It's About Time - March 8, 2020

The Thorud Family welcomes Abby

Steven & Sarah want to raise Abby to be a blessing to others and to delight God’s Heart.

We’re here to encourage them in the task!

Meet Abby Jean!

What has Abby brought to your lives?? (Sarah)

Our Vision for her Life

What do you want to see in Abby’s life? (Stephen)

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV84

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

As you continue to look ahead to God’s Big Purpose of Eternal Glory, you are providing life-giving guidance. You offer a truly Courageous Vision.

Parents: Will you train up this child in God’s Ways?

Church: Will you support this family as they seek to follow Jesus?

This family has brought another child into their family and has shared their hearts with all of us. Let’s pray for them!

The Beginning (Sarah):

Abby was a wonderful surprise for our family. God had her purposed and created in His perfect plan and we are thrilled to have the honor of seeing part of the story He is writing in and through her.

When Abby was born, we knew that the short list of names we were considering for her were not the correct ones. They didn’t fit because they weren’t her. When we first held Abby, it was as if the Lord whispered, “I know her and I delight in her.” We spent the next couple days snuggling our newborn and trying to get a glimpse of who she was, and what to name her. As we spent time with this new little bundle in our arms, and tried to listen to God’s leading, the theme of her bringing Him joy continued to echo. Gently but resolutely, this refrain became not just a resonating phrase, but a soul-identity of the child we held.

“Abby” means “Father’s Joy” and, while a name we both like, it became more than just our personal preference. Her name became a stamp, an image, a vision and hope of her future, her joy, and her identity as God’s daughter – one in whom He finds joy, and who finds her own in being His.

The Future (Stephen):

With surety that “Abby” was her name and that “Father’s Joy” was the intent, Zephaniah 3:17 came to mind. It reads: “The Lord you God will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Today, we come before you as our church family and ask that you will support us as we desire to model a relationship with Jesus to our children, and to train them in the knowledge and truth of Him. We also ask that you encourage and pray for Abby now and in the years to come – that she would know Him well.