God’s Will Is Healing

Having been hospitalized for almost three months last year and some other close calls in my life had not convinced me that God’s will is healing, I always believe that but if anything, it reinforced it, and also the enemy attack and hindrances to it, and simply that many don’t believe in it, think passed away with the disciples or have not been taught correctly.

Let’s remedy that. For years, I would hear people pray that if it was God’s will for someone to recover that they would. I accept that not understanding the love it took for God give us Jesus and allow Him to suffer in our stead. I also thought of Him more in the God like, super human way, like bullets would bounce off Him, so much so that I was failing to see Him as man, one who loved so intensely and passionately that He would suffer for me, die for me, carry me through anything.

But how does that explain God’s will being healing? Personally, I believe that God has a perfect will and a permissive one. Obviously, the perfect one would put us in a veritable Eden, a heaven on earth. Death was never His intention, but He could not allow mankind to live forever in a sinful state, with no chance of heaven, so He sent Jesus, it was decided even before the fall, because He loved us He gave us a free will, and they chose the wrong way, any of us could have.

The permissive will is what He has to allow, He has to keep His Word and will not force His will on us. We, as believers have the authority of Jesus name, we can speak healing words and receive from God the very life that flowed through Jesus by the Spirit and even raise Him from the dead. He really had to trust God, didn’t He?

I will not tell you not to go to the doctor or take medicine, but to keep your faith. When the woman whose blood was issuing from her body, she was beyond the help of doctors, yet she sought Jesus, her faith made her whole. And Jesus told her to go in peace. We will talk about how peace affects healing this week as well.

If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. John 17:7

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:13-16

You can see how these verses and others like Acts 18:21, when Paul says he will return if it is God’s will, can easily throw us. But it is also clear that they were bragging about what they were going to do, as for the Apostle, he did face beating, prison and shipwrecks. Paul had no idea what he would face to carry the gospel, and we too, may not, but we have the benefit of hindsight, we know it was His will for Paul to make it.

We also know that is God’s will that everyone be saved, from John 3:16, but we know they won’t, because they will not did not believe, it is the same with healing. Jesus even said He could not do any mighty works when there was doubt and unbelief. We also know His mercy, not even a sparrow fall, apart from His will, He doesn’t even want a bird to die, but because creation fell, He know it will but He is there to gather up and give it heavenly flight.

We studied the Lord’s Prayer, now let’s see the leper’s.

Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-4 and Luke 5:12,13

Now, Jesus also told this man not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priest as was the custom. There were those who would have killed Him if they could have. He may even tell us the same thing by the Spirit, as we live in an age of unbelief, that does not mean He is unwilling to heal. When I had come home from the hospital, and recovered some mobility, I stood up and told the Lord that He was my High Priest, and I know He had made me clean.

While healing is God’s will not everyone will receive, because of their own unbelief, not being taught, or just that they are tired and desire His mercy, but it is there and a promise, by His stripes, which is better translated wounds, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5, and I believe that because He loved me and gave His life, and keeps His Word, way better than I ever could, I will walk again soon.

And remember Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was so troubled that He asked for the cup to be taken from Him if there was a way, this is His humanity, but the Son of God, said for His will to be done.

But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9

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Stealing Healing?

Is the devil stealing our healing? This thought occurred to me because I have had so many setbacks in my own recovery. Now, not everything is going to be him, but John 10:10, says he comes to steal, kill and even destroy.

We all know cancer survivors, and I have seen some survive, several bouts of it, others who succumbed after three battles, a young missionary who had prayed for people to be healed, and they were, pass at thirty two from malaria. I have seen miracles and consider myself one. I had at least five maladies when I was hospitalized that could have proved fatal.  There is such a thing as survivor’s guilt. I think it has to do with PTSD, post traumatic stress disorder, and you don’t have to be in the military, just the Lord’s army. that is why I have to let Him fight as I am still. Exodus 14:14.

So what is stealing healing or who? Is it the  devil, no doubt. But it can also be people, friends or family who even unwittingly fail to let us enjoy His rest. There are those who are determined to sabotage us in many areas. I read today about being gentle with yourself. Are we? We as women and believers are prone to overdoing it. I had to cut back on blogging. And I hate missing out on it, but I have to obey the Lord and enter His rest.

I have to tell you that years ago I heard about a woman with a cancerous growth on her face. At a healing service, it fell to the floor. Instead of feeling the new, baby soft skin, and being thankful, fear took over and she picked it up and put it back. How awful is that? Fear is a deadly weapon, not fear that is reverence for God but terror and torment.

Another story was relayed by a prominent minister that a girl who worked at a bar was healed of being deaf. She went back to work, and lost her hearing again. It was likely a noisy, but also sinful place. I am in no way judging, I understand all too well. Jesus both healed and forgave at the same time, and some cases were not from sin at all. But sometimes, it is a return to sin and not be thankful.

He did speak of the lepers, He healed ten, yet only one returned to thank Him, prompting Him to ask where were the other nine. Their leprosy may have returned, I don’t know. There are people who may not get healed and unfortunately, they may not want you to. You know they type, ” If I can’t have it neither can you. ” It is petty and childish and really, quite foolish. I pray for people all the time and have even been unselfish to pray for them to, even if I didn’t. Now, that was probably, not wisdom. But I want it to be sincere, I encourage women to pray for others in spite of your circumstances.

Jesus isn’t disqualifying us as much as we disqualify ourselves. He paid such a high price to redeem us, spirit, soul and body. Recognize toxic people, don’ confide in everyone, be aware that he roams about seeking to devour us. Do what you can in the natural and let Him take care of the supernatural. Eat enough, pray and rest, and the devil won’t be stealing your healing.

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The Authority Of His Name

Since we have studied names all week and the names of God and Jesus, I thought it would be nice to wrap it all up with a few verses about Jesus and the authority of His name.

While we could study God’s names for a long time and we have all eternity to, He is the one true God who gave all His power and authority to the second person of the Trinity, Jesus, and of course, as believers, He gives us the Holy Spirit, who also has several names, and I will leave a link to those. There is one God, He is a Triune being.

Let’s look at some verses about Jesus and authority, you know He died to redeem us and take back the authority Adam lost for us. That is why He is referred to as the Second Adam.

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:28,29

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ” Matthew 28:18

And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to Him, and they said to Him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe Him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Mark 11:27-33

Since you have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given Him. John 17:2

God raised Jesus, seated Him in heaven…..far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 4:21-23

And in Romans 13:1,2 and Titus 3:1, we are told to submit to authority. Not being doormats but realizing who is teaching the truth. You see how he was challenged and the religious leaders had no answer. But we know that God gave Him the authority, and the name, and Jesus said to ask in it. I hope what I teach is filled with His authority.

In Matthew 8:9, is one of my favorite stories. The Roman centurion recognizes the authority of Jesus because he too is a man under authority, and he can tell his solders where to go and what do as well. And he is receptive, one of the two people with great faith, the other, the Syrophoenician woman.

Unlike her, she was calling Him Rabbi and not a Jewess, he was genuine and deemed himself unworthy that Jesus even come to his house, but he believed with a word that his servant would be healed. The fact that he cared for a servant is also telling.

I hope this helps us rethink His authority and that He allows us to use His name. It is one of our weapons of warfare, and there is power and authority in His name — Jesus! We want to receive the blessings and best God has for us in Jesus name.

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An Excellent Name

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. Proverbs 22:1

A good name is better than precious ointment. Ecclesiastes 7:1

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9 NKJV

That is where the title of the post comes from. The Psalm is absolutely correct isn’t it. New King James translates it excellent but several others use the word majestic, and I like that too! You can never come up with words good enough to describe God.

And while another post will deal with God’s names, Psalm 8:9 uses two, Yahweh, His most sacred name and Adonai meaning Lord, let’s look at some other verse that will help us to study the greatness and goodness of God, the one true God, with many names. The word ha shem in Hebrew simply means the name.

For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for Himself. 1 Samuel 12:22

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! Psalm 34:3

I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1

Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! Psalm 113:2

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD. Psalm 118:26 – Baruch Ha Shem Adonai, the first half, it relates to Jesus riding into Jerusalem to palm leaves and Hosannas.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 128:4

Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven. Psalm 148:13

Jesus tells the disciples in John 17, that He has declared God’s name to them and we all know we are not supposed to take it vain. I catch myself just saying Jesus sometimes, and it can be if I am irritated, so I watch that.

That is why I don’t like OMG and LOL. why do resort to such things when we have the gift of           language? And such and excellent name to praise. Lord, I , for one, want to lift your name on high.

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The White Stone

I found a white stone today. I plan to polish it up and I have some acrylic markers to write something on it. I like collecting those that say words like strength, faith or hope. The hospital chaplain gave me one.

I just wanted to make my own. Perhaps, even a rock garden sometime. I know there a lot of things I could write on them, encouraging words, inspirational ones. Names? Yes, even names. They make great gifts, but it wasn’t my idea. Let’s read about it.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. Revelation 2:17

While I once thought that everyone would receive a stone that overcomes, it is clear that this is addressed specifically to the seven churches. It is a prophetic reference to Israel, during the time of the Great Tribulation, probably right after, and at the beginning of His millennial reign.

We, as believers in Christ, already have our names in the Book of Life, He is our daily bread, our manna from heaven and our new life and maybe, even a new, name is hidden in Him. He is our stone of remembrance, the rock of our salvation, and the one that the water of His Spirit pours from when we speak to Him.

This traditions goes back a long way. Friendship stones were given at heather temples, and many Jews are waiting for the building of the third temple, which should be sometime in the middle of or beginning of the second three and half years. What he Bible calls times, time and half time. I personally do not expect the Church to be here.

There are some plans already in place for that temple but the Ark of the Covenant has not been found. Jesus us our Ark, the Spirit sits on the Mercy Seat of hearts. It contains the stone, the broken tablets with the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, an almond branch, and the manna hidden there. It is why we have to study the verse in context, why He will give manna and a new stone to overcomers, why give us what we have already? The Jews did not accept Him as the Messiah, John relays the crucifixion, And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 19:37 in reference to Zechariah 12:10’s prophecy.

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him, as one weeps over a firstborn. “

The almond represents virginity and purity, in Jeremiah, it is a sign of His watchfulness, Tu B’Shevat  celebrates the return of spring. The broken tablets are, of course, the commandments, broken by all, fulfilled by only Jesus, who is our bread or manna from heaven.

Their names will be in His Book. The Jewish tradition is that all names are there and not blotted out until there is no more hope of them being a believer, Revelation 3:5 alludes to this as well as Psalm 69:28 and Isaiah 44:22 refers to blotting out transgressions, yearly sacrifices were made at the temple then.

While I have hear stories of the lost Ark, it has not been found, nor do I believe it will be until it is God’s time. I am not certain that a son from the Queen of Sheba and Solomon took it to Ethiopia. One is said to we well guarded there. There are lost tribes of Jews there, scattered everywhere, even to China.

Did the Knights Templar hide it on Oak Island? Or is it hidden under the temple mount in Jerusalem? I heard an archaeologist say that fire shot out of his dig there, and I an sure that many sites are restricted, especially, in the political climate of the region.

Let’s think about the Ark a moment, no doubt it has been sought after believing it made armies invincible, but those were armies under God’s direction. And poor Uzzah lost his life just for trying to steady it, so do you think somebody really made off with it, or is it more likely that God has it well hidden?

I hope you enjoyed the story of the white stone, and that I have given you something to think about should you be Jewish or have friends who are or even Messianic. God sent Jesus to the Jews first, but then to the Gentiles and it is still His intent to show them the Messiah. And when He returns in the second coming, He will defeat all the enemies handily and I hope to meet many of you into eternity. Whether or not we get white stones or just know Jesus already.

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The Names Of God

God has so many names. I have studied a lot of them but truthfully, I haven’t gotten through them all. So what I am going to do is give you a list with some Hebrew meanings.

What I have found out that is that you can go to God, I needed Jehovah Rapha, the healer. And He was there. Jehovah Jireh, the provider, and He was there. I even fond myself needing El Gibbor, the mighty warrior, to fight for me as I was being still, Exodus 14:14, and He too, was there.

We can simply start in Genesis. At creation, He is called Elohim. You will also see Him as Adonai, Jehovah and Yahweh, the name so sacred it had to be written by scribes who were properly cleansed, so revered that it was not spoken much less taken in vain.

Yahweh is spelled YHVH, yod, hey, vav, hey. It is what was written above the cross that was so vehemently objected to, but it declared Jesus, the Son of God. That is why I believe that Jesus, just the one name above all, who died with God’s sacred name above Him, embodies them all being given the Father’s authority. And raised by His Spirit.

So here are a few of many, keep in mind that there are no j’s in Hebrew and they will have a y sound. If you want to check a specific verse, you can go to Bible Hub, and click Hebrew to see the translation, the New Testament was translated from Greek, God reveals Himself and the plan of salvation from Alpha to Omega, Alef to Tav, and even deeper study of Hebraic codes shows from Genesis that He would His Son and allow the nails through His hands to save us, no greater love. Anyway you look at it He us the Great I Am.

https://biblehub.com/genesis/1-1.htm

Abba: Father
Alpha and Omega: The Beginning and End Revelation 1:8
Attiyq Youm: The Ancient of Days Daniel 7:22
Christos: The Anointed One Jesus
El Chuwl: The God Who Gave You Birth Psalm 139:13-18
El Deah: The God of Knowledge 1 Samuel 2:3 Romans 11:33-36 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 / This is one I did not know.
El Elyon: The God Most High Genesis 14:17-22 Psalms 78:35 Daniel 4:34 Acts 16:17.
El Olam: The Everlasting God Isaiah 26:1-8
El Roi: The God Who Sees Hagar names Him this in Genesis.
El Shaddai: God Almighty Genesis 17:1-3; 35:11; 48:3; 49:25 Psalms 90:2.
Elohim: The Creator Genesis 1, plural, the Trinity.
Jehovah (Yahweh): The Self-Existent One Exodus 3:14
Jehovah-Bore: The LORD Creator Genesis 1:1 Psalms 33:6 Isaiah 40:28-31 Job 38:1-41; 39:1-30; 40:1
Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD Our Provider 1 Timothy 13:21
Jehvah Melek: Jehovah is our King. Isaiah 33:22 1 Samuel 12:12. Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD Our Banner Isaiah 59:19
Jehovah-Rapha: The LORD Our Healer Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Rohi: The LORD Our Shepherd Psalm 23
Jehovah-Sabbaoth: The LORD of Hosts 1 Samuel 1:3; 17:45 Psalms 46:7 Malachi 1:10-14 Romans 9:29.
Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is Peace Romans 16:20-27
Jehovah-Shammah: The LORD is There Jeremiah 23:16-24 Ezekiel 48:35
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The LORD Our Righteousness Jeremiah 23:1-8 Kyrios: Lord, owner, Master John 4:11 Luke 19:33 Colossians 3:22 1 Corinthians 8:5 1 Peter 3:6.

These lists I found very helpful. There are also more blog posts and free printables. And my September 2020 is all about the Spirit. Here is a link to His names, and also the previous post on Jesus and His names.

https://adaughtersgiftoflove.wordpress.com/2020/09/10/the-names-of-the-spirit/

https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/namesofgod.html

https://www.bibliatodo.com/en/names-of-God/adonai

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The Names Of Jesus

How could I write about names without mentioning Jesus, the name above all of them? Here’s a list from my heart and the verses. I remembered the names, looked up a few verses  My favorites are Wonderful and Prince of Peace. Why not make your own for personal or group study?

Alpha and Omega – Revelation 1:8, the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet, in Hebrew it would be alef and bet, where we get the word alphabet.

Ancient of days – Daniel 7::22

Angel of the Lord –  Genesis 18, Jesus appeared with angels or alone, also to Hagar, Manoah and Hazelponi, I believe Jacob, and Elijah.

Beloved – Matthew 3:17

Bread of life – John 6:48

Bright and Morning Star – 2 Peter 1:17

Christ – Matthew 16:16

Counselor – Isaiah 6:9

Eternal – John 3:16

Everlasting – Isaiah 6:9

Faithful and True – Revelation 19:11

Friend – John 15:15

God – John 1:1

High Priest –  Hebrews 4:14

Heaven sent – John 6:51

Intercessor –  Hebrews 7:25

Immanuel – or with an e – Matthew 1:23

Jesus – Matthew 1:18

King of Kings – Revelation 19:16

Life – John 14:6

Light –  John12:36

Lion of Judah – Revelation 5:5

Lord of lords – Revelation 19:16

Messiah – John 4:25,26

Mighty God – Isaiah 6:9

Name above all name –  Phillipians 2:10

Overcomer –  John 16:33

Prince of Peace – Isaiah 6:9

Q – We will borrow one of God’s names, El Qanna, He is jealous of us in a good way. Exodus 34:13

Redeemer – Job 19:25

Rest – Matthew 11:28-30

Rose of  Sharon – Song of Solomon 1:1

Savior – Isaiah 43:11

Shiloh – pronounced Shee-loh, meaning peace.  Genesis 49:10, a propetic word about Jesus.

Truth – John 14:6

Unction – meaning anointed, 1 John 2:20,27

Victorious – Revelation 5:5

Way – John 14:6

Wonderful – Isaiah 6:9

Word –  John 1:1

X is the Greek letter chi, the first letter of Christos, people get uptight over Merry Xmas, but it is not meant to be replacing Him, just shortening a word.

Yeshua – Hebrew for salvation. Hebrews 2:3

Zion – 1 Peter 2:6

I loved doing this, and there is likely more I will think of. Do you have a comment or favorite name?

rattanakun / Canva

1:5 The First-born from the dead
1:5 The highest of earthly kings
1:8 The Alpha and Omega (also 22:13)
1:8 Lord God
1:8 The Almighty
1:13 Son of Man
1:17 The First and the Last (also 1:11;21:6;22:13)
1:18 The Living One
2:18 Son of God
3:14 Witness (also “faithful witness” in 1:5)
4:11 Creator
5:5 Lion of the Tribe of Judah
5:5 Root of David
5:6 The Lamb
7:17 The Shepherd
12:10 Christ (Anointed)
19:11 Faithful and True
19:13 Word of God
19:16 King of Kings
19:16 Lord of Lords

These are all from Revelation.

Called By Name

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1

Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made/ Isaiah 43:7

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

While these are prophetic promises from the Old Testament concerning the restoration of Israel and coming out of captivity, they are easily related to us as believers. You have to read how Jesus called His disciples. He said simply to follow Him or in Peter’s case He really did call Him, but not Simon Peter. He was Cephas, the rock that he would eventually become after many trials and even denying his Lord.

Jesus proclaims the Father or His name to the disciples, and when they have learned and He is to be crucified, He begins to explain what will happen making them no longer servants but friends.

My friends know I love Jesus and especially, that disciple Jesus loved, as he called himself, John. What Jesus says to His disciples is no less true of us. Just as Abraham was, they were, so are we friends, He chose. Did we really choose Him, I used to think so, but know I know He had me all along. He loved so much, He even called Judas friend until it was just to late.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. John 16:33

So you see how He picked us and made us bear fruit, and that that fruit abides, lives in or remains. He even gave us the authority of His name, that whatever we ask the Father will give it. Of course, it is not just frivolous or foolish requests, but mature believers will know His voice and follow His will

Moses heard God from a burning bush. Samuel heard the voice of God call him in the temple. Elijah heard the still, small voice at the cave. Many heard the voice of God at Jesus’ baptism, Saul on the road to Damascus. And John the revelator.

But not everyone heard or listened or even received. The men with Saul did not, nor all at the baptism, neither do many whose ears are not inclined to listen or whose hearts have hardened. There is little time remaining before He really does call us by name and to go with Him, His return is ever closer.

So, if the Lord, by His Spirit, has readied and prepared your heart. Listen to Him and believe He died, rose again, and loves you, and you are not choosing Him, He knew you before you were born, and calls you His, called by name.

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What’s In A Name?

What is in a name? Do you ever really think about it? I have always had fun studying names. The Jews were particular in naming their children. Benjamin got a better name, meaning “son of my right hand “, than Rachel’s choice. Hosea’s children were named to reflect the spiritual state of Israel, I would hate to be Lo- Ammi. Not my people. Job’s daughters were named for their beauty, Jemima ( Y) dove, Kezia, perfume, and Keren Huppach, the name of the container for eyeliner.

Since there are no j’s in Hebrew, and it is read right to left, names that start with J are pronounced with a y or yah sound. Jonathan would be Yahnathan and Jacob would be Yakov or Yakob, as b’s and v’s are interchangeable. The name Caleb, means faithful or dog, the word kelev means dog, and the lev, which can also have a b, means heart.

We know about Joshua and Caleb. Joshua is what else? Yeshua, salvation. And Jesus had many names, Isaiah 6:9 records some, and He is the name above all names, I believe He is all God’s names rolled into one, God put Him in charge, and Jesus will give back those He has saved to the Father. So, what is in a name? More than you think.

I was almost Angela. It was a popular song in the day, Angela Jones, when my mother was out of it, we both had almost died at childbirth, my aunt said Rebecca. It means close to God in one translation. I guess He changed my name like He did Abraham and Sarah. Imagine calling a man with no children, ” father or many nations “. People thought they were crazy, they were from a land of idolatry. But God kept His promise, even though they tried to help Him and messed it up.

While you may not want to be Euodia or Syntyche, not even Puah or Shiprah, and certainly not Hoglah, or Rahab, Jezebel? How about Chloe, Susanna, Rachel or Leah, Sheerah? perhaps, Abigail, Anna or Sarah? Since I like Mary of Bethany, I think Bethany is a good name

Some of the names in the Bible are not as much names as titles, Herod, Heroditas, Sheba and even Candace are all examples. While the first two are not hero and heroine to me, Sheba means seven and Bathsheba, daughter of seven, or seventh daughter. And Candace, a New Testament queen,  is pure white.

Names that have yah or jah in there, are including God in them. So do the ones with El or Ab, abba is Hebrew for father. Like I said before, studying names is fun and enlightening too. It is also good to know what you are calling your friends or children. I was always coming up with baby names, character names and more.

We are long way from the simplicity of John and Mary, and Mary has quite a few variations including Mara and Miriam, Naomi called herself, Mara meaning bitter. Mary really could have been, she had so many sorrows in her life.

People have given their children zany names haven’t they? But it pays to do a little research and know that you don’t want to  give them monikers or nicks that stick, cause harm or label in a bad light. Jesus is our light and illuminates our world.

He has given us grace and peace, the power of speech and the ability to listen and learn. Samuel means to listen or hear, and Hannah means grace. So naming a little girl Hannah Grace or twins Hannah and Grace would be a double blessing. Hannah is also a palindrome for wordies like me, it is spelled the same forward and backwards.

You can name children names that are similar in meaning or groups, like Faith, Hope and Charity, how about Dove, Sparrow and Swan? This post could go on and on. What’s in a name? A whole lot as it turns out.

Here is a link from Abi to Zipporah, Bible Gateway has one s well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women_in_the_Bible#S

Leave your name and I will tell you the meaning and Hebrew if I can.

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The Bridegroom’s Delay

 

Have you ever wondered why the Lord has not just Raptured us out? I was sure I would never grow up without seeing it but here I am, I just turned sixty. I still hope to see it, even long for it as I have been through so much lately. But I know the answer, not a date mind you, but soon and when we least expect it the Bible says, He is giving everyone, every chance, and He is waiting for believers to make themselves ready as a bride, I might feel like I am ready, but am I, are we? I know so many who are not.

There is way too much strife and  division in the body of Christ. Many will mot understand that God has Fatherly love as well as maternal, that the church is the bride. Both men and women are spiritually wedded to Him, just as God was figuratively married to God. It is loving and intimate, our salvation is very deep and personal. Let’s look at the Word. It is the parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1-12.

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But He answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you. Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

I have other posts on Hebrew studies and formal wedding, if you care to search. The marriages were usually arranged by the fathers, the couple drink from the same wedding cup, and sign a covenant called a ketubah ( kah-too-bah ). The bridegroom then goes home and has up to a year to build her a house, and then he will come in the night to get her, no one would know when, and there will be a marriage and feast and celebration for seven days. The bride is also carried on something called an aperion, actually, a bridal chair carried by friends of the groom. In the Greek, aperion means boundless, limitless or infinite, just as His love is.

They would have also heard trumpets as the bridegroom approached. Jesus told this parable on the way to a wedding, the first miracle was at the marriage of Cana, though He only did it at Mary’s request. So you see how the spiritual application is to the return of Christ for the church. And there are so many beautiful parallels to the story that I could tell you.

But what we have to recognize is that some of these girls were tired, for whatever reason he was delayed and were asleep, and their oil ran out. So, it is important to be alert, keep the oil burning and in full supply. I’m not saying not to sleep, He gives sleep to the beloved., Psalm 127:2.

Maybe, this bridegroom had not finished her house. Not true of Jesus, He went to prepare them in John 14. So why is He delayed? I thinking He is waiting for the last soul that will be saved to be saved, and maybe, just maybe, for the church to be prepared, to wake up before the trumpets sounds and keep the oil of the Holy Spirit burning brightly so we will see Him in al His glory.

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