I find it pretty funny that, according to several books, my name translates to the meaning, “Graceful” or “full of grace”. Assuming the translation refers to the art of being graceful (or “lady-like” as my mother would say), hang around me long enough and you’ll find out how graceful I am not. My name was not picked by happenstance… I was named for two of my aunts. Though I could be wrong, I’m pretty sure my mother didn’t name me with the thought that either I was a graceful baby or that I would live my life gracefully just because my name translated so.
Picking a name for a child is a tough job… my husband and I had the hardest time deciding on each of our girls’ names. Honestly, I didn’t look at the meanings of their names or if I did, I didn’t give it second thought. I just went with the name that I liked.
My advent reading today was Isaiah 9:1-7 and I focused on the names that this prophecy gave Christ…the names were descriptive of who this “son” was going to be… Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. I love these terms, not just because I can sing them (Hallelujah Chorus), but because of what these four or possibly five names can really mean.
Wonderful- astonishing, amazing.. wonderful goes beyond good, even beyond great….. wonderful exceeds expectations and in most cases blows us away
Counselor- who can I depend on to guide me in the best direction? Who can I confide in? Who can I gain understanding from? Yep, it would be the counselor…. or rather, the Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God- I love the term mighty. From what I can comprehend about God… there is nothing that can touch Him… He is mighty and more powerful than all
Everlasting Father- Never ending…. No death…. infinity and beyond … However you best understand it, God is forever.
Prince of Peace- I’m not sure if this title is descriptive of world peace or peace within but I believe that Christ showed us how to live peacefully within ourselves and among the world
I love the fact that Christ lived up to his names…. I’ve experienced the Wonderful and was blown away. I’ve experienced the Counselor and was guided in the correct direction. I’ve experienced the Mighty God… so much power and never backs down… fights the enemy for you. I’ve experienced the Everlasting Father…. time is of no issue… He is always there. I’ve experienced the Prince of Peace…. there have been times when I thought my world was falling apart or times when I was broken… Peace came in and rescued me..
Christ lives up to his name…Just one of the many reasons to celebrate the season and the hope that it brings.
Isaiah 9:1-7
1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2 The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.
6 For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
The Prodygal Life 