What’s In A Name?

What’s in a Name?

“And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.” (Ezra 10:26 KJV)

This verse is buried twenty-six lines deep in the midst of a long list of laborious names. Very few people would even bother reading it. I guess I’m one of those few. You can see that seven names are listed; a father and his six sons. However, nothing is said about them — who they were, what they did, how their lives mattered. Nothing. Just their names. But names are important. A name defines you, and a good name is to be desired above great riches.
So I did a curious thing with this verse of scripture. Using the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, the Easton Bible Dictionary, and the Hitchcock Bible Names Dictionary, I looked up the meaning of each of these names and what I uncovered is worthy of your consideration.

Elam — a secret hidden by distance in the highlands
Mattaniah — the gift of hope from the Lord; the hope laid up in heaven
Zechariah — The renowned Lord has remembered
Jehiel — God’s life will be seen in me
Abdi — serviceable, servant of the Lord
Jeremoth — elevations; uplifted beyond the fear of death
Eliah — The Mighty God, the Lord who works in wonder and power

Putting the meaning of these several names together in one continuous thought produced the following treasure:

“There was a secret hidden in the heavens, far away from the sight of man. It was a gift of hope, laid up in heaven for us by the Lord. At the perfect moment, in the fullness of time, the Lord remembered the gift and brought it forth for us to have and to behold. Because of this His name is now renowned throughout the whole earth. His life has now been made manifest in and through us, making us useful unto every good word and work, and lifting us far above the power of sin and death. He is the mighty God, who works wonders of love by His great power.”

Next time your whizzing through the Bible on your way to a place called Hurry Up and Get Here, take a break. Slow down and read with an inquisitive mind, a curious soul, and an investigative hunger. You might just stumble upon a buried treasure or two. James Ryle

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Published in: on May 23, 2017 at 4:45 am  Leave a Comment  
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On My Mind – The beginning, the ending and the beginning again

On my mind …

 This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you’re part of “On my mind…
I’ve been thinking about this for several days every time I look out at the garden. Here in California, September is the beginning of fall and the garden shows its age.
May I show you what I see:
Sunflowers- June 22
today
Cucumbers June 22
Today
Tomatoes  June 22
Today
As I wandered around to the back of the tomatoes and cucumbers, I found this new beginning;
Beets, carrots, spinach, and turnips
Through all the starts and stops, this Farmer is still found on his knees.
  To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecclesiastics  3:1-2
Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 11:46 am  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday – Growth

We write bold and beautiful and free. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just write or not.

Growth

Start

During these first days of fall, I walked through the garden and realized the garden was getting old and tired.

This garden has grown, and bloomed,

and produced day after day after day.

Now is the ceasing,

the garden is growing brown,

it is withering,

the produce is sparse and small.

During the first days of fall, I found new beginnings

new growth

new promises

new hope

and the farmer still on his knees.

Stop

Adding pictures now.

Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 10:54 am  Comments (3)  

Together Still

Michelle over at So, I Married a Mennonite is doing a wedding dress link-up this weekend as she is celebrating her anniversary. It was fun to see her pictures and the others that linked up.   SO……..

How about an oldie?

June 16, 1967

Out the front door of my parent’s house into the front yard under an arch decorated with gladiolas, we exchanged wedding vows. We’ve experienced them all: better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Our heavenly Father has been faithful to keep us faithful.

October, 2009, Quebec City

Be sure to stop over at So, I Married a Mennonite to see more fun Wedding photos!

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 11:54 pm  Leave a Comment  

Simple Woman Daybook, May 31,2011


FOR TODAY
Outside my window…a garden plot tilled, ready to be planted, partially planted, and because of the recent rain, little weeds sticking their heads up

I am thinking…this is my first entry and it’s kinda fun

I am thankful for…yellow flowers

From the learning rooms…oldest is girl43, boy 39, girl 32, boy 32, my baby girl  26, praying they continue to learn to follow God with their whole hearts.

From the kitchen…vegetable soup with spaghetti sauce as a base

I am wearing…jean skirt and t-shirt

I am creating…a baby quilt (pic below of progress)

I am going…to Bible Study in about 15 minutes

I am reading…The Widow’s Season by Laura Brodie

I am hoping…good reports from the Farmer’s medical tests

I am hearing…an airplane over head, and children’s voice as they gather for Bible Story Time.

Around the house…General stuff and watching day care child, Little Miss A

One of my favorite things…watch the sky as the clouds roll in

A few plans for the rest of the week:  more blocks put together for quilt, continue to trust in my Father for the unknowns in our future.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing…

A work in progress. . .

This post idea  is from “the simple woman’s day book, where every day is a blank page” http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Published in: on May 31, 2011 at 7:03 pm  Comments (2)  

When Seasons Change

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/05/five-minute-friday-when-seasons-change/

Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and brave and unscripted.
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.

When seasons change…………
Monday—–1:00pm biopsy
Tuesday————-feeling fine
Wednesday———feeling good
Thursday————Phone Call ————-
aggressive prostrate cancer.

Our season has changed.

it is still spring

the garden is still being planted

tomato stakes are going in the ground

birds still sing

wind chimes are still ringing

but the season has changed.

NOW—–I am numb

NOW—–I have questions

I don’t know how to put into words.

NOW—–I don’t have any answers.

BUT I CAN STILL TRUST!

I have trusted, I trust today, I will be trusting tomorrow.

a few words from a song that have supported me through many changing seasons:

Yesterday things were different

Today they’re different again.

Jesus never, never changes

Jesus is always the same.

And one of my favorite verses:

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not;

therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed

Thank you.

Published in: on May 20, 2011 at 2:50 pm  Comments (3)  

Cozy Acre Garden 2011

Here are the beginnings of 2011 garden on Cozy Acres:
Last year’s plot being worked:

New plot ripped,plowed, rototilled:


Grape cutting nursery, from cuttings from grapes at Lincoln Avenue:


seedlings added, sprouts up in one week!



Carrots and mixed salad greens:

The shade nursery:

Are you ready?


Marigolds for the row ends

On your mark, get set, GROW!

Watering system, emitters at plant=no weeds

View from the deck:

May the Lord bless the work of the Farmer!

1 Corinthians 3
6. . . but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8. . . and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

Published in: on May 11, 2011 at 6:47 pm  Leave a Comment  

If I knew I could, I would

This is Friday, I attempt to write on the topic the Gypsy Mama chooses. I am always surprised at what comes out of my fingers.
Join me if you dare

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/04/five-minute-friday-if-i-knew-i-could-i-would

Go

If I knew I could I would TRAVEL!

a driving trip to Alaska

and across Canada

over to PE Island

down through the New England states

follow east coast south and then west.

I would observe and see and look and learn.

I would live in Washington State and North Carolina.

I would observe………

I feel narrow and limited……by my owns fears

I would lift the top off the box; slip out; peer around and SMILE!
You know what, my hands are raised,
I’m starting to push…and…
LOOK
there is a glimmer of light
just a small crack
but it is there
I CAN, IF I WOULD……..

Stop…..breath, it always seems like I’m holding my breath, when the words start coming fast.

Image borrowed from – http://ezine-engine.author-engine.com, thank you.

Published in: on April 29, 2011 at 11:52 am  Comments (1)  

If you met me

Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and true and unscripted.
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/04/five-minute-friday-if-you-met-me/

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minuter who linked up before you.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

If you met me….

This is a first for me on Friday (Saturday), I’ve read many of your inspiring posts. Not sure just how to do this or what is going to happen:

Hold my nose    JUMP

Go

You would approach a closed door probably surrounded by a moat full of alligators.

I’m hard to met

I appear judgmental

I am afraid of saying the wrong things

I am afraid of you

but if you bravely persist or you think it worth the effort  —

You will find a heart that wants to help: but procrastinates until it’s too late.

You will find good intentions with varying urgency to get things done.

You will find a great starter, and a slow finisher

You will find imperfections  and a deep trust and confidence in the One who loves me just as I am

Stop

After time stops: Again, this is the first I’ve done this and what a topic to start on– as some one said – “I don’t know until I write what I am going to write.”

I read a lot of last Friday’s posts and knew if I wrote how far below the standard I would be. This writing has shown me that it’s time to find homes for the alligators, plant water lilies and buy swans for the moat; exchange the door for one painted red with small diamond shaped glass panes. . .

Published in: on April 9, 2011 at 7:25 pm  Comments (2)  

Genesis 1-3

I’ve joined a challenge to read the Bible through chronologically. I have read the Bible completely in the distant past. It is time to read it again and this method is intriguing.  I’ll be posting comments on the others posts, hopefully I receive comments back.

Genesis 1-3

Genesis 1
Verse 1 … In the beginning GOD
I receive such comfort knowing God is at the beginning.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was
not any thing  made that was made.
Since God is my beginning, the foundation of my life. I am secure. No matter what happens in all the remaining 1485 pages of my Bible and in my life.
Verses 2,3,9, 11 are a picture of my life before God, without form, void, and in darkness. Then God moved and I received light and a foundation and could then bring forth good fruit.

I am thankful for beginnings in God.

You’ll find another reader at:

http://giftedthroughgrace.wordpress.com

Published in: on January 18, 2011 at 1:19 am  Leave a Comment