NAMES

Finally something dawned.  Been thinking about the meaning of names and how important that can be.  Our minister of music has a daughter they named Selah.  I asked if he thought she would grow up loving it or hating having to always spell or explain it.  He said they have told her from the beginning that it is in Psalms in the Bible meaning to pause and consider the Glory of God.  He said she is already very comfortable with being able to speak about its message for all who care to ask.

Now that is a most purposeful name -it is always going to bring up the most important subject of all - God's glory. 

Our family likes keeping old family names going so we have a lot of last names as our childrens' first names.  My daughter is Mary Gentry (Gentry was my father's mother's maiden name and also means to the manner born or of good heritage).  Her daughters' names are Mckenzie, which means "the fair one" or "born of fire".  She didn't turn out to be a total red head like her Mom but she was a strawberry blond for most of her childhood years.  She is definitely fair of skin. Karissa means -with a "k" love and grace and with a "c" that everyone said it "should have been spelled" means beloved one.  They are both Greek in origin and both suit our Karissa just fine.

My own name took on its true meaning once I began my new life in Christ - Anna is Hebrew and means grace and so I am now full of grace thanks to the Dear Lord.  I was also named Louise after a great aunt.  That is of German origin and means a great warrior.  I am not much of a fighter though I don't mind an argument or two that can go on forever but I like to think that maybe it means I can and hopefully will stand up and fight for what I believe.  I pray for my persecuted sisters and brothers all over the world and just wonder could I even begin to stand firm and faithful at the point of a gun or a machete being swung in my face.  I pray so, hope so want to be able to and maybe since that's the name God knew would be chosen it was His way of making sure I will.

Hopefully you have a name you love and live up to and it positively affirms who you are each day.