Amazing Grace

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It's been a full day for the Vines' family. We had some awesome stuff going on today that I have to share. It was another reminder that our kids aren't ours, but that God has just entrusted them to us temporarily. We dedicated our precious Elijah during this morning's church service, and our sweet faith family witnessed our desire to raise Elijah in a godly home. It was very powerful to be able to have those who love us, surround us and share in our joy that God has given us our children to raise and enjoy, for as long as we do have them. It was extra special that the Cottons were also dedicating Gabe in the same service, since Sandi and I have journeyed down some similar paths as God put our families together in His timing. The verse we chose for Elijah's dedication is our desire for all our kids. The word hope was a recurring theme for our family for years before Elijah was here, and our hope remains in Jesus, as we raise him.

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

Another blessing was that after a long wait of two years, Abigail was baptized today! She accepted Christ here at home, in September of 2006. At the time, I did feel she really knew what she was doing, because she initiated multiple conversations, and had serious questions about how Jesus comes into our lives, and she really struggled with conviction. We prayed one night, and she voluntarily repented and asked Jesus to help her change. I was thrilled, but also a little hesitant at first, wanting to see if there was true change and fruit evidenced in her life. Very quickly, James and I both noticed a change in her. Though she remains a precocious, strong-willed child, there is definitely an awareness of the Holy Spirit guiding her, a gentleness growing in her, and a desire to do right, that we can only attribute to her faith and the fruit of a maturing believer. It's been exciting to watch her grow.

So, after some delays, we finally found a date that we could combine both these occasions, so our family could come from out of town and be a part of the celebrations. I love that our church gives fathers the privilege of baptizing their own children, and James did a wonderful job explaining the awe we feel that our family of believers stood with us as we dedicated Abigail 6 years ago, and promised to see us through on the journey toward her salvation, and then Sunday that prayer was answered publicly, as the same people witnessed her declaration of her acceptance of Christ. What a great week of Thanksgiving for our family! Thank you to all who celebrated and worshiped with us. Life on earth doesn't get much better than this!

It was fitting that one of the songs we sang today had these lyrics:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly

Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
Hallelujah, all my stains are washed away, washed away

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed