Habakkuk 3:9 The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like the hinds’ feet, and He will make me walk on my high places.
Several years ago I read a book based on this scripture titled “Hinds Feet On High Places.” The story is an allegory about a girl named ‘Much Afraid’ and her journey away from the valley of humiliation and up to the high places with her beloved shepherd as her guide. The pursuit up the winding mountain was long and at times treacherous but around every hairpin turn and at the edge of each precipice the shepherd, the lover of her soul, was there encouraging her to stretch beyond herself and reach greater heights than she ever thought possible. When at last ‘Much Afraid’ approached the top of the mountain she discovered a freedom that she had never experienced before. And, even more than that she was healed from many infirmities that had plagued her for years. Unable to express her feelings by mere words she laid at the feet of the shepherd and wept joyfully. He took her by the hand, lifted her up, and with more love in His voice than she had ever heard He said, “You will no longer be called ‘Much Afraid’, from now on you will be called ‘Grace and Glory’.
As I read the story I began to see many parallels in my own life. I had a fairytale childhood complete with grandparents that owned an amusement park. My life began to unravel when at the age of sixteen my father died very suddenly. That began my journey of being much afraid. It lasted through seasons of being in a very abusive marriage which ended in being a single parent. Being mom, dad, and bread winner was certainly like a trip up a mountain with perilous edges and hairpin turns.
All of that changed on November 15, 1981. I was literally dying from what the doctors said was “Toxic Shock Syndrom, when suddenly through the healing power of the Shepherd, I was healed and born again. My life began to change in ways that I had never dreamed possible. After many years of on-and-off separations, my marriage was dissolved. A short time after that, he went home to be with the Lord. I was able to preach at his funeral and put closure to that part of my life. I attended college and received a degree in Biblical Studies. Shortly after graduation I became a part of the pastoral staff of The Tabernacle.
I am excited and overwhelmed to be celebrating my twenty-sixth year of being a “New Creation” in Christ. Through Him many “old things” in my life have become “new”. He has changed my name several times from lost to found, slave to free, outcast to one who overcomes and servant to friend. But there was more change to come. The Lord began speaking to me about changing my name. He showed me that naming a person was rooted in the ancient world’s understanding that a name expressed essence. To know the name of a person was to know their total character and nature.
My name changed from Josephine to “Jo Ann.” and I have chosen the last name of “Angelo” for three reasons. First, it was my maternal grandmother’s maiden name and she had a tremendous influence on my life. Secondly, my grandmother’s brother, Thomas Angelo was saved and received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit more than 70 years ago. He raised his children in the faith and many of them prayed for me over the years. By taking the name Angelo, I believe that I have been grafted in to a rich heritage in the Lord and a legacy of service to Him. Finally, Angelo comes from the Greek word ‘angelos’ which means ‘messenger’. With God’s Grace I will spend the rest of my life being a messenger for Him.
Signed,
Grace & Glory
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