“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

By Name (and ponderings)

Ever had a blog idea/devotional come over and slap you in the face - the first thing that popped into your head after it happened was, "I need to write a devotional about that!" It happened to me Wednesday night.

Perhaps you've noticed that it is now Saturday night. Perhaps you have also noticed that it hasn't been seen yet. Well, I've been busy. Wednesday night I was at prayer meeting (can't exactly write a devotional during prayer meeting, can you?). Thursday and Friday I was in Saugatuck with my wonderful husband on our first mini-vacation/night away from home in three years. Writing then wasn't exactly at the top of my to-do list. Saturday I was catching up with what I'd missed my two days away. So, here it is, Saturday night.

I've been thinking about just "blowing it off," if you will. My time has come and gone, I figure. Maybe this delay was because the idea was silly and sophomoric (that thought even crossed my mind Wednesday night). Maybe it's not a message I'm supposed to share.

Or maybe God wanted me to mull it over in my own mind first - and maybe my timing isn't His. Well, I'm posting it here anyway, and I hope it (or this blabbering I've been doing above) blesses you.


This past Wednesday night, my 7-year-old son Andrew, my 4-year-old daughter Annika, and I were pulling into the parking lot of our church for Wednesday night children's church and prayer meeting. We were parking in one of the three parking lots, and were a few minutes early. My son commented, quite surprised, that there were no cars parked in the particular lot we were in. This was unusual - but we were a few minutes early. Right as we stopped the car, another car pulled up next to us - the car of one of the church secretaries, and a woman I'd prayed with several times in prayer meeting, Mrs. Patterson. She knew about many of the struggles of our family, and knew who the kids were.

Now, Andrew had seen her in church before, but didn't know her well. Right as he was getting ready to get out of the car, I said to him, "Look, Mrs. Patterson is here now. We're not the only ones." Andrew proceeded to get out of the car and go over to her driver's side window.

"Hi, Mrs. Patterson," he said with a smile. She spoke to him, though I'm unsure what she said. A minute or two later, he came back over to us with an absolutely amazed look on his face. With wonder and excitement, he looked into my eyes and said, "She knows my name!"

My son was simply amazed that this grown-up, this woman who he knew only by looks and what mommy told him, knew that his name was Andrew.

Did you have an amazed feeling like that when you were a new believer--when you were seeking the Lord? You feel silly, perhaps, asking a "big God" like Him for your measly request. I mean, he has a whole world to attend to. Your needs are just a drop in the bucket, a minor issue that he may nor may not deal with.

But then, you realize that the God of the universe, who you know only in part, knows you completely. He knows your name. He knew your name--everything about you--before you were born.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16


The creator of the entire universe knows my name. And better yet, He loves me. Even if I don't please Him, serve Him, or love Him, He created me and knows me--not just as a face in the crowd, but by name. Isn't that an amazing thought?

7 comments:

  1. Lovely devo. I get a thrill when anyone I don't know well says my name, especially if they are leaders with lots of people to look after. Lovely to think that God knows our names intimately.

    Names are so important to me. I like to think that the name put down in the Book of Life is a special name--a unique soul name that God picked special just for me. When I come before Him and He calls me by name, perhaps He'll use that name and my soul will know it. It will be a name that discribes and fits me, and just me, perfectly.

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  2. Beautiful slice of time and a beautiful devotion. I'm so glad you didn't let laziness rule and shared instead. I am always amazed when I think about God knowing my name, and especially my thoughts.

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  3. Oh yes, I'm glad you shared this. I could feel the wonder and excitement and picture all of us in heaven when we meet Jesus, jumping with joy, "He knows my name." Don't apologize for this delightful devotional.

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  4. I love this, Jo! I still amazes me and comforts me to remember that He knows my name. WoW!!

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  5. I am blown away by the awesome knowledge that GOD, the Creator of the Universe, knows my name and knows ALL about me, too! Still, I don't think I can fully comprehend what that means...the "glass darkly" kind of thing...I want to wrap my brain around it, but then, the notion gets kind of foggy...it's too big for me to take in! Thanks for posting this and reminding me of this wonderful truth.

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  6. Beautiful!!! I love those little moments that God shows us Himself.

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  7. I'm so glad that you shared this devotional. It's amazing how with so many children, God remembers each and every one of us. He knows the number of hairs on our head (which isn't hard to keep track of for me LOL) and he knows everything about us - including our names. This was a blessing to read.

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Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear your thoughts - please share them!

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