The Names of Jesus--Day 31

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Carpenter

"Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?" Mark 6:3, NKJV

The carpenter. Most people do not associate this career with the same esteem as that of a doctor or lawyer. This was not a career that would make Jesus famous, like that of being a movie star. No, this was honest, regular work. As a boy, Jesus would have learned the carpenter's trade under the watchful eye of Joseph, His earthly father. He would have been taught to do careful, quality work. I'm sure as Jesus grew older, surely his work pieces became well known for the good quality and fine workmanship He would have put into each piece.

I love thinking about Jesus as a carpenter, because carpenters build things. Not only did Jesus learn how to build things out of wood, but in following His Heavenly Father He also learned how to build people's lives and hearts. He is a perfect Saviour, just as He was a perfect carpenter.

"He learned the trade of a carpenter, that He might stamp honest labor as honorable and ennobling to all who work with an eye single to the glory of God. Angels were His attendants; for Christ was doing His Father's business just as much when toiling at the carpenter's bench as when working miracles for the multitudes." The Bible Echo (E.G.White), October 21,1898

Jesus. Come into my life and make it new.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus

The Names of Jesus--Day 30

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The True Light

"That was the true Light which gives light to every man who comes into the world." John 1:9, NKJV

Light. The interesting thing about light is that it cannot exist at the same time in the same place as darkness. When light is there, darkness must flee. John, in his Bible book, refers to Jesus as the light of the world more than twenty-three times. He also quotes Jesus when Jesus said "I am the light of the world." (John 8:12)

Not only is Jesus the light of the world--but He is the true light. If we follow Him, we cannot lose our way. How blessed we are that Jesus does not hide from us. He is not difficult to find. He wants us to find Him, and He promises that if we seek Him with all our hearts, we WILL find Him.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 29

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The True Vine

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5, NKJV

Throughout the Bible, a vine is often referred to when the author was talking about union or fruitfulness. Having many sons and daughters would be said to be many vines around your table. The Jewish people considered the vine to be representing majesty, excellence, prosperity, and joy.

Jesus called Himself here the genuine vine. He is more than just a vine--He is the TRUE vine. Union with God is found only through Jesus, the true vine. Only through a connection with the true vine is there salvation and oneness with God.

When we are united with Jesus, the true vine, we will also be united with one another. "By the figure of the vine and the branches, Christ illustrated not only the relation that should exist between Him and His followers, but also the union between every believer and his fellow believer. Each must be dependent alike on the vine for sustenance; and must be joined to the parent stock." Manscript Releases, Vol. 20, p. 362 (E.G.White).

I pray that I may be united with Jesus--the True Vine--today. And every day.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 28

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Sun of Righteousness

"But to you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings." Mal. 4:2, NKJV

Our sun is the very center of our solar system. It rules the other planets and causes their individual orbits. Every living thing on earth is dependent on the sun as the source of energy. The "Sun" is a very appropriate name for Jesus, because He is the light of the world.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' " John 8:12

As the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus dispels the darkness of sin. He fills us with His warmth of grace and forgiveness. "As the sun-flower is constantly turning its open blossom to the sun, so let your heart, your thoughts, ever turn to Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness." Sons and Daughters of God, (E.G.White) p. 151.

"If we gaze even for a moment upon the sun in its meridian glory, when we turn away our eyes, the image of the sun will appear in everything upon which we look. Thus it is when we behold Jesus; everything we look upon reflects His image, the Sun of Righteousness." The Faith I Live By (E.G.White), p. 150.

I am so thankful for Jesus sending the darkness out of my life, and filling it with His light instead.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 27

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The one Mighty in Deed and Word

"Jesus of Nazareth. . . was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." Luke 24:19, RSV

Do you remember when you were a child and you would hear the sing-song expression on the playground "Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me?" That is something that children will say to each other when someone is picking on them--but how untrue it is. Names CAN hurt someone--terribly. And likewise, words can also build up in a powerful way. Jesus' disciples testified that their Master was mighty in deed and word. He influenced all the people by His preaching, teaching, healing, and doing good because God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

"A sense of our own weakness and frailty will lead us to lean upon One that is mighty to save, whose delight is to impart strength and courage to the humble." Review and Herald (E.G.White), January 10, 1856

Jesus lived what He preached. He is strong enough to carry us. He is the one we can trust.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 26

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Friend of Sinners

"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' " Luke 7:34, NIV

A friend. I think having a friend is one of the very best things that can happen in this life. I absolutely LOVE this picture of these two grandmas, laughing as they look at something on a cell phone. Blessed indeed is the man or woman who has a true friend. I know, because I have a very dear friend that I have had for years. We knew each other in B.C. time--that's "before children," in case you do not know. Newly married, my husband's job took us literally across the country from where I had lived all my life. Everyone at our new town/church/job treated me very kindly, but there was no one that I just hit it off with. I was SO lonely, and I started praying for a friend. I prayed for a full year, before one day we met a new couple that had just moved there and went to a church activity. I knew right away--she was my new friend!!!! Maybe she didn't know it at the start, but "I" did! And what I always found amusing was that God had moved that couple there from the very state I had previously grown up in. I prayed for a year, and God heard my prayers and answered them by moving that couple across the country as well! :)

A real friend is not necessarily someone who is the same as you. My dear friend is very different from me in many ways, but she has been a wonderful blessing and has helped me to see things from a different point of view. I have heard it said that a friend is someone who knows all about you--but likes you anyway! This could not be more true than when speaking about Jesus. Who else knows us the way He does? Who else can read our heart, knowing the very inmost thoughts and feelings? No one knows us better than our Creator--yet He loved us enough that He chose to die in our stead.

In our verse above, it was not ment as a compliment of Jesus when he was accused of being a "friend of sinners." Yet how true that was--He IS a friend of sinners--and that is exactly what He wanted to be. My very best friend.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 25

Good Morning--and Merry Christmas!

Our name for Jesus for today is: Christ the Lord

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11, NKJV

Play pens. Car seats. High chairs. Birth announcements. All these things are part of having a baby for most of us today. But when you think back to when Jesus was born, He had nothing. Even for that day and age, He had nothing--not even a real cradle to be laid down in after He was born. Yet--the heavenly angels sang and gave His birth announcement. This was the single most important birth that had ever taken place on this old earth of ours--or ever would take place. He was born in a barn--a stinky, smell barn--yet had come from the courts of heaven. He was Christ the Lord, the Son of God, NOT because of what He had here on earth. But rather, because of who He was. It is not the palace or robes or gold that make a king a king. It is being the son of the king that counts.

You and I are important to Jesus, NOT because of what we have or what we have done. No, we are important simply because of who we are. His creation. And He loved us enough to die for us, because He could not bear the thought of eternity without you.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 24

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: Immanuel

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, 'God with us.'" Matthew 1:23, NIV

Immanuel--meaning God with us! Can you imagine that? I mean, really think about it. God--you know, the One who created EVERYTHING and lives up in heaven and has adoring angels singing praises to Him--THAT God came down to our little tiny sin filled planet. And He did it all because He loved us too much to leave us in our misery, without hope in our sin-filled world.

Jesus now belongs to us forever--and we belong to Him. He became our blood brother, our personal Saviour. There is nothing that can happen to us that does not concern Him, or of which He does not take immediate notice. He knows what is making us happy, as well as what is breaking our heart. And when the time is right, we shall see Him face to face. How awesome is that?!

God with us.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 23

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Holy Child

"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy child to be born will be called, 'Son of God.'" Luke 1:35, NEB

Centuries before Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel came to Daniel and told him the time of the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:21,25). Now Gabriel came again--this time to Mary, to tell her that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah--the one whom people had waited for since the Garden of Eden.

Even before Jesus was born, He was called "Holy." At all times, as He grew to be a child, a youth, a man--He never sinned even once. He who was perfect and holy took my sins as though they were His, so I could have His righteousness as if it were mine. Such love exists no where else. My mind cannot even comprehend how Jesus would do this for me.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 22

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Sure Foundation

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3:11, NIV

If you are like me, the foundation of your house is not something you normally think about. In fact, you may not think about it ever--until you have a problem! I have a dear friend who came home from work one day, and while still parked in her driveway she looked at her house and realized that it seemed to have a definite slope to it--and found out the foundation of her house had cracked and things had moved! How does one fix the foundation of a house that is already built? Not very easily. Perhaps not at all. Even bringing in "experts" this is a job that may not be possible to accomplish. The foundation of a building is the very most important part of that building. It doesn't matter how great other things are. It can have a brand new roof, or the most energy efficient windows ever made--but if the foundation is bad, the whole building is worthless.

How thankful I am that Jesus is our foundation. We can have the most important job at our company, designer clothes, a new car, or a perfectly shaped body. We could even own the bank--but without Jesus nothing else matters. Whatever storms life brings to our doorstep, if Jesus is our foundation we can weather them--because He holds us up.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 21

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Lion of Judah

"Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. . . has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." Revelation 5:5, NKJV

Lions. Big. Strong. Majestic. King of all the animals. Being called the Lion of Judah indicates that Jesus is the ruler over all the universe.

The verse here in Revelation says that the Lion of Judah has prevailed. He has won, and therefore is the only one worthy to open the scroll. The ending of the plan of salvation is already known. In His role as Lion of Judah, Jesus is able to fight the cause of His people, clear the name of God, and guarantee salvation to all who accept Him. Because Jesus is able, our redemption is sure.

"As the Lion of Judah, Christ will defend His chosen ones and bring them off victorious." The Home Missionary (E.G.White), November 1, 1893

Our Lion will defend us.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 20

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Beloved Son

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 17:5

Beloved Son. This is spoken by the God of the entire Universe--saying that Jesus is His whole heart, walking around here on this earth. People who are parents have some small idea of what it means to have your heart separate from your body. From the moment your child is born, you will never be the same again. Forever your heart will be wherever that child is--praying, hoping, loving.

God loved Jesus with the same closeness, yet He gave Him up to come here to this earth--knowing that we would kill Him. Because God loved all of us too much to lose us. "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." Colossians 1:13:, NIV

God loved us so much He sent Jesus. Jesus loves us so much that He came.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 19

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Lily of the Valleys

"I am. . . the lily of the valleys." Song of Solomon 2:1

A lily is a very special flower. There are hundreds of species and thousands of varieties of lilies--I realize the picture I chose for this post is probably NOT the type of lily that was being referred to in this Bible verse, but it is one of my personal favorite types of lilies so I chose this illustration anyway! :) Lilies are used for both celebrations of happiness, as well as for gifts at a time of sadness. A lily is used to illustrate purity and serenity. For centuries, the lily has become an illustration of the resurrection, therefore the wide cultivation of the famous Easter lily.

I find it interesting that this flower is used for so many different times of life--from the most wonderful of all to the most sad of all. Reminds me that there is no inappropriate time for Jesus in our lives. We need Him when times are wonderful and we are overflowing with happiness just as much as when our hearts are floundering in grief. There is never a time that we do not need Him.

"We must look away from the disagreeable to Jesus. We must love Him more and obtain more of His attractive beauty and grace of character." That I May Know Him (E.G. White) p. 136

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 18

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Rose of Sharon

"I am the rose of Sharon." Song of Solomon 2:1 NKJV

The Rose of Sharon is a title for Jesus that He did not specifically call Himself, but which has been long used to refer to Him due to it's color, beauty, and fragrance. The rose is the most popular flower in the world. It is believed that "Sharon" was the name of the plain between Joppa and Mount Carmel. This area became very well known and popular for it's beautiful fields of wild flowers, known as the rose of Sharon.

To really appreciate the fragrance of a rose, you have to come close to it. Jesus wants us to come close to Him, and He tells us "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3, NIV

When Jesus is blooming in our lives, we will give off the fragrance of His love. "We need Jesus, the Rose of Sharon, to beautify the character and make our lives fragrant with good works, so that we shall be a savor of Christ unto God." Reveiw and Herald, Mrs. E.G. White, August 14, 1894.

May I be beautiful like Him. Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 17

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Arm of the Lord

"Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" Isaiah 53:1, NKJV

When we think about arms, we think about power or strength. I read that the phrase "the arm of the Lord" is found thirty six times in the Old Testament. It is used to describe the saving power of God. I love this promise where Jesus says that we are safe with Him: "Neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." John 10:28, NKJV With Jesus, we are safe.

And here is another beautiful thought about Jesus: "If we lay hold upon the arm of Infinite Power, it will sustain us through every conflict and discouragement of life, and will finally place a crown of glory upon our heads, and bring us to share the eternal reward of the righteous." Signs of the Times, (E.G.White) August 6, 1885

Safe in the arms of Jesus. Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 16

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is:  The Author and Finisher

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith."  Hebrews 12:2, NIV

Author and Finisher.  Don't ALL authors finish what they started to write?  Well, no!  There are many more articles and books that are started than there are those that are completed.  I love this name for Jesus, because it gives me assurance that JESUS will complete saving me.  All I have to do is cooperate with Him.

I have read that the Greek word for "Author" also could be translated as "leader," "originator," "founder," and "pioneer."  Jesus is all of these things.  Jesus not only created the plan of Salvation, but it is through Him that Christians are able to believe and follow Him.  It reminds me of the father Jesus was talking with in the Bible where the man said "Lord, I believe!  Help my unbelief!"

"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord I believe!  Help my unbelief!'"  Mark 9:23-25 NKJV

We have many beautiful promises in the Bible that Jesus will not leave us to try and be saved on our own.  He knows we cannot do it.  "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion."  Philippians 1:6  All we have to do is accept the wonderful gift.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 15

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Burden Bearer

"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalms 68:19, NIV

Burden bearer--I LOVE this name for Jesus!!!! Have you ever gone backpacking? I have--but unfortunately, I was totally unprepared for it! I was in high school, and joined the "back pack club" for a trip to the Smokey Mountains. Sounded fun, and it probably would have been except for one thing. I had no idea what I was doing! Our school gave no instruction ahead of time, so I had no idea really of what proper equipment would be, how important it was to pack LIGHT, what kind of good hiking boots you needed, etc. I was totally unprepared. Not to mention that I had never hiked a mountain in my entire life of living on the flat lands of Michigan! The scenery was beautiful. But the trip was miserable!

The one thing that helped keep me from being stranded in the mountains when I fell and twisted my ankle (and the teacher was somewhere over the next mountain by then!) was a friend of mine who carried my backpack for awhile. What a relief! What a blessing! So I can imagine very well what it means to have someone else carry our burdens. . . we are free of them!

Jesus is the only one who can truly carry our burdens in life. No matter how serious of a problem you carry. "You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. . . His heart of love is touched by our sorrows. . . Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. . . There is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel." Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, (E.G.White) pp. 480,481

How foolish we are when we hold on to our burdens and insist on carrying them ourselves. We are never ever going to make it off that mountain if we do not turn things over to Jesus.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 14

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: Our Elder Brother

"Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers." Hebrews 2:11, NIV

Brothers--do you have one? I do, and while he teased me unending as a child, now that we are adults I know full well that he would do anything to help me if I were in trouble. Jesus identifies Himself as our elder brother. He is our example. He is our protector. He is our defender. He left heaven to come to earth to save us. He didn't have to--but He chose to. Not because we deserved it--because He is our brother.

"The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. He desires us to realize that He has returned to heaven as our Elder Brother and the measureless power given Him has been placed at our disposal." My Life Today, p. 297 (E.G.White)

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 13

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Consolation of Israel

"And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him." Luke 2:25, NKJV

Today's name is a very interesting one to me, because of my background thinking about the word "consolation." When I was growing up, the only time I heard the word consolation used was in the context of "consolation prize," which, of course, was never as good as the REAL prize you had been hoping to win. Instead, it was some little thing, designed to make you feel better about losing. The way this name is applied to Jesus, it is certainally not meant as some "little thing!"

But yet--when you think about it, we humans DID lose out on the big prize when we sinned way back at the Garden of Eden. We lost so many things, the main one being daily face to face communion with God--along with immortal life, living in a sinless world, etc. I realized that we did lose out on the "big prize," and at that time Adam and Eve were promised a consolation prize--that a Savior would come. The difference between my way of thinking of a consolation prize and Jesus as a consolation prize is that because of Jesus coming, we can be restored to what we previously lost! We already lost--but now we can win!

Jesus "binds up the brokenhearted" Isaiah 61:1 He has promised to "never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 And He will "wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4

THIS is a "consolation prize" that is priceless!

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

The Names of Jesus--Day 12

Good Morning!

Our name for Jesus for today is: The Bridegroom

"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete." John 3:29, NIV

Jesus is the bridegroom, and we are His bride. Jesus loves, protects, and defends His bride. He has already given His life to save us, and constantly nurtures and cherishes us. There is no prayer that we can whisper of which Jesus is not immediately aware. He loves us with an everlasting love. Just like my favorite stories when I was a child. "And they lived happily ever after."

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.