Just Call Me John!

I can hardly wait to meet John!

Oops… You’re right, Lord.  That very statement begs the question:  “Which one?”

At that precise moment, I was meaning John the Baptist.  But I could also say, “Yes and Amen!” about meeting John, son of Zebedee… who wrote (under the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit) two books in the Bible:  One of the four Gospel accounts and the Book of Revelation.

If I were to go by the meaning of that name, I guess I would discover countless others I “can hardly wait to meet”!  In English, the name John means “the grace or mercy of the Lord.”  In Hebrew, it means:  “Jehovah has been gracious, has shown favor.”

Actually, going by these definitions, maybe ALL of us who have fallen in love with You, Jesus, should go by the name John!!! Haven’t we all experienced some measure of Your grace and mercy?  Haven’t You shown us Your favor in countless ways?

Which leads me back to the original thought that prompted this blog.  [Yes, Lord… I guess it is about time I got to the point!]   🙂

“I will send My messenger before You, who will prepare Your way — a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'”  (Mark 1:23)

You sent John the Baptist the prepare Your way over 2,000 years ago.  As a voice calling in the wilderness of that day.  But even today, aren’t we each inhabitants and/or survivors of some wilderness?  Some dry and/or desolate place where we are, by Your grace, uniquely prepared to be Your messengers, too?

So… How am I doing that, Lord, even now?  How am I being Your messenger — in the sphere of influence You have divinely ordained for me to have?  In the world?  In my family?  With my coaching clients?  Through the words You give me to speak and to write?

What kind of wilderness existed (or exists) in my family members’ lives, my clients’ lives and the lives of those these written words are reaching?

What are the ways You are leading me to coach, testify and encourage, that will help others turn to You so You can lead them out of those wildernesses?

What are the changes You are inviting them (and me!) to make that will prepare the way for You to come into our lives with greater ease and power?  Changes that will make our hearts more desiring of You?  More welcoming of You?  More responsive to You?

What are the crooked paths — in us and around us — that we are to straighten before You?  Where are You asking us to cooperate with You so that, together, we can remove both boulders and tiny nails… fill potholes… add sand and gravel to give greater traction in mud?

I love that You call me Abba’s Girl!  I also love The Truth that I have experienced Your grace, mercy and favor to degrees infinitely greater than anything I could ever deserve!

Truth be told, I deserve none of it.  Yet, Truth be told, You lavish it on me anyway!

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.  One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts.  They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty — and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.  They tell of the power of Your awesome works — and I will proclaim Your great deeds.  They celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.”  (Psalm 145:3-7)

And so will I!  One more Voice calling out in the wilderness.  So, I guess You can call me “John” if You want to, Abba.

If the shoe fits, wear it!

You can certainly call me BLESSED!   🙂

With all my love,

Abba’s Girl

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