Connecting this weekend with Barbie Hernandez Swihart: Weekend Whispers
My dad has many pet names for me. I have many letters from him that I treasure where he calls me Princess, Baby Girl, Pumpkin, Sweetheart. He always answers the telephone, “This is Troy!” He is a pastor so for years the calls he received were not only from family but from members of the churches where he preached. The calls he receives are dwindling and sometimes my brother and I am the only one calling. This makes me sad for him because his world is smaller. He married my mom in 1946 and she passed away in 1977 from Multiple Myeloma. He married my step mother in 1978, her name was Orpha and she passed away in 2007 from Renal Cancer. He is now living own his own, he preaches when ever asked for the various Southern Baptist Churches in his area.
Troy is a bit of a home body pleasantly stuck in his ways. On one of my trips, I was in the kitchen at 3:30 and he asked, “Honey, what are you doing in the kitchen?” My reply, “I am cooking our supper!” (it is supper in Oklahoma, dinner in California). To which he replied, “You sure know my schedule!” In my mind, I was rolling in laughter because his schedules never changes. This last trip in July his schedule hasn’t changed but we had his 90th birthday party. We had 108 sign the guest book, my brother and his wife from Seattle, family from Austin and Kaufman, Texas and from surrounding cities in Oklahoma came to honor my dad.
One of my online friends came to meet me. Her name is Dr. Michelle Bengtson. My dad opened his home and he loved having her there. Michelle and I stayed up late, he said, “Are you girls ever going to go to sleep?” She and I had a grand time and we visited Nowhere, Oklahoma, yes there is a town called Nowhere in Oklahoma. My dad’s world for a couple of weeks was less lonely. So today, I called him, I love to hear his voice, I know his voice. I love to hear the name “Pumpkin.” 
This week as I prayed and read God’s Word, [Tweet “I heard God whisper, “Keep on, I am the voice to believe and follow. You are justified and you do not have to be afraid. “]
I did not hear God calling me “Pumpkin” like my earthly father does, I heard him calling me my name, Diana and in John 10: 14-17, these verses say that Jesus knows our name. Often, I am called Diane and not Diana but I do not have a concern because God knows my name.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
This week as I prayed for each of you that read my blog, and to my sisters in Christ, I pray that God will whisper in your ear,
Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love. ‘Song of Solomon 2:4
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies. Song of Solomon 6:3
I am so thankful that although my dad is physically alone, spiritually he is rich and not alone. Beloved, we receive blessings because God is whispering our name and giving us daily blessings like meeting my friend Michelle Bengtson this truly was God’s blessing as it was not planned. She has written a book that will be out in 2016, Hope Prevails.
God is whispering, “My Grace is sufficient to meet your needs. My mercies are new every morning, Great is my faithfulness. My hope will sustain you because My Hope Prevails. You are my child, You are worthy, I am your Abba Father, Your creator, You are Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.
This week as I prayed I heard God whisper, I love you.
Lets pray for our parents as their world gets smaller and for one another that Satan will not rock our lives. Will you join me in praying for Doctor Michelle Bengtson as her book will help so many people in 2016? Will you pray for my other author friend Linda Kuhar whose book, “Worthy of A Miracle” will be out in November, 2015? Lastly, lets pray for each other to hear Our Master’s Voice as He gently whispers your name.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youa free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8: 1-2
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. 1 John 5:18
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. NLT Ephesians 2:10
Just as my earthly father has pet names for me, beloved, what is God’s name for you? Please share what God is whispering to you this week.
For those that comment I will select a beloved sister in Christ to receive a book for the upcoming study with Tracie Miles at http://www.traciemiles.com and one for the upcoming Proverbs 31 ministry study at http://www.proverbs31ministry.org for Tame the To Do List. Please visit Linda Kuhar blog at http://www.lindakuhar.com and Michelle Bengtson at http://drmichellebengtson.com and Barbie Swihart Hernandez at http://drmichellebengtson.com 
