Noah's Dedication

Today is Father's Day. We had the opportunity to present Noah to the church and have a dedication ceremony. I was thankful to be able to give a testimony outlining some of the high points of God's provision in our lives over the past three years up to today. It was a wonderful time. Below is what I meant to say. I got the majority of it across, but left out a few things and added a thing or two some other places. To God be the glory...

Three years ago today, Missy and I sat down in front of a computer, clicked a button, and discovered that we would be moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We were none-too-happy about that. After the dust settled from being shocked, displeased, etc., Jeremiah 29:11 came to mind: “’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.” That day, I began praying that God would provide a church for us here.

Roughly two years ago, Missy, Anna, and our two dogs set out on a 1,000 mile trek from Memphis to our new home in Havertown; I had to remain in Memphis for a few more weeks to finish up my residency. God still had a plan. Missy and Anna had been out exploring the restaurant scene, composed almost entirely of pizza, steak, and hoagie joints, when they noticed an advertisement for Vacation Bible School here. Missy told me about it and they decided they would check out the church. That same week, Missy was out mowing the yard when a man from across the street came over to introduce himself as Paul Browne. His wife, Nancy, later came over to tell Missy that they had been praying for us, before we ever arrived. She invited Missy to Grace Chapel.

We began coming to Grace Chapel and soon discovered that this was where God wanted us to be.

One year ago today, I was nearing the end of my first year of fellowship, which was a major milestone. We were not only thankful for being in Havertown, but felt we wouldn’t have been happier anywhere else. God had been faithful to do what was best for us, in spite of what we had thought two years before. Also, we were excited about the January 3^rd, 2008 due date of our second child.

Seven months and 15 days ago, Anna, Missy, and I paraded around our neighborhood and then stopped by the church to gather treats on Halloween. Everything was normal. Everyone was doing well. The next evening, a Thursday, we were having Praise Team practice. Missy had gone home because she didn’t feel well. Shortly afterward, Missy hobbled across the street in excruciating pain and asked Nancy Browne to drive her to the hospital. They stopped by the church long enough to tell me that they were going to the hospital and then roared off. If not for Nancy and Paul’s proximity and friendship, Nancy’s having been home at that time, and her little-known ability to race through the streets of Havertown, it is possible that Missy, Noah, or both could have bled to death that night. But God had a plan.

As a lot of you now know, Noah was born that night, November 1, 2007. He was two months early and was two pounds and 15 ounces when he rolled into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where he remained for 45 days, and would rack up a bill of approximately $600,000.

The following day, Missy had to return emergently to the operating room because overnight she had lost 2/3rds of her blood volume through internal bleeding. As I shared with you in our November 4^th service, I was gripped by my inability to do anything. I couldn’t pray for God’s will, because I was afraid it wouldn’t be what I wanted. I didn’t want to pray for my will, because I felt that was selfish. With all that was within me, I had to simply lay it at His feet.

In the days following that tumultuous time, God’s church overwhelmed us with His love. We can never thank you enough for your faithfulness and caring. We love you and are thankful for everything you have done for us.

Today, Missy and I bring Noah before the church for dedication to the Lord. Today, we celebrate the active intervention that God has made in Noah’s, as well as our lives. Our plans have been perfectly wrong. God’s plans have been perfect and He has been with us the whole way.

Happy Father's Day to everyone out there.