Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness;
for His wonderful works to the children of men. (Ps. 107:8)
How great Thou art, O God!
How great Thou art!
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive
glory and honor and power;
for Thou hast created all things
and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Rev. 4:11)

Oh, Lord, in Your hands, may we of your creation
give you pleasure with our lives.
Dear Father, may we bring you joy.

Your word tells us you do take pleasure in your people: (Ps. 149:4)
their uprightness,
their reverence,
their hope in Your mercy,
their obedience,
their repentance,
their love,
and their following Jesus.

Thank you for the children,
and this day, especially for Alexander, David, and Serena.
You created each amazing fiber of their being,
all designed to work so wonderfully intricately together,
with Your breath of life,
to grow and to bear fruit to Your honor and glory.
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!

As parents, we thank you for the gift of children.
For, indeed, children do bring such pleasure to our lives.
At first a beaming smile and rolling over, the first teeth,
then those early steps, innocent prayers, hugs and snuggles;
later bicycling, reading; so many skills and talents,
(though maybe not driving)
the lake, the zoo, the camp, the trip,
baptism, service, graduation.
You, too, Father, so intimately aware of us,
find delight,
and sadly also pain.

Oh, Lord, in Your hands, may we of your creation
give you pleasure with our lives.
Dear Father, may we bring you joy.

Alexander Michael - what pleasure you've brought
to so many already in these first five months:
your contagious radiant smile, good temperment,
sing-songy sounds and silly screeches.

"Alexander" means "helper of mankind" ;
may God point the way.
And "Michael" means 'like unto God";
may Jesus be your example.
The name is a strong name;
may the Lord be your strength.

In His power may you abide with Him as a branch to the vine;
accept His corrections; for loving parents train their children.
Do focus on the honest, the pure, the lovely, and the virtuous,
not on the increasing evils in the world.
In His power, may you live by and delight in the words of God.
They will be your lamp to understanding, to wisdom, to strength,
to comfort and to hope,
and through Christ to a joyous life eternal.

Oh, Lord, in Your hands, may Alexander Michael, your creation,
give You pleasure with his life.
Dear Father, may he bring you joy.

David and Serena - the joys you've brought your parents
far overshadow the normal trials of parenting,
and your faith and service in God's work
bring us great rejoicing.
May God abide with you each step of the way
in raising Alexander, His child, in your care.
And though he'll absorb much time and thought and energy,
in God's power, may you remember to seek first
His kingdom and His righteousness.

Oh, Lord, in Your hands,
may David Michael and Serena Lynne, your creations,
give you pleasure with their lives.
Dear Father, may they bring you joy.

Again we joyfully thank you, Father,
for this precious new little lamb.
May your blessings be upon him.

Most holy God,
Good Shepherd Christ,
abiding Spirit of Love,
today we dedicate this child, his parents, and ourselves
to an ever closer walk with you.
Please pour out Your gifts of faith, and peace and joy.
May we hunger for thy Word, thy service, and an ever growing love.
(and together we ask)

Oh, Lord, in Your hands, may we all, of your creation,
give you pleasure with our lives.
Dear Father, may we bring you joy!

Written with love and prayer
for Alexander
by "Nana"
Lynne Schaper Johnson
August 16, 2007