Sunday, January 30, 2011

To Know Your Name

Last Sunday was awesome. 

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For the handful of people that follow my blog and it’s occasional postings, you  might remember reading about my daughter’s decision to accept Christ last May. 

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We knew that she was ready to be baptized, and Mario and I agreed to ask Bro. Steve to baptize her.  He is the pastor of the church I grew up in and baptized me, as well as many of my other family members over the years.  We later learned that my cousin’s little boy, Bryce, and another little boy, Carter, would also be baptized the same morning!  What a special day to share together!

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My mom usually fills the baptistery at the church when there are baptisms, so she had the water good and warm! :)

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Bro. Steve met with the three kids to give them a few instructions: 

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( I loved this one with their bare feet)

Jaiden & her cousin, Bryce

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Jaiden & Mrs. Judy, one of the sweetest women on earth…

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Carter & Bryce…

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Jaiden…

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Mo & Jaiden…

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I’ve thought for a week now about how to attempt to describe this special day, but I don’t know that I can!  Our hearts were overflowing with joy!  That’s something I’ve heard Mario’s mom call “full”…That night in the car Jaiden was singing “Amazing Grace.”  I hope I never forget the sound of her sweet little voice coming from the back seat.  It was pitch black around us as we drove, but her voice was so soft and sweet as she sang every single word.  I looked over at Mario and he looked at me…I could tell by the smile on his face, that his heart was “full” :) We pulled into the driveway at our house just a few moments later.  It was the perfect ending to an amazing day.

Tonight as I write this, I think about a song that I love right now.  “To Know Your Name” by Hillsong.  It prompts me to think about not only her decision to follow Christ, but my own, and anyone else who has made such a decision.

The precious blood of Jesus Christ redeems

Forgiven I’m alive, restored, set free

Your majesty resides inside of me

Forever I believe Forever I believe

Arrested by your truth and righteousness

Your grace has overwhelmed my brokeness

Convicted by your Spirit, led by your Word

Your love will never fail Your love will never fail

And I know you gave

The world your only Son for us

To know your Name, to live within the Savior’s love

And He took my place, knowing He’d be crucified

And you loved, you loved… A people undeserving…

To my sweet Jaiden:  As hard as I try for my family, I will never do it all right.  In fact, I fail miserably pretty much on a daily basis.  But I’m so thankful for a God who does everything right.  For a God who has a perfect plan for your life.  For a God who knows you by name and knows the number of hairs on your head (Which is a lot by the way!) :)

While raising children is an incredible blessing I’m so grateful to be a recipient of, it comes with great responsibility.  As much as I hope every decision I make for you is the right one, as much as I want to be an example, the truth is I don’t always know what’s best and I certainly don’t measure up to the example of Christ.  But He loves me anyway, and He will always always always love you.

My prayer for you daily is that your heart will desire the things of God, and that you will serve Him wholeheartedly all the days of your life.  I began praying before you were even born for your confidence…for you to know and understand who you are in Christ Jesus above anything.  I thank God for answered prayers in your decision at an early age to follow Him.  I thank Him that you know whose you are. 

And I will continue to pray that you will know and understand what He has done for you in order for you to know His name.  I will pray that you know “his majesty resides inside” of you, and that you would “forever believe” no matter what.  And although at your young age, you haven’t necessarily known “brokeness” as mentioned above, one day you will feel and understand this.  And I pray that in that moment, his “grace would overwhelm you.  I pray that you will always be “convicted by His Spirit” and that your life always “led by the Word…” because “His love will never fail,” Jaiden.  Never.

I love you dearly.

(Sorry, you’ll have to scroll down and turn off the playlist to be able to hear this)

5 comments:

on the eastern journey said...

I'm so thankful for Jaiden's tender heart. We pray blessings on her as she begins her walk with the Lord.

Vanessa said...

i'm crying right now! such a sweet and special moment that you'll never forget. i love the words of that song too!

His Doorkeeper said...

What a wonderful sweet post, Micaela, coming from a mother's heart! It was, for us, a special day that we will not forget either. When Steve started talking about how he had baptized you and Bryce's Dad, I couldn't keep back the tears! I can't begin to tell you the joy that seeing Jaiden and Bryce baptized brought to our hearts. Our reward for serving in the church this side of heaven is to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. And to see now your children come to the Lord is just THE BEST thing in the world...no real words to describe our joy!

I just pray I live long enough to see my grandchildren come to know the Lord and see what God has in store for them! Jeremiah 29: 11-13


I know He has great plans for Jaiden and Jeryn!

Blessings to you and your sweet family!

The Garners said...

I just now saw that you'd added this wonderful post--So sorry for my delayed response! We were blessed to get to be there for this special day in Jaiden's life. What a joy! I love what you said about being "full".

LOVE YOU ALL!

Nancy said...

PRECIOUS post!!!
Praise God!