What's in a name?.... Part 1

Your name is a form of identity.  Your name is one of the things used to register your birth as well as your death.  It is on your various forms of ID’s and important documents and if for any reason your name is changed, there is quite a bit of hassle and proof required to make the necessary changes on all the documents that matter.  Some people prefer to keep their given name especially after they become established because they do not want to cause any confusion with using a new name and people not being able to recognize who they are.

This reminds me of how very important it is when we name our children. I do believe we need to put more thought and research in these names.  I listen to some of the names that parents call their children and I have to wonder what they were thinking.  Most of these names are very difficult to spell and pronounce, which would be ok if they had a meaning. A few of the names do have meanings but the meaning is one that is associated with bad or evil.  When some of these parents are asked they have no idea except that it sounded cute or different.

Every name in the bible was of some significance.  Some of these names were given according to the circumstance surrounding your birth, and some of the names were a prediction of what your destiny was expected to me.  The name Jacob for example meant deceiver a reflection of who he was, then after his encounter with God his name was later changed to Israel, which meant that he wrestled/struggled with God.  After Naomi lost her husband and children in the country of Moab, she no longer wanted to be called Naomi which meant pleasant but instead Mara- which meant bitter as she thought that God had dealt bitterly with her….to be continued.

In His Service,

 Vilma

Pilgrims on a Journey

A couple weeks ago Paula and myself were talking about the pain of losing loved ones through death. She then reflected that somehow as Christians we were having the wrong attitude about death and as a follow up to this conversation she submitted this entry for this blog. I hope that after reading this you will have a more positive perspective on death and dying. 

 Have you noticed that within the past several months several tragedies have occurred resulting in deaths of both children and adults?  As I listen in on conversations relating to these tragedies, I realize that people are afraid because they are forced to confront the reality of death.  Yes, death is as real as life itself, it is inevitable yet so many of us are unprepared for it. Most of us get very uncomfortable when the subject of death comes up.

 I propose to you that one of the reasons why we are so unprepared for death is because we have made this earth our final destination, our home.  Because we have made this earth our home we fail to entertain the thought of ever leaving, hence the idea of death of self or a loved one is met with great sorrow and fear.

 

Peter in 1 Peter 2:11 tell us “Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.” (NLT).  We are not of this world we are just pilgrims on a journey to our final destination….HEAVEN. The Lord speaking through John in St John: 14:1-3, tells us “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (NLT). 

 

What a blessed hope for those of us who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior! For those who have not done so as yet my question is “What are you waiting for or on?” The bible tells us in Romans 10:9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. It is that simple, do not delay, tomorrow is not promised.

In His service,

Paula Watson (Guest Blogger)