Graduation

My sister-in-law came to take the best of the pictures but it may be a week or two before I get those. Here are just a couple from graduation this week that I took.

My camera is not great and this was taken from quite a distance away, but Caleb was one of around 190 graduates last Thursday. Here he sits with his classmates during the first part of the ceremony.

It's almost his turn to receive his diploma.
What an honor to see 13 years of education come to this day!

His proud big brother!

Tyler called him and let him know how MUCH he wishes he could have shared this day with him.

This is Lauren, Caleb's girlfriend

We are so proud of Caleb and all God is doing in his life. I've told him many times he was delivered to us by God at an extremely difficult time in our lives and home...in the Fall of 1990. And God said to me then through his birth, "I AM bringing light (new life) into your darkness." God does that in numerous, varied ways in all of our lives. I am so thankful to have experienced His light many, many times over.

It was a beautiful day, a day of celebration, a day of Light, a day of God shining on us and the warmth of His Presence was evident.

Jesus said to His disciples on the mountainside as He taught them in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Jesus wants to lift us up when we proclaim with our lives and testimony that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life! As we do Jesus said men will see and praise the Father! So often we believe the lie that to lift up a fellow believer means we are lifting up man and we should only lift up God. That is not so according to Jesus' teaching here. I once heard a message by Louie Giglio and he basically said, God wants to put His people on a stand so that as His ambassadors we can bring glory to God. His people are a vital tool on this earth to bring Light into the darkness.

Teach us Lord, to be like You. We learn from Jesus' characteristic as "both" the Lion and the Lamb; a consuming fire and a gentle breeze; He's Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end; He uses the wind and the rain as both instruments of gentleness and judgement - - that He is a God of balance. Only His Spirit can teach us His ways but may we not sacrifice doing good or withhold good when it is due (Proverbs 3:27). Be a transformation agent. Be an encourager to those God has placed in and over your life. May we lift up each other and especially our spiritual leaders and the young people God has placed in our lives. The enemy of their souls works hard enough to trip them up and cause them to fall flat on their face in defeat. May the body of Christ lift up the Name of Jesus AND each other!

Caleb was honored this week. Along with hundreds and maybe even thousands of other graduates across our city. I pray that his life will be a beacon to the world. I pray for the greater things God has yet to come in his life; that Caleb will seek after them and follow hard after his God. His plans are to go to Jeff State or Wallace for his basics and then transfer to Auburn to pursue a degree in Architecture. May the grace and power and glory of the Lord go with him in all he does!