Name

Name

"I also say to you that you are Peter (pieces of rock), and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16:18 NASB).”

“He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel (struggles with God); for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed (Genesis 32:28 NASB)."
“…and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus (the doubter), and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee (John 21:1b-2a NASB),…”
“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, favor is better than silver and gold (Proverbs 22:1 NASB).”
“A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1 NASB).”

Definition: A word or a combination of words by which a person, place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known (Dictionary.com).

Our last name, when we are born, is only as good as our ancestors and parents helped it to be. Our first name however usually matches well in definition to some of our actions and character - that is why God would rename some in the Bible to match His newly bestowed character and calling. We then, by recognition and modification of our actions, and by expression of our inner traits and convictions, can create a lasting, favorable name for ourselves.  

Prayers: We pray our child will know the seriousness and importance of a good name and be aware of the negative things that can be done to hurt, and the positive things that can be done to help a name.

We pray our child will be protected from embarrassing titles and social diminishing because of anything we have done.

May our entire family walk by Your Spirit and grace and purely portray Your glory while unabashedly praising You for positively influencing our lives.
Thank You for Your help and blessings.

Value and Importance

Value and Importance

“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:1-6),..”

Definition: Value: relative worth, merit, or importance:
Importance: of much or great significance or consequence

Eternal identifiers that cannot be self apportioned. Our actual identity comes from the worth, value and importance God bestows on us through His likeness and image. Lacking in this revelation leaves a void we try to fill, and a question we try to answer using various clues, imaginations and pieces of life. These fail to fully explain anything and so usually only beg more questions.  We must keep our eyes on the creator for definition and not on our strengths, weaknesses, habits and accomplishments, because whether we estimate ourselves as good, bad or indifferent we would measure amiss. Only the creator of something can define its true purpose, meaning and being.

Prayers: We pray that very soon in life our child will gain the understanding of Your eternal value and Your deep consideration of us. Then the only necessary pilgrimage will be to know You more and become more like You. So let it be that we all will see Your value and importance in each other. Thank You for Your help and blessings. 

Talents and Gifts

Talents and Gifts

“For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12:4-8 NASB).”

Definition: Talent - A special natural ability or aptitude.

Gift - Something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned; a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent (Dictionary.com).

Through ability, interest and aptitude our talents can bring confidence and, when discovered, can bring encouragement from others to press further and dream big. Our gifts can bring meaningful blessings and, when exercised, can bring appreciation from others who receive and draw out the inner deposit inside of us. When we live accurately, as we are created to live, we lay aside fear and embrace our potential and capacity to do. Truly nothing can hold us back.

Prayers: In everything that can be and will be done, we ask for Your guidance and validation to stir up faith and mature our child in Your providential way. We pray our child will always glorify you with each gift and talent. Thank you for Your help and many blessings!

Creativity

Creativity

"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27 NASB)."

"Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard it, and survived (Deuteronomy 4:32-33 NASB)?"

Definition: The state or quality of being creative; the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.

We are created to be creative, to realize the new; to break from form and strictest norm with something else to do and make. True tradition is at stake the day we set its stake and decide the now is all there needs to be. Though now is great to celebrate we need more than one party. Remembering is golden, an emblem in our minds of good things and good times, but not intended out of sort for past is past to not resort again, but start again and loose from its origin the unique life that flows within that grows where it is raised. Creativity thrives and creativity stays, because we mirror a creative God who is set in all His ways.

Prayers: Lord help our child be like You in creativity. We pray the patterns we set for our child will be influential, but not determining of every step or goal our child makes.

You are The Way, The Truth and The Life, You are the Author, You're the Perfector, You know the end from the beginning. Time does not hold You, but You hold time, so we look to You, further, we release to You our child for the brightest future and greatest today without blocks or traditions of men to get in the way. Thank You for Your help and blessings.

Intelligence and Humor

Intelligence and Humor


“As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17 NASB).”
 
“A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22 NASB).”


Definition: Intelligence - Capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.; manifestation of a high mental capacity; the faculty of understanding; knowledge of an event, circumstance, etc., received or imparted; news; information; the gathering or distribution of information, especially secret information.
Humor - A comic, absurd, or incongruous quality causing amusement; the faculty of perceiving what is amusing or comical; an instance of being or attempting to be comical or amusing; something humorous; the faculty of expressing the amusing or comical; comical writing or talk in general; comical books, skits, plays, etc.

Intelligence, a calculated quotient, and humor, a signature sense, are like raw ores waiting to be mined and refined. New discoveries and increasable craftiness may be found and extracted through effort and community: close relationships, focused training, strong discipline and self confidence. Both Intelligence and humor include inner processing of what is experienced and pondered, but mainly they are visible displays of mental giftedness that openly communicate: awareness, understanding, level headedness, trustworthy perspectives or witty anecdotes. Without intelligence, the problems of life can become increasingly overwhelming - with ignorant or idiotic choices adding to the normal difficulties we face. Without humor, the problems of life no matter how light or heavy can feel weightier. The ability to laugh something off is a skill to be learned and exercised through trust, just like when we cast our cares on the Lord.

Prayers: We pray our child has common sense, strong intellect and a light hearted take on Life’s burdensome, unjust and mundane aspects. As our child matures we pray for refinement and protection from debilitating awkwardness or slowness.  


We pray our child learns the importance of "laughing it off" and releasing trouble to You. May our child be delightful and fun to be around, always bringing life and liberty to oppresive and problematic circumstances by trusting You and walking with You. Thank You for Your help and blessings.

Personality

Personality

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb (Psalm 139:13 NASB).”

Definition: The visible aspect of one's character as it impresses others; a person as an embodiment of a collection of qualities; the sum total of the physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual; the organized pattern of behavioral characteristics of the individual; the quality of being a person; existence as a self-conscious human being; personal identity; the essential character of a person.

Inside our created self (spirit and soul) is the source from which our unique inner flow begins and our personality is the fashion by which that source shows itself outwardly: every characteristic and quality, both conscious or unconscious, developed through upbringing, culture, environment, experiences and beliefs. When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) our created self is free to begin reflecting His characteristics, motives and life through the unique way His hand fashions and perfects us. In Him we are no longer bound to the life we were born into, but can again become, or be redeemed into a new creation as He originally intended.

Prayers: We pray our child will be mature in the presentation of the source of life You have granted. May what is outwardly shown bring You honor and glory always.

Please protect our child from our strong opinions and failings; we pray we will always encourage our child to freely move with You as You originally intended.

We pray our child sustains the proper character necessary to connect in the body of Christ and be a strength to it, without allowing self centered environments and cultures to snuff out the purely driven source of personality you wove together even in the womb. We surrender our child to You, the great Author and Finisher of faith and true substance - thank You for Your help and many blessings.