The powerful name!

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✨ The Powerful Name ✨
Finding Joy in Who We Are—and Whose We Are

This year, I’m turning 50.

Half a century. A milestone. Honestly, I don’t feel old—until I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The wrinkles are settling in, and more and more gray hairs peek through. Every month, I dye my hair—just to look a little younger. Just to feel like time hasn’t completely caught up with me.

And yet, when I hear the younger ones say, “I’m getting old,” I can’t help but chuckle. You have no idea, I think. But deep down, I smile—because aging is a gift, not a curse.

As I look ahead to my little celebration—just close family and dear friends—I’ve already started preparing. That’s typical me. If something special is going to happen, I want to make it meaningful. Today, I began creating table cards with the names of my guests. As I wrote each name, a wave of emotions came over me.

Every name carries a personality. A history. A presence. And I thought, Maybe I’ll write a few words on each card—how I see them, what they mean to me. It’s just an idea. But even the thought made me realize how deeply connected names are to our identity.

And then, I thought of my own name.

My name is Ligaya, which means joy.

Simple, right? And yet so profound. I am a joyful person. But joy doesn’t always come easy. My worst enemy? Loneliness. I do everything I can to keep it at bay. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what drives my creativity. My desire to connect. To celebrate. To laugh.

Now I’m curious about the names of my loved ones—what they mean, and whether those meanings match who they are. One day, I’ll go on a little “name discovery” journey.

But today, something even more beautiful happened.

In my quiet devotion time, God reminded me just how powerful a name can be—not just mine, or yours—but His. I opened my Bible to:

John 16:24 – “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

What a promise.

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are not just speaking into the air. We are speaking into eternity. His name carries power, authority, healing, hope, and yes—joy. Complete joy.

How beautiful that my name means joy. And how wonderful that Jesus, the one I know and love, promises that through Him, my joy will be complete. Not because of what I have. Not because of how I look. But because of who He is.

So as I turn 50, I’ll celebrate not just the years, but the meaning behind every moment—and every name. Especially the one name that gives life to all: Jesus.

Because with Him, I can do all things. That’s His promise.

And I believe it with all my heart.