Someone asked me recently if I knew what her name meant. I didn't, but I found out. Guess what? Her name's meaning described her character perfectly. Was I surprised? No. Why? Our God who just happens to be THE Creator of the universe is awesome. He IS sovereign. His will WILL be done. Period!

This someone just happened to have had parents who were anything but saints. In fact, they were just downright heathens. Yet, they named their daughter what they did, and that name revealed the will of God for this person. She has become her name. Her name was and is her destiny. Coincidence? No way. More like the sovereignty of God.

After sixty some odd years of living, I've seen this happen over and over and over again. It is almost like He whispers into the ears of unsuspecting parents the names of their children, and then they unknowingly cooperate with Him and name their children with His choices. His hands are always at work.

So, at our naming and even before, God begins to write a new, amazingly beautiful story entitled our name. We become His gift to the world even before we know Him.

All of us begin as little lost sheep, and then He like the good Shepherd that He is sets out to rescue each of us. Some of us want to be rescued; unfortunately, some of us don't. However, that does not stop Him from trying. We can run, kick, hide, and scream, yet He is ever present trying to rescue us and draw us unto Himself. Once rescued, He begins the process of polishing His treasure - us. He declares that we will sparkle in His hands like a jewel in a crown. (Zachariah 9:16)

So today, I declare that YOU ARE AMAZING! We are all amazing because He is amazing, and He loves us with an amazing, unfailing, everlasting love. 

Yes, you may not see Him or feel Him, but that does not mean that He isn't there working and loving. One of my favorite writers, Amy Carmichael, says that some people look at something for a second and see nothing and then walk away.  Others

glance for a couple of seconds, see something, say something like "Amazing!" or "Wow!" or "How Beautiful!" but then are attracted by other things and also walk away. They saw a little more than the first people, but not much.

It is only as we look and look and look and look and look . . . that we REALLY see. The more we look for Him and at Him, the more we will see and the more we will love Him and the more we will experience His goodness and His beauty in this land.

Be encouraged! He is there and He loves you with an amazing love.

May you seek Him every day,

believe everything He says,

trust Him always,

hear His whispers and obey,

and love everyone He sends your  way.

Keep looking.

Keep loving.

Keep seeking.

Believe it all.

You are amazing, and your story is amazing all because He is amazing and loves you with His amazing love.