Delta Dawn When the Light Comes On With  Ivy Joy Johnson

A good Name is better to be chosen than great riches; Loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1

We have discovered who’s who, when enough is enough, and what to do about it, physically, intellectually, emotionally and now, socially.  Every baby is unique and precious in God’s eyes and sent for a specific purpose in the society into which they are born. Jeremiah 29:11.  Grimm’s Fairy Tales suggests each new baby is greeted by a good witch and a bad witch.  The good witch says kind, wonderful things over baby, but the bad witch, no.  Could these be a child’s relatives?

Little Elmo arrives with all the human equipment, eyes, nose, ears, fingers, toes.  Who does he look like?  Uncle Ben, the gentle giant or Clyde the Crook?  For years such prognostications are affirmed, or denied, by baby’s relatives.

I slept through this dramatic event.  According to one relative, I was born the wrong day, appeared the wrong gender and a birthmark designated me a witch.  “Thursday’s child is full of woe,” was a common concept.  The newspaper held the presses at my maternal grandmother’s request. The Star reported “A baby girl was born.”.  My father elected the name “Ivy”.  The Dr. thought “Joy” would reverse any curse.  Grandmother’s name, “Mary”, was altered to “Marie”.  The hand written birth certificate returned with “Joy Marie”.  My father typed “I-V-Y” and re-filed the document.  Peace settled on the family.  “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”  Matthew 5:9

As often as I have taught “w.e.t.C.O.W.S.p.p.i.e.s.s.” people ask where finances and business come into focus.  Here, in this very social arena, where names carry a definition.  ‘Deadbeats’ don’t pay bills.  “Good customers” do.  Currency is essential to how societies function.  All societies buy, sell, communicate and relate psychologically and intellectually, coping with realities in a ‘socially’ acceptable manner.  Bible-based uses for money rarely fall into this ‘norm’. The use of money must be taught, caught and practiced in the family and in the Church.  

“Seek first, the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving. Mental agreement does not practice success.  Action must come from the heart (spirit). 

When Love of the Lord outweighs ‘soulish, fleshly’ desires, God’s grace and favor changes the social standing.  Shalom (wholeness in every area of life) becomes the ‘norm’ according to the Covenant Jesus purchased with His Blood on the Cross.  And He promised, “Peace (shalom) I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives peace.  In the world [is] trouble, but let not your heart be troubled, I have overcome the world.”  John 14:27; 16:33.

Next Week: Bring it!