Happy Birthday, Marvin Jr!
Thirteen years ago today (May 27th, at 11:25 a.m.), God blessed Tonia and me with our first child – a boy – Marvin Jr. He weighed in at 6 lbs and 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. Today, we celebrate his quirky humor, silly and passionate laugh, bottomless stomach (He refuses to eat off the kid’s menu), inquisitive mind, his love for science, his artistic ability, his athleticism, his love for video games and legos, his compassionate heart, his concern for children, his growing leadership capabilities, his love for his friends, and his growing love for Jesus.
This evening some very important men, men who have had a strong hand in Marvin’s life, will celebrate him by sharing scripture, words of encouragement, life lessons, or symbols of manhood. The apostle Paul said the older men should teach and mentor the younger men. This one example of this biblical principle. We believe he will remember this event for a long time to come. We are so proud of Marvin, and we are expecting God to do some special things with and through him.
Though his birthday was yesterday, please join me and Tonia today as we celebrate our first born, Marvin Lewis Williams, Jr. If you don’t mind, please leave a specific life lesson, a powerful word of encouragement, or favorite scripture for Marvin Jr. in the comment section. Thank you very much.
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May 28th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Congratulations and Happy birthday young Mr. Williams! Although we have never met know that your dad brags and boasts and shares about you all the time. He is truly proud and blessed by having you in his life. As you grow and mature always remember that You are a gift to your parents and they are a gift to you. God gave you each other that you might learn, grow and share your lives and experiences, develop yourselves that you all may be more sensitive and useful in service to Him. We learn in the atmosphere of family first sonthat when God takes us somewhere else, where He eventually wants us to be we will have a good foundation. Outside people and things will begin to pull at you and want your time but always remember God first and the family He chose to place you in. Again, happy birthday and I prY God blesses you with many, many more!
May 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Happy Birthday Marvin Jr! Welcome to the official status of "teendom".
I don't recall too many birthdays, but I do remember the excitement of that 13th one – where I no longer thought of myself as a kid, yet watching closely the older teens and adults in my life for examples of what to anticipate for the future.
What I especially remember is the involvement I had with my church – singing in the choir, playing hand bells, and eating burgers with the big kids across the steet at Kewpees after practice.
Now, forty years later, I see the value of those early times as God equipping me for the paths of reward and challenge I would face throughout the years ahead. Today, it is that foundation, connection, community and mentorship that I remember, which brings me closer to God each time I am blessed with success or challenged by setback or hardship.
You are facing the most exciting (and often frustrating) years of your life. But being true to your relationships with Jesus, your family, friends and mentors will ultimately keep Gods promise true that "He, who has begun a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it, on the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6). Of course, there's a lot of good living to do before that day comes. But it's comin'! And when it does – man, what a birthday party that will be!
Grace, Peace and Blessings to you and your wonderful family.
Mark & Jeannie Baringer
May 28th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Always remember that God loves you because of who He is . .not ever because of anything you do or do NOT do. "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to propser you & to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you. . . " Jer 29:11-14.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
As you get older Marvin Jr, you will feel the need to want your own independence, everybody does! And you may think that you are pretty knowledgable about the ways of the world. Never be too proud, too embarased or too sacared to talk with your parents! There is nothing too big or too small to shock your parents! They will be there to help and encouarge you through it!
June 2nd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
What a great idea & a wonderful way to celebrate a young man birthday.__Happy Birthday Marvin Jr. One of my favorite bible verse is "Trust in the Lord with all your Heart and__lean not on your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path"..Proverb 3:5-6 I hope this encourages you.
Be Blessed
June 4th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Belated happy birthday, Marvin Jr. God's blessings on you as you enter into the next lap of your journey in life into the teen years! Remember the youth of the Bible, some of my favourite being Samuel (right from the time he was an answer to his mother's prayer for him!) who heard God from a very early age as he served under Eli the priest; then there was David, the young shepherd boy who knew how big his God was that he was totally unafraid to challenge Goliath who defied the God of Israel; Gideon, who felt like "the smallest of the least", yet God used significantly; the young boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes who, according to the song in the YMI blog, was also 13 – he gave what little he had despite not knowing how it could feed thousands, and in giving it to Jesus, saw Jesus using it to not only feed the thousands but also had leftover . .
I could go on but that is my present favourite to go by . . .
June 4th, 2010 at 8:30 am
You have been blessed with a wonderful set of parents who love the Lord and whose hearts and prayer for you is to know that mighty God for yourself in your growing up. May you, like Samuel and David who were both very sure of their God, know your stand before Jesus and should you ever feel in any way, small, like Gideon did or the young boy who had the small lunch discover no gift being too small, remember how big your God is and how much your God is FOR you and NOT AGAINST you.
If you stand on God's truth and promises for you, you will find the Jesus you have put your trust in, faithfully seeing you through every bit of hardship and it wil build your character into such that no-one but no-one would ever be able to shake your faith just because, like David, you will have known what a mighty God you have who will never leave you nor forsake you nor ever let you down!
God's blessings for much fun in your teen-years too for there will be lots . . in all you do, do it as for Christ Jesus and your reward will be out of this world!
Cecilia K
June 4th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Happy Belated Birthday Marvin Jr. The scripture I would like to share with you is Phillippians 4:6-8, it is one that I find myself going back to time and time again. "6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Meditate on these words and allow them to help you in your christian journey as well as your life. May God continue to bless you and I thank God for your father, he is one awesome man leading so many others to Christ. God bless you all
June 4th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
MJ, congrats on this big milestone! My advice to you? Be the guy who defends those who can't defend themselves; the man who women know they can trust; who younger kids look up to because he does not push them around or ignore them. Be THAT guy. In other words, be a lot like your dad.