There's just something about that name

Stephen & I
Summer 1983

The summer of 1982 changed my life and it was not that I had just graduated from high school, it was a guy named, Stephen.  Stephen and I had known each other all of our lives, but that summer we found each other and never looked back. My notebooks from classes at Louisiana College that Fall are full of pages and pages of doodling his name and practicing writing the one I would change mine to, Mrs. Stephen Bailey.   Almost 30 years later, I don't often doodle his name and I do not ever remember actually signing my name, Mrs. Stephen Bailey. But I love the fact that our names are forever connected. I am the luckiest girl alive when it comes to finding the perfect mate. (I didn't say he was perfect, just the perfect match for me!) I married well.

Along the way I've learned over and over just how lucky I am.  So many of my friends and family have not been so fortunate.  Too many times I've met women who have been mistreated in bad relationships and others who live with the marks of failed ones.  Even more times I've listened to women who are simply disappointed with their choices.

One thing I have seen is that we as women too often, ask way too much of our husbands. We make the mistake of asking them to be the one who meets all of our needs, who brings us fulfillment in life and validates our self esteem. I've made this mistake.  And what I've learned is that only Jesus can satisfy my soul! He is the one and only! Incidentally, in my experience the relief it brings to our relationships when we learn this frees us and our spouses to love each other more honestly.

The last four weeks we've looked at four different women. One who had suffered illness and isolation, one who had experienced failed relationships, one who was caught in sin and one who believed, but felt disappointment and confusion. Today, let's look back at how Jesus responded to each of these.

To each one he offered words that brought life.

• Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you whole
• I know your whole story and I came to offer you life.
• Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more
• Believe and you will see

To each one he offered more than she asked or could imagine.

• One sought healing for her body, Jesus offered wholeness for her soul
• One knew a Messiah would come, she had no idea He would come personally to her
• One waited for punishment and found mercy
• One anticipated healing and received life from death

When we are desperate for a healer for our body and soul, when we go through the motions of life hoping for something more, when we are caught in sin, when we wonder where Jesus is in the middle of our need - we like these ladies can know that He came to offer to each of us personally, life, healing, wholeness, mercy and much more, more than we can image.

Sometimes I like to close my eyes and do a little mental doodling to this tune; Jesus, Jesus, Jesus there's just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus, there's just something about that name!  And I am eternally grateful that my name is forever connected to His!

Thanks for listening,

See you Next Sunday,

Ronda

"Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!"  Ephesians 3:19-20    (The Message)