More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name:
Santa Clause knows all his reindeer intimately, they are close special friends; loved ones. Just like our family and friends, this special bond and knowledge of each other is symbolized in knowing and using each other’s names.
My 17-year-old son and I have been together at a local grocery store several times and seen the same homeless man standing at the entrance, cardboard in hand, asking for help and money.
One day, my son asked me to pull over and park so he could take him some supplies and food we had in the car ready for this purpose. I watched as they talked and my son prayed for him.
When he got back in the car we chatted about the man, and he told my son he was a believer. I asked what his name is, and my son said, “Daniel”.
When we left the parking lot through the exit where Daniel was standing, I rolled my window down and said, “Hi Daniel!”. I will never forget how his face lit up! His eyes got bright, his countenance was transformed from one of solitude and sadness to one of recognition and hope.
I realized in that moment how important our own name is. He probably rarely hears his own name, which would bleed into feeling like a nobody, homeless on the streets, helpless and hopeless.
Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
The Lord knows us by name, as a beloved son or daughter. Our name is our identity, it is personal and powerful.
God knows us better than we know ourselves and he knows our name is the key to the door of our innermost being. He calls us because we are his!
No matter how lost you may feel, you are never lost to God! He knows you and loves you and even went so far as to die for you so he can be with you forever in bliss!
You aren’t a nobody, you are a somebody, a somebody identified by a name, a name which God knows.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.
This Christmas, rest in the assurance that God knows you and desires to go deeper with you each day. Do you know him and his voice? Are you one of his sheep? If you are, your shepherd will come and find you and bring you back into the fold!
Praise the Lord!
SURPRISE PRESENT
Name art!
Using the images above (Evelyn, Erica, Katie) as inspiration, we will create a Christmas theme art piece using your first name!
Check out these super fun Christmas letters!
This is a fun font, and would be terrific after Christmas to use for a lettering project!
Below is another fun way to use the snow font in a snowy environment!
Candy cane lettering is fun, and I really like this one because it is curvy. It looks like actual candy canes were bent to form letters!
Wouldn’t it be ‘sweet’ to use this sugarplum dream idea and have the letters of your name floating in amoung the candy?
Below is a video I made to show you my thought process working through my name, Holly! Enjoy!