What's in a Name?

TGIF Greetings~

Have you ever been labeled?  When I was a senior in high school the entire 34-member class of 1983 took a two-week field trip to visit Christian colleges and hang out at a camp called The Wilds.

It was great fun, and imagine my surprise when they were handing out awards, and I received a plaque, which was signed by all my classmates, that said, “Mouth of the South.”

I still have that plaster of paris monstrosity somewhere in my garage, and I am fond of it.

As labels go, that one was right on the money. 

However, sometimes labels aren’t very nice, and we are all guilty of putting nasty labels on others, even our own kids and certainly people we don’t like.  If I had a quarter for every time I have called someone an “idiot…”

Lord, forgive me.

But yesterday’s DEVO was all about putting the most positive label in the history of labels on others:

Numbers 6:22 “When you bless the people this way, you will place My name on the people of Israel.”

What, exactly, is God’s name?

Below is a partial list of the names of God.

ADVOCATE  ALMIGHTY   ALL IN ALL    BREAD OF LIFE   BREATH OF LIFE   BRIGHT MORNING STAR    COMFORTER    CONSUMING FIRE CORNERSTONE    COUNSELOR    CREATOR    CROWN OF BEAUTY   DELIVERER   ETERNAL LIFE    EXCELLENT    FAITHFUL & TRUE   FORTRESS FRIEND    GOOD SHEPHERD    GUIDE    HOPE    JUST ONE    KING OF KINGS    LIFE    LIGHT OF THE WORLD    LIVING WATER    LOVE LOVINGKINDNESS    MIGHTY ONE    PHYSICIAN   PRINCE OF PEACE   REWARDER   SHADE   SHIELD   STRENGTH   STRONG TOWER   TRUTH   WALL OF FIRE

The importance of blessing others is becoming clearer and clearer.  When I tell Hormone, “God bless you!” I am actually putting Hope, Guidance, Eternal Life, Comfort, Healing, Peace, Strength, Truth, Excellence and more—so much more—right onto his life.  Glory!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your Majestic and Powerful name represents depths of blessings we are all eager to receive.  Bless us now, in Christ’s holy name, Amen! 

Working-it-out Power~

TGIF Greetings~

Wednesday's DEVO struck a chord--a melodious one. Many of us finally realized that no one is the picture of perfection.

No such thing, perfection that is!

And it's not that we are happy that we're all in the same boat as much as that we are happy that Jesus is in the boat with us. There is a difference.

And it is a cause for celebration to realize that not one single soul on this earth can truly judge us or our smelly kids. There are those who will try, but they will never get away with it!

And in the midst of all this craziness we are told to consider it pure joy...

God knows that when reassess our problems--when we redefine them as situations that He can fully and totally handle--when we dig in our heels and declare that we aren't going anywhere until God blesses us--when we make up our mind that perseverance is a good and an invaluable life skill to possess--when we by faith fully accept this verse, Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them," then joy becomes possible.

Notice how it doesn't say, "Everything works together for our good," but rather, "GOD CAUSES everything to work together for our good."

God is active, alive, engaged, near by, hovering, loving, leading, protecting, providing, and causing that thing that you thought would nearly kill you to bless you instead.

Excuse me while I do my happy dance.

I'm back. We need to pray!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We fully embrace Your promises and open our arms wide to receive You and Your working-it-out power! __________ could especially use Your power today. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Give the Order!

Thursday greetings~

Here's a shout out to a couple of special DEVO readers who became grandmothers yesterday. May we all be so blessed one day. Grandbaby and mother of baby are doing well, and I am told that there are still a few brave souls out there who choose to go natural all the way! I am not one of them, as I am anesthetized just to go to the dentist. But I admire it, nonetheless:)

Matthew 8:26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then He got up and gave an order to the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Let's examine a super duper sequence of events.

(1) Storm arises suddenly.

(2) Disciples freak out.

(3) They call on Jesus, Who is nearby and resting in the middle of the chaos.

(4) Jesus gives an order, and Voila!, everything is completely calm once again.

My favorite number has always been #4, so let's focus on that one.

Matthew 8:27 "The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"

As parents we teach our kids to be obey us. But let's face it--no child is 100% obedient 100% of the time. But even if you're all proud of yourself for having perfect offspring, can you imagine ordering the rain to stop? Or commanding the wind to die down?

Doing that takes real power and authority, and none of us can do that. But God can, and He has, and He will keep on doing it.

Take a few moments to think about where in your life you would like Jesus to give an order.

Now refer back to the sequence of events. Three comes before number four, so let's ask.

PRAYER:

Dear Jesus, We call upon You to restore calm in our lives. To bring in peace, joy, and hope, and remove fear, unhappiness, and discouragement. We ask You now to give an order to ______________, and thank You that when You speak, everything and everyone must obey You. In Christ's name we pray, AMEN~

Where the Spirit of God Hovers...

Wednesday greetings, dear people!

 

GO HEAT!  For all you fair-weather fans and scoffers, imagine me sticking my tongue out!

 

Yesterday's DEVO touched a nerve, and I love it when that happens.

 

Check out these responses:

 

I am asking God to let there be healing for my child.

 

I am asking God to let there be a secure job for my spouse.

 

I am asking God for a favorable outcome with a legal matter.

 

I am asking God to let there be a beautiful young woman to come into my life so I can settle down.

 

I am asking God to let there be courage in my life so I can be bold and take a step to a better financial future.

 

I am asking God to let there be more love between  my spouse and me because it's gotten cold.

 

I am asking God to let there be emotional stability for my spouse because there is a tendency for anger.

 

I am asking God to let there be an eye-opening realization in my spouse's life of the great need for God.

 

This list goes on and on...

 

I wonder what is more difficult: Creating light, creating the animals, creating the ocean, creating the universe and creating us lovely folks, or answering any of the petitions above?

 

I think it's pretty clear that God can handle anything and everything.

 

I also want to backpedal to the verse above yesterday's verse.

 

What is the precursor to God's power showing up and doing bigger and beautiful things?  What is the first step in making something out of nothing?

 

Genesis 1:2 "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

 

Where the Spirit of God hovers, amazing things follow.

 

Hallelujah!!!!

 

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Hover over us right now!  We welcome Your presence and Your power.  Thank You that You have everything we need to realize the "let there be," we have been asking for.  In Jesus' name, Amen~