In the Silence, God Named Me

Invitation:  Please join us this Friday, January 30 at 12:15 pm to hear the "DML State of the Ministry" update.  Grab your lunch and listen in to what God is doing in reclaiming the marketplace!
Click here to register.

At my recent silent retreat, I read the following prayer from Guerrillas of Grace (by Ted Loder) before going on a hike:

In The Silence, Name Me

Holy One, untamed by the names I give you, 
in the silence, name me, 
that I may know who I am, 
hear the truth you have put into me, 
trust the love you have for me 
which you call me to live out 
with my brothers and sisters in your human family.

As I walked, I considered the names I had already been given and what I have learned from each name.

Renita Grace Kranenburg Reed Thomson

Renita means "firm of purpose," which I have always claimed gives me license to be stubborn.  My parents named me Renita; they meant for the meaning to be "reborn," which I was at the age of 27.

Grace is unmerited favor, love, and kindness freely given to undeserving people.  I firmly belong in that category!  My favorite line from a hymn says, "Oh to grace, how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be, let that grace, like a fetter bind my wandering heart to me."  I have requested that those lines be sung at my funeral, as I know my deep need for grace!

Kranenburg is my maiden name.  I lived in the Kranenburg household for seventeen years and carried that name for 21 years.  It was, of course, significantly formative in both faith and culture, and much of who I am today is still a result of Peter and Marrie Kranenburg.

I married into the Reed name in 1990 and learned a whole new culture from that family, mostly through Bob.  I was married to Bob from 1990 until 2010, when he passed away.  Bob had a significant impact on who I am.  Anyone who had him as a therapist knows how effective he was - imagine being married to him through your formative 20s and 30s!  I learned who I was, what I believed, and put aside some unhealthy cultural practices (and picked up some others!).  

I married into the Thomson name in 2014, and I'm still leaning into that name and learning what it means. From Michael, I learn about hard work, family loyalty, and passionate advocacy. 

While I continued on this walk, I asked God to name me.  And without going into all the details of that process, after some time, I heard clearly that God's name for me is "Joy." I've sat with that now for a few months and believe that it's also a name that I need to grow into - that God is inviting me to grow into.  Joy is not happiness and is not related to circumstances, but it is delight and strength in God's grace.  The name "Joy" circles back to "Grace," which circles back to "Renita," or "reborn."

I pray that God will help me lean into this delight and strength.  

The day I left my silent retreat, Joel and Patty Hogan anointed me with oil with that new name.  What a blessing!

Renita Grace Joy Kranenburg Reed Thomson

As you go into this new week, what might God's name be for you, and how might you live it out? And if He's given you a name already, I'd love to hear from you!