What's in a name?

I began reading Exodus again yesterday. Yes, again! I lost my place so I started over. Is that silly or what? Nah!!

Anyway, I didn't make it past verse 5 in the first chapter! D'oh!! I couldn't get past the names for some reason. So it made me think "Why are names so important in the Bible anyway?" I began to do a little research on each of the names of Jacob's sons. There was: "Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph and Benjamin; Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher." (Exodus 1:2-4, NKJV). I looked up the meanings of each name.

Reuben = behold, a son
Simeon = obedient; listening
Levi = attached or pledged
Judah = praised
Issachar = reward; recompense
Zebulun = to honour; to dwell (zaval) or gift; dowry (zeved)
Benjamin (hebrew: Binyamin)= "son of the right hand" or "son of the south"
          (this one is interesting because he was originally named Ben-oni, which means "son or my  
          pain")
Dan = judgment; he judged
Naphtali = wrestling; my struggle
Gad = fortune; luck
Asher = happy; blessed
Joseph = may he add

It's been said that people tend to live up to the meaning of their name. I can see where this is true in Levi as he became the father of the priestly tribe. Benjamin, or Ben-Oni, too as his mother died shortly after his birth.

Think about the name you were given. Have you lived up to its meaning? My name is Julie Ann and according to www.biblical-baby-names.com, Julie means "soft-haired", "youthful" and is Latin for Julia (which I have been called as well.). Julia can be found in the Bible in Romans 16:15. Ann means "grace" and is a derivative of Anna (Greek) or Hannah (Hebrew); found in Luke 2:36, 37. I can say that my hair is not that soft, I do appear youthful, and grace, well it's a work in progress, lol.

How to Read the Bible

What is the best way to read the Bible? Do you start at Genesis and read through Revelation? Or do you follow a specific plan such as Matthew 24, Daniel and Revelation to understand better End Times? Maybe there's a better way. No matter how you read the Bible, you should do just that: read the Bible. Study the Bible. Learn the origins of words that may have been taken slightly out of context through several translations.

Oh, and find the Bible version that best works for you.

Personally, I enjoy the New International Version (NIV) and the King James Version (KJV). The KJV because I love the sound of the words in old English. We don't speak with thou's, thy's and thine's anymore, so it can be a bit more challenging at first. Have you ever read Shakespeare? Yeah, it's something like that. I also am prone to read the New King James Version (NKJV). The idea is to find a version that hasn't removed verses because we have to face it, some versions are incomplete.

Here is a list of some of the more popular versions:

• King James
• New King James
• American Standard
• New International
• New Living Translation
• The Message
• Amplified

So, as I begin to read Exodus - because let's face it, sometimes you just have to start at the beginning - I will try to write encouraging thoughts from my readings. I will try to get on this blog more often and hopefully get to a point where I am on it daily - as the title says "Just Julie Daily".

Vacation

I've been on vacation for the past week and it's been somewhat refreshing. Somewhat emotional.

My niece graduated high school, magna cum laude, and I couldn't be more proud of her!

Michael (the proud papa), Ariel, and me.

Now she has a few weeks before she heads off to college.

I went to church with one of my aunts on Sunday. I enjoy going with her. Although I do feel like I am at a concert during their worship service, lol.

I have been reading I Peter; well my church is doing a series on it this month and I am reading it on my own in addition... The letters are interesting indeed. One thing that struck me in my reading this week is the following verse:

"...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house,

 a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices 

acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

- 1 Peter 2:5 -

I like to think that as I continue to grow I am being built up in Christ. I find that I am able to better speak about the Word, as was evidenced this week while visiting with family. I was able to add to a conversation and feel like it made a difference. 

The Book of Job

I have read through Chapter 3 in the book of Job so far. I am taking part in a Bible Study through Good Morning Girls. If you're not familiar, click on the button to the left or on the link in this post.

So, as I said, I have read through chapter 3. Normally when I read Job I just plow right through it. I have read it several times in my life. It is my all time favorite book. This time, however, I am reading it in a different manner. I am taking my time, moving at the pace of the Bible Study, and reflecting on what I read. So far, I feel like I am getting more out of it than I did in previous reads.

This book is primarily about suffering and what we do in difficult times. Namely, how we handle the storms in life. I know I need a lot of work in this area. I think that's why Job appeals to me so much: I can relate. I just wish I would allow these teachings to sink in; like the phrase "Storms in life" referring to Peter walking on water and keeping his eyes on Jesus. Once he moves his eyes away, he begins drowning. We all need this reminder.

Even though this is a quick post, I felt compelled to get it out.

Getting back into the game, so to speak.

I am trying to get myself back into the world of blogging. It helps that a friend of mine is interested in starting her own blog and she's been asking questions. I am so happy to help her in her new adventure!

So, now for an update...

I have been going to a Discipleship study group at church for several weeks now. We are doing the Navigator 2:7 Series. I am really learning a lot; but not doing nearly enough reading. I know the discipline will come. I need to push myself to actually spend time in the Word. I don't understand why this aspect has been so difficult for me. Anyway, I am working on growing my discipline and relationship with God. It's important to me.

Christmas is just around the corner and then the New Year. I don't know what 2016 will bring for me. I can only pray that God blesses me and my BF and helps us to continue to grow in our relationship with Him and one another. It's been a long and difficult journey together. Enough about that.

As for my cross stitching, I haven't been able to do much. Once again, I have poor lighting in my house and my vision has been off (I think from spending too much time looking at a little screen, lol). I am hoping to remedy the lighting situation over the next couple of weeks by either re-arranging my room or getting a better lamp. I really want to get back into it and finish "Praying Hands". This is where I left off (and I may have shown this a few months back):

It seems like there is more done than this. I can't believe I haven't done anything on it in almost 2 years.

Do you know the story...

…of the brave little donkey?

“Once there lived a little donkey whose owner beat him daily. A gentle man named Joseph felt sorry for the donkey and paid a high price for him.
Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, were kind to the donkey, who felt happy again. Joseph told the donkey he needed his help for a very important journey to a town called Bethlehem.
The donkey proudly carried Mary and waited while Joseph tried to find lodging. Upset that there was no room, the little donkey brayed so loudly that the innkeeper sent them to a stable where the woman gave birth to her baby, Jesus, whom the donkey kept warm with his soft breath.
A brave little donkey carried Mary and her babe.
That night was born our Savior, in a manger now he lay.
God bless the little donkey and the journey that he made.”
*Taken from http://www.stjames-liberty.org/stjames2/2015-advent-calendar/legend-of-the-christmas-donkey/

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Here is the true story of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20, NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.
⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

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My prayer is that this post helps someone, anyone who reads, turn their life over to Jesus Christ. Christmas is not about the gifts that we receive, the shopping, the food…no, it is about the reason we are here and have eternal life: Jesus Christ!

The Abundant Life…

…not the redundant life.

In church this morning our Pastor made this statement based on the readings. We started a new series simply titled “Go!” As Christians, we are commanded to love one another. We are also commanded to “Go and make disciples” in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

The Great Commission

Throughout the New Testament, we are given lots of commands from Jesus. One of them is "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13: 34, NIV). Another command is for us to go and make disciples as referenced above in the image. 

What does this mean to "go and make disciples"? It means that we, as Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, are to go out into the world and spread His good news! We are not to just merely go to our family and friends; our immediate circle. No, we are to go up to strangers when we see them in need and share the gospel. 

Jesus had 12 disciples - in his inner circle - however, He virtually has millions of disciples in today's world. 

Let me put it to you another way:

A disciple is not just a follower of Jesus Christ. A disciple is also a student of Jesus Christ and his teachings. 

Does that make more sense? I sure hope so...

I may delve into this at a later date, after further study and reflection. Other topics I am hoping to share with you in the near future include keeping the Sabbath and what the actual Sabbath day is; end times / prophecy; and some of the Proverbs.