Namesake Week 1 Day 5: Revelation, Call on the Name of God

Today's Scripture: Genesis 11:1-8 and Genesis 12:1-9

As mentioned in the introduction to this study the first 4 days of the weeks study is related to transformation, learning about changes that God made in the lives of others. The last day of each week is about revelation, exploring the unchanging identity and character of God. 

"True change is found in discovering who God is, how God reveals Himself and His love to us, and how it makes a difference in our own lives."

Can you imagine what is would be like is we tried to become more like God if he never revealed His character to us. We would be like a dog trying to catch him own tail, going around and around trying to catch ourselves. 

Here are some of the characteristics of God listed in the Bible

A strong fortress, a place to find love and safety

Glory

Majesty

Unfailing, never ending righteousness

Giver of Life to all who believe

Scripture relating to God's nature: Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 1113:1-3, and John 20:31

Many people make a list of the priorities in their lives, most go something like family, job, house, etc, etc. But for Christians its important for God to be at the top of the list, put first, and made top priority. He has to be the center of our universe, not ourselves. Jessica LaGrone points something out about the story of The Tower of Babel (Genesis Chapter 11) that I never really noticed. The people came together to build this tower so that "their" name would be known. By putting themselves before God, and putting themselves in God's rightful place they start a drastic downward spiral. 

Genesis Chapter 11 - Moral Bankruptcy - Bankruptcy Chapter 11 =

bank·rupt·cy, Noun - The state of being completely lacking in a particular quality or value. Failure, depleted, empty.

If the people had called out to God and asked for Him to reveal his plan and purpose for them they could have been mighty leaders and known for that, instead of causing total chaos and crashing down (bankruptcy) of the tower. 

This really stuck with me: "the characteristics at the heart of God are central to the future they (we) are now seeking."

When we call out to God for help, guidance, or support we need to not be calling God to us to do something, or do things our way. We need to call out to God, with all His Love, Power, and Mercy, in Praise of Him to please for Him act in His will on this situation. More times than not, God will make changes in us (changes to our heart, our character to be more like Him) that will in the end bring about the change that we are asking for. God works in mysterious ways.

Psalm 86:5 and Romans 10:13

Instructions from God on how to pray and call out His name can be found in Matthew 6

Namesake Week 1 Day 4: Waiting On God

Today's scripture Genesis 18:15, Genesis 8:6-12, 1 Samuel 1:1-22 and Luke 2:25-35

Additional reading about waiting Psalm 27:14, Psalm 130:5-7 and Isaiah 40:31

In this chapter Jessica talks about her trials to conceive a child, all the doctor appointments, tests, and waiting. I can completely understand it has been three long years of trying to get a diagnosis and treatment for my lower back pain and come to find out just this year that I also have MS (Multiple Sclerosis). That phrase "Hurry up and wait" is exactly how things have gone these few years and it has been one of the most trying times in my life. Just like Abraham and Sarah I have spent countless hours of worry, waiting, hoping, praying and praying some more.

Letting God be in control and trusting him can be the hardest thing we have to do sometimes. God's promise of "I Will" (from chapter 3) means that God is responsible and He has our lives in His hands, and not in our own. Learning how to wait well is a really important skill because we will always be waiting on or for something. Waiting on the blessings can sometimes be a blessing in disguise because we have to rely on God more than ever.

Have thin own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after they will,

while I am waiting, yielding and still.

                                           -Adelaide A Pollard

I am a control freak often times, I try to think of and plan for everything. I worry, over analyse, and try to plan out my own future. All of this OCD craziness ends of making me stressed and in the end disappointed. Waiting strips us of the illusion that we are the ones who make things happen and it forces us to acknowledge that God is the one in control. We know that God has dreams and has made us promises, but he never delivers a timeline. We must learn to trust in God's plan of "I Will" and simply wait. We have to release control to God. In the last week of this home buying situation I prayed and gave all the stress and worry over to God. 

God, I give it all up to you. I know this is not in my control. If its your will that my family and I get this house then please let it be. Please Lord take away our stress and worry. Help us find comfort in the fact that you have your hands in this and be satisfied with the results. I know that if its not in your will you will help us find our way. Amen

If we hope and search for God He will listen, answer and turn to us. He will not leave us alone for He hears our cries the most when we truly need His help. All of the waiting in the past three years has molded me. Its made me appreciate and be more thankful for what I have. It has made my relationships with everyone stronger and richer, and although I'm still learning - it has been me understand that I have to slow down. 

I have made a promise over the next few weeks that when I am in a situation of waiting that I will put down my phone, turn off the TV, or whatever else is a distraction and look around. Listen, talk to people and fully be present in the waiting. I'm sure there is a message or lesson that can be found in the waiting, otherwise wouldn't God just make what I'm waiting for instantly happen?

Namesake Week 1 Day 3: Promises, Promises

Today's Scripture: Genesis 17:1-8, Genesis 17:6, 15-16, Galatians 3:26-29, and Romans 9:8

The following passages show God's Promises,

Numbers 23:19 - God doesn't lie, fail to act, or change his mind. He is not human and so he always carries through

Joshua 23:14 - Every promise God makes comes true.

John 14:1-2 - Trust in God for he will always make room for you.

2 Peter 3:9 - God is patient and wants / waits for everyone to repent and find Him.

Abraham and Sarah grew up in a polytheism (the belief in multiple gods) families. They had no experience with God and his promises. They were not used to a God who only wanted their love in return for the promises and fulfillment of a great life / future. God sought out and fulfilled every promise that He made to Abraham and Sarah without the need for sacrifices or manipulation. 

There are three promises that God makes to his people

1. People - God came to Abraham and Sarah and promised them not only a child that they so desperately wanted, but he also promised them a family as plentiful as the stars. He promised them "People" a family line. (Galatians 3:26-29)

2. Place - In Genesis 17 God promises "The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you." In the days of the Bible a persons wealth was determined based on your offspring and the land you owned. By God promising Abraham and Sarah a nation and giving them a beautiful and fruitful land. He gave them a "Place".

3. Presence - God offered Abraham and Sarah and ALL OF US one of the greatest things he can - he offers us His presence. The greatest promise of all someone to walk beside us and guide us. A covenant to be our God forever and to be the God of our children and their children and on and on. "His commitment to walk with us as His children." Jessica LaGrone Namesake

Additional passages about God's presence 

Psalm 16:11, Psalm 41:12, and Acts 17:28

God's blessings in my life:

God has blessed me by providing people that bring me joy - My husband, my daughters, friends that come and one and my sister. These are the people besides my parents and in-laws that bring laughter and joy to my life.

God has blessed me by providing places that I treasure - The ocean, the mountains, my past homes and the beach houses where we have vacationed.

Namesake Week 1 Day 2: Small Changes, Big Impact

Today's Scripture: Genesis 17:1-5, 15-22, Genesis 17:4-6, Genesis 17:15-16, And Galatians 5:22-23

The message in today's study is that sometimes we wait for God to make huge changes that we will change our whole life's, but often the biggest changes come from the tiniest of adjustments. When God changed Abrams and Sarai names He only changes them both by one letter, the Hebrew letter "Hey" (H) Abram became Abraham and Sarai became Sarah. God changed the whole course of their lives just by giving them both a letter H.

When God changed Abraham and Sarah's names and told them of the child they were to have, God painted a clear picture of what the future was going to look like. As with many things in our lives we sometimes only have sight for the big changes, but we shouldn't underestimate the value of small changes.

 "God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually." John Newton

The story of Nicodemus is a great example of the changes that God can make in our lives. The story of how Nicodemus can be found in John 3 and John 19. "Nicodemus' faith developed in a way that many Christians can relate to. I know that when I decided to recommit to God and my faith in 2010 that these steps are exactly how I felt.

1. We become curious about Jesus but hesitant to do anything about it.
2. We watch other believers wondering what makes them so different
3. We decide that we want to get to know the Lord so we start reading His word - getting to know Him through the Bible and prayer
4. We hide our faith from others for fear of being judged
5. Then we go public - we make sure that everyone know we are Christians and we believe in God and Jesus Christ

"Public faith affects the way we treat others, the way we handle anger or disappointment and the way we choose to sacrifice for the good of others - showing the characteristics of Christ in our lives." - Jessica LaGrone, Namesake

The characteristics of someone transformed by God are often called the Fruit of the Spirit. There are 9 traits that grow as we live our lives surrendered to God.

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self-Control

Here is one of the questions asked in this series. What are some of the way that you've experienced over the years with God's help? How are you different now than 5 / 10 years ago?

Answer -

I value my marriage, my husband, and my family sooo much more! I know I need to put time into all my relationships and I have grown my relationship with God 10x's from 5 even 10 years ago. I have decided to make all of these relationships my priority. In the past I put work, friends, and material possessions before my family, marriage, children, and God. I am happy in my life, I am joyous and I'm working on growing the 9 traits of the fruit of the spirit, I am also always working on being a better mother, wife, and growing closer to God.

Namesake Week 1 Day 1: What's in a Name?

Today's scripture Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 29:31-35, 30:1-12

Our names are not given as much thought these days as back when the Bible was written. Our names are given to us for many reasons, to tell a story, description of inner character, or to carry on a family name or tradition. But back when the Bible was written parents would invest a significant amount of time choosing just the right name, a name for their child to grow into, a dream to be fulfilled.

Here are the names of Abraham and Sarah's great-grandchildren and some words that came to my mind after reading the reasons for their names.

Reuben - Love shared between a husband and wife

Simeon - The loving bond shared between a mother and son

Levi - A son for a father to love

Judah - Praise to God for the last son

Dan - Vindication 

Naphtali - Struggles towards a win

Gad - Fortunate

Asher - Joy and celebration

Isaiah 43:1 "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 names, you are mine."

I love this verse! The Lord created us, formed us, and ransomed us. He named us out of love and we're His.

I have always thought of God is a fatherly way, my father and teacher. It truly makes me happy to have such a close relationship with God, to be his child.

Act on It:

I never really have thought much about my name or why my parents chose the name they did. So I called my mom this afternoon and asked her. "Well....." I heard the name Lindsy somewhere, someone said it and I liked it. It was unique and wasn't very common at the time." I looked up the definition of my name after I got off the phone with my mom.  

Lindsy - Island of Linden Trees. Near the Island of Linden Trees. ( The linden tree is a large long lived tree that is also know as the lime tree for its sent.)

My middle name Marie - Loyal

I guess the name fits me better than I thought. I love water and all the colors of water. I consider myself to be a loyal person, hopefully those around me feel the same way.

What does your name and the names of your family members mean? It might give you a better idea of who you are, or rather who your parents dreamed that you might become. Who God is calling us to become.


The first step in the transformation to becoming Jesus' namesake is to trust in the Lord for he has a plan for us. Jeremiah 29:11 and Ephesians 3:20 are great examples of this plan. 

Teen Glam Room

Here are some of the ideas that my oldest daughter has for her new room. She really wants grey and a chevron wall. The white and black heart bedding from Pottery Barn is something that she has fallen in love with. We are going to chalk board paint her closet doors, hang some twinkle lights and make sure she has a large memo board for all her photos. So many great ideas and I love the peachy pink accent color she has chosen as well.

Ideas:

1. Chevron

2. Chalk board

3. X-Large memo board

4. Twinkle Lights

5. Puddled curtains

6. Gray and pink

7. Make-up Vanity

8. Pottery Barn Teen Heart Bedding

9. Teen Glam

10. Luxury and hipster

Cloe's Butterfly Little Girls Inspiration Board

Cloe is only 3.5 and although her ideas for her room change by the second I really like the idea of brighter colors. She is not longer a baby so those super pale pastel colors are not really fitting. One of her most recent ideas is a butterfly room, and I love it.

She is not sure if she wants blue or pink walls, but she wants pink, aqua, blue, and white. Butterfly garlands or a wall installation of butterflies. I can't wait to get this all together for her!

Ideas:

1. Bright pink, aqua, and and blue

2. Butterfly bedding

3. Accent wall with frames or her name

4. Banner / pennants

5. Mobile and or hanging butterflies

6. More organized

7. A completed theme

8. Chalk board painted closet doors

9. New dresser

10. A place that Cloe wants to play in