Hey Jude!

Today is my son's second birthday. So much has happened over the last 2 years and yet it still feels like yesterday that I saw him for the first time. I can't believe how much he has grown over the past 2 years. I can't believe how much I have grown over the last 2 years. God has used this little boy to give me so much revelation. Through him, I have come into a better understanding of the Father's love for us. With every passing day, the revelation that God gives me continues to increase. I will forever be changed because of him.

Some people have asked my wife and I why we named him Jude. Being a Beatles fan, I couldn't think of a better name. But naming him goes way beyond a love for The Beatles.

In February of 2009, my wife and I found out that we were going to be parents. We were so excited and could barely contain ourselves. Like any expectant couple, we told our families and friends. Everyone was so excited. My wife and I made plans, started thinking of names and began to picture what our lives would be like. Our joy and excitement quickly turned to mourning after only a few days when my wife miscarried. It was so difficult for me to see my wife so saddened by the loss. I did everything I could to be strong for her, but when no one else was around, I broke down.

It was a difficult few weeks following the miscarriage. During those weeks, my wife and I surrounded ourselves with our family and worship. Through it all, our faith remained firm. We continued to minister and seek God's face in every aspect of our lives. It was during this time that my wife, Sarah, found out she was pregnant. We really didn't know how to react. We were still mourning a child lost. A part of us was reluctant to get excited. What if we lost this one? We decided not to tell anyone until a few weeks passed.

As this pregnancy continued, the Lord began to set our minds at ease. We told our families, but decided to wait before making any announcements to our church. During this time, we continued to surround ourselves in worship. We eventually found out that we would be having a boy. Sarah and I started discussing possible names, but nothing seemed to fit. We both wanted his name to have significance. We wanted his name to say something about his character, about the type of person he would become. It was at a rather odd moment that we came upon what his name would be.

Now, here's where Sarah may tell the story a little differently, but this is how I remember it. She had been listening to Hey Jude by the Beatles. What I didn't know was that God had been using this song to minister healing to her over the miscarriage. It was one of those moments where the secular became sacred. I suggested the name Jude to her, joking around at first. She kind of shrugged it off. But there was definitely something about that name. I couldn't get it out of my head. I looked up what his name meant and knew that this had to be his name.

The name Jude is a derivative of the Hebrew name Judah which carries 2 meaning, Praise and Bearer of Joy. I knew that this had to be his name. I ran to tell Sarah. God had been working on her as well. We both knew that God had given us his name. His middle name, David, followed later. David was a worshipper and we wanted that for our son. Also, Sarah's uncle in named David and he has been a blessing and inspiration to our family. We only thought it fitting to name our son after him as well. So on the day of his birth, we named him Jude David.

He has certainly lived up to his name. Praise is continually on his lips. He brings joy into even the saddest of places. In worship, he dances and worships with everything that is in him. His name truly defines his character. I thank God every day for my son.

Jude, Daddy loves you. I know that someday you will do far greater than I could ever do. You are going to change the world for the Kingdom of God. You already are! I pray that you grow in favor with both God and Man. I pray that a spirit of Wisdom and Revelation be upon you. I pray that you continually release Joy. You make me so proud. Thanks for all you have taught me. I love you son!