant, living relationship with Christ.  The congregation likewise made a covenant to support us in cultivating a Christ like environment for our children and to encourage our children in their spiritual development. By doing so we do not believe that we can "save" our children but rather that we have a calling and responsibility to do everything within our power to be a living example of Christ's love.  The Holy Spirit calls out to His children.  It is our prayer that we can be the messengers of the gospel.

Making a public covenant over a child is not foreign to me because I was raised in a paedobaptist denomination, specifically the Christian Reformed Church. Our church that we are members of, and therefore are in agreement with, believes that baptism is an outward expression of inward regeneration.  Only professing believers are therefore baptized.  It is definitely is a sober and serious calling as a Christian parent to raise children.  

Eric is heading this out this week on a business trip and will not be here for Easter Sunday unfortunately so it was great getting this family photo for this special day in our lives. 

To our sons, we pray for you every day. The greatest joy we could have as parents is to see you walking with the Lord.  In the years to come when you come across these writings, we pray you will look back on your childhood and judge us to be faithful to our calling.  We are sinners and we will fail in loving you both perfectly but it is our utmost desire that you will find Christ beautiful through our example.