Knight Ceremony - Titus

his first.

he was so excited about it.

we had to drive a looooong way for it.

totally worth it.

in tow, two men in training.

destyn and john.

so thankful that we did.

they were like healing balm to our souls as we tread on

soil that supports our loved ones back "home".

we took them to bless them with the experience.

but, as usual, the blessing was all ours, i'm sure.

we begin...

at the perry's house.

slightly off schedule.

a boy.

his father.

witnesses.

a few faithful and God fearing men.

a ceremony.

feeling a tad nervous, i would suspect.

but excited, nonetheless.

 jason mitchell spoke to titus about trust.  how david trusted in God and that's how he was able to slay the giant.  david had made it a pattern in his life to trust in God.

his momento - a silver coin with trust written on the face and

this inscription on the back.  trust in the Lord always and lean not on your own understanding. proverbs 3:5

 next, david ellis.

 titus adores david.

 he totally looks up to him.

 taking it all in.

whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, praiseworthy - meditate on these things.  Philippians 4:8

 david gave him a cross as a reminder of what titus is to meditate on.

next up - monte perry

 we are hidden in Christ!

that's something to get excited about.

He pardons our sin and no longer sees us as sinners when we receive Christ,

but sees His Son in us.

 to remember this awesome truth,

monte gave titus a pocket knife with the scripture reference.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. galations 2:20

chris ellis was next

 Christ is our cornerstone.

 he used Jenga blocks to demonstrate what happens when we have a weak foundation.

when our lives are built on hopes and dreams and not of Him.

 he's telling titus that if he builds in life on the hopes of an nfl career and he blows out his knee, his life will crumble down around him.

 pulling out the "hope" block

 shattered and crumbled life.

 but, if he puts Christ as the cornerstone,

no matter what happens then, his life will not crumble in spirit.

he's resting his hopes on Jesus Christ alone.

 

 what a blessing and privilege for titus to have such great men of God in his life.

shawn and i prayed the first 8 years of our marriage for men like this.

i'm so thankful for the father he is and desires to be in honor of the Lord.

 i love this part of the ceremonies.  shawn explains that one day, Lord willing, he will have a wife to love, but until that day, i'm his woman to love.  woop whoop!

fortunately, i've managed to keep some of my school pics from the age of 8-10yrs.

shawn has given one of the wallets to each boy so far.

 titus receiving my second grade picture.

 i get to say a few things to him.

right after I flick the gnats away from his sweaty face.

 i encouraged him to continue to love well as he already does so now.

reminding him not to dig his heels in where the Lord is concerned.

i also told him how thankful i am for his tender heart that is very sensitive to spiritual things.

he loves so deeply and is very compassionate.

 he got the giggles here, not sure what i said.

oh, it might have been when i warned him not to get any cock-a-mainey ideas about living with dad and i for the rest of his life.  ha!

love this boy so!

next up - big bro joseph

 joseph shared about the fruit of the spirit.  listing each and describing them.

he did a great job.

 he conducted a bit of a Q&A.

titus had the nervous giggles trying to come up with the answers.

cute.

his trinket?

Runts candies each in the shape of fruit.  haha!

 i'm so thankful that shawn includes the older brothers in the boys' ceremonies.

precious.

elijah chose a few scriptures to share with his brother.

 he focused primarily on proverbs 27:17

as iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another.

 i love elijah's expression here.  so endearing.

 two plastic knights glued together to represent the scripture.

 love the love between the brothers.

 shawn wrapped up the ceremony

with a charge from Timothy

reminding him who he is in the Lord.

Four distinctions of a real man:

1. He rejects passivity

2. He accepts responsibility

 3. He leads courageously

 4. He pursues the greater reward, which is in God.

 Shawn also told him that a man has three things to do:

1.  He has a work to do

2. A will to obey

3. and, a woman to love.

 such two tender men.

shawn's mom often tells me of how much titus reminds her of shawn.

 prayer

our boys are beyond blessed to be raised in a home where a father loves them so,

but more importantly, loves the Lord God with all his heart, strength and mind.

 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

Psalm 1:1