QUESTION OF THE DAY #28: What's your nickname?

At many camps, the counselors are given a nickname.  This happened to me, and my nickname was Smiley.  I must have been smiling a lot!  What's your nickname?  Some people get a nickname because of their physical appearance.  Others get a nickname that describes their personality.  Some nicknames don't make any sense at all!  A very fun part of being a dad is that I get to give my kids nicknames, which has, on occasion, been known to embarrass them.  It's my job!

Last year I learned that a common nickname for Daryn in Australia is Dazza, with Dazzer and Daz following suit.  I kind of like that, but I know there are some who don't.  So I looked up Daryn, and found out something else that was new!  If Wikipedia is to be believed, it might be derived from the Irish name, Dáire, which means "oak tree."

So if I had to give myself a nickname it might be Oak Tree.  Are we really allowed to do that?   I almost think that a nickname, like an ordinary name, has to be given. 

Favor with God is like that, too.  You can't earn His love, but He freely gives it through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the tree of the cross and was raised to life for our forgiveness.  In Isaiah 61, the good news is told of how God will "bind up the brokenhearted" and "proclaim liberty to the captives."  Those who mourn will be given "the oil of gladness."  They will be called "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD."  We are His planting!  These precious promises show us that God's love is pure gift.  Therefore it is rock solid.