It was a chilly September day, and I was winding through the Great Smoky Mountains, just me and my little Honda. It was a rainy after noon, and I decided to go the long way back to my cabin. I took the turn on a one way dirt road, knowing once I made the turn, there was no going back. My sweet daughter had given me a CD, Phil Wickham Live 2, and I was taking it on my adventure. It was my first trip alone. Yes, that's right! I was completely alone, and my introvert personality was loving every second of it. (Those of you who are extroverts, are cringing right now, but my introvert friends are a little envious. haha)
Blasting the CD through my stereo, I began to sing along. "Lord of all the earth, we shout Your name, shout Your name. Filling up the skies with endless praise, endless praise. Yahweh! Yahweh! we love to shout Your name, Oh Lord! There's no one like our God! We will praise You! Praise You!..." At first I felt a little awkward, then, realizing there was no one there but me and Him, I began to shout His name, "YAHWEH! YAHWEH!" One hand on the wheel, and one hand raised high, I almost opened my sun roof so I could raise it higher. Then I remembered the pouring rain, and that I was dodging pot holes on the narrow dirt road. I quickly realized that 2 hands on the wheel, and the sun roof closed, would be best for the time being.
I laugh even now as I remember that moment. I knew right then that the road ahead of me was going to be beautiful. His presence was so real to me. Tears were flowing down my cheeks. A whole new excitement for my future was rising inside my heart. I felt unexplainable peace, and joy.
How wonderful is it to think of our God as YAHWEH, the great I AM! John Piper describes the name like this:
"1. He never had a beginning. Every child asks, “Who made God?” And
every wise parent says, “Nobody made God. God simply is. And always was.
No beginning.”
2. God will never end. If he did not come into being he cannot go out of being, because he is being.
3. God is absolute reality. There is no reality before him. There is
no reality outside of him unless he wills it and makes it. He is all
that was eternally. No space, no universe, no emptiness. Only God.
4. God is utterly independent. He depends on nothing to bring him
into being or support him or counsel him or make him what he is.
5. Everything that is not God depends totally on God. The entire
universe is utterly secondary. It came into being by God and stays in
being moment by moment on God's decision to keep it in being.
6. All the universe is by comparison to God as nothing. Contingent,
dependent reality is to absolute, independent reality as a shadow to
substance. As an echo to a thunderclap. All that we are amazed by in the
world and in the galaxies, is, compared to God, as nothing.
7. God is constant. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He
cannot be improved. He is not becoming anything. He is who he is.
8. God is the absolute standard of truth and goodness and beauty.
There is no law-book to which he looks to know what is right. No almanac
to establish facts. No guild to determine what is excellent or
beautiful. He himself is the standard of what is right, what is true,
what is beautiful.
9. God does whatever he pleases and it is always right and always
beautiful and always in accord with truth. All reality that is outside
of him he created and designed and governs as the absolute reality. So
he is utterly free from any constraints that don't originate from the
counsel of his own will.
10. God is the most important and most valuable reality and person in
the universe. He is more worthy of interest and attention and
admiration and enjoyment than all other realities, including the entire
universe." 10 things "Yahweh" Means" by John Piper
It's so hard to get my mind around all that Yahweh is. I do know this, however, I am wildly in love with Him. Yesterday, Lindsay and I were going on our traditional trip to the apple orchard for cider. I told her, as we were driving, "Lindsay, I am so grateful for this time in my life that God has given me. I am falling deeper and deeper in love with God. If not for this season I've been through, I wouldn't have the time or energy to invest in falling in love with Him all over again." Right then I made up my mind. I would not be defined by my past illness, and surgeries, for I am completely healed now, and it's all in the past. I would not be defined by divorce, but divorce would just be a season in my life, a distant memory, and I have moved forward.
I will leave this earth someday defined by my love for Yahweh, My God. He would from now until the end of my time on earth, define who I am, and where I go with my life. I don't know what the future holds, but I do know this. According to my God, I am lavished with His love, forgiven, I have hope, I can do all things through Him, nothing can separate me from His love, I am righteous, wise, and beautiful. What more could a woman want? He will define me. Anything else He chooses to give me beyond that will be icing on the cake.
The next time you are in the car alone, try shouting His name, and see how He transforms your life, too. "Lord of all the earth
We shout Your name, shout Your name
Filling up the skies
With endless praise, endless praise
Yahweh, Yahweh
We love to shout Your name, oh Lord"
Here's the link if you want to hear the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA1GXubd4JE
Much love, precious friends!
