Gospel of Luke

What’s In a Name, Especially a Family Name?

Jeannette Elizabeth Geist-MarcelliLeave a comment

When I did my Ancestry search back in May of 2018, mainly because I am ADOPTED, I was hoping to find some siblings and other family members. I always left this part of my life, in the Lord’s hands, and figure IF and WHEN He wanted me to know anything about my biological family members, it would happen as HE willed it. I received the DNA test kit as a Mother’s Day gift that year (2018), and I knew it was time to find out whatever there was for me to discover about my family-good, bad, or otherwise.

One of the (many) blessings was finding family members who were alive and well, and willing to converse with me, either after I reached out to THEM, or they first reached out to ME.

One of those siblings happened to be my brother Chris on my bio father’s side. We met, and after a few years when I finally had a bit of time between school and moving, I wanted to finally change my name back to my maiden (family) name. I thought of incorporating my biological father’s name of GEIST in there, because it IS my family name, and it suits me exactly to WHO I am in Christ—GEIST = “ghost/spirit” in German. Many people a century or two ago with the GEIST name, would have a dove representing the HOLY SPIRIT, somewhere in their house, because of the association with their family name.

Anyone who knows me, and who I am in Christ, and being the servant of God that I am for Him, can easily see how much that was a “God Wink” connection between me and my family name.

So with the approval and blessing from my brother Chris, I took the last name and incorporated it into what would become my official name:
JEANNETTE -what my name was changed to (named after Jeannette DiCapua/DeMaio-my Nana), after I was officially adopted a year and a half after I was born, and was called:

My Godparents Bill and Helen (The “Elizabeth” name is cut out on the top)

ELIZABETH-my ORIGINAL birth name given to me by my biological mother Doris, before giving me up for adoption; so I took that name, and made it my MIDDLE name; taking that name of Elizabeth and using it as a middle name, allowed me to ❤️honor the woman who, despite many issues she had in her life, decided to give me life, and bless a family who could not have children, with a child. (McGRAW is my bio mom’s maiden family name)
GEIST—my biological name of my father, Robert, who I found out by my brother (and I actually have another brother Robert, who was named after our father) Chris, that he was a great ☺️dad, and an awesome cook!😋 Chris loved the idea of me using the family name, and that made it possible to honor my biological father that way.

MARCELLI—Rose and Ralph Marcelli tried to have children, but after a time, decided that it was not God’s will, and became foster parents. I was their third foster child they took in by Mid-March of 1965, after spending a couple of weeks in the hospital as “little orphan Elizabeth”😏; they already had two boys that were with them almost a year at that time, and desperately wanted a girl.
Ralph and Rose went through way too much red tape in this awful, demoncratic state (even way back then!) of NJ, to try and adopt me; they finally got the “green light” in September, 1966 to call me their own. After a year and a half of having to call me “Elizabeth/Lisa”, they finally changed my name to “Jeannette”. I was an official member of the Marcelli family, at least to them.
The MARCELLI surname means the world to me; THESE are the people who took me into their home, gave me their love, disciplined me, raised me to be a decent human being, treated me like their own flesh and blood child. I sure didn’t appreciate it all back when I was in my younger years (they both died within six months of each other, when I was 25/26 yrs old), but I miss them terribly now. I honor them by KEEPING the MARCELLI name alive and well. I may not have been a flesh and blood “Marcelli”, but I DID find out (and my parents would be THRILLED 😄😁at this!) via Ancestry a few years ago, that I DO have Italian blood in me, and —another God Wink—my ancestors are from around the SAME AREA😃as the Marcelli’s were (Naples)! How’s that for a GOD-MATCHED, HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED adoption?😉😄😁😏

Ralph and Rose Marcelli’s Wedding-September 17, 1960

Some may wonder why, after being divorced, and able to go back to my maiden name, why I would go that extra step and take all FOUR names—JEANNETTE ELIZABETH GEIST-MARCELLI—yes, it’s a mouthful, but there is MEANING behind each name.

Jeannette (female name for JOHN)-YOHANNAN-“God is gracious”, from Yah-the shortened name of the LORD, and the verb “hanan”, to be gracious. Obviously, this name is found all over the Scriptures, such as John the Baptist, John the Apostle, the father of Simon and Andrew, etc.

Elizabeth-the Hebrew name ELISHEVA (Ex. 6:23; Luke 1:5). The name is made up of two parts-the first (Eli) is “my God” and the second (sheva) is the number of holy attributes: “seven”. Put it together, and you get, “My God of the Seventh” (sounds like “sabbath-which is a holy day to be recognized by the LORD God).

Another meaning for that name “sheva” is “swear”, which I’ve seen mostly as “My God is my Oath/Promise”; also, “(In) My God (I) swear”.

Elizabeth = Elisheva and John = Yohannan

So there you go. A bit of a long explanation why I took my original birth name, both first and last, and incorporated it into my adopted first and last name—to give both sets of parents the honor due THEM, and to also recognize what the LORD GOD was trying to tell ME (finally), when that spiritual 💡💡lightbulb finally switched “on” fully, to understand WHO I AM in HIM. I am His DAUGHTER, one of many, and His SERVANT, because I finally (back in 2016) said “YES” to wholeheartedly following Him, hence the “title” if you will, on the address label.

So when I send out a birthday, Christmas, or some other type of card, or have to pay a bill, or whatever other type of correspondence that I have to make, my NEW address labels state THIS (and some of you have actually received something from me with the label ON it):

Servant of the Most High God
Jeannette Elizaabeth Geist-Marcelli

That is my WHOLE name; please use it, whenever you send correspondence to me. It means the world to me, because those who gave me LIFE, and those who RAISED me, meant the world to me, even though two of them, I never got to meet in this life. But I sure do appreciate what they did for me.

Thank you for reading this—I realize it was a longer post than usual.

Maybe you, the reader, should take the time and look up what the meaning of your names are; you may😉end up being quite surprised😄like I was!☺️

Do the Will of God, And He Will Bless You, For He is Forever Faithful

Jeannette Elizabeth Geist-MarcelliLeave a comment

I cannot begin to tell you how much of a “Godwink” this is, to see this specific verse this morning in my daily morning devotional. It brought tears to my eyes, especially after the conversation that happened in the middle of the night.

Even us kids who study the Word of God all time, need reminders of certain commandments that Abba has given us. I was reminded of one very important one last night.

I have been struggling with not being able to obtain a good enough paying job, in order that ALL my bills are paid, not just some of them. I’m so tired-actually, exhausted- of living like a pauper for the last 5 years. I know I’m speaking to the choir about this–we’re all in the same boat, just on different levels, and going through different specific situations when it comes to finances.

I thought for sure that everything would turn around for me, once I graduated with my Bachelor’s, but I still could not find a decent (preferably remote at the time) paying job. And even AFTER writing four books and receiving hardly any royalties for them (very few people have purchased my books), I continued to live on either school or tax refunds, which had to pay for anything and everything I needed, and any and all bills that came in–now including rent. Talk about slicing the pie VERY thin–almost to the point of it being transparent!

One mystery that has yet to be solved–it was the LORD’s will for me to write those books–so why would I not make any money off of them? Was that all out of obedience, and nothing more?

BUT–it seemed more like that was the Lord’s will all along on this faith journey of mine, proving Himself faithful again recently, when I finally did get (albeit part-time and just above minimum pay) a job. It also proved to me, that what His will IS, will be, no matter whether His child likes and or approves of it, or not.

Now that I have a M.A., I thought that would open even MORE doors of opportunity to get a much higher-paying job, and something I can be proud of, paying all the bills, saving some money, tithing, etc. But that hasn’t happening either-at least not yet-no decent enough paying job has come my way. So I went to the LORD once again, grumbling and asking why He will not open up that door (Rev. 3:7), and pour out His financial blessing, enough that I can finally breathe and not feel like I’m suffocating anymore.

When I went to sleep last night, I was not in a good mood at all. He knew what was on my mind, and except for the normal prayer time, I said nothing more, and fell asleep.

As usual like every other night, I woke up a couple of hours later. The Holy Spirit wanted to “discuss” something with me–I could tell, because I was wide awake, and He had me look up something in the Hebrew Torah prior to “answering” my question of why I continue to struggle financially all this time.

The answer finally came. He reminded me of one of the promises I made IF I were to get a job–any job–and that was, I would start to pay my TITHES again.

Oh my gosh–tithing?! “You mean another 10% off the top (gross) every week–” Ugh…

YES–tithing. I haven’t done much of that, because of the very little paychecks I have received from this part-time job, ALTHOUGH I have managed to put aside 10% for my church back in 2018 when I worked a seasonal job (making $1 more an hour, but way less hours).

BUT–it IS His will; it always has been. That is how the priests were to survive and provide for their families, because the people would support them by giving a tenth of their income (Malachi 3:10; Num. 18:21,26; Deut. 16:17; 2 Cor. 9:7).

Lord knows my priest does not get any help from the hierarchy of the Church, especially when it comes to the TLM portion of the Masses; he survives on a stipend at least a couple of hundred dollars LESS than my total monthly income. But he has a small but faithful flock, who also purchase his delicious breads, soups (when in season) and pies throughout the year to also help him out financially.

But that is what my Father wanted to remind me of–to tithe, as I promised I would. I got so caught up in finally having a paycheck again (it was almost two years that I went without one) to pay some of my bills (and believe you me, I’m still about $800 in the hole with my car bill–it’s only the grace and mercy of God that they haven’t taken it away!), I seriously forgot to include that in my WEEKLY expenses (yes, even if I do not show up to church a certain week, I STILL am obligated He said, to put that money aside for the priest). “Give and it shall be given unto you”(Luke 6:38)–remember, Jeannette?” “Yes, Father”, I said, now feeling worse than I did before. All I could think of is what 📖Malachi stated in vs. 8–“Would man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me…” Ugh…

Nevertheless, He also reminded me of what it said in the latter part of 📖 verse 10–“And thereby put Me to the test, says the LORD of Hosts (Adonai Tze’vaot), if I will not OPEN the windows of Heaven for you and pour down a blessing until there is no more need.”

No matter what the specific situation in a believer’s life, if the LORD’s will needs to be done, DO IT. He is faithful, even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13). He is forever merciful and gracious, and understanding of our needs, and will remain faithful to us (Lam. 3:22-23; Deut. 7:9), unto the end of our days. We should be faithful as well, and trusting in Him to see that, according to HIS WILL for our lives, make sure that we accomplish all that HE set us out to do. He in turn, will PROVIDE for all our needs (and a few of our wants as well!).

BUT–the LORD’s WILL comes FIRST–no matter what the circumstances are. As long as we honor Him and abide in Him, He will make sure to bless us in whatever way He seems fit to do it, and will strengthen us along the way to accomplish all His will He purposed for us, until the Day He calls us Home with Him.

Are We In the Time of “The Beginning of Sorrows”?

Jeannette Elizabeth Geist-MarcelliLeave a comment

I put two pics here of Scriptures that have been mentioned, so that you can read and hopefully retain in your heart, what they say.

It is evident of the longer one, that THIS generation (which I am pretty sure is the last; if we are not, then the LORD will spare one more time at least, to move mankind forward into Time, until “the appointed Time” of the End) and the way it has been in the last few years, SO vile, violent, arrogant, full of hatred of God and His Word AND His people, that unfortunately, this prayer of the Psalmist has not been answered.

There are those who have (and still are, thank God!) waking up to realization that we ARE on a increasingly rapid downspiral of humanity. The days of peace, obedience, and love for God and His Son are quickly being diminished, and the days of Sodom and Gomorrah (“as in the days of Lot”-Luke 17:28) and the days of Noah (Luke 17:26), are NOW upon us, and INCREASING.

But you need to read that WHOLE passage in Luke 17:26-30, for in verse 29, because of how the people were behaving in Lot’s day, the LORD God held back His anger no longer, and the day He charged two of His angels to get Lot and his family out of Sodom, “it rained fire and brimstone from Heaven, and destroyed them all” (vs. 29).

THAT is what is yet to come, because verse 30 states, “So it will be on the Day when the Son of Man is revealed.”

The Lord Jesus TOLD us 2000+years ago, that ALL the vile acts that we see INCREASING right now, as we live and breathe on this Earth TODAY, 2023, WOULD happen–and they ARE.

So do you realize what that means??

That means, HE is 100% RIGHT in ALL of His Word. Remember, He IS “THE” Word of God–He cannot leave any of what was to come, “out” just because it may “offend” some people. ALL of it WILL happen, just as the Scriptures said it would.

And it looks like that we ARE that “generation” to see and hear many of these “latter day” events come to pass.

So if you still have doubts about WHO the Lord Jesus is, WHO the Father is, and WHO the Holy Spirit is, and have concerns whether or not the Word of God is REAL–buckle up, buttercup (and I say that with all love and respect-I really do!💖), because

YOU HAVEN’T SEEN ANYTHING YET. We are entering into what is called, “the BEGINNING of sorrows” (Matt. 24:8), which happens BEFORE the time of the great Tribulation. Basically, it is the “woman in labor” and she is “contracting” even more so, as that time moves forward to the coming of the Anti-Christ.

After all, the world’s spiritual atmosphere must be in such a vile and ungodly state, as to want to ACCEPT this “man of sin, son of perdition” (2 Thess. 2:3).

I think we are pretty much “there”…I ended up having my daughter Ashley via c-section (she was breech), but I still was very much aware of the contractions that I should have had. I’d 🤔say this world is between 6-8 (15-20 minutes apart), leaning heavier on the 8(10-15minutes) , especially for what has taken place with all the vile Sodom and Gomorrah acts in the past year or so. It is quickly advancing towards those days of Noah and Lot which each and every passing day here in June, 2023.

Any woman (and I do mean ONLY women!) that has had contractions due to childbirth, KNOWS what I am talking about.
Those last couple of numbers (8-10) can happen very quickly. Bottom line–If you’re approaching contractions less than 5 minutes apart (active labor), you better be on your way to the hospital, or else you’re having that baby at home!

Can you imagine what 6 months from now is going to look like?

Will we approach near the “10” (less than 5 minutes) by that time?
No one knows, but I would seriously get your spiritual life in order now. Once the “birth pangs” start=once those contractions begin, sooner or later that baby is going to arrive on the scene. What has been foretold in such passages as Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13, Daniel 12:1-4, 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 1 Thess. 5:2-5, Isaiah 2:12 (these are but a few).

It will increase in ungodliness, because the Lord Jesus TOLD us to EXPECT more of it, and lawlessness (which we are already living in right now!).

Do yourselves a favor, and make sure that you ARE on the side of the LORD God Almighty, and that the Captain of the Host, Adonai Elohim Tzevaot, is Your Savior, Lord, Master, and KING. Keep Him first and foremost in your lives NOW, from this day forward, if you have been lax in doing so. I beseech you now more than ever, to please make sure the Lord Jesus IS not only Savior, but LORD of your life. 🙏📖✝

So when you DO say, “Lord, Lord”–HE knows you MEAN it, and it is not just words coming out of your mouth (Luke 7:21).