I had a weird revelation today....weird only because I'm not a parent but I feel like it's worth sharing....
I was watching the lion king this morning.....strange how God always talks to me through Disney movies maybe because my level of comprehension is that of a 7 year old haha ;) Anyway, so when simba is born all the animals come out to see him. Before he is shown to the crowd Rafiki ( who is symbolic of a spiritual leader ) anoints him with coconut oil but then he holds him up before the crowd and the light shines on him and all the animals go wild! You can't tell me that you didn't get chills the first time you saw this movie :-) anyway the 1st part of this blog is for the parents and the 2nd part is for the kids....actually its for everyone because if your a parent...you are also a child.
I don't know if we really comprehend what we do when we dedicate our kids...I think that sometimes we do it out of tradition or to symbolize that we will raise them in a christian household...I don't know like I said I'm not a mom. God did however decide to show me what it means.....it means that the parent is giving their child over to God. I'm sure that all parents have hopes and dreams for their kids...maybe even an idea of the career that they should have or the person they should marry but when you give your kids to God its a symbol that you as a parent are letting all of your dreams for them go. Its saying to God...." it doesn't matter what I want for them...it only matters what you want." Before you even knew your child....God knew them....before you ever held them in your arms...God formed them. It is acknowledging that God is the TRUE Father and his will "trumps" your ideals. You become the caregiver...the adoptive parent but the child belongs to the Father. So when your kid comes home and says God has called me to move to the amazon and start a church in a treehouse haha or say you're are in full time ministry and you want your child to go to ORU but they come home and say God has called me to be a computer graphic artist.... :-) remember that you gave your ideal up and agreed with the will of God for them.
I was born October 11, 1985 and dedicated November 17, 1985 :-) so here I am 25 and my life doesn't match up to what a normal 25 year old girl living in the south should look like. I'm not married and haven't been in a " boyfriend/girlfriend" relationship since I was 21. 90 % of the friends I spend the most time with are about 4-5 years younger then me ( well in age but not in spirit ;). ) I didn't go to college and I don't have plans for a "career" I work just as much as anyone but I do it to live. Not that a career is wrong....please don't misunderstand me......I fully believe that God calls people to all sorts of things.....doctor, lawyers, teachers.....etc and if you are a christian....you are in full time ministry no matter what your career is!! I'm only talking about myself. To the outside world I see that it looks like I have no commitment or goals but when I was a month old I had godly earthly parents who did not give me over to the world but gave me over to the Lord. I was saved when I was very young but at an Acquire the Fire event that my Jr. High Pastor ( Aaron Allison whoop whoop! ) took us to when I was 14 God gave me a vision of a piece of his will for me. I could have passed on it but I agreed with the Father and have had a passion to see it come to pass ever since. Even though my parents gave me to the Father I still had to give myself to him. When we grow up we also form ideas of what we want to do and who we want to be so at some point we as an individual have to dedicate ourselves to God. We have to come in agreement with who HE says we are and what HE says we can do. I promise its better than anything we could ever choose for ourselves anyway. I am deeply committed to Christ and if Jesus only did what he saw the Father do how could I think that I could do anything without seeking him first. I would rather be unsuccessful in the eyes of the world but a success to God. I would rather everyone call me discontent, unrealistic, and unstable but God call me faithful, passionate and willing. I would rather be extreme then normal. I would rather be a wild fire for the cause of Christ than what we call in the church world " balanced"
I went to the Ramp this last weekend...I encourage everyone to go its amazing ( www.theramp.org ) and this was said by Micah Wood..
" In the American church we present 3 options..
1. Lost- completely in world
2. Saved- go to church, said the prayer, read your bible
...your saved.
3. Burning-extreme, even church people mock you
the only problem with these options is that in the bible there is only lost
and burning. There is no middle option! If you are complacently
saved I doubt if you are saved at all. The essence of christianity is that
you have found the treasure in the field and out of joy you sold all you
had to buy the field! Jesus said " I would that you would be hot or cold
but if you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth." You can't be
lost, saved or burning...its only lost or burning."
When you are burning....the things God loves, you love! Your spirit yearns to bring him glory. Commit yourself to the Lord! Commit your plans and he will direct your path. His promises will not return void. The good work he began in you will be seen unto completion. SO no matter who you are and what you want to do I encourage you to seek God.....seek doesn't mean 20 min of prayer a day.....you spend more time on the phone with your best friend....seek and you will find.....he has a plan for you and its better than your own! Give your kids to God and give yourself to God :-)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
