Jaxen's Dedication

After Thanksgiving we headed back home - to be joined by some of our family!

Mamaw Kay and Papaw Russell playing with Jaxen.

See the drool?!

Jaxen - bonding with his grandpa's!

Sporting the polo with Grandpa Scotty.

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Last Sunday was a special day for us. It was the day we 

'officially' dedicated Jaxen to the Lord.

The following is from the Dedication Service:

God has given you the precious gift of this child. 

He has also given you an awesome responsibility. 

God has given you the responsibility to:

Train up Jaxen in the ways of God.

Be an example of Christian living both inside and outside the home.

Provide for, protect, and nurture Jaxen.

Teach Jaxen to fear the Lord.

Teach Jaxen to love the same Jesus that you love … 

and to serve, obey and honor Him with all his heart.

You are publically saying that you will raise Jaxen in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. You are also asking God to bless you and your home as parents.

Do you today recognize Jaxen as a gift from God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?

Do you now dedicate Jaxen to the Lord who gave him to you, surrendering all worldly claims upon his life in the hope that he will belong wholly to God?

Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s fatherly help, you will bring up Jaxen in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, making every reasonable effort, with patience and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ and the joy of the Lord into his life?

Do you promise to provide, through God’s blessing, for the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs of Jaxen, looking to your own heavenly Father for the wisdom, love and strength to serve him and not use him?

Do you promise, God helping you, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, Jaxen will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of his sins and for the fulfillment of all his promises to him, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey his teachings?

We do.

Part of the prayer that Nik prayed over Jaxen, while dedicating him to the Lord:

Jaxen, together with your mother who loves you very deeply, and with these people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claims upon your life, in the hope that you will belong wholly to God forever...