Guest Post: Esther Hunter

I get so excited when I meet other people with a passion for God's fame. I came across Esther Hunters's blog and fell in love with her heart for the Lord and passion to make His character known. I want her to introduce herself to you today.

“The majesty of your Name fills the earth.”  Psalm 8:11
“Those who know Your Name trust in You.” Psalm 9:10

Several years ago I became very interested in the names of God.  I decided that in my daily Scripture reading, each time I came upon a different name for God, I would circle it, then place a star in the margin beside it.  I did the same thing the following year, and as I read through the Bible again, I was amazed at how many names I had missed!  I began writing each of the names for God on poster board as I came to them, and after filling one poster, I started another.  The third year I filled another poster, and by this time was including titles and descriptions of God. 

One day as I was looking over the three posters full of God’s names and descriptive titles, I began to feel like I was “hogging” information that God was revealing to me about His names.  I spoke aloud to Him, and asked Him if there was something He would like me to do to share this information with others.  Immediately the thought came to me, “If you don’t speak up, the rocks will cry out!”(Luke 19:40)   …And from that, the thought was born to paint some of the many names for God on rocks. 

An artist I have never claimed to be!  Timidly I began to place the painted rocks in places around the outside of my house.  As God prompted me, I began to give a rock with His Name to other people, and was amazed at how God used His Name to bless them through this small gesture.  As time approached for the county fair, I felt God nudging me to enter some of my rocks.  How could people trust Him if they didn’t even know His Name?   Hmmm… This could be an opportunity to proclaim His Name to everyone who walked by and looked at my rocks.  “I’m not that good,” I argued with Him.  However, I did not want to be disobedient to His leading, so I entered 4 or 5 rocks for judging in different categories.  Amazingly, every rock won a blue ribbon, and by the second year of entering rocks in the fair, I was already dubbed “The Rock Lady!”

During this past year much of my time has been dedicated to republishing Joy in the Mourning, my journey through grief after losing three siblings in an automobile accident which happened in front of me as we were travelling to my father’s funeral.  My publisher suggested I start a blog as a way to promote the book.  From her suggestion came "Rock4Today", another way God has allowed me to proclaim His Name!   Simplistically, I began posting pictures of the painted rocks, including the Scripture where that particular Name of God was found.  It was because of that blog I have been honored to be the guest post here today!

When I first started my study on the names of God, I must admit that it was a curiosity thing.  However, the more I studied, I found myself coming to know God better and better by His names.  It seemed to me each time He labeled Himself with a Name, it was related to the need of the person to whom it was given.  This goes along with the verse from Isaiah 52:6 that says, “I will reveal my Name to my people, and they will come to know its power.”  
 
Although I continue to look for names and descriptions of God as I read His word, this past year I have spent more time meditating on them and praising Him for who He is revealing Himself to be to me through them.  Each morning He seems to draw my attention to the Name for Him that meets my need for that day.  

“LORD, there is no one like You! For You are great, and Your Name is full of power.”  Jeremiah 10:6

“Your promises are backed by all the power of Your Name.” Psalm 138:2

“Our help is in the Name of the LORD.” Psalm 124:8

Blessed be the Name of the LORD!

My husband and I live in a beautiful small town situated between two lakes in the beautiful rolling Ozark hills in North Central Arkansas. We’ve been married 41 years, and have three grown children who are all in service oriented ccupations. 

Although I greatly enjoyed my career as a registered nurse, being a good wife, mother and “nana” has always been my strongest passion.  All my life I’ve also been involved with church activities - I'm not sure whether it's in spite of, or because of, being a “preacher’s kid”! 

  I find the many names and descriptions that God has for Himself in the Bible to be fascinating and to teach me much about His character. I’ve been studying them and writing them down for several years, and have quite a number of His Names painted on rocks. 

My husband and I both have hearts for the less fortunate. Besides giving to our local church, we are grateful to be able to sponsor several World Vision children in the Katito village of Kenya. 

For fun, my favorite thing to do is to go Jeep riding with my husband on back woods trails in and around Buffalo National River.  Wherever we go, we keep our eyes out for good rocks on which to paint the names of God.  

I also enjoy feeding the birds year round and teaching my grandchildren about them.


Thank you Esther for your willingness to share and your zeal for making the Lord's heart and character known!

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