One winter morning in January of 2022, I woke up to see my name KELLY all in capital letters, in my mind, and I saw the LL flip over and become 77. This moment of revelation has by far been one of the most fun ways the Holy Spirit has shown me something significant.
At the time of this revelation of LL-77, I was just days away from my 49th birthday, which I had been anticipating for years. I love every day of my life, and I loved my 40s, so it wasn't that I was in a hurry to be 49, I just knew it would be special. I have "lived" in Isaiah and Psalms for many years. When I was 21, the summer of 1994, a new season began that continues to this day...a season of me lingering in the last 27 chapters of Isaiah, like a child who keeps reading the same book series over and over.
And what's not to love about Isaiah? Some favorite words: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem....do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.....I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.....When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.....since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.....I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants......I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the GOD of Israel, who summons you by name.....Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you, I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?.....See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this....
Isaiah 49, with 26 verses like the miles in a marathon, was about to rise before me, when I woke to the KELLY-LL-77-Revelation.
Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother's womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.' But I said, I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my GOD.
And now the LORD says--he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my GOD has been my strength--he says: It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
I knew immediately the LL-77, meant Isaiah 49! I also knew it meant the year 1977, and my decision that year, at age 4 years 4 months, to follow Jesus with my whole heart for my whole life. I was also set to begin walking #7milesfor7million on my 49th birthday, so this was a glorious confirmation of that! I knew, too, the Holy Spirit was showing me that Isaiah 49, and Alaska, our 49th state, and my salvation in 77, and all that I was so excited about celebrating at age 49, was not just for that year, but it was for my whole life, because it was hidden in my name! It would be something I could KEEP, because it was KEY to everything GOD was doing through my life! KEY! What in the world? It hit me that with the LL/77 set apart in my name, that left just 3 letters, K-E-Y, which spell KEY! Wow! Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!
My brain is wired to see patterns and codes and to see every word and number and letter and color and picture from just about every angle, and often, in an instant. For fun, I like to write out words and look at them and pray over them, and see what ALL there is to see in them. It is really astounding that I had never noticed this about my simple 4 letters, 5 lettered name! If you know me well, you also know how amazing this is. I can casually glance at a pizza logo, and see the promises of GOD! GOD purposely hid this from me, until His Kairos time! Right before my 49th birthday, so it would be the MOST special revelation gift ever!
There is a lot more I will say about LL-77 and KEY in KELLY, because I have come to understand more about the meaning of this since that day, so stay tuned!
As I write and read this, it is November 7, which is 11/7, and 11 x 7 is 77. Today seemed a great time to share this fun, meaningful story. Have you ever thought about your name? I wonder what surprises are hidden in your name? I would love to know what you find!
