Words for Steven's Blessing

Dad:

Genesis 48:9 (New International Version)
"They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father.
Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."

Mom:

There are 7 stages in life when we need Blessings and at each of those stages we have life questions that need to be answered.
I want to answer the first 4 questions now to make sure it is perfectly clear to you, Steven, and then you will have nothing holding you back and you will be ready to receive the blessings meant for you as you go through the border crossing from childhood to the teen years.

At Conception the 1st question you need answered is “Am I welcome in this world?”
May you know that you were wanted and loved from the first moment we knew about you.

During Pregnancy the 2nd question is “ Is there a safe place for me in this world?”
May you know that we worried about your safety from before you were born, but God took care of everything and kept you safe. May you know that both your Dad and Mom will continue to provide a safe haven for you and that there is nothing you ever need to fear from us. With God’s grace and mercy we will continue to love and protect you.

At Birth the 3rd question is “ Will my needs be met?”
May you know that with God’s provision we will provide for you with the abundance we have received from God.

In Early Childhood the 4th question is “ Who can I trust in this world?”
Steven, may you know that in all things you can always trust your Dad and I. We commit ourselves to always having your best interests in mind as you are our son and we are committed to doing no harm to you.

As you enter the Teen Years and ask the question “ Do I have what it takes to make it in this world?"
May we help you to discover this for yourself, but let us tell you right now we know the answer is absolutely YES.

Dad:

And now I would like to give you our personal blessing

May you know that we have always marveled at your quick wit, analytical mind & verbal acuity.

Mom can picture you as a future lawyer or a sports newscaster. I can picture you as a ………………………………. There are so many possibilities for you to explore I can't name one.

May you know that we see you are continuing to develop into a handsome intelligent young man and are proud of your athletic abilities and social graces.

May you know that we love the way you are kind and caring to others and are extremely proud of the way you look after the babies at church and those we have fostered. We also are grateful when you model good behaviour to your little brother James, your foster brother Iain, and the boys at Sports Night, as well as all the other children that have been in our care over the years so that they will have success in life as well. You are a strength and an asset to this family. We appreciate that you are polite and respectful to adults.

May you also know that we are very pleased that you are an active participant in the life of Wellington Square.

(Youth Leader)Tracey Gallenger: (from The Name Book by Dorothy Astoria_

We bless your name

Everyone has their own unique name

God Bless You Steven Daniel Lord
Steven: Inherent Meaning – Crowned
Spiritual Connotation – Blessed
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
Daniel: Inherent Meaning – God Is My Judge
Spiritual Connotation – Discerning
Scripture: Psalm 119:142 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end.

May the LORD bless
And protect you.
May the LORD smile on you
And be gracious to you.
May the LORD show
You His favor and
Give you His peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Heather Waddell:

We bless your welcome in this world, you are unique.

We bless your destiny, that God has a special plan for you. May you discover the sheer joy of walking in the steps God ordered for your life.

We bless your family relationships that you would enjoy a sense of belonging in a family that loves you. May you be kept safe from accidental emotional injury.


(Children's Ministry Coordinator)Heather Mackey:

We bless your teen years.
You have what it takes to fulfill everything God has called you to do. As you apprentice for adulthood, may your unique talents and gifts be recognized and stimulated in preparation for your life’s work.

We bless your life preparation.
May these years truly serve as an apprenticeship period for adulthood. May you always be mentored in character and in your life’s calling.

We bless your need to grow.
May you learn from your mistakes and experiment with your gifts and talents. May you never fear to accept new challenges and test the limits of your capabilities within the boundaries set by godly authority.

(Youth Ministries Coordinator)Rhonda Elgersma:

Blessing for a New Teen - (From the blessings book by Terry & Melissa Bone)

Luke 2:52 – And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

Jesus had God’s favour and therefore he matured in four ways as he entered teen years – mentally, socially, physically and spiritually.

Over these seven years, you will leave behind childhood and become an adult. Even now your new identity is emerging. I bless you to receive God’s favour in the following ways:

I bless the development of your mind---
For the first 12 years of your life, your brain has been growing – one trillion cells have been added since your life began. The growth of your brain is now complete, but not the growth of your mind! May you increase in knowledge and in wisdom. May you come to know your gifts and talents and learn how to use them for good. May lies be recognized and rejected and truth be recognized and received.

I bless your physical development---
May you grow strong and always be in good health.
May you be happy with the physical attributes God has given you and use your strength to serve Him.

I bless your social development---
May you receive appropriate recognition for your emerging identity from your parents as well as teachers and other authority figures.
May you continue to submit to godly authority figures.
May you have the strength to say NO to negative peer pressure.
May you always have meaningful and healthy friendships during teen years; may some of these friendships last a lifetime!

I bless your spiritual development---
May you develop real wisdom, by listening to the advice of your parents, and always thinking about the consequences of your actions.
May you have spiritual experiences that will positively impact you for the rest of your life.
May you have a love for the Word of God and a growing knowledge of how it applies to your life.

(GraceLand Leader who Steven works with in the baby room)Linda Scott:

Open for well wishes from friends:

Close with blessings for friends:

Amen
Party On