Dear Elijah & Aden,
I was listening to the Life Journal Scripture for the day as I was cooking breakfast in the kitchen (I will miss making you eggs). As I began to listen to Psalm 105 I heard these verses, “5Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given, 6you children of his servant Abraham, you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.” I began to remember all the miracles God has performed to get you to this day and I was overwhelmed with thankfulness. Even as I write this my eyes fill with happy tears (you know I can get a little emotional sometimes). Today you both move in to The Daybreak Leadership College Dorms. Elijah you will continue your second year of Life Pacific University and Aden you will start your first. This is massive and I couldn’t be more proud of you both and your willingness to follow God. Remember, He brought you to this place and He calls you “his chosen ones”. He chose you, you didn’t choose Him. Yet, you have had to choose to say “yes” over and over again when so much around you was pulling you in a different direction. Write down the dreams He has been birthing in your heart. Write them down and make them plain. Write down the prophetic words your Mom and I and many others have spoken over you. Why? Because, there will be points in this year when you will ask yourself, “what am I doing here?” Joseph almost certainly asked himself that question as he sat in a prison for years with a heart full of dreams and no foreseeable way to bring them to pass. Psalm 105:17-19 says, “17Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of themJoseph, who was sold as a slave. 18They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. 19Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” You are both Trail Blazers. Like Joseph being sent ahead of Israel you are both being sent ahead to cut a path to the Cross. Not just for your younger brothers, but for a generation. Like Joseph God has gifted you both greatly. I’ve heard it put this way, “your gifts will get you in the room but your character will keep you there.” As I was cooking I felt The Holy Spirit say, “that’s what this year is about- testing and refining your character.” Now, I know, I never liked getting the testing word. It’s not punishment, but rather preparation for what God is about to do and how He is about to move in and through you. That’s why I titled this “moving day” instead of move-in day. This is about you both choosing to move with Him even when it seems and feels like you’re the only ones doing so. There will be points along the journey ahead when you will be faced with the choice of doing what’s acceptable and popular or moving with God into the uncomfortable and unknown. This is the testing of your character. It’s in the quiet nights in your dorm room when no one is looking that your character will be tested. It’s in the loud crowd when God moves mightily through you and everyone wants to give you the props- your character will be tested. It’s because Joseph went through the testing without losing his trust in God that he went on to have such influence and leadership without the baggage of pride that normally comes with it. Joseph became the second most powerful person in the most powerful kingdom of Egypt in all the world at that time and it didn’t go to his head. He kept moving with God in the palace because he was willing to move with God in the prison. He was a Trail Blazer for his people Israel and was able to help them in a time of famine. God will use you both in similar ways to set others free, to help those in need, to use God-given strategies to solve problems others can’t figure out. Psalm 105 goes on to describe how the people of Israel moved through the wilderness from Egypt to enter The Promised Land. A cloud by day, a fire by night, water from the rock- God was moving and as long as they kept moving with Him they walked in His blessing. Do the same this year boys. Choose to move with God even when it feels like you’re not moving anywhere - this testing of your character will produce much fruit for you and for others. I’m going to stop writing because this is already way too long, hopefully you have read to the end because I want you to know this- No matter what you do I couldn’t love you more. No matter the mistakes you will make I could never love you less.
Love,
Your Dad
P.S.
You’re welcome to come home for breakfast anytime! Just give me a heads up as I will have to buy
some more eggs. ;-)
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