Each day you look and you long. Each day you pour your soul out until nothing is left. Each day you give – give until it hurts. Each day you live with a depth that only Heaven can truly understand. Each day, you dream.

In the crushing

In the pressing

You are making new wine

In the soil

I now surrender

You are breaking new ground

So I yield to You into Your careful hand

When I trust You I don’t need to understand

‘Cause where there is new wine

There is new power

There is new freedom

And the Kingdom is here

I lay down my old flames

To carry Your new fire today

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

Jesus, bring new wine out of me

(Lyrics of New Wine by Hillsong)

Your entire life has been designed for greatness. Designed for beauty. Designed for sacrifice and designed for depth. You devoted yourself to your family from the earliest age you could. You are fierce – in the crazy, loyal Arnold way. You are passionate – in the robust, faithful Schmid way. You are what it means to walk in the fullness of life.

These past few years have been your greatest challenge. You have been charged with learning and unlearning who you are and what defines you. These days have produced in you the Great Need you never fully realized – that the God of scripture is true and real and can be trusted. The Unseen God of the Bible wrote promises with you in mind – and has never neglected you or fled from you. These years are called “the crushing”. And in these crushing years, He is creating in you what could’ve never existed. The life-altering truths that are weaving into your newly created DNA are untouchable and unpenatreble.

Your amazing mother, my beautiful sister, poured truth and graciousness into you. This foundation is one that can never be altered, but the beauty now being formed on top of it will outlast any storm or crisis.

While the next steps seem to always be unknown, remember – God has already written your story, and guess what, it is ALWAYS good. On this 25th birthday, bask in the glorious Name that promises to never leave and never forsake you. He always hopes, always protects and always perseveres with you.

Karlie Abigail – Definition of Karlie – free man. Definition of Abigail – to rejoice.

Be your name. A free man, rejoicing!