~ Isaiah 43:1, 2 · But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; · But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. · The LORD, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me. When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won't drown. When you walk through fire, you won't be burned or scorched by the flames. (CEV)
And He who formed you, O Israel,
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you. (NASB)
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.”(NLT)
Sure Thing #1: We were created in the image of God.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, Alex and I have been studying the days of creation. Genesis 1:27; 2:7, 21,22 tells us that we were made in His image. He gives details on how he gently scooped the dust, formed a mirror image of Himself with His almighty hands and breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils. Then, because Adam needed a helper (oh, don’t we know that to be true, girls…), God created Eve by taking one of Adam’s ribs and forming a female version of Himself.
Sure Thing #2: God rescued us.
Think back with me, if you will. When did you first realize you needed Jesus? I can remember as a child burying a kitten that had died. As I turned to walk from the gravesite, I vividly remember asking myself “Is this all there is to life? You live and die?” I am sure that if someone had present me with a clear presentation of the Gospel at that age I would have accepted Him and been rescued from a torturous hell. Instead it wasn’t until I was 24 that I first heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. At that moment, God rescued me! We refer to what happens at salvation as “being saved” – which is true – but I like to think God “rescued” me. From what did He rescue me?
v A life without hope
v A life without peace
v Eternal separation from Him
v Eternal suffering, torment and darkness
Go back and read Romans 6:23 ~
Sure Thing #3: God calls us by our name
One of the most difficult things Dan and I faced as we became parents was what to name our little bundle of joy. We did what all parents do, look through baby name books. With a boy, you have to be really careful when you try to choose a name. You don’t want to give your child a name that would cause him to get beat up on the playground (according to my husband). Well, we settled on Alex Daniel. Daniel is a family name and we just liked Alex. I was adamant, as we chose a name, that I did not want a name that could or would be shortened. So if we chose Joseph, I didn’t want him called Joe. If I wanted him called Joe, I would have named him Joe. Hence the name ALEX, not Alexander ~ simply ALEX. (I know, I know…it is just a Stef thang...we all have a “thang”…) A couple years ago, to my surprise, Dan referred to Alex as Alexander Daniel. Thinking he was joking, I laughed. To my surprise he says he thought Alex’s name was Alexander, not just Alex. By then I was like “Say, whaaa” as my friend Hannah Montana would say. I reminded him he was there when I completed the paperwork and gave to the hospital. Anyway, there is one thing we can count on…God knows us by name. Throughout scripture, God calls people by their name. Although we may not hear Him audibly now, I feel as though I can almost hear Him as He comforts me…”Stefanie, my daughter, I am here…”
Sure Thing #4: We WILL go through trials.
In the aforementioned scripture all three versions say “when you go through…” or “when you walk…” Some people are under the impression that walking the way of the cross is all peaches and cream. It is NOT. Yes, there are some incredible times when God intervenes or moves in such a supernatural way all you can do is sit back and marvel. Yet, there are other times, the “when you go through…” times that stop on the stoop for coffee and a donut. We must realize a time will come when the waves of life will be so big we feel our emotional boat is going to capsize. Remember ~ Peace be still… There will be other times when the heat from a situation will be so hot that you feel your life is being scorched and burned out. Remember ~ I have overcome the world…
Are you sure?
In Him,
Stefanie
Hey I love reading your Blog.... think about my Facebook Message I am serious :D haha I love how you make it so personal with your stories of Alex. I am kinda Bias because you are my family and I love hearing them but it is an encouragement to read this at night before I go to bed, just a reflection. It's amazing how God loved us so much that he rescued us and calls us by our name and the constant reminder that GOD will NEVER leave us.
Posted by: Aimee Hall | March 29, 2009 at 06:49 PM