Big Green Booger

Nearly ten years ago, my current boss hired me to be his assistant at a different church in town. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m filled with awe and pride as I’ve watched him mature into a lead pastor at a mega church.

 

unnamedHowever, ten years ago we worked together forming small groups and ministering with young couples. For one activity, an Amazing Race game was planned. My role in this race was to sit in the local mall, wear the color green and wait for teams to ask me if I was the Big Green Booger. Once they asked, I handed them their clue.

 

For years, I was known as the Big Green Booger. I laughed when someone mentioned it. But now that I’m in a different church with a different group of folks, I hoped this nickname hadn’t followed me.

 

Last night I was at a volunteer gathering at our secondary campus. Since I’ve been on staff, I have probably only been at this campus a dozen times. So I’m not surprised that most people don’t know who I am.

 

However, a young woman came up to me and said, “I thought I recognized you and then I realized you were the Sewing Lady. You spoke for our Women’s Bible Connection group last fall.”

 

I laughed. I’d gone from being the Big Green Booger to the Sewing Lady! I believe I’ve moved up!

 

I wondered what other names I might be known as. Of course there’s Mom, Sweety (as my husband calls me), Baba, Dear One (my Dad’s term of endearment), and Friend.

 

I suspect sometimes I may be known by names I’d rather not mention here, but when my attitude is not in line with God’s Spirit, I can be rather harsh.

 

As a Christian, I know that I am no longer known as Foreigner or Alien, but instead I’m known as a Fellow Citizen and Member of God’s Household (Ephesians 2:19).

 

Here’s a list of some other names I am to be known by:

 

God’s Workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

Imitator of God and Dearly Loved Child (Ephesians 5:1)

Light of the Lord (Ephesians 5:8)

God’s Chosen People (Colossians 3:12)

Peaceful and Thankful (Colossians 3:15)

Prayerful (Colossians 4:2)

Wise (Colossians 4:5)

Graceful (Colossians 4:6)

Sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Encourager (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Joyful (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Approved Workman (2 Timothy 2:15)

Holy (Hebrews 10:10)

Faithful (Hebrews 11:1)

Pure, Peace-loving, Considerate, Submissive, Full of Mercy and Good Fruit (James 3:17)

Self-controlled (1 Peter 1:13)

Living Stone (1 Peter 2:5)

Spiritual House (1 Peter 2:5)

Holy Priesthood (1 Peter 2:5)

 

These are just a handful of names we should be known by. Quite overwhelming isn’t it? Perhaps the good news here is that we are not capable of living up to these names on our own. So how are we to do it?

 

God has given us His Spirit to dwell within us. It’s through the Holy Spirit that we are able to take on these names as well as others. Like Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Perhaps you are feeling like a big green booger today and need a make-over. If that’s the case, why not allow Jesus to get to work on you? If you do, others will see the change and they will begin to call you by the spiritual names listed above.

 

Regardless of how you feel, God will always call you His Beloved. That is who you are in Christ Jesus. That is the most beautiful name in the world.

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

 

Donna

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