"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
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The picture above was taken on Easter Sunday, but just made it to my computer today because of Isaac's dedication. So I'm a little slow. Sue me.
I'm really proud of this little guy and his maw and paw. He's probably the cutest kid ever and I really love the three of them. With that in mind, I thought today about baby dedications and if parents do them with sincere hearts or just for show.
Sadly, most of the time they are probably done to please the grandparents and to put on a good mask for the church family. Sorry to be so negative, but do you disagree? I thought so.
I can say with 100% certainty that Baby Iyaak's dedication today was done in earnest. And I think anyone who knows Ryan and candy-cane-shouldered Juli would say the same. God bless you three.
So it made me think of this:
And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life..." --1 Samuel 1:11
And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord." --1 Samuel 1:20
"For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to Him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." --1 Samuel 1:27,28
If not the first recorded baby dedication, then this is certainly the most popular. I know we all know people who can claim this story as their own, but today just made me reflect on it and realize what God can do with a life dedicated to Him.
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There are a thousand other things I could write about tonight. I wish I had time. Benji's sermon today was.... real. I told him I had never heard a sermon that pretty much covered the message of the Bible from front to back, that is until today.
His message today made me stop and reflect about my own separation from God. I have times of detachment and disconnection from God. Times when I just feel distanced from Him. I ask myself, "What is it that is keeping me from Him?" But I think the more appropriate question is, "What isn't?"
Too often I look at myself and measure against the standard of other people. If I stay just a step ahead of others, if I attend a little more, if I teach one more class than they do, if I talk a little more spiritually, then I'm on a different plane of righteousness. A higher one.
It's easy to fulfill the law when it's my own law. As long as I'm writing the commandments, they're a breeze.
But when I compare myself to God and His standard, then I'm "wretched, poor, blind, and miserable."
I separate myself from God by living the life I think I deserve. I make the choices that follow my plan, I take the roads that lead where I want to go. I define my own abundant life.
I separate myself from God by sin. Those tired, old patterns that have tripped me up for years, and though I despise them and the pride that begat them, if I truly hated them I would turn away from them.
"You will do well to make your confession before God very frank, very sincere, very explicit. Surely you have nothing to hide, for there is nothing that you can hide. He knows your guilt already, but He would have you know it, and therefore, He bids you confess it. If you will condemn yourself, God will acquit you."
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Finally, I feel happy today. No amazing, earth-shattering reason, I just had a good day with people. I talked alot and laughed alot. I made a complete idiot of myself in front of Benji's mom, un-intentionally, of course. In short, she got a butt-wiggling, booty-shaking show from me while I was making fun of Virginia (no tip, either). I caught up with Vanessa, who I'm glad is feeling better and seeing God in her circumstances. I spent time in the sunshine and washed my truck, which always makes me feel good. And I'm fired up about our JGen bonfire this weekend (no pun intended), just because it'll be fun, and there'll be S'Mores!!!
Yep. Good day.
Happy Monday.
