a new name

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"... and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give."

~ Isaiah 62:2b

___________________

It has been a life-changing few months of life.

364 days ago was my last day living in Minnesota...

and life has changed more than I imagined possible in this one year.

Here are 10 big changes to start off this post: 

1. Started my first nursing job on the medical/surgical/orthopedic floor at a big hospital in Grand Rapids (January 10th)

2. Met my first nephew, Peter Gordon Olson (February)

3. Spent a week in the Dominican Republic with a team of amazing Jesus-loving nurses (Early March)

4. Decided working full time nights is (was) a VERY bad idea (March 17th, my first all-nighter)

5. Met Mitchell, my now HUSBAND (June 27th)

6. Started a new job on a labor/delivery/postpartum floor at the Family Birthing Center at a small regional hospital (July 18th)

7. Started dating Mitchell (July 27th)

8. Celebrated 21 years of life (September 13th)

9. Finished orientation and switched to a more "part time" schedule (November 15th)

10. Moved from Ada to Byron Center, Michigan (November 22nd)

With these 10 big events, 10 trips back to Minnesota, 1 trip to the Dominican Republic, 1 trip to Tennessee, 1 trip to Wyoming, 1 trip to Missouri, and some fantastic quality time on the lakeshore in Michigan, I thought the year was already pretty fantastic... 

But then... it got even better on the night before Thanksgiving. Mitchell proposed, and I said "YES!" We spent Thanksgiving in Duluth with my family, with SO much to be thankful for.

We proceeded to plan a wedding in 37 days, and our wedding on December 30th was the very, very best end to the year!! After a brief local honeymoon, we moved into a rental condominium, and we're now in the process of unpacking boxes. Lots of boxes. 

Side note: When God opens the right door at the right time, walk through it.

Don't wait around if you know God is leading you to a specific thing and has equipped you to do it. Getting married was so clearly God's plan for both Mitchell and myself, and we felt incredible peace through the whole process of planning and making a wedding happen. God's grace abounds!! 

(Stay tuned for a post about wedding do's and don'ts!)

And so, getting back to the main point of this post, I simply need to write about my increased appreciation for the book of Isaiah. Sounds random, but bear with me.

For all these new things in life I'm thankful, but I'm especially thankful for my new name (I promise I'll connect this back to Isaiah). Firstly, I'm thankful for the new name I have in Christ (more on this in a few seconds...), but I'm also talking about my new (married!!) last name! Your name is part of your identity, and that's why it's so amazing that Jesus promises to give us a new name when He redeems us. Jesus wants your identity to be in HIM, and in HIS plan for your life. When you allow your name to change, you surrender what once was, allowing God's plan to ensue. 

*Note: This blog post is brought to you by Mrs. Herweyer!!*

Isaiah is a book that points us to Jesus - and to the promise that He will mercifully bring newness of life with His kingdom when He comes. Chapter 62 talks about getting a new name - one that is a "crown of beauty" in the Lord's hand.

He delights in you, His image-bearing creation.

As a believer, you have a new name in Christ. You are no longer "forsaken." You are no longer "desolate." 

You are called "my delight is in her." 

You are called "married." 

___________

"...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:5b)

___________

Knowing that our God will rejoice over us is an amazing promise. Marriage reflects something so much bigger than ourselves, and is just a little taste of what it will be like when Jesus returns for His bride, the Church. Mitchell and I have a lot to learn together, but we get to do it as a team, as we rejoice in the newness of life that we have in Christ.

Go and be joyful today, knowing that you've been named by your Creator. You've got a new, glorious name, and that is "beloved." Your Creator delights in you.

Beloved.


#spreadtheword
#m&m



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