If you had a child born on Christmas Day and had to give him/her a name that related to Christmas, what name would you choose? (Example: Holly for a girl.)
If I had a boy, I think I would name him Gabriel.
God’s Word is full of examples of God keeping His promises to people. The Bible calls them ‘prophecies,’ and they are promises that God not only makes but that He Himself keeps.
He promised Abraham that he would have a son, although it looked pretty unlikely to Abraham. But he did have a son and it was when he was 100 years old! (And you thought your Mom and Dad were old!) Joseph was given promises by God. He saw that there was something great that God wanted to do with his life. Joseph’s brothers laughed at him; but God kept His promise anyway. David knew he was to be king of Israel. The Prophet Samuel had spoken a word from God! That wasn’t very much comfort when David was hiding in the wilderness from King Saul who wanted to kill him. But guess what: God kept His promise and David did become king.
God also gave many promises about the coming of the Messiah – the Promised One who would bring salvation to all people. Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, God told where He would be born: ‘Bethlehem…out of you shall come forth the One to be ruler in Israel’ (Micah 5:2). God promised that Jesus’ coming would free us from our sin: ‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ (Isa. 53:6).
After Jesus was born, God kept giving promises. There were promises given to Joseph and Mary: that Jesus would bring a light to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). He made promises to the first Christians that they would minister in Jesus’ name and He would bless them (Mark 16:15-18). Paul’s life was spared through God’s promises (Acts 27:24-25). And the Bible even ends with the promise of Jesus’ return (Rev. 22:20-21).
That’s a lot of promises! But do you know what’s just as exciting? The Lord wants to give you promises about your life! Sometimes they will be things to share with someone else to pray over, and sometimes they will be things to think about in your own heart. Either way, they will be things to give to the Lord and let Him fulfill…because He always keeps His promises.
Maybe God will put a big dream in your heart that people will laugh at, like with Joseph. Maybe it will be something that seems impossible, like with David. But 1 Kings 8:56 says, ‘Not a single word has ever failed of all God’s good promises.’ And just like God kept His promises to all of those people He will keep His promises to you too.
–The 25 Days of Christmas by Rebecca Hayford Bauer
How about "Mary Love" for a Christmas name???
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful that the Promise Maker is the Promise Keeper, the One who brings his Word to pass!
I am loving Andrew Peterson's Christmas musical "Behold the Lamb". Your post reminded me of one of his songs that I was listening to last night:
Hail, King David
Shepherd from Bethlehem
Set the temple of God
In mighty Jerusalem
He was a king on a throne
Full of power, with a sword in his fist
Has there ever been, ever been a king like this?
Full of wisdom, full of strength,
The hearts of the people are his
Hear, O Israel, was ever there a king like this?
...So speak, Isaiah
Prophet of Judah
Can you tell of the One
This king who's going to come
Will he be a king on a throne
Full of power with a sword in his fist?
Prophet, tell us
will there be another king like this?
Full of wisdom, full of strength,
The hearts of the people are his
Prophet, tell us will there be another king like this?
Isaiah said:
He'll bear no beauty or glory
Rejected, despised
A man of such sorrow
We'll cover our eyes
He'll take up our sickness
Carry our tears
For his people
He will be peirced
He'll be crushed for our evils
Our punishment feel
By his wounds
We will be healed.
FROM YOU, O BETHLEHEM
Small among Judah
A ruler will come
ANCIENT AND STRONG
ANCIENT AND STRONG!
Dang! Mom beat me to the punch.... I was gonna say Mary Love! I guess I'll pick another one. How about Donkey?
ReplyDeleteI once knew a boy named Noel, and how about Natalie? Love the promises posting.
ReplyDeleteI would name him or her "Christmas", that's an awesome name for a kid. I like the story in Luke 2:25 - 38 about Simeon & Anna and how God fulfilled His promises to them.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Sarah Beth. I look forward to reading more.
Frank. After Francinsence. No but seriously I'd probably name her Angela.
ReplyDeleteIf it were a boy, it would be Melchior. That’s an underappreciated name and it would build character, particularly through the constant explaining. Plus, a wiseman should be a pretty good role model.
ReplyDeleteIf it were a girl, it would definitely be Bethlehem. I understand that state names are popular, so cities can't be far behind. I also think it has a good ring with Bennett, although some impatient people might want to shorten it to Beth.
By the way, if Miranda asks, tell her that this is all hypothetical and unofficial. For some reason, she says that baby naming is her department.