Names are Important

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds

Psalm 68: 4

Have you ever wanted to change your name or wondered who you would be without a name?
When I was a child my mother told me why I was named Glynne.
While attending Bethlehem Teachers’ Training College, Jamaica, she had a friend whose name was Glynne.
My mother decided to name her first daughter Glynne because she admired her friend’s personality.
I am not sure whether I lived up to my mother’s expectations.
However, Aunt Glynne was my godmother and I felt proud to be her goddaughter.
Many of you will have stories to tell of how you got your name; and also what your name means.

Names are important. It is by our name that other people identify us and that we identify ourselves.
In biblical times, parents gave their children names with descriptive meanings
such as strong, trustworthy, and leader, in hopes they would embody these traits when they grew up.
Ecclesiastes 7: 1 states, A good name is better than fine perfume.

The words we use to describe other people can either hurt or encourage them.
(Remember the rhyme ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names may never hurt me’?)
There was a teacher who asked her students to tell what they wanted to do when they grew up.
For the most part the students gave the usual responses – doctor, lawyer, policeman, nurse, pilot and firefighter.
Then the teacher asked Billy. He said, ‘I want to be possible.’
‘Possible?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘because my mom tells me all the time that I’m impossible. So I want to grow up to be possible.’

As believers, we are adopted into the kingdom of God.
We are given a new identity, a new name, and a life filled with possibility.
We are called the children of God.
No matter what our past and regardless of our mistakes, the Lord knows our name and desires our worship and praise.
He does not change. He is mightier than any problem we might face.
He is all-wise and loving. He will never leave us. He is our hope.
So whether we like the name on our birth certificate or the nicknames we have been given by those who know us,
we can find joy in knowing that we are called by God and that our names are written on the palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49: 16). (Source: The Daily Way Dr Michael Youssef)

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day and your mercies which are new every morning.
We do not know what is ahead of us today,
but we put our trust and hope in you to guide us, protect us, and provide for us.
Despite the challenges we face, we know that you are our Saviour
and that gives us strength to persevere and take one step at a time.
We are your children, let us remember your nearness to us.
Help us to come alongside those who are fearful, anxious, sad, depressed
in order to listen more than speak and show compassion.
We pray for the government, MPs and all in authority,
that they will make wise decisions for the good and welfare of everyone in this land;
please give them wisdom and discernment.
Father God, we are passing through extremely difficult times in all sorts of ways;
help us not to lose heart and hope.
Lord, we will glorify your name, and magnify your name in all the earth.

Amen

The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18: 10

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8: 38–39

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV

The Bible has recorded over seven thousand Promises;
draw on the Promises of God, and not on the problems of the world.
We live in a very noisy world;
curtail the amount of news that you listen to/watch, as it only creates more and more anxiety.

I heard this one recently:

Fear knocked at the door,
Faith answered;
no one was there.

Continue to build up your Faith!!

Here is a little humour to cheer you on your way today:
Small boy to his new baby sister, whom he was told was a gift from God: ’Quick, before you forget, what does God look like?’

Wishing you a happy and blessed day!!

Glynne Gordon-Carter