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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Call Me Capital "C" Crazy


Call me Crazy, but I think it is even Crazier that God’s pronouns are not Capitalized in many Bible translations. It doesn’t matter to me what the official grammar rules are…just can’t wrap my brain around it. But again, I may be Crazy.

A few weeks ago, I decided that I would stop Complaining about it inside my mind and do something about it. Instead, each time I come across this in my Bible, I take my handy dandy pen and change the small h in “him” or “his” to “Him” or “His” (same thing for the "y" in "You.") One little bitty straight line makes an ordinary pronoun into proper case. And I think the Proper Case puts Holy Pronouns in their Proper Place.

But then again, I may be Crazy. Certifiably so.

I do realize this borders on self-righteousness and legalism, (and even obsession), but it works for me, because my motive is purely this: I love to see HIS NAME in all its forms in capital letters. It makes Him jump off the page instead of blend in. Trust me, with the way I’m wired, it’s a good thing.

But the main question really should be…

Do I LOVE HIM with capital letters?

And…

Do I live with Him in proper case and me in lower case?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart 
and with all your soul 
and with all your mind 
and with all your strength.”
Mark 12:30, NIV
“For in Him we live and move and have our being.”
Acts 17:28a, NIV
He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 3:30, NIV

When I think about how much God loved me, I realize it was a Capitalized, underlined, in bold, big font kind of LOVE. God sent His baby boy to live in a sinful world and be Crucified on a Cross for sinful people, even knowing that many would reject Him and never love Him back. And now my risen Lord and Savior Continually pours out His love for me every single day in tangible ways, in miraculous ways, even though I don’t deserve a lick of it. Some might even call Him Crazy for it.

How about you? Can I call you Crazy too? Will you Love the Lord in Capital Letters and Live for Jesus Christ in Bold? Is there anything in your life hindering you from keeping Him in Proper Case? Have you allowed Him to be your First Place?
“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all Heaven and earth. I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in. And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”
Ephesians 3:14-21, The Message (with capital pronouns added)

In the Key of HE,

Please visit LauraLee at her ministry blog,


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23 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

Awesome my friend, love you.

February 17, 2009 at 1:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A fun and great post! Thanks!

February 17, 2009 at 7:42 AM  
Blogger Dee Yoder said...

Y'know, that really bugs me, too. I can't figure out why the pronouns for God aren't capitalized anymore! Thanks for this Crazy post. ( :

February 17, 2009 at 8:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A CAPITAL devotion, Laura. I feel the same way. Thank you for putting it in a humorous way that still pulled on my heart with truth.

February 17, 2009 at 8:46 AM  
Blogger Sharlyn Guthrie said...

I couldn't agree more! When I was younger someone instilled in me treating God's Word with the utmost respect, too. I began the habit of never placing it directly on the floor or putting another book on top of it. Call me Crazy with a capital "C" but it makes me constantly aware of how important that book is in my life!

February 17, 2009 at 9:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awesome, Laura! I agree whole heartedly! Writing Him without a capital H is like not writing Christmas out! Just makes me Crazy! Thanks!

February 17, 2009 at 10:16 AM  
Blogger Patty Wysong said...

This is a major pet peeve of mine too! And what an application this is! Excellent, my friend, truly. (and yes, I'm Crazy too!!) LoL
Hugs!

February 17, 2009 at 10:26 AM  
Blogger Anna said...

Very cute, yet very powerful message! Thanks for sharing. I always struggle with the capitalizing thing too. I once worked at a seminary and found out that godly is also not supposed to be capitalized and it was hard to get used to.

February 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I soo agree and have been doing the very same thing in my bibles. I cannot wrap my brain around why it stopped.
You don't know me I am very very new to this whole site (45 seconds).
I just wanted to say Amen.

February 17, 2009 at 11:53 AM  
Blogger Lori Laws said...

Hi Lauralee,
Love this..."He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us."

I too, am extremely aware that a pronoun used for Him needs to be capitalized! Last night in my chronic illness support group, one of the ladies said something very profound, yet very simple. She said that every time she comes across a verb in one of God's promises...she circles it. Because it's always "I will" it's never "I might" or "maybe I will."

Isn't that a great thing to do? I am starting that.

February 17, 2009 at 12:31 PM  
Blogger Laurie Ann said...

You're definitely on to something here, LauraLee. I make sure I capitalize His pronouns but haven't thought about doing it in the Word. I wonder why it's not done? That's crazy!

Much love and a great great post!

February 17, 2009 at 1:36 PM  
Blogger Kim @ Homesteader's Heart said...

Yup! You're my friend!! I love you my sister. I wish you lived closer!
HUG!

February 17, 2009 at 1:43 PM  
Blogger Mari said...

Aw, my sweet LauraLee...I love it. You Call my heart and Cause it to Crave more of HIM. I really like this line:

Do I live with Him in proper case and me in lower case?

You always make me say ....hmmmmm....
Blessings,
Mari

February 17, 2009 at 2:25 PM  
Blogger Joanne Sher said...

Oh, do I LOVE this. (and yeah - it bugs me too - SOOOOOOOO much!) What an incredible reminder.

February 17, 2009 at 2:28 PM  
Blogger Beth in NC said...

This has always been a pet peeve of mine too! When I use biblegateway.com and copy the scriptures. I always go back and correct it to show God honor.

I'm with ya!

February 17, 2009 at 5:57 PM  
Blogger lori said...

Hey girl...HE, HIM, HIS...I hear ya! You know I feel bad when I see it and it's not CAPITALIZED...It just seems so WRONG...if we can't capitalize HE, HIM, HIS then what's worth capitalizing??

Great one....Absolutely fabulous!
lori

February 17, 2009 at 6:32 PM  
Blogger Paula said...

I also posted this reply on your page LauraLee, but thought I'd add it here also:

"Yes, I AM semi-Crazy and His names MUST always be in proper title case, which is how He deserves to be recognised. As for loving and living, your post has given me much food for thought! Thank you LauraLee."

February 17, 2009 at 7:52 PM  
Blogger elaine @ peace for the journey said...

While I don't always "write" Him in the proper case, I try and live Him in the upper case. And that's not legalism. That's just living large.

peace~elaine

February 17, 2009 at 8:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You covered the Capitalization of Him, and my blog covers the lowercase of "i"...check it out at a little i life!

February 17, 2009 at 9:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it! I write the uppercase Him too.

February 18, 2009 at 12:16 AM  
Blogger Sharon said...

I couldn't agree more with you! I find when I write I do the same. He DESERVES better!!
Loved this post today!
HUGGSS to YOU!

HE is the I AM!

February 18, 2009 at 8:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This was so good! Yes, I am Crazy, too! It definately makes me want to reevaluate some things. We can easily say we put Jesus first, but what do my ACTIONS show? Are they capitalized or too small to see? Ooh good stuff. Thank you.

February 18, 2009 at 9:26 AM  
Blogger Tracy Berta-daughter to the King, wife, mother, speaker, writer said...

AWESOME post, girl!!!! Love it!

What a simple idea- change my Bible! I want to live for HIM in capital letters!

U r 2 Qt!!!!

February 18, 2009 at 1:13 PM  

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