| Isaiah 62:2 …you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. A new name is a God-given upgrade. What names have you been called? What names have you given yourself? Whether it is negative or positive… an identity change is a way UP. The definition of the word upgrade is: 1. an incline going up in the direction of movement. 2. an increase or improvement: an upgrade in the year’s profit forecast. 3. a new version, improved model, etc. So, does your life-system deserve an upgrade? What are you willing to try to get there? When it comes to name and life system upgrades, Jacob got one. “But now, this is what the LORD says- he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 He went from Jacob –a name meaning “trickster” to an upgraded name– Israel… “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28) So fill in the blank. What is: Your name in the past ____________________ Your name now _________________________ And what might be your upgraded name be? Name upgrade __________________________ Think about it… To be who we’ve never been, we must do what we’ve never done. Jacob encountered God and became another man. What is God inviting you to do in order to be who you’ve never been?! What’s really cool is when individuals are upgraded – communities are upgraded. When communities are upgraded, God’s Kingdom of Love is advanced. So what are you waiting for? Encounter God and… present yourself for an upgrade! We have been in an upgrading mode since we began as Christ followers and as a church community. The upgrading (also known as transformation) has come through our pain and our victories. Just like Jacob, our encounters have given us a new way and a new name to go forward with. (Join us Sunday live or online to hear more.) Presently, God has been inviting us individually and together to take life to the next level… UPGRADE! We’ve got dreams to turn into plans… We love where we’ve been but feel called to, “Go higher…” How about you? Praying for you,
P.S. A BIG SHOUT OUT to the 70 FUTURIST BRAINSTORMERS that joined us last Sunday night to talk about how and where to upgrade Crossroads Church and Ministries. What a brilliant group of devoted Christ-Followers… can’t wait to upgrade and add more voices to this process! Are you interested? |
