Happy New Year!!

Dear Friends in Christ -

Today is the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus. We celebrate the name of Jesus because there is power in it.

The third of the Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." God is not some school-marm in the sky waiting to scold us for swearing. The reason for this Commandment is that there is power in the name of our Lord, and we don't want to dilute that power by speaking the name of Jesus or God too freely.

Indeed, God wants us to harness the power of the name of Jesus by speaking Jesus' name in the midst of challenges and sorrows and pains. Speaking the name of Jesus' brings His power to us as surely as if we were calling a best friend to help us in time of need.

Try it. Call to Jesus by name next time you are afraid or angry or hurt or weary. And then experience Him coming to be with you - in the midst of it all.

"At the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess him King of glory now; 'tis the Father's pleasure we should call him lord, who from the beginning was the mighty Word."
"Name him, Christians, name him, with love strong as death, name with awe and wonder and with bated breath; he is God the Savior, he is Christ the Lord, ever to be worshiped, trusted, and adored."

Faithfully yours,
Janet+