What's in a Name? - And Who Won Wesley Zinn's Book

Drum roll please....Wendy Coy, you have won a copy of, I Got This, by Wesley Zinn. Thank you all for interacting on this subject of entering the economy of God's flow of stewardship. Wendy, please send me your contact information and we'll get a signed copy out to you.

Now please welcome my guest, Jane Rattray. I met Jane at the New England Christian Writer's Retreat and she is a sweet sister with a wonderful message to share today about, What's in a Name....

“But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping…” (John 20:11) 

Do you know this place, the place where you are alone, abandoned, unknown, wondering if you will ever know love again?

Can you relate to Mary’s loss, the loneliness of the grave?  At her lowest point she ran to the tomb longing to touch his body, to bathe it in spices for a respectful burial, to say a final good-bye.  She did not understand, had no expectations that He would be alive so when she sees an empty tomb her shattered heart crumbles. 

Why?  Why can’t they leave him alone?   He is dead!  He is no longer a threat to them. 

The empty tomb that is a symbol of hope and eternal life to us was a place of torment and anguish to Mary.  So she weeps.  The other disciples were confused, maybe believing, maybe not, unable to put the pieces together from the scriptures Jesus had shared with them so many times before his death.   Leaving Mary behind, as everyone always did, they go home, back to their safe place.

In the stillness, Mary senses another person and turns to see the gardener.   “Woman, why do you weep?”   

Her grief filled reply tells the story.   All I ask for, Sir is his body.   Just tell me where it is and I’ll go get it. 

Driven by love, the obstacles she faced, a stone to roll away and a grown man’s body to move, were of no consequence.  She must find her Lord.

And then… she hears her name.

“Mary”

Washing over her soul like a cleansing rain, soothing the searing pain of loss rang the sound of her name.  One word that spoke volumes, one word that said, “I love you” and “You will never be alone again”.    Her Lord had returned and He called her by name.

How will you respond in that place of deepest despair when Love calls out your name?

Mary clings to Love, once again anointing his feet with her tears, afraid to let him out of her grasp.

“But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob,

And He who formed you O Israel,

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name: you are Mine!”   (Isaiah 43:1) 

It’s OK, Mary, you can let go.  We are family now, you have been redeemed.  My Father is your father, my God is your God.  Go… tell my brothers and tell them everything is new.  Hope has been restored.

Perhaps you are thinking, “Easter is over, isn’t this blog a few weeks too late?”  But this message is too good to pack away with the Easter eggs and plastic grass.  He KNOWS my NAME!  He KNOWS your NAME!  Listen as He says it again every morning. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Hear it as you read scripture aloud, inserting your name in verses such as Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 43:1, Psalm 139:17-18.

What’s in a Name?  LOVE

How does His knowing your name impact you today?


Jane

Jane Rattray is privileged to be the Mom of four amazing grown children, three daughters and one son, Grammie of one super cute toddler and wife to the world’s most patient man.   She has been on a journey with the Lord from the age of nine growing through the ups and downs of a crazy, Christian life.  Her most recent path is taking her from a place of demoralizing legalistic Christianity to the life giving power of living out her own Story.  

Join her on this journey at www.cherished-child.blogspot.com

 
Max Lucado's book, When God Whispers Your Name:

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