Infant baptism, on the other hand, happens when the child is an infant. This also is done in a public ceremony at church. The parents bring their baby to God where the child is washed in the water and the word in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (The very word baptism is from the Greek word meaning “washing”.) When this child is older they take their confirmation vows, confirming their baptism.

Although the beliefs are different as to whether a parent has their baby dedicated or baptized, the similarities are that the parents have a desire to raise their child in a God pleasing way, and state so publicly to the congregation.

And so begins the awesome task and responsibility to guide God’s little blessings.

Being a retired teacher who is enjoying life-long learning and having worked long and hard on my website, I went out to lunch with my former teacher buddy, Barb.  I wanted to show her the efforts of my labors.  What started out as a “show and tell” turned out to be more learning for me as she, a Baptist, suggested that I also include a category called baby dedication.

Well, that turned out to occupy our topic of conversation for our lunch get-together.  She explained to me that in the Baptist church, they do not baptize babies, but instead, dedicate them.  The children, as they grow up and learn about Jesus, make their own decision when they choose to be baptized.

Many of you have been looking for meaningful baby dedication gifts to celebrate that most special day in the life of your sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters, nieces, and nephews.  You have been looking for a gift that will be a reminder of the precious gift of life given by our heavenly Father, and the desire to return that life back to Him.

It is my goal to provide this for you in the form of lasting Christian framed art which will continue to have meaning throughout life, long after that day of baby dedication.

My parting thought is Thanks, Barb!  Thanks for being my friend, and thanks for educating me.

Jessica is a typical teenager.  She is fun and giggly.  She loves to run on the beach, collect shells, and build sand castles.  She loves her animals.  Her room has an eclectic collection of pictures, posters, and special objects.

Yet she is a very quiet, sensitive young lady.  She reads, writes creatively, thinks deeply, and takes her time making decisions.  She is focused and responsible, taking Advanced Placement classes at her high school. She discusses things with her mother, an admirable trait today.

Just this month Jessica celebrated her “sweet 16^th” birthday.  She is at that exciting time in her life when she takes on the very adult responsibility of driving a car.  It is a birth, of sorts, because it is the beginning of a new way of life.

This month, also, she is celebrating a more important and meaningful milestone.  She is being baptized today.  I know she has given this much thought, because that is her nature.  She will be washed in the water and the Word.  Her baptism is a birth, as well.  It is a birth into Jesus.

Baptism as a young person is a choice that is made with thoughtfulness and prayer.  It is a choice made after much talking with Jesus.  That alone is the beginning of a new way of life.  It is the beginning of a personal relationship with our Lord.  How wonderful that we can talk to Jesus any time of the day or night, and He will hear us!

God’s richest blessings to you, Jessica, on your baptism day!

Well, this year, I really can’t believe a new year has begun.  It is January, but I’ve been out of sync since September!  My father had a stroke and my husband and I moved temporarily to be nearer to him.  We have only just recently moved back home and are getting our life back in order. 

These last months, although stressful, have been full of blessings.  At every step along the way toward his recovery, we have said, “Thank you, Lord.”

One of the first things we did with Dad was to sing “Jesus loves me.”  Even though his speech was severely affected, he mouthed the words as he sang with us.  This was a statement of his faith in his loving Lord and his confidence that He would be with Dad in his recovery. 

The twenty-third Psalm says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”  Those are powerful and comforting words, indeed!  The important key word in this passage is the preposition through.  That’s through not in.  Meaning we don’t stay there in the valley.  There is the other side. 

So, Dad has walked through the valley and is coming out on the other side, with his speech and mobility improving every day.  Our family, though temporarily derailed during the last months of 2009, looks forward with eagerness to continue to sing God’s praises in the New Year 2010.

The first flag is the Christian Flag.  It stands for the true foundation of our whole life, both here on earth and in the hereafter.  It represents Jesus Christ’s victories over sin, death, and the devil.  Those victories obtained for us the forgiveness of sins and salvation and gave us new life in Christ and membership in the eternal kingdom of God.  These blessings are now given to us because of Him and through our faith in Him.

The second flag is the State Flag.  It reminds us that we have been called to faith and planted here where we live.  Daily we enjoy all the blessings of family, friends, neighbors, community, and vocation freely given to us through God’s hand that we must willingly, wisely, and lovingly steward.

The third flag is the National Flag.  It represents that union of fifty states which enables us to maintain our national, social, cultural, and religious freedom from tyranny or oppression.  That freedom allows us to do the very things, without compulsion or negative consequence, that permits us to fly our flags in the first place.

After each flag was dedicated with a prayer, we sang the Doxology.  “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”  The biggest blessing is that we are able to enjoy our religious freedom while being grateful that we live in our beautiful state and our wonderful country.  Our flags will fly bearing witness to this!  Praise God!

• My husband was unaware that he had dropped his wallet while at a store
• When he returned home, he realized that he did not have his wallet
• He returned to the store
• He and the clerk were looking for it
• Meanwhile, a woman stepped on his wallet in the parking lot and came into the store with it
• My husband opened his wallet to offer her a cash “thank you”
• She declined saying to give it to someone who needed it
• My husband gave the cash to our pastor telling him to use it as he saw fit to pass it along to someone in need

And so, this is where the postscript or update begins.

Once you pass something along to someone, you no longer have any control of it. It is out of your hands, and you may never hear what happens to it. Such is what we thought of the “thank you” that was passed along to our pastor to pass along to someone else.

The other day, as I was talking with our pastor, he told me that the envelope with the cash in it had sat on his desk for these many weeks. He had wondered what he would do with it, who might need it. This week he finally got his answer. As he said, the need presented itself. As it turned out, someone was dealing with a family life situation, and he felt that this person/family could use a little assistance.

While my husband didn’t expect to hear about what Pastor did with the “thank you cash”, it does feel good to know that someone was able to benefit from it. And once again, we are thankful that a lady in the parking lot did the right thing. It would be nice if we could tell her, but I’d like to think that she knows that both my husband and pastor also did the right thing by passing it along for someone in need.

Today, I took time again to look at it. The original box, labeled “Pat’s Baby Christening Outfit”, contained my christening gown and slip, booties, sweater, cap, mittens, and blanket, all carefully washed, ironed and lovingly wrapped in tissue paper.

Mom was 85 and I was 61 at the time she gave it to me. I mention this because it carries meaning to both mother and child. It was the baptism outfit I wore on the day that I was baptized “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” and became a child of God. I never had children of my own, but if I had had a little girl, it would have been nice to have her wear the same outfit.

Some things are just special like that, and are often passed from one generation to the next. Baptism and Christening Gifts offers Keepsake Baby Prayer Blanket Gift Sets for baby dedication, baptism, and christening. The soft, fluffy white blanket is wrapped with seven inspired prayers for your precious little baby along with a gift box for safe-keeping so your baby can pass it along to their baby.

What a blessing to be able to look at something that was so lovingly kept for so many years. It is a tangible article that provides a look at the grace of God both forward and backward through time.

Visit our website for Christ centered gifts honoring the day of dedication, baptism and christening! We feature inspirational gifts of art for your Christian home decor that will be treasured from one generation to the next.

Our four year old neighbor girl came running over to “help” me.  As we were bent over to put in some new plants, she observed, “What a beautiful day!”  She was absolutely right.  It was a gorgeous day.  The day itself was wonderful, but it was all the more so, because we were enjoying working together.

Upon further reflection, I am reminded of the scripture verse that says “This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

We all too often just take each day as it comes along, without taking the time to appreciate it.  Our sweet little girl next door was a great reminder to rejoice in the blessing of the gift of a beautiful day.  I thank and praise the Lord for it… and for her.

The word Pentecost means the fiftieth day.  Websters Dictionary defines Pentecost as a Christian festival commemorating on the seventh Sunday after Easter the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

Since the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on Pentecost, it is the day that our Lutheran church observes Confirmation.  Our young people take their confirmation vows, confirming their baptismal vows, and become communicant members of the congregation.

Because Confirmation Day is such an important and significant day, families gather together in celebration and gifts are given.   A well chosen confirmation gift of Christian home decor emphasizes the importance of the day and has lasting meaning throughout the years.

I still have my Christian art given to me for my confirmation 50 years ago!