Do You Know Your Name?

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“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah. 43:1

She’s been dancing in His presence for a couple of years now, but I will never forget her. She made an impact on my life forever as I learned so much through this friendship. She entered our ministry doors bent over carrying a load of physical, mental and emotional pain. The excruciating headaches from the brain tumor mixed with emotional pain led to a despairing life.

Kimberly started out in the corner alone in her darkness but soon inched her way beside treasured friends that she learned to trust. She learned to accept the hugs and dare to believe she really was loved and wanted. As she faced many of her fears and received His love and acceptance, she moved from the corner to the door where she welcomed ladies and made nametags.

These weren’t your typical nametags. She gave you the name she wanted you to have. Often they were how she felt about you or some silly made up name. It actually was a great group mixer without us ever planning it. You never knew what name you would be given on any particular Tuesday night. It wasn’t a brain fog, but the freedom she had found in being loved and accepted.

A small group of us were privileged to give Kimberly her last earthly birthday party. Just days before she began her new dance in heaven, we celebrated His resurrection life very much alive within her. Our bags were carefully packed with everything necessary for a good part. Of course it included nametags. She delighted in being the center of attention that day enjoying every minute of it. It was loud, crazy and silly just like she loved it. All dressed in party hats while blowing party horns, the cake and ice cream were eaten with no worries of calories. The gifts were opened and then came the nametags. One by one we began sticking nametags all over her.

Beautiful. Chosen. Loved. Forgiven. Called. Redeemed. Mine. Daughter. Cherished.

You get the idea! These were her true names that she had come to know and accept. It didn’t come easily, but when she got it she wore her name with pride. Like many of us her true identity had gotten hidden down in the muck and mire of a wounded life. The enemy had lied to her and slapped fake names on her for most of her life. But before she started dancing with Jesus, she knew His name and she knew her name.

Grasping and accepting your new name doesn’t come as easily as lettering it on a sticker and slapping it on your chest. No, it comes by staring at Jesus, seeing who He is and believing it is true.

Only when I know who He is will I truly know who I am.

Do you know your name? Stop believing the lies of the enemy. Rip off those old labels and adorn yourself with what He calls you. If you don’t have a group of believers circling around you helping to uncover your nametag, you be the voice to yourself. Began to declare out loud His truth about you. Throw your head back with Kimberly and delight in Him and whose you are!

Unraveling at the Seams

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The tickle on my leg soon became a great irritation. I continued what I was doing, but often reaching down to brush, scratch or grab whatever was tickling me. I never slowed long enough to see what it was, but it felt like a hair or a spider web that surely could be brushed away. The last determined swipe finally grasped a now two foot long string. The beautiful lace trim drooped to my ankles, and there I stood about twenty minutes into unraveling my new gown.

Now I had a bigger irritation, an unraveling gown and no sewing machine to stitch it. Months later it lies rolled up and shoved to the back of the shelf. The annoying thread could easily have been tied off, irritant gone and gown intact.

I often ignore the little threads that lead to living an unraveled life. It’s not the huge things that I can see coming, but the little unseen things dangling. I’m sure you don’t need my list, but here it goes anyway. Ringing phone or chiming messages, alerts, computer stalls and red lights impeding my hurry. Unanswered questions. Lingering unfinished to do lists. Weariness and fatigue. Quick temper and leaking heart. Aching neck and shaking hands. Restless and worried.

There is a common thread in it all. I need a place to breathe and recalibrate. I need to pause and tie off the thread in a knot that reminds me He is the one in charge of this life. A pause to recognize what is unraveling my peace, joy, patience and yes, love.

Sometimes I just need a holy nap. Yes, I said holy. I remember in my early years I was ashamed when I took a nap; now I know it is part of tying the knot. At other times, I find that I am hungry in need of healthy food, or lethargic in need of exercise.

But often I find I am much in need of slipping away and seeking the Spirit of God to reveal what is truly going on. I invite Him into this place with me to speak truth to my heart. I‘m always in need of a fresh intake of the Bread of Life and refreshing Living Water. But He is always gracious to show where anxiety, procrastination, offense, judgment or unforgiveness is unraveling me.

When God shows my unraveling heart, my response to Him is crucial. As I agree with Him, He brings healing, stitching my heart back to wholeness.

The tickling thread is the hint that something is going on.

Pause! Take notice. Invite Him in.

Find space to breathe and let Him tie the knot before you put yourself on the shelf missing His purpose and plan for your life today.

“Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!” (Song of Solomon 2:15)

“You’ve always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all,

A lifetime pass to your safe-houseman open invitation as your guest.

You’ve always taken me seriously, God, made me welcome among those who know and love you.” (Psalm 61:3-5 Message)

Tin Punched Life

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“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I was fascinated with the tin-punched candle holder. It wasn’t that it was especially beautiful itself, but the light that came from the candle within bursting through the punched holes made an intriguing design on the table and wall. It was actually the pattern on the wall that caught my attention; not the little holder.

It brings to mind the scripture in 2 Corinthians 4:7: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

This life as a follower of Jesus is not about me but the treasure of Jesus Christ that dwells within. It’s the troubles of life--the pain and suffering--that literally pokes holes in my tin. The enemy’s impossible intent is to snuff out this glorious light, but God’s intent is to display His glory through a beautiful design that we have yet to see.

Paul knew this to be correct and lived the power of this truth. In this same chapter he acknowledged the tin punches in his life. He said, “Yes, we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8)

Punched, Pressed, Poked… but it was accomplishing something. Paul goes on to say that “these light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

It doesn’t personally feel so light and momentary, but when we look at the prison life that Paul was writing from, we should thank God. We do well to lift our eyes and praise Him in the midst of it all. A glorious design is marking our lives through which His glory will shine. Only as we turn our hearts to praise will we lift our eyes to see the design through which He shows Himself through our hole punched lives. There it is… on the wall, the table, the world around us drawing attention to Him and His Kingdom.

Oh, fellow light bearer, let’s lift our eyes from what we see to what is unseen. May His light shine through in magnificent ways. Don’t let doubt, fear, anger, veil this light, poking holes in your faith. Praise Him that His mark is on your life. As a desperate world looks on may they be drawn to the Treasure.

“Praise Him in the season that you are in,

for it bears the mark of His hold on you.

When life gets a hold of you, tempting you to forget,

lift your eyes, lift your heart, lift your hands and Praise Him.”

- Davy Flowers (Praise Him, Shane and Shane)