Names

What is in a name? Does a name mean anything? Certainly. My name is Nyla Kay Wilkerson. Nyla means Princess or Champion. Kay means Rejoice. Growing up I didn’t like my name because I could never find anything personalized. No hair barretts, necklaces, or ornaments had my name on them. As I aged, I decided my name wasn’t so bad and now that I read its meaning, I especially love it. Thanks, Mom!

My mother calls me Nyla Kay. (Double names are another Southern thing). My hubby calls me the usual endearments of hon, honey, little lady, baby, or my favorite – wife of many years. He also calls me Katie as do many friends and family. My daughter calls me Mom. Some friends and family call me NK or Nyla. My granddaughters call me Gram while the grandboys call me Nina. My sister calls me Sissy and her kids call me Aunt Sis. My husband’s nieces and nephew call me Aunt Katie. My (step)brother’s kids call me Aunt Nyla Kay. Neighborhood kids called me Aunt Wilkerson. People that do not know me address me as Mrs. Wilkerson. One of my best friends call me SIC (Sister In Christ) and PWP (Prayer Warrior Partner). Our relationship is Christ centered. The best kind of relationship. Wouldn’t you think one name would be enough?  No.  I answer to many different names for many different reasons. I am a daughter, wife, mother, friend, cousin, niece, grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor, Sister in Christ, and Prayer Warrior Partner. Most important, I am a child of God and called His Prayer Warrior Princess.

God has many names for many reasons, too. Do you know any? Here are a few:

He is Abba – our Father
Jehovah or Yahweh – our Lord God
Jehovah Rapha – the Lord Who Heals
Jehovah Jireh – the Lord Who Provides
Elohim – God of Power and Might
Adonai – Lord, Master
El Elyon – The Most High God
El Shadda – The Lord God Almighty
El Olam – The Everlasting God

So does Jesus. He is:

Emmanuel – God with us
Redeemer – our Deliverer
Lamb of God – Sacrifice for our sins
The Way, The Truth, and The Life – the Only Way to God
The Word – Who defined, explained, and expressed God to us
Christ – the Anointed One
Savior – One who saves us from eternal death
Alpha and Omega -the Beginning and the End
Lord – God or Master

What about you? Do you have more than one name like I do? Like God doe or Jesus?  I am only one person, but many names define me. The same with Him. He has many more than I listed, too. Are you Thomas, Tom, Tommy or T? Or maybe Suzanne, Suzie, Sue, Aunt S, Mom, and Mammaw? Among your list of names do you include child of God? Don’t you want to be the child of a Father that Heals, Provides, is Powerful, Mighty, Most High, Everlasting, and so much more?   I’m glad I am.

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” 1 John 12

“Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names,” Phil. 2:9