Name Change

You know how I love to share with you things I learn so here's today's treat. It's about names and what they mean. I am constantly amazed how totally organized God is and purposeful He is in everything He does, even the stuff that we think is minor. For instance, changing peoples names. Sarai and Abram are our examples today.
The person who had responsibility and authority over you was the one who named you which is why in Biblical times the father named the baby. It was the same for Abram. Abram was named by his father Terah, the one who had authority over him. When Abram left his father's house and headed out on his own God took responsibility and authority over him so changing his name indicated a change in authority from Terah to God. It's not unlike today when someone adopts a baby they usually change the child's name. It's a way of showing they are now the parent and have the right to name their new son or daughter.
Another interesting point is Abram in Hebrew meant exalted father.
Definition of exalted: raised or elevated, as in rank or character; of high station: an exalted personage.
So Abram could be considered top dog if you will or the big boss.
The name Sarai comes from the verb (sarar) meaning to rule, reign, be princely, govern.
In today's terms we would call Sarai a domineering woman. A woman who took control, to rule.
Whether it's Bible times or today we all know how hard it is to have two rulers living in one household. It can cause grief. We know it caused grief for Abram and Sarai because Sarai wanted a baby and she wasn't able to have one and it made her crazy. After years of trying she decides if she can't have a baby herself she'll have someone else do it for her. She tells her husband to sleep with her maid so she can get a baby. That's what I call domineering.
Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maid whose name was Hagar.3 So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her Egyptian maid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his [secondary] wife. 4 And he had intercourse with Hagar, and she became pregnant; and when she saw that she was with child, she looked with contempt upon her mistress and despised her.
Isn't it just like us sometimes ladies we make something happen and then we're mad when it does...
OK, let's get back to Abram. We know God changed his name from Abram, exalted ruler to Abraham, father of many nations.
Genesis 17:4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
But how could he be a father of many nations if he couldn't have a son with his wife Sarai? (God worked all that out and if you want to know how read Genesis 17.)
The part I love is God didn't just want Abraham to be a ruler He wanted him to have the characteristics of a father. I know many leaders who aren't good examples of leading as a loving father.
Genesis 17:15 God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.
God changed Sarai's name to Sarah which means my princess.
God changed Abraham from big boss, main leader to father of many nations. He would still have a leadership role but it went from being exalted to being a father. And Sarai went from domineering and governing to my princess.
Is that not the most loving story ever. God could have changed her name to mean something to knock her down a few pegs or show her whose boss but instead He reminded her who she was, His princess.
Can you imagine even the conversation between husband and wife? It would have sounded something like this:
“Hey Miss Ruler what's for dinner?” to “hello my princess what will we be eating tonight?”
How many women would be less domineering of their husbands if they saw themselves as their spouses princess or better yet God's princess? And how many husbands would be less bullying if they understood their role of father, to protect and nurture.
We would have a whole new family dynamic don't you agree?
This is what God did for us in Christ. Jesus took responsibility and authority over us and allowed God to become our father.
I was a single mom a very long time before I married the second time and one of the hardest things for me was not making all the decisions on my own. Calling me domineering would probably be an understatement. Many single women I know now are very independent, rightfully so, however it makes it very difficult to allow a man to walk in his role.
It would have been a much easier transition for me if I felt like a princess and he felt like a father. Wish I knew then what I know now.
Anyway back to Abraham and Sarah. Once the roles were put in place the rest came to pass a year later.
Genesis17:21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
God changed their names, their hearts and their lives forever and He can do the same for me and you. Take time to ask the Lord what the role your living looks like and what He might want it to look like. Then give Him the authority to make some character changes in you. God loves you so much and He wants the responsibility to establish the covenant He has made with you.
Gems it's never too late to let God change your name.

I'll Second That

I had an interesting conversation with my friend Paige yesterday. I was giving her the latest update on the awesome things my sweet Jesus is doing for me (giving my testimony) and she told me about a teaching she heard on the word testimony. I was really intrigued by it so now you will hear it :)
The word testimony from the Hebrew translation:
Word Origin
from ud
Definition
testimony
Original Word: עוּד
Transliteration: uwd
Phonetic Spelling: (ood)
Short Definition: admonish A primitive root; to duplicate or repeat
WOW to duplicate or repeat! I had no idea that was part of the meaning of the word testimony. This is why you need people smarter than you so you can learn important lessons. I'm not taking credit for being that person I'm just repeating it.
I have always thought of giving my testimony as praising God for what He's done or is doing in my life and I'm sure you have thought the same. To me it's always been one of those Christianeeze words (not sure that's a word) However I never thought of giving my testimony as a negative expression but I guess it could be.
If I were to testify things like, I never get ahead, I never have any money, I will never have a baby or spouse. I will never lose weight or get a job or buy a car. You get what I'm saying. These are the testimonies your making or speaking over your life. So if the words of my testimony can duplicate or repeat I'm just speaking the same bad stuff over me again and again. Interesting thought hu?
Now if we flip that to, God always works things out for me or meets all my needs, loves me unconditionally, gives me favor in all situations etc. Same process. My testimony will repeat or duplicate because that's the Hebrew meaning which is the meaning God intended for it to be. Paige said something else I really liked, she's like that. She said in this teaching she learned you could hear a persons testimony and receive it or duplicate it in your life as well! I'm diggin that.
Before you write me off I want you to think of some of the phrases we hear and use like birds of a feather flock together, it takes one to know one, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Why do we say those things? It's because we see the same results or traits in one person as another. They repeat the same behavior or characteristics so we lump them together. Am I right? They have the same testimony.
OK so now that we are on the same page with Paige ha ha couldn't resist.
I want to give you my most recent testimony.
As you know I do assignments for the Lord and some pay and some don't so I rely on God to take care of me and my family. How He does that each month is NEVER the same which took some getting used to. One of the many things I love about God is He loves to show off and I love to be blessed. It's a win win.
So it's the 30th of the month and my rent is due on the 1st and I need 250 more dollars to pay it. I'm laying in my bed just reminding God of the date cause you know He might be using the Hebrew calender and it's not the same as ours. I remind Him He needs to pay the bills and He reminds me He's got it so I go to sleep. The next morning my phone rings and it's my sister who I just recently reconnected with telling me she's coming to see me and by the way she has $250.00 she needs to give me. Amen
A few days later my car insurance and other small bills are due. I have no debt so it's just my living expenses the Lord needs to cover. My insurance is going to cancel in 4 days and I can't wait to see how God is going to handle that. Did I mention He's a show off?
My daughter Amanda and my friend Cathy and I decide to go to a local flea market and just walk around. As I'm getting ready to leave I'm looking for a small purse to carry, among the many purses I own, and think to myself it would be nice to have a small purse to carry my keys and glasses in. I didn't need a small purse and I wasn't praying for one it was just a thought that went through my head. OK so we are at the flea market (not the best products but it's a day out and I don't have money to spend on this particular day) I'm looking around and come across this little black leather purse and I think this is exactly what I want. It's only a quarter so I buy it. I get home that night and take out a black sharpie to color in the worn spots, put my stuff in it and go off to church a happy camper. The next morning I'm taking my stuff out of it and I open a little zipper part, you know the lipstick compartment, and what do you think I find???? Two crisp brand new One Hundred dollar bills! Thank you Jesus the bills are paid!!! I love that it was in the lipstick compartment cause where do you put lipstick? On your lips, it was like Jesus was meeting my needs and also giving me a big ole kiss right on the lips. That “big ole” comment is for you southern gems xoxo.
Ya know if I had money to spend that day I may not have bought that purse. It was really old and worn and if I was going to buy one it would have been a newer one. God used my circumstances to be grateful for a 25 cent purse having no idea there was a treasure inside.
Gems my testimonies are the same every month and they come straight from the Bible.
Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Gems if your walking in obedience and trusting God He will do what He testifies and He will duplicate and repeat it everyday!
Think about what your testifying. What's coming out of your mouth? Do you want it to continue? Do you want your friends or loved ones to accept your testimony and repeat it in their lives?
I pray you will listen to the words that come out of your mouth. I pray you will share the awesome things God is doing in your life with others. Both the hard testimonies of trials and tribulations to encourage others and the praise reports that come from those trials. I'm giving you permission to 2nd my testimony I have shared with you today to duplicate and repeat it in your life! Make your testimony a positive one!