THANKS GIVING 2019: OUR VETERANS

Happy Monday!

I pray your week is off to a great start;

And there is no better way to start the week –

   than to acknowledge our service men and women for all they do

Today is Veteran’s Day

HOWEVER –  I hold a special place in my heart for our military at all times

I love my country and I love and appreciate those who serve [and have served] selflessly

Being a former military spouse, I know that service comes at a cost

In my post on Memorial Day earlier this year, I noted some of those cost – which often go unseen:

§  There are also those, who live among us, who have also sacrificed their lives
 §  There are those who may not have experienced a loss of physical life;
§  Yet, they are the ones who have suffered the loss of a way of life which they held dear,
§  A life which was compromised while they selflessly served [and still serve] this country.
 §  There are those who have experienced the death of relationships –§  Those who have suffered the painful demise of a marriage … while they served.
§  There are those who have endured the loss of a loved one –§  Where they could not be present because they were off serving this country on foreign soil.
§  There are those who have experienced the loss of a life which they knew –§  Those who have lost health and wealth while serving or upon returning from service to this country
§  There are those who have cried tears that only they and God know about –§  Those who deal with the ongoing emotional trauma of having served.

I am so thankful for those give their all every day –

So that we may enjoy the freedoms we experience on a daily basis.

Today, I honor and celebrate all service members [and their loved ones and families]

I humbly and gratefully say …

Happy Veteran's Day and God Bless!

angels die ...

Today has been a truly difficult day …

It started this morning – with a ride to work in my son’s car. Now I don’t normally listen to the radio. I have a set of CD’s that I enjoy that remind me of hope and love and faith – songs that move me. 

Well, this morning I heard a song that was not in my collection …

This song by Ed Sheeran ‘The A Team’

I wish it referenced a now defunct television series from the eighties. But it did not. Neither did it reference the elitism that comes with being in the ‘right crowd’, although I am certain that can contribute to the problem.

It is a somber tale of strung out young lady – a tale of too many young ladies … and young men.

And as I listened to this song, no words were spoken between my son and I. And, curiously enough, he did not switch the station [as he often does], surfing and looking for just the right song. He let it play. And suddenly I was very thankful that it was 6AM and still very dark…

I could feel that press on my heart, that lump in my throat and sudden sadness – followed by extreme awkwardness – as my eyes welled up with tears as I thought about how many of our young angels try to fly to a place mentally where the shame of sexual abuse can’t reach them, where painful violence ceases and extreme loneliness fade – even if only for a moment.

It seemed like the song would not end and, as it played, my thoughts went to a young lady I use to know. For the sake of all parties, I will call her ‘Angel’.

Back in the day, Angel would walk home from school with two people that I knew very well. But somewhere along the way, Angel was drawn in another direction, toward a different path, to endure a very different life than anything she probably ever imagined for herself. You see, Angel was just like the young lady in this song – trying to escape, caught up in the grip of drugs and doing unthinkable things to get money for that next fix. The last time I saw Angel was in the spring of 2002 and the years of drug use, hard living and sexual exploitation had taken its toll her. I would like to say I barely recognized her. But I did not recognize her at all until someone told me it was her. Living with HIV, she looked so many years older than the young lady that I remembered – a young lady who had the sweetest face and a smile that was breathtaking – one she flashed often as she use to walk down the street with her friends.

Three friends – one became a nurse, one became a magistrate and the other became ‘an angel’. Sadly, Angel became another tragic story of situations gone very, very wrong. I don’t know if Angel ever accomplished any of the aspirations that she had as a young teen and she ended up in a casket – far too soon. There is a sting of irony when I consider that one of her friends grew up to save lives, and the other to protect lives and society. Yet, no one was able to protect Angel - to save her.

I cried, when I got out of the car, I cried in the elevator and when I got to my desk I struggled to fight back the tears as my mind kept going back to the countless number of ‘Angels’ who are flying and dying every day. When my co-worker came in, I was sharing with her what a challenging morning it had been and why – and it wasn’t even 7:00AM yet.

Her response to my expressed frustration with not being in a position to do more was this:

She shared about someone she knew that finally got free from drugs at the age of 50 and then she said, ‘That is why you are doing what you do and why going to do what you’ve planned’.

My pursuit of a degree in Psychology with a focus on Christian Counseling begins in less than two weeks. But even with that in mind, I said, ‘You know how long it will take to finish my degree …’

Then my friend said something that stuck with me the remainder of the day:

‘Who says you have to finish in order to start?’

Immediately I knew she was speaking words of wisdom…

While we should always finish what we begin – we do not have to finish before we begin.

We do not have to get the degrees and certifications before we reach out to others with compassion – and listen to their story, feel their pain and love without expectation.

We do not have to get ourselves cleaned up and ‘complete’ before we take a step toward Jesus

And we should not expect others to get themselves cleaned up and complete before we’ll take a step toward them. Rather, we should be like Jesus who embraces us right where we are – the divorcee, the prostitute, the drug addict, the girl next door and the corporate executive in the corner office.

We do not have to have the entire matter completely figured out before we will embark upon becoming a better person, reaching out to an Angel, acquiring a new skill or making a difference in the lives of those around us. God says it is He who, ‘knows the end from the beginning’ (Is. 46). Therefore, we don’t have to be consumed with the end. We can start right where we are – doing something, even if it is a small something.

My friend who gave me that very thought provoking quote – she found out yesterday, along with another friend of mine, that she will not have a job after tomorrow. They are ‘releasing’ our temporary employees. I don’t like that word ‘releasing’ in the context of job loss. It makes it sound less crushing than it actually is – and I know because I have been on the giving and receiving end of that piece of news. After all, who wants to be ‘released’ from a way to pay the rent, pay child care and put food on the table?

I’ve had to swallow my pride tonight and reach out to an old acquaintance that I have not spoken to in quite a while – to petition for a favor … not for myself but to try to help find a job for a single mom.

You see, I don’t just want to help the ‘Angels’ in the world. I want to help the single mom so that her precious daughter or son won’t grow up to be one of the angels in that song. It may sound extreme, but only the angels know what truly drives an Angel to the streets and to that life. Was it abuse that occurred when a single-parent was absent, having to work two jobs to make ends meet? Was it frustration with a life of poverty that drives one to try to escape? It can be any number of causes…

My heart is extremely heavy today … and I feel the tears welling up all over again. So I will end with this:

There are far too many of our precious angels trying to fly

And definitely too many who die

And the heavenly angels – they do cry – and so do I

Yet I am not content with crying … and I don’t believe you are either.

So let us pray. But then let us also do … something …

Enjoying the Journey!

Enjoying the Journey!

Well, it is New Year’s Eve and, as the year draws to a close, I have thought about what message I wanted to post. I could recount all the ‘highs & lows’ or any one of the variety of lists that exist for 2012:

·         Top Artists

·         Top Songs

·         Memorable Events

 Yet the overwhelming thought that comes to mind as I sit here this morning is – THANKFUL!

I am thankful and enjoying the journey …

 finding joy in the journey,

Now, don’t misunderstand me –

The journey has not been perfect (not by any stretch of the imagination) but it has been memorable in that I know that God has been with me every step of the way. Whether those steps were literal in the miles I’ve had to walk every morning to get work or whether they were more symbolic in the steps I have taken to hope again and to envision a reality different than the one I am currently experiencing, there has been this Presence, His Presence, that of my LORD and King.

He has gone before me, walked beside me, watched my back and carried me when necessary. And every step has carried life-lessons. It is amazing the things you think you know until you walk through some additional situations and circumstances that highlight just how much there is still to master.

                                                                                               

This year –

I have gained an even greater appreciation for friends and family and even casual acquaintances.

And, if I had to focus on three crucial areas, these would be them:

LAUGHING

I have probably laughed more this year than I have in recent years – whether it’s joking with someone at work, listening to my children talk, spending time with friend or even in the middle of praise and worship, I have been touched in ways that can only be expressed with a hearty chuckle or a nose-crinkling snicker. There have been instances where I have gotten a complete abdominal workout just spending an evening with my best friend having coffee. I’ve shed more tears this year from laughing than I have from crying – a nice and welcome change. And my encouragement to others is this: Learn to laugh so hard it hurts! There are enough challenging situations in life … find a way to laugh at, at least a couple of them.

CARING

For all the joys – there have probably been just as many instances where my heart has ached for others, as if I had experienced their storm myself. I have had a friend diagnosed with cancer and another (like the little sister I never had) who died because of cancer. My heart has grieved as I have watched friends and acquaintances lose their homes. I have prayed for those who experienced great personal loss due to storms. And my heart has grieved for those who have lost loved ones as a result of senseless violence. More and more, I have found myself thinking about, praying for and crying for others. Long after the headlines have left the newspapers or nightly news, there are still people trying to pick up the pieces of their shattered hearts – people in need of a little bit of compassion. But … compassion requires selfless observation and an investment of time.

One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ ministry was that He frequently allowed what we would consider interruptions but that were a common part of His ministry. It is amazing how many opportunities we have daily to bring comfort and even freedom to others if we will look beyond ourselves. From Thanksgiving to Christmas this year, I experienced 30-days of unexpected blessings. Yet, the greatest of those unexpected blessings were the days that I was able to be an unexpected blessing, by listening to a co-worker, being there for a friend or being an agent of peace in the midst of troubling situations. The encouragement: Keep it simple by … Loving God & Loving People. And know that whether it is a call, a note, a smile or a hug … a little bit of caring goes a very long way.

LOVING

This one goes hand-in-hand with the caring & compassionate heart. However, it is deeper in that it goes beyond the common concern for a fellow man and focuses on the more unconditional aspects of love. This is where close friends and family come into play. I have placed a much higher premium on my relationships than I do on my comfort levels, my feelings or my pride. It sounds like a simple thing, I know. However, you and I both know that there are countless people who have let a friendship or even family relationship go to the wayside because of a refusal to forgive – because someone would rather hold on to an offense rather than grab hold of a loved one and say, ‘Let’s work this out’. Most people are not even willing to apologize for the things they have done wrong, let alone offer an apology when they feel as though they are the one that has been wronged. Yet, the ability to love and forgive is crucial to having sustained friendships.  Employers, friends, children, siblings, spouses and parents will not always do what you desire, yet this is admonishment remains: ‘above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.’ (I Peter 4:8)

Every relationship brings with it the risk of being hurt but it also brings with it opportunities for us to demonstrate just how much of the love Christ is in us – and how desperately we desire to share it with others. ‘Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.’ (Philippians 2:3-4) This is what Christ modeled for us.

My prayer this morning, is that whatever you have experienced this year, that you will be able to find some joy woven in between the fabric of all those situations and circumstances. I pray that you too have walked away with some areas of focus, ones that are personal to you and the things that you experience. Take the opportunity to recycle the less positive moments – making sure that the pain endured is not wasted but that it becomes something positive – offering hope, encouragement and freedom to someone walking through a similar situation. And by all means, celebrate the joyful moments!

I mean, if you have to go through life anyway … you might as well go through joyfully.

It’s been a great year!

I have enjoyed sharing the joys, the pains, the challenges, the blessings and the growth opportunities.

It’s a pleasure to share my life…

May God bless your life, exceedingly and abundantly!

It's That Time of Year ...

It’s That Time of Year …

It’s that time of year, when people are traveling home for the holidays

It’s that time of year, of 'hustle & bustle' as people wrap up Christmas shopping

It’s that time of year, that can become so busy that we lose sight of the simple pleasures …

Time with family

A special Bible verse

A quiet evening on the sofa

The soft glow from the Christmas tree

Remembering and praying for loved ones

That 'feeling' you get and the memories that rush in when you hear that special song

I heard this song today and I think it is simply wonderful …

The Christmas Waltz by Nancy Wilson

 Praying You're Having a Great Holiday Season

&

That You Will Have

A Very Merry Christmas!

about this time next year ....

'...about this time next year...' Gen. 18:10

They were facing a seemingly impossible situation

Sarah ... well past child-bearing age
Abraham ... ninety-nine years old

But they had a promise from the LORD ... a promise that He would radically change their situation

I am certain it was exciting, intimidating, awe-inspiring, joyful and frightening all at the same time. To have a promise from God is a powerful thing. For we know 'God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?' (Num. 23:19)

Even so, the road to travel from promise to fruition can be an adventurous and one - and so much more when the promise is not as specific as the one that Abraham and Sarah received.

The past few days have been times of tremendous reflection for me.
About this time last year ... actually, exactly this time last year ... I was moving out of my home of fourteen years. I had been out of work for over two years after my position was eliminated. My fridge had broken, the air conditioning hadn't worked in a couple of years and the temperatures were unbearable. We had no finances, no where to go and family relations were strained (to put it mildly). I recall vividly, sitting at the storage facility with my three sons that evening ... trying to figure out where we were going to spend the night. I can still go back to that moment of relief, when we entered a small hotel room (Min-Pin in tow). With all of the packing and moving, I think I had not had a chance to be still for the two weeks leading up to that time. Odd, that I was out of my home, living day to day, but I had peace. The worst that I could have imagined, had actually happened and we were all still alive, well and together.

Now, I did not have an 'about this time next year' promise
But, I did have a promise from the LORD ...

'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.' Jer. 29:11

The following weeks and months would find us needing to move out of the hotel once the funds ran out and unable to find room at any of the shelters that I contacted. Yet God was still faithful. With most of my belongings in storage and no permanent place to call home, we never spent a night without a roof over our heads. We ended up staying at my sister's for three months.

It is now 'this time next year'...
And the past year has been full of ups and downs, twists and turns:

• My van (which had been sitting inoperable in my driveway) worked long enough to get us around for the week after we moved out. Then it failed inspection and sat (again inoperable) in sister's driveway the entire summer.
• My ex-husband then gave his truck to my oldest son so that we would have some sort of transportation
• Then I got rear-ended by a huge truck while driving my son's vehicle
• I got temporary employment and we were finally able to move into an apartment just as we were getting ready to move back into a hotel
• Less than one month after we moved in, someone tried to break in - busting my son's bedroom window. Thankfully, my neighbor drove up just as they were breaking the window and he ran them off.
• My son's truck got struck again while it was in the campus garage - hit and run
• Twice my sons had to pay the rent because I simply did not have enough resources. That was humbling and beautiful at the same time. To see their selflessness and how much they've matured.
• Then someone from my church gave me $1200 to get my car back on the road. It was exactly what I needed. Yet, when I went to the shop they said, 'Your car is fine you; it will only cost you the price of the inspection.' I couldn't believe it. After having my car sit the entire summer, to be told nothing was wrong with it.
• When I went to give the money back to the couple and explained what happened with the van, they told me to keep it. I then felt led to give it away.
• Immediately after I gave it, the transmission on the van started acting up and I ultimately had to sell the van to avoid homeless again.
• My middle son purchased a vehicle on his own. I was so excited for him!
• Less than one month later, he was hit by a huge SUV. His vehicle was totalled but he walked away without a scratch or as much as a headache. Praise God! And he got back into another car about one month ago ... better than his first one

I can't begin to tell you how many of my talks with the LORD have started, 'Really God?! Really?!' Yet, He truly is working all things together for the good.

• My oldest son is starting his senior year of college in the fall
• My middle son will be a sophmore in college
• And the youngest son all grown up (height and maturity) will be finishing up high school.
• On the birthday of my youngest last month, I found myself praising God. Three sons, grown up and so precious to me ... what a blessing. I could not have done it without the LORD. He is truly a Father to the fatherless.
• Family relations are mending
• And I've been able to continue attending and serving in my home church (even the days when I had to walk to get there). We're moving into our building on June 17th!

It has been quite a journey...
I have grown tremendously
My life is governed by peace
I have learned to laugh a lot more!
I have a permanent position (got hired in February)
And I am writing this post, from my air-conditioned apartment ... where it is small ... but we are alive, well and together. I am truly blessed!


I praise God for His faithfulness
Although there are still many needs .... much has changed in the past year
I know my best days are not behind me ... they are right out in front of me

Jesus is my hope, and His prayers have accomplished His will ... that my faith would not fail.
I am still growing, still trusting, still standing, still singing, still smiling and holding fast to the faith that I profess.

I am feeling .... Thankful!

I would love to hear something that God has done for you this past year (or month, or week). Please, take a minute and leave a brief message. God's Word tells us that we overcome by the word of our testimony, and we do. However, we also overcome by the word of others' testimony ... and they by ours. So take some time to share what God has done and what He's doing in your life ... if not here, somewhere, with someone. It will encourage your faith and theirs.

Take Care and God Bless!

the power of holiness

I haven't written in a while ...
Sometimes you just have to pause on 'holy'

There is something that happens in His presence, as we worship.

Understand, we do not move in and out of His presence
For He is Omnipresent ... everywhere, all the time

'If I ascend into heaven, You are there.

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.'

Psalm 139:8

No, it is my consciousness of His presence that becomes the variable which must be moderated. And as I worship Him, truly worship Him, everything else fades to black.

In those moments of pure worship, His beauty is the only thing which is evident, the only thing which is real and that truly matters.

In that moment, dreams and passions are re-ignited

It is a moment where painful hurts are sometimes unearthed, but where the overwhelming power of His presence makes them of absoultely no consequence as you realize how vast He is and how small the issues of life truly are in comparison.

In that moment, His love is tangible and all consuming.

In that moment, there is a sudden understanding of the concept of peace which passes understanding. It transcends a head knowledge and becomes reality.

In that moment strength is renewed...

In that moment, there is resurrection power and life ...
There exists in that moment, a place for hope to take up residence and to blossom.

My aim is to live, consistently and continually, in that place of surrender...

2011 'Year in Review'

Well, it is the last day of 2011! Now is the time for the somewhat customary 'Year in Review'. Therefore, I offer my year in review. And, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then this would sum up my description of 2011.

I don’t know about you, but the year 2011 – from beginning to end – absolutely kicked my tail!  And while I know that I have victory through Jesus, it does not change the fact that I took quite the beating this year.

• It began in January with the worst Lupus flare-up I have had in some time.
• Followed by a foreclosure at the end of May, a stay in the hotel and then on to my sister’s house since we could not get into any of the homeless shelters that I contacted. I have had four addresses this year – after fourteen years of consistent residency in the home that my children grew up in.
• My minivan – which was having some challenges and had a non-functional A/C – worked like a charm (even the A/C) right when we had to move - which was a true blessing since it was ‘hot as blazes’. Then it failed inspection; I was without it for all of the summer, finally got it back and working (somewhat miraculously), only to have the transmission start acting up and then ultimately having to sell it to avoid homelessness for a second time this year.
• And, somewhere in the mix of all those things, there were some parenting challenges, some broken down family relationships, praying for friends struggling with illness, heart breaking with pain for others going through their own 2011 wilderness experience and some disappointed dreams – namely the publishing of my book. And these are just the highlights ...

Yet through it all, He has walked with me and carried me when necessary. He has kept me from being utterly consumed. Hence, I can claim victory – bloody, battered, tattered, tired victory – but victory nonetheless. After it all, I am still standing -  stronger, wiser and much more patient. Praise God!

And I can find just as many blessings as there were setbacks.

• Although we were without a place to call home for several months, we were never without a roof over our heads.
• Despite the flare-up, all of the scarring on my face cleared up.
• The children issues, however trying, worked out for the good. Still believing for complete healing for my son's back.
• The family relationships are on the mend, being reconciled by the power of Christ.
• I got back to full-time work, although I am still praying for something permanent and with better compensation.
• I met two ‘earth angels’, a good-hearted woman named Glenda and a kind gentleman, with a wealth of godly wisdom, named Eddie.
• Breezed through a hurricane and earthquake, in the same week, without incident.
• I have been blessed with a very dear friend - who is more like Christ than she realizes - one who has 'stuck closer than a brother' throughout this year. And I have the joy of other friendships that have blessed me in ways that went beyond my imagination.
• My two eldest sons received generous grants for college and my youngest got to stay in his same school despite the moves.
• We had a roof over our heads for Christmas - our own space, our own home/place (however humble) and we are all in good health (including my sweet pup Chico).

And I even got to see some of the things that I was imagining come to pass in 2011...

• My church’s building is up – expected to be complete by late spring.
• I have definitely seen the fruits of the spirit developing in my life.
• And I pray that you all have had a wonderful journey with the LORD this year – that it will only get stronger and go deeper as you enter into 2012. 

'Amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Christ who loved us.' Romans 8:37 

I am praying that you will be safe, that you will prosper and that 2012 will welcome you with abundant blessing and favor from the LORD. 

Happy New Year!

Much Love in Christ, Zenobia 

the journey ...

As this year comes to a close

I find myself reflecting

Quite a bit ...

On everything that has transpired this year

On everything that awaits me next year

Many are finished with Christmas

But it stays with me throughout the year

I identify with Mary

Pregnant with a promise from God

Promises to be truthful

Unable to fully explain what I feel to anyone

Wondering what 'that day' will look like

when it all comes to fruition

Questioning whether I will have become -

all that I need to become

In order to properly nurture and care for God’s gift.

Mine is not an actual baby

But it could not be more precious,

for I know God planted it there

So today,

I make a special request

as I listen to this song,

most accurately capturing my feelings today.

I ask that you listen with me,

And pray for me –

Even as I pray for you

I pray that each one of us will give birth

to what God has planted inside of us,

Taking comfort in His Word of Promise,

I have directed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded,

And if you run, you will not stumble.

Proverbs 4:11-12 NASB

The New Living Translation States

I will teach you wisdom's ways

and lead you in straight paths.

When you walk, you won't be held back;

when you run, you won't stumble.

We have a confirmation of what He has done,

We have a confidence in what He is doing,

We have an assurance of what He will do.

Through many twists and turns through this wilderness

After countless ‘circles' around the mountain

The true journey begins -

The road of destiny

Taking possession and occupying

Every promise God has made

2 0 1¦1

Let the journey begin …

Happy & Blessed New Year’s Greetings to All!

who do you say?

So I was studying my Bible yesterday and was reading about Jacob’s wrestling experience with God. Not sure how I even ended up there since that is not what I started out studying but, I guess God leads you where He wants you to go.

Genesis 32:24-32ESV
‘And Jacob was left alone. And a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day … Then He said, “Let Me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me." And He said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven [wrestled] with God and with men, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked Him, "Please tell me Your name." But He said, "Why is it that you ask My name?" And there He blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered [spared]."'

Ever been in a situation like Jacob’s?

I have!

In fact, I am in the middle of one now. I’ve been applying for jobs for years now [yes, I said years!] and to no avail - tough for any family, but try being a single-mom while enduring this type of wilderness experience. It has felt like the longest night ever and I feel like Jacob – tired from wrestling with situations and circumstances, tired of wrestling with man, at times even wrestling with the One who has immeasurable strength - yet determined not to give up.

Now Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” But I am here to tell you that I have reached the point where I am determined to never let go - even if the blessing does not manifest in the way [or timeframe] that I think it should – as long as He gives me grace to hold on.

So the Angel of God tells Jacob that dawn is breaking …
The night is ending and so, too, the wrestling match must end.
That alone ought to encourage someone … it did me!

Then the Angel of God wrenches Jacob’s hip, forever altering his walk. He also changes his name and does indeed bless him.

Here’s the part that got my attention:
Jacob asked Him, ‘Please tell me Your name’ but He would not. He only responded, ‘Why is it that you ask My name?’

I found it a little peculiar that He would not respond. I mean, You spend all night in close proximity with someone, You get their sweat and tears all over You, and You have touched them in intimate places. Yet You will not give Your name when asked.

Why would God do this?

I believe there are two reasons:
1. It should have been evident who He was
2. There is no teaching so great as the revelation of discovering the answer one’s self

Please do not misunderstand my point. There is a value in getting information from others, especially those more learned than oneself. However, there is an even greater value, I believe, in getting that understanding from God revealing it personally – through His Word, His actions and our experience with Him.

Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16, ‘Who do men say that I am?’ but then He followed that inquiry with a more important question, ‘Who do YOU say that I am?’

It is a fair and straight forward question based upon their walks beside Him, their knowledge of Him and intimate experiences with Him. They had to truly consider what each of them, individually, knew to be true. Yet only one response is recorded from Peter, “Thou art the Christ!”

Understand that we, like Jacob and Peter, will at times be required to come up with our own name for God. Yet before He asks, He knows that He has already revealed enough of Himself for us to know the answer.

Based upon your dark, wrestling and pain-ridden night [if you are experiencing one], who has God become to you? What has the experience taught you about life, about your specific location, about yourself and about your God?

Jacob had to come to the end of himself and admit, I’m a trickster. But I believe the reason he held on so tight was that he was saying, ‘I’m tired of being this way … experiencing the same things over and over. Not to mention, I am like the walking dead anyway if You do not do something new and fresh in my life.’ God responded with a new name and a blessing. And, in that moment, he saw God face-to-face, forever defining that experience and what He would call God for that season of his life. It forever changed his walk and became a foundational block for future situations and circumstances.

Notice that he did not name the experience, ‘The Pain of God’ or even ‘The Blessing of God’.

No! He named it ‘The Face of God’.

Understand that once you get a fresh revelation of who He is, you forget the pain and even the blessing you were looking for because He has given you something of even greater value.

He has given you a glimpse of Himself…

For me, the prevailing name for God during this season of my life has been ‘Faithful’.

Who do you say that He is?