What is in a name? A name holds a lot of power. Throughout the Bible God gives
many people new names. I believe he does this because he sees something in
these people, something that they might not be able to see in themselves. I
took some time last month and just prayed for God to show me some new names for
each of my teammates and this is what I received. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit more about what God thinks of my teammates!
Melina– Lioness:
Lioness ready to Charge. Definition of lion: The male has a flowing shaggy mane
and takes little part in hunting, which is done cooperatively by the females or
lionesses. There have been many
prophetic things spoken over you involving a lion. Although I believe that all
these things are true I think that there is one thing wrong, I see you as a
lioness not a lion. The lion has a flowing shaggy mane to show off, to show
dominance. It seems to spend a lot of its day sitting in the shade being lazy.
Fighting every once and a while for control of its territory. He is considered
brave and courageous. He does all these things while the lioness is being bold,
working hard, hunting its prey. That is where the true boldness is, that is
where the true courage is, it is in the lioness. We have all come into the race
with a purpose a strength something we can bring that no one else can. These
last two months there has been a language barrier for most of our team. An
excuse we have all too often used as an “inability” to step up and pray for
people. We have looked to you to step up. At first you were unsure of yourself
and your Spanish ability but over the past two months I have seen you truly
step into the confidence you are meant to have. I have seen you be willing to
pray for the people in the barriers, the people on the streets, willing to
translate our testimonies and church services. I have seen you step up and lead
a bible study for woman of the barriers, which in turn led to a woman accepting
Christ. That is true bravery and courage. Your willingness to go and hunt, to
go and serve in the field and courageously spread the good news of the Lord. I
am grateful for the changes I have already seen in you and excited to see more
confidence, boldness and courage as the year goes on.
Kelsi- Gleam– As in
from Polished Metal: Definition is shine brightly, with reflective light.
Another definition is reflects light because it is well polished. Origin is
from Old English glǣm
which means brilliant light! Kelsi you are
a brilliant light for this team and the people we work with. I feel like you
have gone through a transformation, as metal being polished, over the past
couple months. Before you have allowed your brilliant qualities to just blend
in and not stick out as unpolished metal does. You were not living fully, not
showing your personality to many. But these last couple months have polished
out that “reserved’ from the “reserved ridiculous” that you were described as,
polished the ordinary out of you and made you extraordinary. You have stepped
out of your comfort zone and let us in. You have allowed yourself to be
vulnerable you have allowed yourself to try new things and not know the
answers. You have stepped out in faith and believed the promises of God. You
have been bold in crafting prayers and reading them to us, in believing that
God speaks to you and telling us what he spoke to you. As a polished piece of
metal you have allowed God’s light to shine off you. You have allowed the
brilliant qualities that God has bestowed you with to be seen to the world. I
look forward to the rest of the year as God continues to polish you and make
the light that shines off you even brighter!
Justine– Zeal–
Definition is to bring great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an
objective. The energy and enthusiasm you bring to our group is incredible. I
love the enthusiasm you bring to worship and to prayer. You strive to bring the
best out of each and every one of us and you desire the same out of yourself.
You “Push in to us” as we say and go after things below the surface. Things
that we don’t want to show. Areas that we can improve in. Justine you have been through a lot in
your life. You have struggled through some strong spirits, spirit of rejection,
self condemnation, but you do not go down without a fight. Your zeal, or energy
and enthusiasm towards refining yourself and removing any spirits in your life
that don’t belong is an admirable trait. I admire your ability to introspect,
or look inside yourself. You have done an incredible job of identifying areas
God desires to work in you. Then pushing after them with much energy. I am
excited to see the progress you have made so far in these areas and see what
else God reveals to you in the future. Thank for you pouring into each of us,
prophesying over us and continuing to pray on our behalf.
Haley– Adorer: Definition is one that loves and respects dearly.
Comes from the Latin Adorare ‘to worship’or broken down further ad- ‘to’ +
orare ‘speak, pray’. Your adoration towards others is encouraging. The way you
pour into others the way you love and respect them dearly is an incredible
quality. The way you loved the children at Casa Jackson last month. The way
that you went out of your way to buy a pair of shoes for the child that didn’t
have a good pair. You built lasting relationships with every child at the
Quinta. The language barrier was not at all a barrier for you. You flew through
that not allowing it to slow you down. You didn’t restrict your conversations
to what Spanish words you knew but found ways around it. You desired to spend
quality time with each of them. You treated them in the same way you would
treat any of us. Not talking to them like a stranger or a child but as a
friend. The way to truly spread the love of Christ is through relationships. People
must trust in you before they will listen to what you say. You have that
strength. You have that ability. Continue to love on people the way you do
because others will notice and come to know Christ because of it.
Mike– Warrior: Battle Ready Warrior- You spent the last three
months before the Race at the church. Pouring yourself out in worship filling
yourself up with the Word. You have had your training, you have sought after
God. You came on this trip prepared for battle. You were tested in many ways
this month from sickness to finances but you persevered and have faith in God
to provide. I have enjoyed seeing the transformation take place when the
financial attack was identified, brought to light, and destroyed. You still
have the debt but you no longer allow it to hold you back in your walk with
Christ. You have the ability
to dream like no one I have met. You have the ability of an experienced warrior
to see the end goal, the victory of the war, and desire after it. You have big
goals that you desire to achieve. I pray that you continue to have discernment
from Christ on which dreams to chase after now. Discernment on what to pour
your love and passion into. This past month you have truly changed in front of
our eyes. I have talked to many people on our team and they have all enjoyed
seeing the change and the freedom you now walk in. As you say ” you are a man,
you are a man” and as I like to add to remind you “you are a man of God” a
fierce warrior ready for battle.
