New Names, Making Movies, and Apples

Picked For You via freeimages.com

Your friend says to you, “I talked to God last night. He gave me a new name and I want you to call me that from now on.”

What would your reaction be? A blank stare? Nervous laughter? Check for a fever? Call their next of kin?

I can only imagine those were some of the reactions Abram’s and Sarai’s friends had when they told them God had given them new names (Genesis 17).  Abram “Exalted Father” became Abraham “Father of a Multitude” (in spite of the fact that he had one son. ONE). Sarai “Argumentative” became Sarah “Princess” (I like that. You can feel free to call me Princess any time).

I mean really, picture the conversation: “I’m sorry, we don’t answer to those names anymore. From now on we are Abraham and Sarah. Why? Because that’s what God calls us.”

In spite of the inevitable flak they knew they would receive (and surely did), Abraham and Sarah embraced these new names and the promises they contained. They called themselves, and each other, by these names. They spoke them. They walked them. They lived them. They owned them. And they were right. Within a year, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the child of the promise.

God has given me several names over the years. Debbie of course, Wife, Mother, Dancer, Drummer…those were easy for me to own. A few others, Writer being one, have been more awkward to claim, but thanks to some amazing friends I’ve come to believe it. The latest new name, Filmmaker, is difficult for me to say with any measure of confidence.  

I mean, its’ easy to say I want to be a filmmaker. It’s difficult to say that I am one.

But, encouragement from friends and words like these help me believe:

An apple tree will produce apples because of what it is. When it is young, it will have no apples; but it still must say, “I am an apple tree.” Is it lying at those times? No. It would be lying to say anything different. (Steve and Wendy Backlund, Igniting Faith in 40 Days)

I know I am meant to make movies. I’m meant to write at least one. I’m meant to work on them, in whatever capacity that may be.

I am a filmmaker.

There. I said it. 

(Hmmmm. Better, but still a little shaky)

I am a filmmaker, even when I don’t feel like it, even when neither the world nor I can see evidence of it. It would be lying to say anything different, just as it would be lying for Abraham and Sarah.

So if your friend Debbie quietly tells you she is a filmmaker, don’t chuckle nervously or dial 911. Just hand her an apple. Then tell her your new name, and grab an apple for yourself.

Debbie All New, Not All New Debbie

Spring Crocus 1 by jtuhtan from freeimages.com

In my newsfeed today something was said about God making all things new. That reminded me of the phrase I’ve heard and shared before, “He is making all things new, not making all new things.” I’ve heard that from a few sources but always in reference to Revelation and the new heaven and new earth, to creation.

I got a new take on that today.  It also applies to us, to human beings, as His beloved creation. He makes US new.  

Just as He isn’t going to destroy the earth and start over, He isn’t going to destroy His people and start over.

He almost did once. In Numbers 14 God is so fed up with Israel’s whining and lack of faith, after all He has done for them and saved them from, that He tells Moses He will wipe them all out and start a brand new nation through Moses. Thankfully, Moses talks God out of it (did you know we can change God’s mind? How cool is that?).

That’s the only time I can recall Him saying He is going to do that. Everything else I can recall has to do with renewing, redeeming, restoring. There is always a remnant of some sort -- some section of the nation of Israel, some section of creation, some section of US -- that He reserves.

He doesn’t ever say, “Okay, that’s it. I am SO DONE with Debbie. She has gone too far and is too far gone for Me to help. She has sinned too much and too often. This time I. HAVE. HAD. ENOUGH. I give up. I’m throwing her away, destroying her, and starting over with a brand new Debbie.”  

Thank You, God!

What He does say is that He will never leave us, never forsake us (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5, Deut 31:6). He will be with us always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:20).  David asks where he can flee from God’s presence and the answer is that he can’t (Psalm 139). His very name, Emmanuel, means WITH. God WITH us (Matt 1:23).

God said all of those things, made all of those promises, thousands of years ago and guess what? He’s still here with us.

Being as I screw up a lot and sin even more than a lot, I’m beyond grateful.