Each week at school one family does a presentation. One of the first weeks a family presented the meanings and reasoning behind the names
of their children. I found it so interesting I put more thought into the names
of my own children.
of their children. I found it so interesting I put more thought into the names of my own children.Our oldest is Garrett Nathaniel.
Chris, my husband, chose Garrett. I picked Nathaniel. I thought if I let him name
our first child, maybe he'd let me name
the rest. It worked! He has warned me he'll use it against me someday though.
our first child, maybe he'd let me name the rest. It worked! He has warned me he'll use it against me someday though.
declares throughout the power of a 
.In Genesis
49, Jacob declares what will become of his sons.
49, Jacob declares what will become of his sons.About Reuben ("Behold, a son") he says, "Reuben, you are my firstborn." (Gen. 49:3)
") in verse 8 he says, "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall 
."Dan ("God
is my judge") was told, "shall judge his people." (Gen. 49:16)
is my judge") was told, "shall judge his people." (Gen. 49:16)I think the most amazing, just because we know more of the story, is Joseph
("God
will increase"). The second half of Genesis
, chapters 37 through 50, are about Joseph and how God
increased all that he had.
("God will increase"). The second half of Genesis, chapters 37 through 50, are about Joseph and how God increased all that he had.The prayer
of one man not to live up to his name
is the subject of many books. Jabez ("Pain"), in 1 Chronicles
4:9-10, prayed "that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"
of one man not to live up to his name is the subject of many books. Jabez ("Pain"), in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, prayed "that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"As I thought of God's
sovereignty and He naming
each of my children, I began to pray
their names
as a testimony for them.
sovereignty and He naming each of my children, I began to pray their names as a testimony for them.Garrett means "powerful
with a spear."
with a spear."My prayer
for Garrett is that he learn to be powerful
with the only Sword
that is eternal
and effective.
for Garrett is that he learn to be powerful with the only Sword that is eternal and effective. 
of the Spirit, which is the 
of God." (Eph. 6:17)
of 
is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." (Heb.4:12)Nathaniel means "gift of God
."
."In my first three posts I've told you how God
has used Garrett's birth to bring me back to Him. He is a living testimony of a gift God has given me, the gift of Himself.
has used Garrett's birth to bring me back to Him. He is a living testimony of a gift God has given me, the gift of Himself.Secondly, I pray
Garrett lives as the gift he is, and as a result, is a gift
to all he encounters in his lifetime.
Garrett lives as the gift he is, and as a result, is a gift to all he encounters in his lifetime.I'll share with you the names
of each of my children. I hope you see, as I have learned, that God
truly names
each of us.
of each of my children. I hope you see, as I have learned, that God truly names each of us.MEDITATE ON IT
How does acknowledging that God named
you change your perspective of yourself?
you change your perspective of yourself?How does your name offer insight about you? About your children?
to 
, or something, like 
, to 
?PRAY ABOUT IT
Father, again You demonstrate Your love and involvement with each of us by placing on us a name
. Open our eyes to what You would have us know about what You call us. Remind us of Your sovereignty, that You are the Creator
and Author of all things. Thank You for being involved in the intimate
details of who we are. We ask that You release us from any curse associated with our name
, and fulfill in us the blessings
that You designed for us to have and be.
. Open our eyes to what You would have us know about what You call us. Remind us of Your sovereignty, that You are the Creator and Author of all things. Thank You for being involved in the intimate details of who we are. We ask that You release us from any curse associated with our name, and fulfill in us the blessings that You designed for us to have and be.LIVE IN IT
"I have even called you by your name
; I have named
you, though you have not known Me." (Isaiah
45:4)
; I have named you, though you have not known Me." (Isaiah 45:4)
is to be 
rather than great 
." (
22:1)
." (
62:2)