Does Your Name Mean Love?

I recently read an article from that asked a group of children what love means. The article was featured on the Daily Good website in December 2010. The answers ranged from sweet, to cute, to funny, but one answer leaped off of the page to me. Billy, age 4, answered that love is, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” What wisdom!

I immediately thought of a worship song by Kent Henry. I first heard this song in college and the lyrics have rang in my heart for years. “Turn my heart, Oh Lord, like rivers of water. Turn my heart, O Lord, by your hand. Till my whole life flows in the river of Your Spirit, and my name brings honor to the Lamb.” How powerful “and my name brings honor to the Lamb.” Can you imagine someone in passing says your name today, and just by speaking your name, honor is given to God? Can you say that you are living your life in such a way that this would be true?

There are many times in my life that I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that my name would not have brought honor to the Lord. Every year I try and make a New Year’s resolution…just one. Last year, I wanted to just simply be kind. This year, I want to only speak the truth in love to everyone I encounter. I want to bring honor to the Lord by my name.

It seems 2021 is already turning out to be a year full of turmoil. What can you do to make a difference? Just love each other; love each other in the way the Jesus loved the ones around him. We don’t have to agree with each other’s choices, politics, religious beliefs…but we do still have to respect and love each other. Imagine a world where we spoke to one another in love? Imagine the honor that would be given to God.

Is your name bringing honor to the Lord? Does your name evoke love or something else? Behave this year in such a way that your name is safe in others’ mouths. Let your love shine out and just imagine what 2021 can be.

After taking the December break from eating healthy, I am ready to jump back into healthy, good-for-you meals. This week’s recipe is Bacon Ranch Pork Chops, or Bacon Ranch Chicken, or Bacon Ranch Cauliflower; the beauty of this recipe is that you can customize this recipe for your family. The original recipe calls for pork chops, but we usually make it with boneless skinless chicken breast and trust me, it is just as delicious! And if you are looking for a yummy side dish even kids will eat, this is great poured over cauliflower!

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have the faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8