What's in HIS NAME?

Yesterday I asked, "What's in a NAME?" to explain about my blogspot name and title. (button below added later after I learned some things)

Today, I choose to select only One Name ... in "What's in HIS NAME?"... Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord Our Peace)!

The reason I chose Jehovah-Shalom today is because of the news and commemoration of a great man of peace, Martin Luther King, Jr. Though his, "I Have a Dream" speech is on freedom and Civil Rights against many injustices and inequalities in the United States of America (and in the world, I might add), I see his words and his character reflecting PEACE and JESUS! I'm sure that is why he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. So as I read his words in his speech and weep, I could not help but think of the Lord, Our Peace, the Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6) "For unto us, a child is born, unto us a child is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE."

And later I changed my header to this so my blog button would look like this I guess (to include HIM as my focus)

[this is a way to maintain my progress and changes on this blog 2]

 *************

I have a devotional by my bedside, Daily in His Image by Rebecca Barlow Jordan, Reflecting the Character of Christ. I purchased it and had them send it to Mexico, after reading her on-line daily devotional, Daily in Your Presence: Intimate Conversations with a Loving Father; both available at Crosswalk (dot) com. and oneplace (dot) com. I mention this because through focusing on one characteristic of Christ a day, and also the one I receive in my email, she is right "you develop a longing to know Him more! " I am and I pray I will continue to do this and put Him first in my life and on this blog.

I would like to say that daily I am awakening to being conformed into His likeness and image, but I can only pray that because of this blessing, I may better become that as I reflect Him through reflecting on Him in His Word and be aware of Who I am in Christ Jesus:a new creature.

When I was in my sixth grade class, I vowed to Jesus that I wanted this more than anything: to know, love and serve Him in this world! I have finally come to that place after a long, wayward yet guided journey of pursuing this purpose...to find out, I'm not quite there. (Actually, I'm not even close to attaining that PURPOSE,  but closer than ever before, because my feet are on a Solid Foundation and my path is towards that goal). To some, and for me, I use this as my point of salvation. Since I was not in a church that prays a prayer of salvation, this was as close as it came. Later, in various church life and services rather than masses, I learned about the "salvation prayer" and prayed it. In fact, I was even baptized again; once in a river and then by the Holy Spirit! Hallelujah! I do believe God received my first prayer as my initial "salvation" and He has held on to me ever since, whether I was walking with Him or away from Him (He never left me). I do not think that God (or even the Bible) has a set salvation prayer that you must pray or say to receive Him as Your personal Lord and Savior!

Almighty God chose to reveal His Name and thus His Character through His Word. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Shalom, Hebrew for peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest, is used as a salutation and farewell, which makes it a powerful word that bestows all these blessings upon the other person.

By greeting or leaving someone with the word "shalom", you are speaking the ULTIMATE peace over them, found in JESUS Himself.

In Spanish, when you bid someone goodbye, you say "Adios" which actually is quite the blessing also, because you are actually saying "a"(meaning "to") and "Dios" meaning "God". What an excellent way of entrusting somebody into the hands of God each farewell!

The final blessing of the weekday Amidah is called Sim Shalom which means "create peace". I like that. I would like to create more peace around me. I enjoy observing God's peace that He creates around me in nature or within. If I truly am a new creature, then that seed of PEACE is created in me, and I must water and nurture this fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, you and me 2-

"Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."(John 14:27)


"Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called sons(and daughters) of God."
(Matthew 5:9)


"Daughter (Son), your faith has healed you! Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
(Mark 5:34)


I believe our nation, our world, is suffering for lack of faith and freedom from suffering. I think that's how Martin Luther King, Jr. saw our lack of freedom, social justices, and peace.


"Salt is good, but if it looses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at PEACE with each other" (Mark 9:50)

WE MUST BE SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD!(song by Israel Houghton, and Lakewood CC)

"LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO:...RISE UP..."

Luke 1:79 says "...to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of PEACE..."


Look around you! Look around this world we share! Show you care!

"Blessed is the king who comes in the Name of the Lord!""Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Luke 19:38

"GLORY TO GOD in the highest and on earth PEACE to people on whom His favor rests."
Luke 2:14

May his peace rest within you and upon you and be yours!
May His favor rest on you!

There is a song that is my prayer for each of us today:

Make me a channel of Your PEACE where there is hatred; let me sow LOVE!

I, too, like all the profound statements of Martin Luther King, Jr. "Have a Dream" and "hold these TRUTHS to be self-evident that all men are created equal" by Our Creator and every nation shall bow to the Prince of PEACE, Jesus Christ, and live in a world where we are not "judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our CHARACTER."

May our character, more and more, each day, reflect the character and image of our Lord Jesus Christ! May we be at peace with our selves and each other! If you don't have that PEACE or know the PRINCE of Peace, in a personal relationship, may I ask you, "what are you waiting for?...that emptiness and longing within you, needs to be filled and not by the things of this world or the ways of this world ...

Do you know what on earth you are here for?

There is a Purpose for your journey and God holds the plan and the KEYS! May I have the privilege to lead you in a prayer to start or restart your life journey with Jesus and following His Purpose for you?

If you were to die, in the next few minutes, without a prewarning, are you willing to take the risk, that there is no eternity and/or where you might spend it?

Nothing else has worked or been filling that void or lack of PEACE! Why not give God a try: just surrender and accept Jesus and the Truths of His Word! He offers a free gift and brings freedom! I strongly suggest reading Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and discovering all God has for You!

Prayer:
Jehovah - Shalom, Oh God, Be my peace. Bring me into that peaceful place with You! Help me know my need for You and believing in You and Your Word: the Bible. I believe in You I surrender all my misconceptions, all my trials, all the lies I've believed, all my problems into Your Hands. Show me how to follow you! I know that I am weak, I know that I have done wrong. I realize that there must be something more to this life! I feel so empty at times. I feel so lost and lonely! Guide me in ways of peacefulness. Restore my life! Reveal Your Self to me in a real way! Give me peace and a path that leads to you. Without You, my destiny is death. Come into my life. Thank You for taking the weight of my failures and wrongdoings and thinking to the cross, where you paid the price for me! Where you suffered in my place! Forgive me! I receive all that You purpose in my life. I want to know You in a greater way through studying Your Word, growing in character and fulfilling my life with purpose! Bring peace to all those I love and me! Make me an instrument of Your Peace! I ask this in Jesus' Name Amen.


SHALOM and ADIOS!

What's in a NAME?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet." Shakespeare ~ Romeo and Juliet

I'm
NEW TO BLOGGING
on

April 3rd, 2008
so

Why MazMagi.blogspot.com?

... and Mazes, Messes & Miracles?...

... aMazing Grace

[added later]

but has become my main name

because of God's Grace &

 how I am more aMazed every day by how

aMazing

Grace

is

Today is my first day of entering the BLOGGING world officially! Up until now, I have just been enjoying reading inspirational blogs of others, mostly Christian women. 

Today, I launch mine:

Mazes, Messes, Miracles ... aMazing Grace
now
aMazing Grace... Mazes, Messes, Miracles

But instead of giving a purpose for my blog,
or rationale of what I hope to accomplish or post,

I will explain the NAME.

First MazMagi and then aMazing Grace ... Mazes, Messes, Miracles!

MazMagi comes from
Maz for Mazatlan
the place I call home in Mexico
away from home in Minnesota
and
Magi a nickname for my real name.

In Spanish, my real name is a drink or a flower: margarita. I never used my real name in English, except for legal matters or when my father was upset with me, then I heard the whole name!!! Margaret Mary Teresa Anderson... but especially "Margaret Mary" from my dad. It was not a name of endearment but it came to be somewhat more precious when I studied the life of the saint, for which I was named

Margaret Mary

Alacoque

(a French nun devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

As long as I can remember (age 3-4), I have gone by "Peggy". Most people don't even understand how it derives from my real name, but it does. My dad would say that there is no "saint" Peggy, so I pray that I'm the first. (Although I believe when I was young, I read a pamphlet on Saint Peggy.) Anyways, my real name Margaret means "pearl" and from there, and other derivatives, comes Peggy.

In Mexico, many with my real name go by "Maggie" which in Spanish is pronounced and spelled Magui. (mah-gee) I chose to go by that at first, but I wrote it "Magi" on purpose (yet that is incorrect spelling of it). The reason was I wrote it like "Magi" was because of Jesus and The Magi at Christmas! The Three Kings, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus were known as The Magi. I added the background from "The Cutest Blog on the Block" for Christmas in honor of this.

2010 and 2011

When I come to Mexico, each trip, I usually try to bring gifts, because the needs of the people are so many! I don't have enough financially, as I found out on my first trip here, to meet so many needs, but my heart just broke with wanting to leave something, whatever I had to those who had less. I quickly decided that the reason I would come back every year was because I had a gift to give: me. Whatever I am, I would give, in the name of Jesus. Be it teacher or friend, I must stir up whatever gift or gifts lie within me to serve the people here in Mexico.

Of course, having a teaching degree, I thought it would be with CHILDREN, because children have held such an important place in my heart and God's, but I was soon to learn that God would use me, mold me, and minister through me with whomever He chooses.

The spiritual gifts that He has enabled me with, He will stir up, exactly what I need in the moment He needs it. If we are open to His Holy Spirit and willing to be used, He will speak to you and through you. His Word will be made real in your daily living!

So I am Magi...His gift...and my gift to Him is wherever He calls me to serve. That is the reason I live! That is the reason for MazMagi ... (mazmagi)

I really wanted to have my Blog have an inspirational name that reflects God's work in me and my life. I have found such beautiful and meaningful names that others have chosen. Than there are others that are comical and creative! So I wanted one, that one day I would be able to use as a ministry with what I post. I don't know if and when that will happen, so I chose:

... aMazing Grace

Mazes, Messes and Miracles 

because I guess that pretty much capsulizes
MazMagi's life.

I have MESSED up many times. I have gone through many trials, tribulations and temptations that have led me through this MAZE, called life or journey and I am aMAZED how God has seen me through the good and the bad.

But, I must admit I want to see many MIRACLES still in my life! I feel that the greatest miracle is the one God does each day in my life...because JESUS, His Son, not only did miracles in His 3 years of ministry, He still CAN do miracles today, through you and me by the power of His Holy Spirit. He is the greatest MIRACLE that came into my life and has had His hand upon me daily still, even when I may not have acknowledged Him or have strayed, HE was THERE & HE IS HERE reaching out, forgiving me, holding me, carrying me, filling me, leading me, completing my journey through this life by and through His Holy Spirit alive in me. The greatest miracle is how Jesus gave His life in exchange for mine, and Rose from the dead, conquered death and sin for me, or YOU-or anyone & everyone who puts their faith in HIM.

"For God so loved YOU and me, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him, shall not perish but have LIFE EVERLASTING! "John 3:16

The additional phrase aMazing Grace was added soon after I began, because I am saved by

HIS AMAZING GRACE!
...but for the grace of God, go I...

I am who I am

because

HE is who HE IS!

and by

HIS GRACE

I am being changed

to reflect JESUS!

I added this as my THEME SONG: Amazing Grace: My Chains are Gone by Chris Tomlin and now His aMazing Grace is my main focus, not the mazes, messes or miracles. It is through His Grace that I am free.

I love the original *Amazing Grace but this one by Chris Tomlin tells more of the Freedom I have found in Christ Jesus, which is available through HIS GRACE! Not because I earned it, not because I fought the battle alone to gain this freedom, but because Jesus fights the battle along side me daily, as I put on the FULL ARMOR of CHRIST, HE goes before me and HE already won the victory so that I may have it: aMazing Grace! How sweet the sound!

Isaiah 61 is the one from which I have chosen parts as my Mission verse on top of my page

"...to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor!"

You need to click on Isaiah 61 to read the full 11 verses & have a context to understand better to whom I pray that I will minister or touch with some of God's Grace as He pours through me and my words on each post. I pray that they will be anointed!

..."I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. 
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, 
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, 
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations."
(verse 10-11)

* this version of Amazing Grace is beautifully sung by this 8 yr. old phenomena Rhema Marvanne