By Name

 Adam named his wife Eve,  

because she would become the mother of all the living.

Genesis 3:20

My Name Is...

When you were a little girl, did you ever pretend you had a different name? During playtime, did you encourage your friends to call you by that name? Maybe you still have some long forgotten journal or artwork where you practiced writing your self-appointed name in various styles or with different colored ink? Personally, if I had my way, Elizabeth would have been my first rather than my middle name. It always seemed more exciting and adventurous than Jackie. But, alas, Jackie Elizabeth is my name.

Recently, three girlfriends and I were discussing the process of choosing a name for a baby. We listened as one friend told us the prospective names her expecting daughter has chosen. Naturally, a trip down memory lane ensued as each one of us recalled the manner of selecting names for our children. We all agreed that certain ones were crossed off the list simply because the name was associated with a person we did not like. Other times our decisions were guided by family tradition or in honor of someone. Admittedly, a few of us selected a name we (or our spouse) had always liked, perhaps even the one we had coveted as a child!

Have you ever wondered or asked how your name was picked? Speculating, I posed that question to my mother. Surprisingly, she told me that Jackie, and Michelle (my sister's name), were the first two foster children my maternal grandmother hosted. (She also told me that if my anatomy had been different, I would be a Christopher!) Interesting. My mind travels a hundred paths with this new information, but the fact remains I was born a female and called Jackie.  

Jackie.

Jackie Brown. 

"Have you seen that movie?" (Yes, I finally rented it so I could answer this incessant question.) 

Jackie Brown.

"Awww, my parents had a dear friend Jackie Brown. You just brought back a warm memory." 

(You are welcome, but don't bother seeing the movie. I didn't like it.)

Jackie Brown

"I knew a girl named Jackie Brown in grade school." 

(You did? Well, I hope she was nice and you liked her. If not, just remember I am not that girl!)

His Name Is...

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. Luke 1:30-32

Mary was a mother unlike all mothers. She did not choose her pregnancy nor did she choose the name for the Son given her. The angel Gabriel spoke the news and the assignment: you are to give him the name Jesus.

Jesus

Son of the Most High

Son of Man

Christ

Savior

Immanuel

No other name captures us like His. His family history is part of the greatest story ever told. God selected a very special name for the Savior of the world. Movies have been named after Him. (And I love His movies!) Generations of children have been named after Him. Intense emotion is attached to His name. Knees bend and heads bow. Souls are saved. Jesus. Only Jesus. No other name but Jesus. 

But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. 

O Israel, the one who formed you says, 

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. 

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

Isaiah 43:1 NLT

Your Name Is...

Mary

Amy

Karen

Linda

Beth

Sue

Jackie

Michelle

Every Woman....

Girlfriends, by whatever name you go, know God has ransomed you. He has called you by name; you are His! Reach out and take the hand of Jesus. Treasure the fact that He knows you, the real you, no matter what name or label is attached. He created you. He has plans for your life. He is always with you. I pray today that you will hear Him speaking your name and answer, "Yes, Lord, here I am."

(Your name here), I love you and so does Jesus!

Good Friday

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all. 

Isaiah 53:3-6 NIV

Girlfriends, we are in the holiest week of the year, and today is GOOD FRIDAY. In my heart, I ask myself what is so good about a man full of love, devotion, compassion, empathy, and caring being beaten, tortured, crucified, stabbed, killed, and thrown into a cave? I can think of a lot of words to use as a prefix for this day but "Good" would not have been one of them.

For me, this day begins as one of sorrow and sadness as I envision the sins of the world--past, present, and future--cast upon an innocent man hanging from a wooden cross by nails through His hands and feet. A guiltless man dying for me--for all of humanity. His blood purchased for me what I could not earn, an eternity in the presence of God. It saddens me to know that I contributed to Christ's suffering and pain. Who am I to deserve this priceless gift of grace?

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7 ESV

This gift of grace puts the "good" back into Easter Friday. Only a good, loving, merciful God would make such a sacrifice for disobedient, selfish, and trespassing people of which I am one.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Only a God of understanding would submit to the hands of evil to suffer the atrocities of this broken world in order to be a living example to us of overcoming adversity, finding strength, and gaining everlasting peace. Only a good God would offer us a choice, knowing fully well that we may turn away from His provision and choose death.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 ESV

As Good Friday progresses, I begin to feel the "good" in the day--the goodness of my God, my Savior, my Jesus. The goodness of the hope His death offers to a beaten, battered, broken world and me living in it. By one man sin entered the human race and by one Man sin is forgiven for each human who comes to the foot of the cross humbly seeking restoration and salvation. That is the Good News of Good Friday!

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—Romans 5:12

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15-17

Girlfriends, I pray you will meditate upon the meaning of "Good" in this Friday for you. Weep if you feel like weeping; cleanse your heart with tears of sorrow and grief for the suffering of the Beloved One sent to save you. But ladies, let that water wash away the debris and walk toward the place where glory will be revealed by the Resurrection in three days! Soon, my dears, soon our mourning will turn to celebration, for the grave in which Christ was laid could not hold Him. Good is about to turn into Great...a great day for all of creation!

Love you all!