He calls me by name

Around 4am this morning, I was suddenly startled by some one's voice. "Hello", was all I heard. To which I mumbled, 'hello??'

I laid there for a minute.. listening, waiting. At first I thought it was God, but He always calls me by name so I knew it couldn't be Him.

I've had those Samuel/Eli experiences twice in which I've heard an audible voice. This morning wasn't one of those times, but God used it to remind me that He always uses my name. Whenever He wants my attention, or has something pressing to tell me, or just wants to remind me how much He loves me, He calls my name. Not "hey, you!" or "hello", but my name.

On December 11, 2005 (I wrote the date beside the verses) - I was awakened out of a deep sleep by the sound of someone calling my name. It was definitely a man's voice. "Um, God... is that You?"

It was! And this is what He said to me.... read Isaiah 40:26

"Look up at the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And He counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away."

He was just checking on me... to make sure I was still there, to make sure I was still His. I wasn't lost and I hadn't strayed away.

What a sweet reminder at 4am this morning. I love it when God wakes me up just to 'check on me' or to let me know He's thinking of me.

After a little "name" search on Biblegateway, Ecclesiastes 7:1 jumped off the pages at me. "A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth."

I can hear my friend Justin right now saying... "does it really say THAT?"

Yes, it really does say THAT!