***please read update below post.

Penny is a Pastor’s wife and Women’s Minister who is currently serving on staff and alongside her husband at Journey Christian Church in New Orleans, La.  She is the mother of a beautiful 6 year-old girl and very active 3 year-old boy.  She adores her family and considers them her most important ministry!  She has a heart for women to truly know the love of Christ.  She mentors and disciples women in cities dotted across the country and currently writes devotionals that are sent to both men & women coast to coast. I am honored that Penny has said yes to my invitation to spend some time here with us today on the 29lincolnavenue porch.

Want to REALLY know your God?  Learn His many names!

I recently completed a Bible study with the ladies of our church, and it truly transformed the way I pray and even approach my God.

Kay Arthur’s book, Lord I Want To Know You, covers the many Old Testament names of God.  I was truly amazed at how many different names my Lord has!!  We learned that the better we know His names, the better we will know how to communicate and relate to Him.

Think about it… how many names do you have?!

My friends call me Penny, but my closest friends call me Pen.  My children call me Mommy, and my husband calls me Babe.  Kids in the church call me Mrs. Penny and my daughter’s teacher calls me Mrs. Franklin.  I know how to respond, often times by the name that I am called.  Our God is much the same way!

Proverbs 18:10 tells us that, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.”  The NAME of the Lord.  How in the world can we run to something that we don’t even know!  I think often times we don’t run to God, because we don’t really know Him!!

In this study, I spent time, really getting to know my God!  At the end of the study I asked all the ladies to take a small note card and write the names we studied with a small “take home phrase” that reminds them of that specific name.

Here’s what I wrote on my card:

Elohim – my Creator who made me fearfully & wonderfully
El Elyon – my sovereign God who handles the whys of life when I can’t
El Roi – You see me, even in my laundry room and care that I’m there
El Shaddai – You nourish me from who You are – You are All-Sufficient
Adonai – You are my Master and therefore I don’t get to say, “God, I can’t or I won’t.”
Yahweh – You are so holy that only to breathe Your name doesn’t live up to Your worthiness.  You are the Self-Existent One and I can exist in You.
Jehovah-jireh – You provided for my eternity, You’ll provide for my life!
Jehovah-rapha – You heal bitterness and turn it into something sweet
Jehovah-nissi – You are my rallying point when I get lost
Jehovah-mekoddishkem – You refresh me and sanctify me all at the same time. I don’t have to live defeated.
Jehovah-shalom – when my life seems unsettled I can have peace in You
Jehovah-sabaoth – You are my mighty Warrior and You win my battles for me
Jehovah-raah – You call me by name and lead me to beautiful places
Jehovah-tsidkenu – You give me the opportunity to make things right with You
Jehovah-shammah – You are here.  When I feel alone – You’re here!  What a view this is no matter where I am.

Update: This post originally ran on September 3, 2010. I am re-posting it today in honor of Penny.  She lost her husband last week in a tragic hunting accident. My heart is broken for her and her two sweet children. I am asking you to join me in praying for every day for the rest of January. I think using this post and the names of God would be an awesome way to pray.  If you would like to make a donation to help her family, you can do so through the Seeds of Faith Community by clicking, here.