Joshua's Elevation Debut

So I think Joshua's 7th birthday is going to be one he won't soon forget. It started out with a surprise gathering of all the neighborhood kids outside around his new bike, complete with cupcakes and hot chocolate. The celebration continued with a sleepover with his best buddy Andrew, and carried over to Saturday with a trip to play laser tag. Much fun!! But it was the surprise he got Saturday evening & Sunday that will be deeply etched in all our memories for years to come.

But first the back story: Our church has been reading through the New Testament in 30 days. A challenge for sure, but it's been great! So three weeks ago, when we started, the children's ministry also gave all the school aged kids an opportunity to do their own verson of New thru 30. That Sunday they gave all the kids new Bibles and a calendar with NT readings and devotions for each day. I have never seen Joshua as excited as he was to get his new Bible! He has several Bible story books, but had not had a real Bible of his own...until now. The next morning he came bounding down the stairs, Bible and calendar in hand, ready to get started. I was so moved by his excitement and by the creative lengths our e-Kidz ministry goes to each week to make sure our kids are presented with the truth of the gospel, that I sat down and wrote a letter to the e-Kidz staff and volunteers. Well, I had no idea that such a small token of appreciation in the form of an email from a Mom would get so much attention. Apparently Pastor Furtick read it as well, and as a result wanted to invite Joshua up on stage during the service last weekend. What!? We were shocked, but so excited for him! We did prepare him somewhat so that he wouldn't be totally freaked out. He knew about the letter and that pastor wanted him to come up on stage with him while he read it. But he had no idea what else they had planned for him. A few days before, I got a phone call from the church asking for Joshua's Bible so that Pastor Furtick and the rest of the staff could sign it for him and Pastor could surprise him with it on Saturday. We were so excited for him! I thought he would be really nervous about being in front of so many people, but he was such a trooper and did an amazing job!! He never stopped smiling (& Mom never stopped crying).

And that wasn't even the end of the excitement for him! We had to be there for all the live services, so Joshua had some free time in between each one. At one point the producer took him back to the production studio, showed him all the cameras, the sound board, and how it all worked. He was very intrigued by all the sound equipment and couldn't stop asking questions. Then he took him to meet the band. You should have seen his face when he walked into the room with the entire worship team and they all started high-fiving him and congratulating him..."Joshua! Great job out there! You're awesome man!" I just stood in the doorway taking it all in.

What an amazing blessing to be given the gift of children and afforded the opportunity to "train them up in the way they should go". Joshua, your Dad and I are so amazed at your excitement for the Lord and His word. And it is our prayer that you will read it not in order to know more about Him, but that you would read it so that you will know Him, and know the hope to which he has called you! (Eph 1:17-18)