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| HOME/////////////////////////// Christmas 2004 Nineteen
years ago, I found out that I was pregnant with our first child. It
would be a boy, and his name would be David. But before he was actually
welcomed into this world and before he was David, he had many names
... many possible names, anyway. He was going to be an Evan or a Trevor
or a Micah or a William Roger or - oh, yes - Roger Jr., or, if it had
been a girl, it would have been Sarah Katherine (...who would be called
Katie!) - no ifs, and's or but's about it - Sarah Katherine, for sure!
No other possibilities if this child had been a girl. And, finally,
I had resolved - at least in my mind - that if that baby were a boy,
he would be William Roger ... and we'd call him Will. That's all there
was to it. But, let me tell you - when that baby was born - and it was
a boy! - I quickly learned that his name was David - David Allen, to
be exact. David Allen? Yes, that's exactly what I heard my husband tell
that nurse in response to what the baby's name was to be. "David
Allen?", I said. "David Allen!", he turned and confirmed.
David Allen? Well, I have to admit that he did kind of look like a David.
Now, I can't imagine him being called by another name. David Allen!
My David Allen! ...and, by the way, my next child (as some of you know)
was a girl! But she wasn't to become Sarah Katherine. She just didn't
look like a Sarah Katherine. In fact, she had no name for a few days
- not because I didn't care but because I thought she was going to also
be a boy. Oh, and not that I am partial to boys either.... I just happened
to carry her throughout my pregnancy just like I did her brother, and
in those days (...not that long ago!) you just didn't have sonar's like
you do nowadays. Anyway, out that baby came into this world, and it
was a girl! .... with no name. I guess I still assumed that the girl's
name was set ... Sarah Katherine. But, no ...she just didn't look like
a Katie. She looked like an ... Abbey! ... not Abigail, but Abbey! But,
she did become an Abigail of sorts because with a little help from family
and friends she was named Abbey Gaile - not Abigail, but Abbey Gaile.
Named after one of my sisters who was named after one of my mama's dearest
and best friends - Aunt Gaile! I loved it! "Abbey Gaile",
I turned and confirmed.... to my husband who looked just like he might
be about to offer some other suggestion, being the name-giver that he
is. David Allen and Abbey Gaile! Two of the most precious names ever
to me! (...two of the most precious people to me!) And you know names
are precious to our God above too. And, you might ask, does He know
our names? Does He know our names? He even knows the names of the stars Well Psalm 139:13-16 tells us this.... "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth. Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." Does He know our names? Not only does He know them; they are also very precious to Him, as we are so very precious to Him.... Isaiah 43:1, 4a & 7 - "But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!'... 'Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you'... 'every one who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory, whom I formed and made.' " (See also Jeremiah 15:16.) Does He know our names? So much so that He wants those very names written in the book of life... Daniel 12:1 - "Now at the time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book will be rescued." Luke 10:20 - "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." Revelation 3:5 - "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels." Revelation 20:15 - "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Does He know our names? .... knows them and loves them so much that He wants us to know personally the most precious name of all - the name of Jesus Luke 1:30-33 - "And the angel said to her (Mary), 'Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.' "
I have to tell you, I cannot claim this one as my own. I am taking it from the front of a Christmas card I sent out this year to some friends, and it goes like this.... Counselor Holy One Redeemer I Am Shepherd Teacher Mediator Advocate Savior These names belong to Him - Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! CHRISTMAS! He is the Reason for the Season! ... Isaiah 7:14 - "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel."... Matthew 1:23 - " 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means 'God with us'." (See also John 1:1 & 14.) Isaiah 9:6-7 - "For a child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Acts 4:10-12 - "Let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead - by this name this man stands here before you in good health.".... "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 1 Timothy 6:14b-16.... until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He (God the Father) will bring about at the proper time - He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen!" and just like that precious hymn says.... Jesus,
Jesus, Jesus Kelli |
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