Rain Mabry Larick Dedication

Rain Mabry Larick Dedication

This morning I get the honor of doing something we absolutely love to do… today we get to dedicate Rain Larick to the Lord!

If I could have Rain and her family join me on stage this morning…

What a beautiful family! We are so glad you all are here for this special time!

“A baby is a small member of the home that makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, the bank roll smaller, the home happier, the clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for” (Jane Taylor)

One of the hardest things we face as parents is realizing or understanding that the little one we hold in our arms doesn’t truly belong to us. Today we must understand that Rain belongs to God. The Lord has given her to you for a period of time to influence her, to encourage her, to guide her, to direct her and to teach her. Through the act of dedication, we acknowledge that Rain is a blessing from the Lord to be cared for, loved, and raised in the ways of the Word.

Therefore, in a moment, we will commit to follow the instruction that is given in Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6 NIV

6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

The greatest direction we can lead a child… is in the direction of the Lord.

The dedication of a child is three-fold;

First, we look at the Part of God

Every life on this earth is precious in the eyes of God. Every person is a unique gift to this world, unlike any other person God has ever created. Long before our bodies were even formed, God sees us and has a plan for us.

Psalm 139:13–16 NIV

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

God cares for EVERY person created, has a plan for EVERY person created, loves EVERY person created, and desires to spend eternity with EVERY person created. He has given us everything we could need, His presence, His power, His protection, His provision, and even His Son… that we might spend our lives in relationship and fellowship with Him.

Secondly we look at The part of the parent

“The greatest love we can lavish upon our children is to train them in the fear of God, equip them for life, and then release them” (Floyd McClung)

Ephesians 6:4 tells us we are to bring our children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. This instruction is specifically given to fathers… who are to serve as the spiritual leader of the home.

Moms are to care for and nurture a child as only she can. But this goes beyond the physical as Proverbs 31:26 reads

Proverbs 31:26 NIV

26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Mom and dad, God has given you this amazing blessing… she is to be cared for, loved, nurtured, given wisdom, and instructed in the Word.

I charge you to raise her in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Be always mindful, it is not always what we say but how we live that has the greatest impact, so set before her examples of Godly and consistent living. Make it your goal to lead her to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord at an early age. If you accept this charge will you please both say, we do?

Lastly, we look at the part of the church.

The church which, through its ministries, assumes a responsibility before God... and in view of this responsibility, I charge you who are members of this local body:

That you will do all that you can to provide and support a place of worship and instruction in this community where this child, for as long as she will live her, may hear the full counsel of God’s Word.

That you will all covenant together to set an example by your lives and maintain an atmosphere in your church that will inspire Rain to desire the Christian way of life.

That as God shall remind you, you will pray for her salvation. Church, if you are willing to accept this charge as a congregation please affirm with me by standing together as we pray….

Prayer of dedication…