THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #36

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NAMES OF GOD:

WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD (ISAIAH 9:6)

The Names of God are unlike any other, they mean different things to different people. They are revealed at different times and in different ways, to the individual. 

Scripture foretells about a child being born for us. He was never just any child, especially not with a name like Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. No, this son was bound to be different. He was born in order to be given to us, collectively, as the people of God. Scripture foretells about the miraculous presence of God, with us, here on earth and the reason for His coming in essence, the reason why He came.

Isaiah 9:7

The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this.

Colossians 1:16-17

For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Only with a name like Mighty God could all things be held together. He did not stop at just being able to hold them together, He began by creating it all as well.

Can you think on your favorite name? Maybe the name of a child that you met in the past that you absolutely adored. Why was the name special to you? What did the name mean? 

Names have different meanings. In the Bible names were mainly given with a meaning attached to them. A child would be born and their name would hold a level of significance or indicate who they would be in the years to come. God might change someone’s name as a way of signifying a new beginning; a forgetting of the former things, so to speak. Names have always held special meaning to God, as well as to the recipient of that name. 

Have you ever gotten advice from someone named Wonderful Counselor? Do you think a name like that might be wrong in their advising? How about Everlasting Father? The God of the universe and the Son of Man, every name of theirs is perfectly suitable and matches their capabilities. God is so boundless in His being that there are still a lack of words or language to define Him. 

Jesus could not only carry the government on His shoulders, but He also took on the weight of the sin of the entire world (past sins, present sins and future sins). Jesus, the Prince of Peace was named perfectly by our Heavenly Father. He has been given names that are irrefutable. His Name is the Name that is above every other name. His Name is the Name that prompts the  instructions, “ask anything in my name…” (John 14:14). The power and the potency given to that Name, and it’s anointing will never be found in another name. It is imperative that as the bride of Christ you know, the significance of the Names of God.

A name is given in order to know how to properly address someone, something or somewhere. A name is given in order to be able to identify the possessor of that name. Jesus’ Names, are no different. When we call on God, or Jesus by His name we are associating with the power and presence attached to that name. We are also associating with the meaning and hierarchy of His name. There will always be One Name that is above every name, and that name is Jesus. There is no other name under heaven, that demons flee and that souls are saved. Every name of God tells about His goodness and faithfulness. God is intentional concerning the names He gives, and the names given to the Son of Man is no different. Jesus is, Wonder Counselor. He is the Mighty God and His Names are the expressway to heaven. Familiarizing yourself with His Names and their meaning opens a pathway to you, of access to greater depths, in His presence as well as greater victories. 

His Bride, By Design 

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THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #35

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NAMES OF GOD:

THE FIRST AND THE LAST (REVELATION 1:17)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

This is what the LORD, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me. 

Isaiah 44:6

Proverbs 8:22

“The LORD acquired me at the beginning of his creation, before his works of long ago. I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.

Jesus, the First and the Last and the Living One. 

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Revelation 22:13

I am tempted to conclude blog number 35 with the scriptures listed above, but I won’t. 

The statements made, as well as the outworking and mysteries of them given to us to unravel and to debrief, is astounding. We, as His bride have been given the privilege of proving, establishing, confirming, verifying and validating; to demonstrate, witness, attest to and authenticate this truth; through, and by the outworking of the Holy Spirit, in, on, over, through and upon our lives. 

We get to marvel at the truth of the matter, that before anything or anyone ever existed, He was. We get to stand at attention and in awe of the wonder of our Lord and our, God’s supremacy, literally, over it all. 

We get to stand as witnesses that the God who you believe in, call on, and have placed faith in, is really the God who orchestrated and spoke everything into existence. That before Him there was nothing, and after Him there will also be nothing. He is unclassifiable, the God with many names, but to whom, nothing can enclose, encompass, or close in on Him. 

Genesis 1:2

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

We are not only bystanders, but partakers and beneficiaries of this truth. The truth that before anything ever was, HE IS. The truth that declares that as God speaks, things happen. 

Genesis 1:3

Then God said, “Let there be…

Acts 17:28

For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’

God makes the claim and proves it over and over again to His people that He is God. There isn’t a subdivision of His being, He is God and there is no other. Which is why the Bible instructs us to have no other God, but Him. He wants to clear the air, and alleviate you of all confusion. Having other God’s, entertaining other hopes, believing in other truths cause conflicting thoughts and interests, which weakens potency of faith.

If we understand, have heard and believe on this One God, He is able to do more for, to and through us than if were to believe on and in several others. Now don’t confuse me saying this, with believing that God by any means has been weakened in and of Himself, because He hasn’t. This just means that your experience of Him is and can be (weakened) due to the clutter of other God’s, beliefs and the like. 

The God in whom we as the bride (of Christ) call on, is the First, nothings came beside Him or was even before Him. He has not been created and He is also the Last. There is nothing and no one after Him, none who are to come that we are to look out for. He IS, and will always be, the God in whom we’ve placed and staked our entire hope and dream of a meaningful existence on. He is God, the God who manifest Himself in 3 persons and IS, where all of our hope resides. 

Colossians 1:16

For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through him and for him.

1 John 1:1

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.

His Bride, By Design 

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THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #34

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NAMES OF GOD:

I AM (JOHN 8:58)

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 8:58

What if Jesus’s entire existence as you know it hung on these words? What if who Jesus is to you today was dependent on the words we read in John 8:58? 

Hang in there with me for a few more moments, 

This scripture was also spoken by Jesus just four verses earlier:

John 8:24

Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

Jesus: “that I am he”

Wouldn’t these words make anyone want to question the meaning of them? 

What do you know about Jesus? What do you believe to be true about Him? What if it all, all you are and all you will be hung in the balance of your belief of|in Him? 

Who is He to you? I hope that after journeying with me for a little over a year now, that you’d know Him specifically as, Bridegroom. I hope that you’d consider yourself to be His bride.

You see, scripture foretells of Jesus’s coming. It tells us about His first and His second coming. It bids our anticipation and acknowledgment of both. It solicits our belief, faith and hope regarding everything scripture whispers about Him. It shouts tales of old concerning His faithfulness, and sings of the newness of Jesus to come, as well. 

In this passage Jesus is being badgered by the jews concerning His responses. He had been telling the truth all along and, the jewish people (of the time), just couldn’t seem to make sense of it all. They marveled as well as wondered about His mysteries. They’d ask Him one questions and He’d answer with truth, and they still wouldn’t fully believe. 

He explained to them that: 

John 8:56

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

John 8:58

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

He echos God’s, (His own) word to them time and time again. He does this in order to jog their memories, or in order to get things to click within them; and by clicking, I mean revelation. He wants the revelation of who He is to be known by them (Matthew 16:17).

Exodus 3:14

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

Similar to the moment God began to send Moses on the specific assignment He had for him, and similar to those words, Jesus wants you to know that before anything ever was, He is, He is the “I AM”. 

God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Exodus 3:15

Jesus echos the same sentiments in John 8:56.

John 8:56

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.”

I am”, “I am” who the scriptures have said that “I am”. “I am” here for a specific purpose, reason, and “I am” THE grand scheme. “I am” the reason you are here, “I am” the First and the Last. “I am” He, the He that scripture speaks of and has spoken about. 

the scheme of things

noun phrase

: the general way that things are organized and relate to each other

John 8:31-32

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Whoever Jesus is to you, know that He is, and, He is so much more. He isn’t just who He is to you, He is THE “I AM”. He was before time began and He is now. He will be when it is all made new, just as much as He is right now.

the:

—> used as a function word before an absolute adjective or an ordinal number

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.

Isaiah 44:24

This is what the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am the LORD, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by myself; who alone spread out the earth;

Colossians 1:17

He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is one God, the Father. All things are from him, and we exist for him. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.

His Bride, By Design 

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #11

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GOING THE DISTANCE WITH GOD

Romans 5:7-8

For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

This is the level and “distance” that is admirable. The level of distance that I am truly fond of, and the level of distance that sold me on God who is, first place, the King of King’s and the Lord of Lord’s.

His personal level of surrender and level of willingness to go the distance for me is the reason for my wanting to go the distance right along, with Him. 

Not that anyone has ever been worthy of the distance that Jesus has gone for each one, personally; but it is indeed breathtaking to know that One, actually would, go the specific lengths. 

When you count all the reasons you are unworthy and then remember that He went the distance for you anyway, it makes the weight of that distance all the more real, it makes it all the more distinguishable too. 

The number of reasons anyone would be deemed unworthy is innumerable; but the reason for His choice is unmatched by any number of reasons, and there were a lot.

God in His sovereignty has never been bashful about His desire for you and I. He promises and makes such great claims, for this very reason. 

He wants to extinguish any doubt or any fear associated with you operating in His truest and most perfect will for you. You cannot come to God, and doubt, one will have to be left in the dust. Either your doubt will be served by you, or you will feed, and feed into your hope. 

Your hope will produce the right distance, as in forward motion, towards the plans and the purposes of God for you, and the doubt will produce what only the natural could. 

God wants you to operate on and in your trust for Him, as well as your trust towards Him. 

It is a huge insult to doubt God. More recently, I have been reading the psalms and I have noticed the way that the Bible speaks about things that have no feelings, or things that should not be personified as personified, towards God:

Psalm 93:4 

Greater than the roar of a huge torrent — the mighty breakers of the sea — the LORD on high is majestic.

Psalm 98:7-8

Let the sea and all that fills it, the world and those who live in it, resound. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains shout together for joy

And it got me thinking about the reason that is. You see, to God, anything or anyone can take on characteristics He needs it and|or them to. There is no classification to the created thing for God. There is no box in which He has given any specific thing or anyone only, the ability to embody. 

This is why Jesus says: 

…“I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out.”

Luke 19:40

This is why a burning bush could be caught on fire and not be consumed.

Exodus 3:2

Then the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

This is why when the bush caught Moses’s attention, God spoke: 

Exodus 3:4

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses! ” “Here I am,” he answered.

God didn’t speak before then, because Moses’ attention needed to be tweaked 

Exodus 3:3

So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up? ”

This is why His word can so boldly declare in another instance:

Romans 9:20-21

On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this? ”Or has the potter no right over the clay…

A created one wouldn’t be able to tell the God who has no creator, who or what He made them for. 

God is not created, He will never be a created thing. He is the Creator of all things, and all people. He is the one who assigns value, worth and ability to each, individually, as well as collectively. 

This is why God has a distance for you to go, in His way, and you do not. Anything outside of the distance God has set for you to go and to do is really pointless. 

Phillipians 2:13

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

He is the Creator and you are the created, bending and being formed in accordance to His will. 

The distance, undoubtedly and undeniably yours to venture and to take on. 

Alone, you’ll never do it that way; but joined to the One who created you, you can. 

Everything and all things are under God’s authority and command. There is nothing outside of Him, and there is nothing that does not bend and cannot be molded according to His will. 

He has freely given you and I, by choice, the will to choose going the distance with Him. And in light of eternity, as well as in light of the here and now; it will always be worth your while. 

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #33

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NAMES OF GOD:

The God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac (Exodus 3:2, 6)

Exodus 3:2

Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed.

Isn’t it just like God, as to be so kind as to allow His angel(s) to appear amidst the miraculous? Some may be wondering why I’d associate an angel, which oftentimes scared the people in the Bible who they presented themselves to, with God’s kindness. But the fact worth mentioning and drawing attention to, is that God would even recognize someone He created, by way of sending an angelic being to inform that person of His eye on them is, vastly astounding. God is limitless in His ways of communicating with us and has an array of options as to how He could; and to be so personal in His approach, is rather kind of Him.

Exodus 3:3

So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”

God, is not opposed to “oohing and ahhing” His people. If I were to think on all of the stories in the Bible where God wowed His people, I’d be drawn to the conclusion that God is actually quite fond of the “oohing” and “ahhing”. 

God has no problem with proving Himself to you. He will perform a miracle and do the impossible, just to display His sovereignty and Lordship over everything. 

How kind and how loving is that? The God of the universe, the One who needs no explanation would take His time in revealing to you, who He truly is. 

If you think on your personal relationship with Him and the way that He surely, yet overtime, has revealed Himself to you. How gentlemanlike of Him? He could easily share Himself with each of His chosen instruments, all at one time; but as it relates to each personal testimony, He has not done that. 

Overtime, and as graciously as I’ll ever be able to comprehend and|or recognize, God has taken His time in revealing Himself to me. He has been willing to show me sides of Himself over and over again, until I’d come to believe Him. He has lovingly taken His time in expressing and in explaining His nature to me. He has been open about His feelings as well as, His likes and dislikes. All so that, or in order for me to have a closer walk with Him. All so that I might love Him and take Him for who He is, and not in part. 

Exodus 3:4

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. 

God watches our every move. He waits to experience our responses, even though He already knows them. God knows when we rise and when we lie down (Psalm 139:2), He knows our coming and our going (Psalm 121:18). He knows what you are doing now, as well as what you will do next; but He still watches and waits on His people as if He didn’t know at all.

Exodus 3:5

“Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

God also knows what we should do, and the moments we should do them in, and instead of placing a button on His people and making them motorized; He has decided to instruct and guide them in step with His will. 

Exodus 3:6

Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.

God has a track record and plans to keep that record into 1,000 generations (Deuteronomy 7:9-13). He has been since the beginning; He stands as eternity on His own (Psalm 93:2). He appeared to people like Abraham and Jacob who lived for hundreds of years and walked with God through an entire lifetime, and He is also prepared to meet you and I here in today. He wants to be the God of Abraham and the God of Jacob to His people, today. He wants you to know that He isn’t new to His commitment and promise keeping towards His people. He wants you to know that their are lives within the Bible that you can trace back to, and recall as a reference and witness to God’s faithfulness and promise keeping abilities. He wants you to know that He has not stopped meeting with His people, nor has He ceased operating through the miraculous. In fact, He might just be getting started. Until Christ returns or until He calls you home, God will always be making appearances to His people. He will always be revealing Himself over and over to those He is fond of. He will always ask you to walk a little closer with Him. 

He will always be watching and waiting for your responses in order to reveal Himself to you in new ways and, in order to put you on assignment for and over His causes. God has a plan, and it is a colossal sized plan, which isn’t set aside for only Him to know. He wants to clue as many in on His mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1); if you would gaze on Him for who He is, He would.

If you would recognize Him as the God of the father of faith, Abraham, He would. Even the God of Jacob, o Israel, He would. What about the God of Issac? Who is generational in His thinking, He’d surely remind you that you are an heir to the inheritance that they share in. That you too, could reap from knowing Him more intimately and more deeply than you had before. That you too, if you would choose to take Him at His word could experience Him in a way that is unfathomable to those who don’t dare to enter the vicinity of His warm embrace. 

God is a relational God, He longs to meet with you, in spite of knowing your every breath, depth and|or step. 

Exodus 3:15

God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

His Bride, By Design 

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #10

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STRENGTH & COURAGEOUS

It has been said that the words strong and courageous, (as well as it’s derivatives), appear within the word of God approximately or just about 365 times. It is also said that this means that there are about 365 times, in the Bible where you can reference the encouragement to do just that, each and every day of your year. 

Strength is not a word that you come by without thinking about what might be required in order for you to possess it. Strength reminds you of the obvious doing that will have to be done, and|or fulfilled in order for you to reach a desired result. Strength indicates a specific level of effort being put forth. 

Strength is something that you can ask God for, but it is also something that He is continually instructing His people to be. Which means, that whether you know it or not, you have the natural and innate ability to be strong. God has wired you that way, and it is perfectly okay to operate in that strength. 

Now God also encourages the believer to be sober in their thinking. I mention this to say that there is also room for your weakness at the feet of Jesus. He encourages both your, strength and your, weakness(es) to be exhibited in the life of the believer. There is room for both within your connection and relationships with God; as well within the journey of becoming the person He has called you to be. 

Courage is the bravery needed in order to pursue or to go after the will of God for your life. As the believer lives here on earth they are venturing into charted as well as uncharted territory and, it is important to possess courage while doing so. How well do you persevere? How’s your ability to wait? Are you able to persist while in process? 

These are all hypothetical questions, that only you and God truly know the answers to. Whether you know it or not you have been given the liberty to be courageous. God permits it, He solicits and allows your courage. He knows that you will need a level or different levels of courage as you journey throughout your existence here on earth. 

Don’t forget to choose strength and courage today. Don’t forget that you are, indeed allowed to operate in power, strength and humility. They aren’t either|or characteristics of the believer. They are characteristics that the believer must possess and is entitled to. They are necessary and essential to the life of the believer. Be strong and don’t forget to be courageous in this thing called life!

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #32

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AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEXT 22 BLOGS

The theme of the following 22 blogs of 2025 is “The Chapter of “I DO”” 

We may be skipping a few chapters here, but stick with me! 

After having envisioned a wedding as well as a lifestyle that suits, for most of your life; every woman, every girl and every bride must actually go through the process of being located and|or actually locating the appropriate and potential spouse. You must go through the process of being pursued for the purpose of marriage, and then, finally go through the process of the proposal…

A proposal or a proposition: 

1 a : something offered for consideration or acceptance

   b : an act of putting forward or stating something for consideration

   c : suggestion 

   d : offer

Now the words suggestion and|or offer sound rather light. At first glance of either of these words, neither of them seem to imply much of a commitment. But, when the words consider and|or proposition are added into the equation of a proposal, so does it’s depths. 

And while you’d love to say “I do!”, you also want to be clear and to think soberly about what you’d actually be saying “I do!” to. 

At the thought of any proposition that extreme and life altering, (but certainly for the good), you want to be sure of what you would potentially be saying “I do!” to? 

Similar to the following scriptures:

Luke 14:28 CSB

“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?

Proverbs 24:3-4 CSB

A house is built by wisdom, and it is established by understanding; by knowledge the rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

No one wants to put their hands, word(s), or commitment towards something they would not be able to maintain, keep and|or fulfill; and the concept of marriage may not be all that different either. 

You wouldn’t want to wonder the following words:

“What have I gotten myself into by saying yes to God? and|or “What has He gotten Himself into by inviting me in?” 

Well a good thing for the bride is that nothing surprises God anyway, so He knows exactly what He has gotten Himself into by choosing you. 

Now on the other hand, you, may not. 

You don’t know everything about Him, nor do you know the details of how that might affect you. 

The good thing about this is that God is not only, all knowing but He is also perfect, (in every sense of the word). He does not take a step outside of Himself and He does not utter a word that isn’t true. He knows everything about everyone and does not miss a thing in your life. He is privy to all things concerning you, and your “I do!” to Him is the most safe and secure “I do!” you’ll ever recite. 

He is perfect in every sense of the word 

and on top of Him being perfect His plans and intentions towards you are and have always been good.

He has the power and the authority to assure your well being, all that He does has His goodness, mercies and kindness flowing from it, His perfect will is constantly accomplished and He wants to render it over you.

The underlying themes of the previous brides clubs blogs have all been centered on who you are in Christ, and what this truly means, and although God knows all things and nothing is hidden from Him about you; I wonder if you’d want to know more about Him…

If you’d want to know more about the God that you’ve planned to spend your eternity with. Knowing the names of God, it’s meanings, and how they’d apply to you or how and why they’d matter to you anyway is important to the bride’s relationship with the bridegroom. 

Once you are aware of the names of God and why it is important to and for you, as an individual, the names of God and it’s meanings can then be applied to your confidence and hope as well. 

You see the picture in part, but God sees the entire thing. You see the start but God sees the finish line and beyond it. You see the moment of|at “I do!”, but God sees the maturation of it. You see your initial commitment, and God sees what it can become. Knowing God by name can better help you to live out all that He has intended for you. Knowing God by name breeds a sense of familiarity that would otherwise be lost by the bride simply because she did not know. 

Looking forward to delving into the names of God right along with you in this year…

His Bride, By Design 

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #9

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BEGINNING AGAIN & DOING GOOD

So, I’ve heard that most people who start a New Year’s resolution quit, by the second friday in January. Shocking, right! 

Starting anything can be hard, there is a level of mental toughness needed in order to make it through the days where all you want to do is quit. There is a need for the right surroundings, and the right thinking is definitely a necessity as well. 

Is the idea of beginning again something that has been daunting to you? Have you started something and just the thought of taking it into the phases of completion, has been something that you are avoiding at all cost? I will say, that we can be experts at avoiding what we’d rather not deal with. 

I have come to learn that once I get a handle on the emotions attached to me beginning again; as well as get a handle on my feelings, doing what needs to be done in order to begin again, happens rather easily. Tackling the mind games of doubt and fear, are what need to be dealt with in order to begin with a steady pace and, with proper focus. 

What are you tempted not to begin again? What have you repeatedly put on the back burner of life? What have you avoided time after time again just so that you don’t have to deal with that underlying emotions behind it? 

Doing good. Do you know that we have been called by God to do good. He has called each of us to produce fruit, and to keep in step with fruit that will last (John 15:16). He wants good to come from you, and He wants good to flow out of all you do. 

Is the focus of your doing, good? Have you intentionally planned on producing what is good through your endeavors? What problems are you attempting to solve? What are you and your business(es) the solution to? What is your work prepared to solve? 

Keep that in mind whenever you are tempted to quit or let go of what is in view, because it seems like the process of either beginning again or, continuing on, may feel a bit intimidating. 

You were made for this! Pursue the purposes of God for your life as fervently as you possibly can. He is committed to you, as a cause. 

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #31

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JESUS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

Oftentimes we, as the bride, can overlook the truth of the matter. Jesus, already having the name above every name, and yes, Jesus the Savior of the entire world, and yes, this same Jesus is also presently seated at the right hand of our God. 

Now if you are anything like me you’d be wondering why He is seated there? Outside of the obvious wait on His return, there are other reasons why Jesus sits at God’s right hand, and they really are worthy of searching out. These reasons have to do with you and I, in the here and now. These reasons remind us of the depths and distance that God is willing to go to assure His bride’s victory on this side of life. 

Not only did Jesus humble himself by putting on a human body in order to redeem yours and my soul from sin and death and the consequences thereof;  but He also is the way to right standing and relationship with God the Father.

There is a story in the Bible, that speaks about Jesus’s disciples as well as their parents wanting them to take the place of being on the right and left side of Jesus in heaven. 

Mark 10:37

They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

Jesus responded letting them know that they did not know what they were asking. He knew what it would take of Him to be exalted the way that He is now and He knew the sacrifices that came with that “cup”. Jesus followed this response by assuring them that they would indeed be willing to “drink from the cup”, but the decision of who would be at His left or at His right was not His choice to make. 

Mark 10:40

But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

Which leads me to the following truths, not only is Jesus’s Name the name that is above every name, in heaven as well as here on earth. Jesus is the One who God has appointed to be at His own, right hand. 

Similar to His earthly exaltation, this providential placement of Jesus at God right Hand also comes with responsibility and action that set other things into motion. 

Job 33:23 ESV

If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him,

1 Timothy 2:5

For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 8:1

Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven.

Hebrews 7:19

For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Jesus, lives to intercede on yours and my behalf. He has secured salvation, healing, deliverance etc. for the life of the believer, but He did not stop there. He is the gate (John 10:9) and rightfully so, He will make sure that what God has willed for you and I will also come to pass. He is uncompromising about representing you before God, and representing God before you. He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises. If this isn’t proof that God is for you and not against you, I don’t know what is. Who accomplishes a job only to stand, watch and command it’s follow through? Who completes their assignment, gets exalted and then lives to stand in the presence of a holy God, for you and on your behalf? Only Jesus would, only Jesus could, and only Jesus does. 

Hebrews 7:25

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Psalm 80:17 

Strengthen the man you love, the son of your choice.

ESV

But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!

A prayer of Asaph is asking for God’s hand to be with the man at His right hand; and this man is only Jesus. God made Jesus the strongest, for Himself. 

Psalm 89:21, 27, 34, 48

I will steady him with my hand; with my powerful arm I will make him strong.

Psalm 89:34

No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said.

Psalm 89:49

Lord, where is your unfailing love?

His Bride, By Design 

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #8

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YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE

We were each put on this earth with something to give, something to offer, something to live out, and something to do. 

God did not invite us into the earth in order for us to wander around aimlessly. You were made with purpose, with clearly defined intent in mind. You are on the earth for a reason and there are specifics regarding your existence. 

There are things that God has predestined over your life, that you should be eager to walk out. He knew you before the earth had a foundation, I am pretty sure His will for your life isn’t a distant blur, to Him. 

No matter how shaky things may seem at the present moment, and no matter how indecisive you might be; God is decisive, and He is certain about you. 

He knows what He has predestined before the beginning of time concerning you. He knows who you are, you are known by Him and His plans for You Are in His Hands. 

He does not drop the ball concerning your life or, any life, ever. God can be trusted as you venture into the remainder of this year. 

You have something to give and plenty to offer. Be sure not to wallow in the wrong feelings and emotions in this year. Steer clear of self pity and a, the glass is half empty mentality. God is for you, He has been for you all along, but it is important for you to be for yourself as well. Dig deep, for the purposes of God concerning your life. Don’t relent or give up easily, God has a plan. 

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT