Gaelic Clans

Coming from the north-west of ireland, in the gaeltacht (irish speaking community), we have some funny traditions. one of the older ones is that of names and identity. As i'm sure you are aware, we use a first name and last name to identify each other in life. well in Gaoth Dobhair (Gweedore) it's not quite the same. this may be confusing so hold on!
You are identified by your parents first name and their grandparents first name. for example,
my mother : Noirín
Her Mother : Bríd a.k.a Biddy
Her Father : James a.k.a Jamesy

so my mothers name would be commonly known as Noirín Biddy Jamesy.
My name would be Paddy Noirín Biddy Jamesy.
Although my father would be known as Noirín Biddy Jamesy's Husband, because he's a blow in from Dublin!

A lot of the time, what has happened in our past dictates to us who we are today. When we read Psalm 25 we assume David has written in time of Absalom's rebellion, which ultimately is a result of David's sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. What we see here is that although God has forgiven David, the consequences of his sin is still with showing its face.

What a blessing it is then for us that Jesus dealt with all our sin. Of course when we sin often we have to deal with the consequences, but the ultimate consequence has been dealt with by Christ. Not only that, but our identity is firmly in him now too!

Isaiah 61:10

I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

So when God looks at us, he sees Christ! don't allow your identity to be dictated to by your past, be confident that the Maker of all things see you as a precious son or daughter in robes of righteousness.

tc//Px