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My Name

He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! Psalm 147:4-5.
         Names are essential to God!  God gave Adam work to do after God created him. “So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.” Genesis 2:19-20.
          In Genesis 3:20, After God created his helper, and they ate of the fruit of the tree of life, we find Adam named his wife. Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live.
         Who is this Lord Jehovah, who created the heavens and the earth?  Does He have a name?  This article gives the ten powerful names of our Lord. The first is Elohim—meaning God and refers to His incredible power and might, and his sovereignty (Psalm 19:1).  The second Is Yahweh, The Lord, coming from the Hebrew word for “I Am!”  Yahweh signifies His authority (Exodus 3:13-14). He calls us a purpose and has a plan.
         Abba Father means “Daddy.”  One whom we can trust as His children (Galatians 4:6).  El Elyon—God Most High (Psalm 7:17). He has conquered death and sin—He is our Lord. The fifth is El Roi, “The God Who Sees” and shows His goodness and remains close to us (Genesis 16:13). The sixth is El ShaddaiGod Almighty (Psalm 91:1).  He is our 911 number who helps us and provides for us and gives us rest. The seventh is Jehovah JirehThe Lord will provide our needs. (Genesis 22:14) We can trust Him when there seems to be no way to solve a problem.  The eighth name is Yahweh NissiThe Lord is My Banner (Exodus 17:15).  God proclaims His protection, leadership, and deliverance for His people.
         The ninth name is Jehovah RaphaThe Lord Who Heals You (Exodus 15:26).  When we need healing in the broken places of our lives, He brings healing which gives us hope.  The tenth name is Yahweh ShalomThe Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24). God is the only One who can give us the peace that passes all our understanding.
         Each meaning denotes a part of the character of our Lord God. Why is our name important?  It is our badge of honor or shame colored by our actions, thoughts, and the words we speak.
         It is not what others think, but what our Jehovah Lord knows about us.  Is our name inscribed in God’s Book of Life?  Each day we add meaning to our names.  All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Revelation 3:5. 
         My Dad knew the value of a name with integrity. He once told me, “I don’t have a lot of money to leave you, but I leave you my good name!”
         I learned many names and spellings as a teacher.  Our name is ours. We dislike having our name tied to negative thoughts or cursing.  Neither does the Great I Am, our Lord God!  When God proclaimed Jesus as His Son and we become children of God through Jesus. God blesses us in this life and the one to come.  Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
         From the time I was small and learned to sing Jesus Loves Me, I knew the Name of Jesus is important.  At eighty-nine, I am still a work in progress—learning about the blessings of Jesus.  Sunday, during the worship services, we sang the praise song, Beautiful Name.  The lyrics caught my heart with the wonder in the Name of Jesus. The melody rises to a crescendo as we sing — “You have no rival, You have no equal. Now and forever God, You reign, Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the glory Yours is the Name above all Names.  What a beautiful Name it is, The Name of Jesus Christ my King. Nothing compares to this, What a beautiful Name it is, The Name of Jesus.”  (Fielding and Ligertwood)
         Anna Daisy’s poem, My Name, gives her thoughts about the importance of her name in relation to the Lamb’s Book of Life. 
            My Name
     This is my name – for me alone,
     Selected just to be my own;
     This name I’ll clothe with wealth and fame,
     Or drag it down to bitter shame.
     This name will seal each pact or deed,
     Each dotted line will find its need;
     To it, I’ll answer through the years,
     I’ll walk with it through joy and tears.
      This name shall tag my heart and soul,
      I’ll hear it read in God’s great roll;
     My reputation or acclaim,
     Through life, shall rest upon this name.


-->                     Anna Daisy Siemens (Stand Tall)

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