Middle Names
I have often wondered why we have middle names… most (some?) of us are not called by our middle names, and unless they are family names, there really is not a point, except to sound pretty.
My middle name is Renee. Why? My parents liked the sound of it. Plus, it would roll right off their tongue when I was in trouble: “JENNA RENEE!” Kevin’s middle name is Matthew. Why? His parents liked Matthew for a middle name. But, when we were first dating, I found a verse for him that has become his favorite – Matthew 6:34…
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
When we were first married, we also did a wonderful verse-by-verse study of the book of Matthew in Sunday School. Coincidence of Matthew? I don’t know. But, I know that there are no coincidences with God.
Fast-forward to Colby’s birth. We knew we wanted to name him Colby but we weren’t sure of his middle name.. we wanted it to be Biblical, but we just weren’t sure until we really talked about it and decided on Joshua. One of our favorite family Scriptures is Joshua 24:15 -
“Choose for yourself, this day, whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
We love that Joshua was such a warrior for God. He was a leader, a conqueror, and a musician! (See Joshua 6; maybe Colby will play the trumpet?) So, for Colby’s dedication, we read Joshua 1:9 -
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
We wanted to pray this for Colby (and all our kids) because we know how tough the world can be. With God on our side, there is no one against us.
Kennedy’s middle name is Faith. We also thought about some other Biblical middle names and even Renee. But, when she was born, we looked at her and knew that’s what it should be. While I was pregnant with her, I did Beth Moore’s study, “Believing God”. (Beth Moore writes wonderful Bible studies with women in mind, but men can do them as well, and in fact, I know many men that have enjoyed her studies. I highly recommend them.)
The main premise in Believing God is Hebrews 11, which has been dubbed the Faith Chapter of the Bible. Brother Tim calls it “The All-Star List of Faith” because many of the Verses begin with, “By faith…” and continue with a list of how Biblical giants (and some unsung heroes) have shown faith in their life. I love that this chapter starts with, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Isn’t that the very essence of pregnancy? I had so many hopes and dreams for Kennedy, and I couldn’t even see her! At first, I had to have faith that she really was in my womb, and at the end, I had to have faith that she really was going to come out! 
The specific Verse we chose for Kennedy is Hebrews 11:6 -
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
I will not pretend that I earnestly seek God as much as I should, but I know that He has rewarded us with two wonderful children. And, it is our prayer that Kennedy (and Colby!) would come to know their Heavenly Father and earnestly seek Him daily.
Not many people ask my kids’ middle names and if they do, they don’t ask why we gave them that name… But my hope is that they can use their middle names for God’s glory and to increase His Kingdom!
1 comment May 30th, 2007