Tag: relationships

Hey, What is Your Name?

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What is your name…again?  I am so sorry…

I am terrible with names. I often ask people I meet what their name is, but I seldom remember their name…maybe their face or some other random fact (like the clothes they are wearing, where I met them), but not usually their name.

“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”  –Dale Carnegie in “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Recently, in preparation for a presentation at a women’s conference, I found an article about the importance of remembering a person’s name. (Wait…I forgot her name…Found it!). Here is the link, if you would like to read it (Why it’s Important to Remember People’s Names ). Below are Tricia’s suggestions for remembering a person’s name.

Five Steps to Remembering a Name

  1. Focus on the other person. Try to learn a little bit about them. Listen, smile, and give them your full attention.
  2. Ask a question. Maybe a question about their name, then follow up with an open ended question to learn more about them. Listen more, make mental notes about what they are saying and repeat their name to yourself.
  3. Create an image or association of the person with the name. To help you remember their name, link it in your mind to something familar to you. Example: Betty like to bake…Amy is artsy…you get the idea.
  4. End the conversation by using the person’s name again. I am glad to have met you, Betty. I hope to see you again soon.”
  5. Keep a name file. As soon as it is practical, write down the name with a line or two about the person. 

We feel more valued and respected when someone remembers our name. We feel more engaged in a conversation when someone uses our name….When you use someone’s name, it shows you see that person as an individual. When you remember it, it shows your interest in and respect for that individual.   –Tricia Drevets

So I am convicted…ahem...convinced it is important to remember a person’s name and to remember some specific information about the person to show I value and respect them. Now back to my presentation.  Would not the same be true for God?  Should I (we) not also go to the trouble to remember God’s name, develop a mental image (understanding) of Him, and keep a name file to help us remember His name and some important about Him (His nature and character) as a way to show God that we value and respect Him? Think about it…

Those Who Know His Name

Knowing God name, His great mercy and power, will change how I live. I will boast (make mention, remember) in the name of my Lord God.

7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, 

but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. 

8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, 

but we will rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20:7-8 nlt 

Not only that but when I know God by name I will seek refuge in Him because I trust Him… 

9 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, 

a refuge in times of trouble. 

10 Those who know your name trust in you, 

for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.  

Psalm 9:9-10 nlt 

and rely on Him for my protection. I would be be confident that He hears my cries and will rescue me from trouble.

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust in my name.

15 When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue and honor them.

Psalm 91:14-16 nlt 

My name is…

God introduces Himself through His word. In the next few weeks we will look at five names of God, focusing on what He says about Himself, asking Him questions to help us develop a mental image of God. I will include a file listing God’s Names and some verses where He reveals He character (nature) to us through that name. So stay tune…

Sherry

Ministry of Listening

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  – Jesus

Closing the door behind them. Whew!woman-opening-door-400x333-1

Hospitality extended to new neighbors. Check.√

The kids and dog did not tear up the house. Check. √√

They enjoyed our favorite meal. Check.√√√

Listen to and learned about our new neighbors… Wait. I don’t remember much about them…their names are Jack and Jill (well probably not, but sounded something like that), but what else had they said? I don’t know, with serving the food, cleaning up the spills, the TV going in the background and the phones buzzing, it did get kind of crazy.

In the busyness of hosting, I can forget it is not just about a clean house and filling their plates. True hospitality is caring for others. Listening is a key way to show we care. Talking comes so natural, we are encourged to talk from birth (Did you hear her first word?!) Listening is not so natural and is much…much more difficult. So the question is, how can we learn to be good listeners? You can always read a book about listening. I have several, in fact. But we really need to learn from the best listener…Jesus.

Listen Like Jesus

The Feast of the Passover was near. Jesus and his disciples were traveling to Jerusalem. We pick up the story below as they are leaving Jericho, with a large crowd of people following.

And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.”

Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.    Matthew 20:30-34

Five Keys Actions of a Good Listener

Stop.  When Jesus heard the blind men call to him, He stopped. The journey could wait. I am guilty of thinking, “I can multi-task while I listen.” Listen and load the dishwasher, check my Facebook page, or watch TV…yeah not really. To be a good listener we need to be willing to stop, put our agenda on hold.

Focus.  Jesus called out to the men. Even surrounded by what was sure to have been a noisy crowd, Jesus focused on these two men. Giving His full attention, He showed concern for them and affirmed their value to Him.

Ask. Jesus, who knows everything, asked a question. He gave these men the opportunity to be heard. We too need to ask open-ended questions to show our interest in the person and what they have to say (tell me about…).

Wait.  Jesus knew what they needed, but He didn’t just “fix” them or interrupt saying, “I know best”. He waited, to let them express themselves. Waiting is hard. Waiting shows the person that I value what you have to say and will wait until you are ready to share.

Respond.  Jesus was moved with compassion. He responded in a way that brought healing to these men. We cannot physically heal. Yet, listening helps us to connect with a person at their point of need. We can respond with words of encouragement and grace, that can bring healing to their heart.

The ministry of listening has been committed to us by Him who is Himself the great listener. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the  word of God.                                                             Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together