Jehovah.

Ok, so this little journey is already proving to be very interesting. I began my day knowing that I would be writing about the root of many of God's names, which is "Jehovah." I've never made or fully taken a 30 day challenge like this because I'm human and I fail....A LOT. I am forgetful and busy to a fault and I was so worried that I would forget all about the challenge and never move forward on this journey God is leading me on.

(This is where God would be saying, "HA! Amateur! She thinks I'll allow her to forget what I'm asking her to do! Now THAT is rich!" I can just hear his belly laughs rolling across the sky like thunder.)

Much to my surprise, once I got up, had my coffee, and was on my way to work, this challenge was the first thing that popped in my head. I began to think, "Ok God, I'm seeking you. I want to know more about your name Jehovah." Before I knew it I had spent 20 minutes meditating on God while I was driving. The same thing happened on my ride home. My thoughts immediately returned to Jehovah. If nothing else, just focusing my heart and mind on Him was worth the price of admission! It was the slight detail I overlooked when I embarked on this journey. I can't wait to see what a difference this is going to make in me and my walk with God.

Anyway, on to "Jehovah." It is the name of our God who can stand on His own and needs no help. He is the only true God. We have many people, myths, ideas, and dreams that we try to elevate to the status of "a" god, but is endless and doesn't change. He is who he is and that will never change throughout eternity. He IS.

Check it out:

Exodus 3:13-15

13 But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they won't believe me. They will ask, 'Which god are you talking about? What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?" 14 God replied, "I AM THE ONE WHO ALWAYS IS. Just tell them, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 God also said, "Tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors -- the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob -- has sent me to you.' This will be my name forever; it has always been my name, and it will be used throughout all generations.  

In this passage, Moses was afraid of a task God had given him. It wasn't exactly the job of seeking Him and recording it on a blog. Nope. This was tough stuff. He had to go to the leader of a nation and tell him that God (Jehovah) wanted him to free the Hebrews from slavery. A lot was at stake here and Moses wanted some sort of proof to offer Pharaoh. He wanted a name.

I'm imagining Heathcliff Huxtible (Billy Cosby) telling one of his kids, "I brought you in this world and I'll take you out!" It is like God is saying, "I was here before you were born and I'll be here long after your dead and gone. You will fade away like a mist, but I do not change and I'm not going anywhere. You don't want to come against me. THAT is who I am."

Of course, that would have to come from the Christy's Anything But Typical paraphrase version of the Bible, but I digress.

The name Jehovah will forever mean to me that the God I serve is fierce and not afraid to confront anyone or anything. He will lay a smack down to free His people from whatever enslaves them (and we've all been enslaved by something at some point whether it was sin, pride, fear, legalism, addictions, or whatever). Leaders of nations can't thwart him. Human power can't hold him back. He is unstoppable.

He IS Jehovah.

God, Just Who Do You Think You Are?!

It's a valid question. Who IS God? Some wonder, many think they have Him all figured out, and others couldn't care less who He is. In our world, there are many perspectives on the whole "God thing." I find myself being a hybrid. I know God. I have a relationship with Him that was made possible because of Jesus' death on the cross for me. However, even though I know him (in part), I still have so many questions and have a deep hunger to learn more. Not to sound sacreligious, but it's kind of like that Lay's potato chip commercial says, "Betcha can't eat just one." I dare anyone to truly give God the chance He deserves and see if you can walk away. He is compelling. Once you experience Him, you instinctively want more.

In light of that instinct, I am about to embark on a journey and I'm inviting you all to join me. I have recently been inspired by a fellow blogger and woman of God at my church. She set out to listen intently for God and radically obey Him regardless of what He asked her to do for 30 days. I took the challenge with her and was rocked by what I experienced and what God asked of me.

This journey is a part of that. On this journey, I am going to focus on a name and/or attribute of God for the next 30 days. It may mean that I am a sharing from my own studies or personal experience. However, it may also mean that you might get a front row seat to watch me wrestle with some things. Regardless, I am making a promise to be real, honest, and vulnerable. No one can ever fully comprehend the vastness of who God is, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Join me on my journey! I'd love to hear about your stories of discovering or experiencing God along the way. Feel free to post your comments below or email me, if you like. Let's dare to learn the truth of who God is for ourselves, never taking someone else's word for it.

Holy Father,

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I ask that you would remove anything that blinds me from seeing you. Show me more of you. Illuminate the truth and open my eyes, mind, ears, heart, and soul to experience you over these next 30 days.

All I want is you.

In Jesus Name, Amen