Every second of every single day, is a battle. A battle between myself and society, and often a battle within my own mind.

All I can do is pray, and hope for happier times to come around, to lift me out of this dark period of my life. It was only by God’s grace that I found him in my heart. It was something that came to me so quickly, and is still something very new to my life. I may not be the best Christian, but I know in my heart that I have God’s love, and if I am with him, he will always help and guide me.

To the world I may be depressed, but in God’s eyes I am hope. I may be known as Gay to this world, but in his eyes, I am complete.

Hello Kary, I attended Your Secret Name conference in March & have been wanting to tell you what I believe my secret names are. I say names because I learned my name from 1 Peter 5:10 — my names are Strong & Steadfast.

I was led to 1 Peter 5 @ 13 years ago when I was going through many difficult times & was trying to understand HOW I could get the Lord in my favor. That’s when I read 1Ptr 5:5

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

So I tried teaching myself how to be humble — I did this by defining the antonyms to the word humble & focused on trying NOT to do any of those things. So, I became a better person & felt more worthy (can never truly be worthy) of accepting God’s favor (grace / blessing) and hoped my life would get better. And it did — but not completely — I still felt alone & inadequate.

I kept in mind verse 6:

 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

So how long was God’s due time? Would it be during my lifetime? Then when I was at the conference, I remembered my goal of tyring to humble myself — then realized that my life is so full of blessings, I’m not alone anymore, I love myself, feel confident, have a wonderful husband, son, family, home, job, health, …… I believe I have reached God’s due time — so I went to 1Ptr 5:10, & read:

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

So HE made me Strong & Steadfast !! I’m still not sure how I will use my new names for His Glory — but I’m sure I will discover this in God’s Due Time !! Thank you again & may the God of All Grace richly bless you !!

Our next YSN conference is July 30th.

I just finished reading Your Secret Name this morning (12/27).  I found the book interesting but did not feel particularly moved by it in any way. 

As I neared the end of the book I began to ask God in my prayers to reveal my secret name to me.  Still I finished the book wondering.  I took the test on line and could not really relate strongly to any of the given names…still wondering.  So I decided to click the “stories” tab.

My husband is depressed.  He hides it well and escapes it daily with habits that are not healthy for him.  He goes up and down with his moods but no one would ever guess he is depressed.  Saddest of all, he does not know Jesus. I am the only saved soul in my family, newly baptized this Fall.  After years of being a loyal Catholic and very comfortable in my faith, I am now searching deeper everyday to know Jesus.

It is a new life for me, one I want desperately to share with my family.  A few weeks ago I met with my Pastor’s wife to discuss how my role as a wife could change to make my husband happier and more complete.  I want to learn what God intends for me to be a s a wife and have been struggling with changing my habits and desires to create a better marriage.

I think one of the Secret Stories has shed light on my Secret Name.  Maybe I am Hope.  Hope for my marriage, my husband, my family and most of all Hope for me to hear God’s will and live it.

Thanks Canvas Coalition.

Robert Ostman’s painting titled: “Identity” inspired by Your Secret Name.

His description:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.   To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” -Revelation 2:17

I chose the topic of “Identity” because it has been a concept that has been perusing my thoughts for years.  One of the facets of our identities resides in our names.  We have our given names, nicknames, the names others call us, the names others think about us (or the ones we fear they do), and the names we think of ourselves.  That’s a lot of names to identify us; plenty of names to fear.  What we focus on becomes reality, whether it was true in the past or not.   Where is your focus?  In what or whom do you place your IDENTITY? 

Let us focus on the One who will give us a new name and some of the hidden manna.  Let your future become your reality!  Let your old identity die in its grave, covered by the blood of Christ.  Embrace your shining new identity that is pure, righteous, and white because of Who God sees in you.  For more information about your identity and your secret name that God will give you, check out the book,“Your Secret Name”, by Kary Oberbrunner, available at amazon.com 

This painting is a conceptual representation of our past, present, and future identities.  The bottom of the painting is a textured black that represents our past.   It contains names that we have been or are still known by.  Our past is sin, darkness, and death. 

The center of the painting is Jesus blood and sacrifice.  His blood covers our sin and He becomes our new Identity.  Our new Identity is found in Christ. 

The white in the painting represents the purity and righteousness of our new identity found in Christ.  The white stone in the center has seven blanks on it which represents the perfect number of God and your new “secret” name which God will give you. 

I hope this painting encourages you to leave the past where it belongs in the grave, to recognize your new position in Christ, and to live in the present without fear as you look forward to the future with hope and the promise of a new name!