How Do You Call Yourself?

I vividly remember some of my earliest phrases in Spanish class. Aside from the alphabet, a beginning Spanish student usually learns expressions, questions such as

What is your name?
My name is______.
Where are you from?
How old are you?
Do you like______?

I always laughed when the instructor would remind us that the literal translations do not always come out the same way in English, because they would generally sound a bit odd. Obviously, the meaning would be the same, but the word-for-word translation would sound a bit humorous at times. For example, the literal translation for asking someone their name in Spanish comes out "How do you call yourself?", and in response, you would answer (again in Spanish)..."I call myself_____". As a teenager, I would giggle a bit, because it always sounded so silly to me. However, the longer I took these Spanish classes, and the more fluent I grew, the language started to make sense, and I never had to question the translation - no matter how silly it may have sounded when breaking it down word by word.

So, how do you call yourself? Yes...what is your name? Is it Brave One...Princess...maybe Leader of Many...or Captive Breaker...how about Mighty Warrior? OK - so maybe we don't go around stating our names in this way, but do you know that God is calling you by a special name (and perhaps by more than one)? We read in Judges 6:12 the following:

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

This has huge significance! If you study the book a little further, you'll see that Gideon had done nothing worthy of the name "mighty warrior". He even boldly admitted that he was from the weakest clan in Manasseh. So, why would God call him a mighty warrior? He called him by what He was making him - knew he was going to be - what He saw in him even before Gideon recognized it in himself. Gideon was being called out by God to save Israel from the Midianites. God knew that Gideon was going to be that mighty warrior, and he was because he obeyed God.

So, I ask again...how do you call yourself? Or better yet, what is God calling you? Like in my Spanish classes, the longer I study God's language - His Word - the more fluent I become and the more it makes sense. His names for me also begin to make sense, even if they seem so far from reality at the moment.

Are you willing to walk in obedience to live up to that name or calling even if all you can see right now is something drastically different or significantly weaker than the name He is calling you? Let Him shape you and mold you to fit that name He is calling you! Do it friend, and be very, very blessed!

Ready, Aim, Fire...

"Steady yourself, and when you're ready, go ahead and release the safety and then pull the trigger slowly," my friend instructed. I was a little shaky, but I followed the instructions exactly as directed. This was too dangerous for me to take lightly and mess up. I learned to shoot a gun this past weekend. I'm sure some of you are completely in shock, others might be saying "it's about time girl". Whatever your feelings, this was something that I needed to do for my own sanity. I've had a fear of guns for quite awhile, and I fully believe the fear was there for several reasons:

1. I didn't know how to operate a gun. Therefore, even looking at one brought great fear.
2. What if I learned to shoot and ended up messing up? I could seriously hurt or even kill someone.
3. I was completely naive about guns in general.

Before I shot that first bullet, a friend of mine and my husband, made sure that I knew and understood the piece of equipment that was in my hand. They explained the parts of the gun, the bullets that were being used, how to load the bullets, how to operate the gun safely, how to hold the pistol, where to stand in relation to the target, etc. I spent a lot of time preparing to make that first shot. When at last these two men could trust me to fire the gun, I steadied myself, aimed the pistol, and prepared to fire...I was as ready as I was going to be. A little shaky, but not overwhelmingly so, I pulled the trigger. I actually hit the target...maybe not the bullseye, but the target none-the-less. Not too bad I thought. I was ready to try again...a little less nervous this time...ready, aim, fire...I hit the target again! I did this for a full round of bullets. Still trusting that I would follow instruction, I was told that I could move onto learning a bigger pistol - one with more punch! The nerves set in again. Could I really do this? If they trusted me, surely I could handle it! And...yet again...I learned as much about the new pistol as I could and fired another round of bullets. This one was much louder and jerked me a little more, but by the time I was done - my confidence increased, and my fear over guns decreased. One more time, I was invited to try another gun...this time, a black powder rifle. Seriously? I can't believe they think I can actually do this. Well, why not give it a try. And...I did. I only shot it once, but the fact remains that I did it! Surprisingly, I was closer to the bullseye with this shot than I was with any of my pistol firings.

Still tickled at my accomplishments over the weekend, I began thinking about the process that lead me to have that success. First of all, I acknowledged the fear. Secondly, I was willing to take instruction from others trained to teach me. Additionally, I never pushed it to the point that I attempted to do more than I was entrusted to do. I suddenly had an "ah-ha moment". This is exactly what God has been doing in and through me. He's been preparing me to fulfill His purpose for me on this earth. I've acknowledged my fear (repeatedly, actually). The instruction part took a long time for me, because I've had to learn some things the hard way. He's the best teacher, though, and He's patient and always willing to re-teach me the things that I didn't get the first time. But, perhaps the greatest lesson I took away from all of this is that God is also readying me, preparing to aim me, and when He can fully trust me...He will fire me out of the chamber. He may start small, and when I'm comfortable at each level, and when He's certain that I'm ready for the next one - He'll ready me once again. In the meantime, I need to not try to do more than I'm entrusted and prepared to do.

I pray that I don't let fear grip me to the point that I'm unteachable. I pray that I remain a keen student, and I pray that I remain trustworthy to carry out God's mission and purpose for me. I especially pray that I don't waste this life He's given and entrusted to me!

Take Me from My Comfort Zone

Take Me from My Comfort Zone

Lord, take me from my comfort zone
To the place you’ve called me.
Knowing that I’m not alone,
I’ll be exactly where I need to be

I’m willing to serve you
Although, I’m weak and I’m broken.
However, I know what I’m here to do,
Because you have so clearly spoken.

The doubts will continue
Of this one thing I am sure,
The fear will ensue
But, your Spirit of power and love in me must endure.

Whatever I lack to fulfill your call,
I trust completely in you to provide.
This is not about me at all!
In bringing you all the glory, I will abide.

Thank you Lord for believing in me,
And bringing me to this place.
I will continue to proclaim your victory,
Until I see you face to face!

Your loving daughter,
Leah