Names

In Thailand, people's given names are too long so they give each other shorter nicknames to say instead.  We have been learning a lot of names the past month. There are many kids' names at the dorm we have learned,  as well as some of our students and the teachers at the school where we teach.  The children at the dorm have even given us nicknames.  My nickname is "Elsa." Abby's nickname is "Baby" or "Rabbit." It's so sweet to hear the kids call out our nicknames!  We were also given Thai nicknames by a little girl: Ma-Now and Ma-Noy. Abby is Ma-Now (which means lemon) and I am Ma-Noy (which is a vegetable like a cucumber that grows wild in the jungle).  It's really fun to hear them call us by our Thai nicknames too!

All this thought about names got me thinking about God's different names.

Lord of Lords, Holy One, Exalted One, Father, Jesus, Jehovah, Lord, Light of the World, Prince of Peace,
The Light of Life, Son of God, and
The Way, the Truth, the Life.

There is power in His name - in His names.  This summer so far hasn't always been easy, but when it does get hard, the best place to turn to... and the only name to cry out is His.  I am so thankful for His constant presence and the fact that all we have to do is cry out His name - the sweet name of Jesus.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2:10-11

Father, let us always remember to cry out your name and remember the power in Your name.

-Alyssa

Teaching the kids vocabulary about the Bible Story when Jesus calmed the storm