Day 130

What's In A Name? 

My whole life, it seems,  I have had to deal with people that mess up my name. Either they can't pronounce it or they can't spell it. Sometimes they just use a name that they thought was me but it's not. I've been Janet, Janelle, Jean, Jennifer and multiple other "J" names. I've even actually been called Susan, too.  
For my high school senior yearbook I purchased the option to have my name engraved on the cover - what I got back was:

"Janette Warson" 

- are you kidding me?? Even my own step-mother could not remember my last name and she called all of us the "Bowers". Sometimes when I see a minor misspelling, I feel like growling a low, irritated snarl.  
In all of my mentoring and teacher training, I've been taught that one of the most important things you can do for a child is..... to remember and use their name. It's one way to let them know that they are someone - they are special - they are important to others. And I've seen their faces light up when I cross children in the hallways (at church and at schools) and greet them by name. 
One of the traditions that we practice during church service is moving around the sanctuary and greeting people.  And last Sunday, a dear, sweet lady came and gave me a hug and called me a different name while she's hugging me. And at first it bothered me, it grated on me, I kept rolling that over and over in my head.
I knew her heart was in the right place and she was reaching out in love, but I couldn't get it out of my head. As the afternoon went on, I was getting more and more upset with myself for holding onto such a petty offense. And then God had a conversation with me. And I started looking in His Word for guidance on this topic. I was reassured by the scriptures that I found:

"....I know you by name and you have found favor with me."

Exodus 33:12

"I have summoned you by name; you are mine."

Isaiah 43:1

".....from my mother's womb he has spoken my name"

Isaiah 49:1

".....but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Luke 10:20

How very comforting that the Almighty God, the great Hashem named me before I was born, knows my name, stores my name in heaven before me. 

Even this past Wednesday evening in our children's program the song that was chosen by the Children's Pastor and sung by all of us had these words:

"I am not forgotten,

I am not forgotten,

I am not forgotten,

God knows my name." 

This was the chorus (and imagine in your head all of us standing, singing and dancing - because children dance) and at first I was just mindlessly singing the words but all of a sudden - I realized, just as if I was hit over the head....... I was singing words that spoke to ME about this very subject. How God-like to minister to me while I work with these children. And in perfect "God-timing". Awesome! 

So what is so important about this earthly name? Did you ever notice that many people written about in the Bible have NEW names?? 

Abram became Abraham

Sarai became Sarah

Hoshea became Joshua

Jacob became Israel

Saul became Paul

Levi became Matthew

Simon became Peter

Did they complain with their new names? I doubt it. In most cases, the LORD renamed them new names to better describe their qualities, their assets, their hearts. 

So now, looking a little further I discovered this:

"I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."

Rev. 2:17

I am going to receive a white stone with a NEW NAME! Given to me by God and known only to me. But some day I will hear His voice speaking my name, my new name! And I am absolutely positive when he speaks it, I will know he is speaking to me. So I don't care about this earthly name, I'm anticipating my new name. 

Thank you, Lord, for helping me take the focus from myself and placing it where it rightfully belongs:

"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name."

Zechariah 14:9