5 February 2020
I ordered two lattes and was asked by the lady behind the counter, “what’s the name for the order?”
I went to pay my electricity bill on the internet and after the account number, I was asked to fill in the following… name?
What’s in a name? So, I can be recognized that it’s actually me. That I have given the authorization to make, do, buy, give etc.
It made me reflect in prayer about the name of Jesus, given to Joseph by the Holy Spirit. Matt 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you are to name him, Jesus, for He will save His people from their sin.”
Jesus, in Hebrew, means to deliver, to rescue. That’s just what Jesus did for us.
So, His name describes in part what He has done for us. But it contains so much more. His name contains so much power. So much mercy. So much love. So much humility.
Matt 1:22 …. spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
And they shall name him, Emmanuel.
Which means God is with us.”
His name tells us that God is always with us. Tells us of God’s love. God’s mercy, God’s faithfulness, He is with us through thick and thin. Always. Never leaves us. (We may leave Him).
Phil 2:9-11
“Therefore, God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name.
So that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Word made incarnate, word made flesh. His name causes everyone to bow before Him. His name causes everyone to honour Him, to confess He is Lord. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Oh, what a name!
His name is above all other names.
So, the name of Jesus is above the label often put onto people, like hopeless, failure, stupid, incurable, diseased, doomed, irredeemable, irreparable, etc.
None of these names can stand in the way of Jesus’ name. Nothing can stand before the power within Jesus’ name. Nothing can stand before the authority of Jesus’ name.
Colossians 3:17
“Whatever you do in word or deed, (speaking or how you act), do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
Oh, what a glorious name He has given to us to live this life and in the next!
To live this life with joy and hope and love and positivity. To live fully with purpose and delight that grows more and more, the more we know Him. Our life is lived with victory when we know and experience what importance and how the importance of His name is.
So, when people have called you names. Don’t listen to them. Listen to the name Jesus calls you – “beautiful and wonderfully made.”
Beloved. Redeemed. Bold and confident. Courageous. Protected. Sustained. Strong. A fearless spirit. Free from any bondage. Daughter of the King.
Don’t look at your circumstances. Even circumstances bow to the name of Jesus. Any name, any noun, any verb, anything bows to the name of Jesus.
Padre Pio had great advice. “Trust when it looks bad. It appears hopeless… don’t ever fall back on yourself when the storm is raging. Place all your hope in our most sweet Jesus.”
So next time your name is called to pick up a coffee, a juice, a takeaway order, your name is called in a rollcall, in a queue, or your name needs to be filled out on a form – KNOW whose name you live under as a Christian – Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Oh, what a precious name!
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What names have been placed over your life that have stopped you from living under the power of Jesus name?
What areas of your life can you put Jesus’ name over?
7 Comments
Pam
Thank you Rosemary’
thoughtful and loving.
Michele
Hello Rosemary
May I enquire as to if and when you will have a women’s conference in Melbourne and where the location will be.
I missed attending the last CCR conference we just had in Melbourne.
I have been involved in prayer ministry for over 40 plus years.
Last year my car was written off and I haven’t replaced it. All in The Lords Hands. Just prior to that the monthly prayer group ceased as the people were getting older and others families were growing. Onecwent into a nursing home With new babies etc. 2 yrs before I felt the Lord was going to allow this to happen.
All are still very prayerful and Trust In Jesus and Mary as the HolySpirit leads them.
While I continue to pray with and for others we still need community and sharing in prayer on top of regularly attending mass and receiving the Blessed Sacraments.
I’m very involved in my beautiful parish but I know The Lord wants me to do more. For me prayer ministry and taking time out to read the Bible etc is a way of life.
Right now I’m at a crossroad and praying for discernment as to what I need to do. In the past I kept journals especially when prompted by the Holy Spirit.
Right now I’m going through my own personal struggle and challenge and am feeling a touch alone . I know The Lord is there and Mother Mary has her Holy Mantle over me., however the fellowship with like minded people is important.
I’m a strong believer in guarding your heart, but never harden your heart.
If you harden your heart you cannot. Love, forgive or receive. I pray and live by this each day.
At the moment I’m noticing so much politics and people’s insecurities of power play within some groups (even Christians can forget that Jesus I Trust In You. I step back and pray and give it to God, sometimes it’s a struggle and one can feel alone in ones own community as everyone is being very busy doing God’s work ( but sometimes God may just want them to stop, be still, listen for his voice in scripture prayer and quite time.
I’m interested in hearing from you.
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and bless your ministry and Bruce.
Love & Peace in Jesus & Blessed Mother Mary
Michele 🙏😇🌅
Rosemary Downes
Dear Michelle, thanks for your enquiry.
Melbourne Heart Conference dates have finally been confirmed. They are 12-13th June at Ibis Hotel in Glen Waverley form 10am to 5 pm both days.You can register online, just click onto the more info box. I would love to meet you at Heart in June.
Our ministry is expanding into caring for women wherever they may be by soon providing them a way to join a womens group, where they can grow in their Faith by sharing with each other, reading and sharing scripture and praying for each other.
Your sharing of part of your Faith journey encourages me as a woman trying to follow the Lord too. We all need cheerleaders and other women in our lives to share and pray with. May God continue to expand this in our Hearts and practically in our lives.
Much love
Rosemary
Yvonne
Thank you for the way you share your journal.
I like how you bring scripture into every day life so meaningful, it’s a beautiful hunger of the heart being satisfied..and the heart knowing …more please sir!
Jenny
Thank you so much Rosemary. The calling of my name will never be the same.
I hope to remember this always.
In Jesus we Trust.
God bless you 🙏💖😇
Leonie Cornell
Hello Rosemary. I loved the reflection on names. I am currently reading a book about how to encounter Jesus in the Rosary. In the contemplation of the Annunciation, when Mary is visited by Gabriel and says that important Yes, it tells of the meaning of the name Jesus. I also remember that names were very important in the times when Jesus lived and also from the time of the bible living and reading. I hope to always remember this and I pray to be more observant of things around me, so I begin to more often encounter God in everyday circumstances as you do and share in your jottings.
I also feel a sense of connection with Michelle of Victoria above. I too feel especially having listened to Bruces services this year that God is calling me to a prayer ministry and I am not sure okay maybe a bit scared to see where it goes. I have some ideas but this also means I have to reach out to others in my community and also to the priest to see where I can be used. Michelle , if you are still reading this and Victoria does not have a heart conference, I am definitely attending the Sydney one, and we can maybe link up in some way to make it easier for you to attend. If Rosemary or yourself agree or want to get in touch, The team has my permission to share my email address for you.
Anne
I cannot imagine not having Jesus in my/our life someone to Trust and believe in us
when life seems to tough to handle the big question that appears in our minds is
always doubt – Why ?