What's in a Name?

It's the only name that we agreed upon immediately. The name came to me last year as I was reading Hebrews, chapter 11. This chapter starts off with one of my favorite bible verses: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." It continues by showing some great examples of faith throughout the bible.

The name Faith comes from the Latin origin meaning... well, faith or trust. Not only do we feel it's a strong yet feminine name for our daughter, it is obviously a word that means so much to us, especially on this journey. Our faith is the cornerstone of our lives. It shapes who we are, where we've been, and where we're going. It's in a constant state of being pulled, pushed, tested and validated. We have yet to discover the magnitude of it's full power (probably never will in this life), but with each new experience and test, it draws us a little closer to who God wants us to be. We've taken a leap of faith to get us where we are today and we believe it is that very faith that will see us through to the many blessings God has in store for us.

Consider this...

Faith untested is faith unchanged.
Faith is not a noun. It is a verb. Action is a critical part of faith.
Faith is in action when you make yourself vulnerable--practicing what you believe.

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." -St. Thomas Aquinas

"All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all." -Eleanor Roosevelt

"I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness." -Mother Teresa

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20

The pewter stone in the picture is something we carry with us since deciding on our daughter's name. It will stay in our pocket (and purse) until the day she comes home.