Praying Your Christmas Season Overflows with God Sightings

Living in the names of God describes my life these days as I focus on finishing the Companion Guide/Bible Study to Living in the Names of God. Eighteen Hebrew names of our mighty God are dancing around in my head so that I see Him more than ever in Christmas sermons and music. In Isaiah’s 9:6 and in Handel’s Messiah I detect the presence of El Gibbor (Mighty God) and El Olam (Eternal Father) and Jehovah Shalom (Prince of Peace).

​Friends bless me with conversation about their growing awareness of His presence. Just this week my friend Terry talked about meeting El Roi, the God who Sees as he read chapter 7. Terry’s been living life with a paralyzed body for the past thirty years and expressed gratitude that the same El Roi that companioned with Hagar companions with him. He also said he could empathize with my statement about feeling like the poster child for the Neighborhood Outcast.

Penny emailed me the day she started and finished reading Living in the Names of God. Immediately she sat down at her computer and personalized each name ending up with her own stories (possibly a book in the making) of God’s faithfulness in her life. All of that in one day mind you.

Fauneil called the day after Thanksgiving. Recovering from a stroke she declined invitations to dine out and instead feasted and meditated on the Hebrew names of God in my book. Jehovah Shammah was there with her.

Armetha wowed our bible study last year when she read poems she’d written to capture God’s revelation of Himself packaged in His names.

Mia sketches, then paints an artistic rendition of each name one chapter at a time.

One of Mia’s Sketches

Yes, the Lord liveth and blesses us with His presence. Oh the joy of meeting Him in the dailies and growing in our understanding of Who He is, how He wants to be known and what He wants to do in our lives.

Speaking of growing, I have a growing collection of items containing the Hebrew names that I love:

​Daughter Emily presented me with the perfect 2013 birthday gift as I was writing the chapter book and teaching the names of God bible study.

This bird’s nest is filled with shells, sea glass and driftwood she collected on which she inscribed Elohim, El Elyon, Jehovah, Jehovah Raah, Jehovah Shammah, El Roi, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah Tsidkenu, El Shaddai, El Gibbor, Jehovah Jireh, Adonai, Adonai Tsuri, Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Mekoddishkem, El Olam and Go’el.

Alma and my bible study women presented me with this names of God wreath. Intermingled with feathers are autographed paper leaves containing each woman’s favorite name of God.

Cheree, a sister in Christ from Southern Oregon’s JAF Family Retreat, presented me with this priceless plaque the same week we placed our first order for fifty books. The gift arrived in a bag decorated with the names of God.

My friend Amy placed my book strategically in the seat pocket of an airplane hoping to spread the word about the Lord and about the book. So dear!! Thank you, Amy. And thank you everyone for supporting me in so many ways.

That’s my update. Now what about you? Have you discovered your favorite name of God yet? Where have you encountered Him this year? I’d love to hear how God has become more personal in your life thanks to His many names.

I’ll keep you posted when in 2014 the Companion Guide/Bible Study is available. My prayer is that it increases your awareness of your Ever-present Companion who longs for you to trust Him in the tough times and thank Him when the good times roll. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see You.

Haven’t gotten the book yet. It’s available through Amazon.