Introduction

Anytime I embark upon something of spiritual or biblical content I do so very carefully and cautiously. James 3:1 says "....let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." Having said that....let me say this. I am not here to teach you anything..lol. I am here to share what I have learned through reading the book "Praying the Names of God" by Ann Spangler. Let me also say this, I am not a bible scholar, or understand all the Hebrew/Greek stuff. However, I have felt led for some time now to do something with what I have learned about the different names of God. At first I thought about a small hosting a small group but with every one's hectic lives thought that would be difficult. Also, I don't live in the same area as the people I am closest too. I guess I could have gone with the Field of Dreams theory....."If you host it, they will come"....Oh Me of little faith. Blogging, I think, is the perfect source for me to use. I love to write, everyone can read it (or not) at their convenience, and none of us have to leave the comfort of home.....So, here we go!

I have been in church all my life, but was probably in my twenties, when I started to understand the whole concept of the bible being translated, and knowing the original words and their meaning in a scripture to fully understand its meaning. Although God is referred to as Jehovah, Almighty, King, etc. throughout the bible when we speak of him or pray generally we use the term God, or sometimes Father. But as I have come to learn and use the different "names" for God it has put me even more in awe of Him.

An Asian friend of mine told me once that her husband did not like her to say "I Love You" to him in English, because the words she said to him, (I Love You) were the same that she would use to tell anyone else that she said she loved. In Vietnamese, the words she used translated to "wife loves husband" to her boys she said "mother loves son"....it was personal. I thought about this as I began learning about the different names of God. I can pray "God" I need healing, "God" I need something, but if I use the titles Yahweh Nissi, The God who heals, or Yahweh Yireh, the God who provided, for me it becomes personal.


ELOHIM-e-lo-HEEM God, Mighty Creator. I have always been in awe of creation. It is amazing how everything works together, and not only does it work but you can look around and see the beauty in what God created. A few weeks ago I took my kids to the science center in St. Louis and we watched an IMAX movie called "Under the Sea". Before our show started there of course were several advertisements for upcoming films, one of which is a NASA film. It showed pictures of space, and the narrator talked about the "vastness of which we will never know". I know this is corny but I found myself wanting to stand up and shout "Praise the Lord". It happened again several times during our show. I restrained myself, not wanting to get thrown out!! But I just wanted to say "People, do you see what an awesome God we serve?" Only He could have created wonderful, beautiful worlds that all work together like they do. One little creature survives by eating stuff off of another creature. One fish lays thousands of eggs, but most only live a few seconds after birth....they become food for something else.

No matter how beautiful and breathtaking nature may be, there is only one creation made in His Image, and that is man. Genesis 1:27 says "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created Him; male and female, He created them." That is an idea that I have to really meditate on. What does that mean to me? Does it affect the way I live? I am not a very self-confident person, but if I am made in the image of a mighty, awesome God, then isn't it wrong to feel hopeless and powerless? And I won't get on a soap box here, all man is created in His image then shouldn't all life be sacred? Even the tiniest of unborn babies?

Again, I am not saying anything to teach, or persuade, I am just sharing my own personal testimonies. I am taking this opportunity to thank God for being everything to me. For being Elohim, my creator.
Thank you God for giving me life. Thank you for the beautiful world around me, I feel surrounded by your presence, when I see all that you have made. Remind me to slow down and enjoy it. I pray that it would be evident in my life, in my actions, that I am created in Your image, and that knowing that would affect choices that I make. Thank you for your love and mercy.

Let me encourage you today to look around and take in all that God has made. Spend some time thanking and praising Him. Think about being made in His image. Have a great day.