Currently, in my bible study group, we are utilizing the book "Experiencing God". As I read the first chapter I was reminded of why I have always taken time to know the meanings of the names I might give my children.
There have been names I've liked and chosen not to use, because when we say someone's name we are speaking the meaning of that name over that person. I want what I speak over my children to be a blessing and not a curse.
In chapter one, the author explains that for the early Jews a name was given to describe the character, quality, or something of a person. For example, Isaac means "Laughter" because his parents laughed when God promised him to them.
This is why God has so many names. God is so many things to us. He has so many characteristics. When we speak His name with a heart of worship, we bless Him.
As I finished reading the 1st chapter today, and went over the questions at the end, I was encouraged to think about the names of God that I have personally experienced and which one was most prominent in my life, right now.
My answer: "Lover of my soul". No matter how I feel, when I've cried out to God, especially lately, He has reminded me of how deeply He loves me. Not because I doubt His love, but because sometimes I get so worried about the love of others, that I forget that I have the most important love of all... His.
Tonight, I am thankful for His love. I am thankful that He is the "Lover of my soul" and that, no matter what, the heart He has for me is always full. Nothing can change that. Because He doesn't change.
I pray tonight, that each of you will experience His mighty love in such a way that it fills you and draws you closer to Him than you have ever been.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
No Good, Very Bad Day
Or so it tried to be. Thankfully, we have a God who gives us refuge and strength.
This morning, I awoke, stubbornly, to the urgent call of the Holy spirit. "Wake up and look at your clock!" When I finally did, I saw that it read 6:37. Turning, to go back to sleep, thinking, "No biggie. I've got time.", it struck me. No I don't! My alarm wasn't turned on and I was waking up over 10 minutes late. I jumped out of bed, with one thought on my mind. "Must get girls up and to the bus on time!"
Success. We made it out to the bus stop with a couple minutes to spare and take a moment to give God our joint attention. I drove back to the house, thanking God for intervening.
Unfortunately, I arrived to discover my husband's alarm hadn't gone off either, and I didn't wake him, due to my one track thinking. He was up and rushing to get out the door. Again I prayed, this time for his peace and comfort, as well as for his day to be much better than it started.
The rest of my morning, I was dragging. I don't drink coffee, but on days like this, I wonder if I should start.
Lesson time with the boys was frustrating. It seemed they were just as off kilter as I was. Again, I prayed, God help me to handle this well and for us to get through this. He answered and we did.
As we nearly finished up, my husband called to let me know, I'd forgotten to take the boys to the dentist. I called them up to apologize and was informed I now owed them $50. I felt awful. I'm not one who misses appointments and couldn't believe I'd forgotten. I cried. Sadly, I did. I cried out and asked God to help me through this day. I felt overwhelmed and unmotivated.
After that, I decided to put a combination of Young Living Joy and Peppermint essential oils into my diffuser. The combination is supposed to be uplifting. It was. Not only did I notice a change in my self, but also a peace and calm seemed to have taken over my sons.
Between the oils and God, my day began to turn around. Though, I haven't stopped feeling off kilter and have had my share of unpleasant moments, I have found motivation, peace, and joy. I've done more today, than I would've believed I could, and I'm ending this day feeling good about it, in spite of the valleys strewn through it.
This morning, I awoke, stubbornly, to the urgent call of the Holy spirit. "Wake up and look at your clock!" When I finally did, I saw that it read 6:37. Turning, to go back to sleep, thinking, "No biggie. I've got time.", it struck me. No I don't! My alarm wasn't turned on and I was waking up over 10 minutes late. I jumped out of bed, with one thought on my mind. "Must get girls up and to the bus on time!"
Success. We made it out to the bus stop with a couple minutes to spare and take a moment to give God our joint attention. I drove back to the house, thanking God for intervening.
Unfortunately, I arrived to discover my husband's alarm hadn't gone off either, and I didn't wake him, due to my one track thinking. He was up and rushing to get out the door. Again I prayed, this time for his peace and comfort, as well as for his day to be much better than it started.
The rest of my morning, I was dragging. I don't drink coffee, but on days like this, I wonder if I should start.
Lesson time with the boys was frustrating. It seemed they were just as off kilter as I was. Again, I prayed, God help me to handle this well and for us to get through this. He answered and we did.
As we nearly finished up, my husband called to let me know, I'd forgotten to take the boys to the dentist. I called them up to apologize and was informed I now owed them $50. I felt awful. I'm not one who misses appointments and couldn't believe I'd forgotten. I cried. Sadly, I did. I cried out and asked God to help me through this day. I felt overwhelmed and unmotivated.
After that, I decided to put a combination of Young Living Joy and Peppermint essential oils into my diffuser. The combination is supposed to be uplifting. It was. Not only did I notice a change in my self, but also a peace and calm seemed to have taken over my sons.
Between the oils and God, my day began to turn around. Though, I haven't stopped feeling off kilter and have had my share of unpleasant moments, I have found motivation, peace, and joy. I've done more today, than I would've believed I could, and I'm ending this day feeling good about it, in spite of the valleys strewn through it.
Friday, October 9, 2015
Called to Serve
It seems almost every day I get a phone call. Different organization, same script. All asking for my support as they hope that I will pick them out of the multitude.
We see blips here and there of different ways we can contribute to the world around us. From commercials to facebook posts. Yet, our eyes glaze over, and we keep on scrolling or flipping channels.
It isn't that we don't want to help. It isn't that we don't care. It is that we are so overwhelmed by all the need, how little we think our resources are, and, especially, what is going on in our own little worlds.
It's easy to feel disconnected from things going on in the world, even in our own backyards. To miss that not everyone lives like we do or has what we have.
I saw this yesterday at my son's practice. Kids picking on other kids for being "weird, different, etc" Deciding not to like a kid because he isn't as good at whatever sport as they are. That was actually the big thing. Some of the kids had played the sport in seasons past, but one kid had not. He was behind the curve, yet the other children didn't seem to understand that, because that was not where they were.
I think, in a way, that is true for us as adults. Often we don't seem to realize that just because we're used to something, just because that's how we've always done or known or whatever, that everyone must be used to that, everyone must do, know, etc... just like us. We forget that the world is bigger than ours and that there is so much more going on than we experience ourselves.
I can't give to and support every organization I want to. Admittedly, I sometimes feel guilty about this. This morning, though, I know that I could still be doing more than I am. Whether it is giving of things, time, money, or even just a "Hello" to a weary stranger or a hug for a friend who acts like she has it all together, but is really on the brink of collapse.
Today, I hope to be a blessing to the world around me and to step outside of my own private planet, into the great beyond. A place where I can truly change the world, one choice at a time, for the glory and honor of God, within and outside of my personal life.
For, as I tried to tell my daughters this morning, when we were discussing this topic, "We have a purpose in this life, but it isn't about us."
May we each find a way to serve someone else today.
We see blips here and there of different ways we can contribute to the world around us. From commercials to facebook posts. Yet, our eyes glaze over, and we keep on scrolling or flipping channels.
It isn't that we don't want to help. It isn't that we don't care. It is that we are so overwhelmed by all the need, how little we think our resources are, and, especially, what is going on in our own little worlds.
It's easy to feel disconnected from things going on in the world, even in our own backyards. To miss that not everyone lives like we do or has what we have.
I saw this yesterday at my son's practice. Kids picking on other kids for being "weird, different, etc" Deciding not to like a kid because he isn't as good at whatever sport as they are. That was actually the big thing. Some of the kids had played the sport in seasons past, but one kid had not. He was behind the curve, yet the other children didn't seem to understand that, because that was not where they were.
I think, in a way, that is true for us as adults. Often we don't seem to realize that just because we're used to something, just because that's how we've always done or known or whatever, that everyone must be used to that, everyone must do, know, etc... just like us. We forget that the world is bigger than ours and that there is so much more going on than we experience ourselves.
I can't give to and support every organization I want to. Admittedly, I sometimes feel guilty about this. This morning, though, I know that I could still be doing more than I am. Whether it is giving of things, time, money, or even just a "Hello" to a weary stranger or a hug for a friend who acts like she has it all together, but is really on the brink of collapse.
Today, I hope to be a blessing to the world around me and to step outside of my own private planet, into the great beyond. A place where I can truly change the world, one choice at a time, for the glory and honor of God, within and outside of my personal life.
For, as I tried to tell my daughters this morning, when we were discussing this topic, "We have a purpose in this life, but it isn't about us."
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