Genesis 1
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Genesis 2
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Why did God find it important to let us know He rested on the 7th day? He could have ended the written description with 6 days, the detailing of the creation. I think God had multiple purposes in making sure we knew He rested. The concept of a Sabbath, a day of rest and reflection, is important. I also believe, however, God wants us to work hard and then slow down to remember and reflect. God enjoyed His creation. He still does. Notice, He did not say it was very good until after creating man and woman. Because of His sovereignty, He knew what the very good creation would later do – nail His Son on a cross. Yet, it was very good. I believe this is a reminder God has the final picture. He is not afraid of process, or of time.
To make it even more personal, God knew all about you before He made you. Your rebellion or calloused heart or whatever you may struggle with are not a surprise. He is in a refining process with you, and it is day by day. Praise God He still looks at us, knowing all our dark edges, and says, “It is very good.”
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Preparations
Genesis 1
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Calvin- In the very order of the creation the paternal solicitude of God for man is conspicuous, because he furnished the world with all things needful, and even with an immense profusion of wealth, before he formed man. Thus man was rich before he was born. But if God had such care for us before we existed, he will by no means leave us destitute of food and of other necessaries of life, now that we are placed in the world.
Today, the concept is very simple. We can look at our lives, our haves and don’t haves, and evaluate God. The Truth, however, is that God gives us so much in our natural environment. He could have created the world in any order. He might have created Adam and Eve first, so they could admire and awe at everything else He did. Why did He wait until the end? He wanted everything to be in place to make man/woman comfortable and ready. Often times, in our own lives, we cannot see what God has done and is doing, we worry and agonize for naught. This God that created order before placing humanity in it is the same God that creates order for us. Look around today, and thank God for what He has made!
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Calvin- In the very order of the creation the paternal solicitude of God for man is conspicuous, because he furnished the world with all things needful, and even with an immense profusion of wealth, before he formed man. Thus man was rich before he was born. But if God had such care for us before we existed, he will by no means leave us destitute of food and of other necessaries of life, now that we are placed in the world.
Today, the concept is very simple. We can look at our lives, our haves and don’t haves, and evaluate God. The Truth, however, is that God gives us so much in our natural environment. He could have created the world in any order. He might have created Adam and Eve first, so they could admire and awe at everything else He did. Why did He wait until the end? He wanted everything to be in place to make man/woman comfortable and ready. Often times, in our own lives, we cannot see what God has done and is doing, we worry and agonize for naught. This God that created order before placing humanity in it is the same God that creates order for us. Look around today, and thank God for what He has made!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Details and Process
Genesis 1
6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
Matthew Henry-
We have here an account of the second day's work, the creation of the firmament, in which observe, 1. The command of God concerning it: Let there be a firmament, an expansion, so the Hebrew word signifies, like a sheet spread, or a curtain drawn out. This includes all that is visible above the earth, between it and the third heavens: the air, its higher, middle, and lower, regions—the celestial globe, and all the spheres and orbs of light above: it reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for that is called here the firmament of heaven (v. 14, 15), and as low as the place where the birds fly, for that also is called the firmament of heaven, v. 20. When God had made the light, he appointed the air to be the receptacle and vehicle of its beams, and to be as a medium of communication between the invisible and the visible world; for, though between heaven and earth there is an inconceivable distance, yet there is not an impassable gulf, as there is between heaven and hell. This firmament is not a wall of partition, but a way of intercourse. See Job 26:7; 37:18; Ps. 104:3; Amos 9:6. 2. The creation of it. Lest it should seem as if God had only commanded it to be done, and some one else had done it, he adds, And God made the firmament. What God requires of us he himself works in us, or it is not done. He that commands faith, holiness, and love, creates them by the power of his grace going along with his word, that he may have all the praise.
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I am jumping up and down inside myself. If I were to really jump up and down, I fear my son would stop playing independently and think Mommy was ready for playtime today! Why am I jumping up and down? It is the sweet reminder that God created….He creates. He did not command His angels. He did not “think it in to being” He formed it!! He commanded it into being and then formed it Himself! So it is with our life and faith. He commands us to be loving, generous, kind, forgiving, gracious, evangelistic, and so forth. He does not command without also forming it in us. What does it take to form it in us? Only He knows. I wish I could learn all these things and become a truly holy person through blessings alone. Truth is, my Maker knows where to twist, turn, oil, and shape me to make me holy. It is not about this life. This is the temporary station for the permanent place.
9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
This is just, for me, a continuation of how God is shaping what He already made. Notice this happened over a period of days. Some believe this to be literal – God made the earth in 6 days, while some believe the days to be years. Whatever was the case, God was not in a rush. He confined Himself to a process. He took His time, commanding and forming, watching and being involved in every step. This God of process is not going to change the rules for us just because we are impatient or don’t like to hurt or struggle. Obviously, process is important to Him. Just remember, whether at a time of blessing or hardship, process means constant change. Your situation will not stay the same forever. We cannot count on tomorrow. We can only count on the ONE CONSTANT He gives us, Himself.
6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
Matthew Henry-
We have here an account of the second day's work, the creation of the firmament, in which observe, 1. The command of God concerning it: Let there be a firmament, an expansion, so the Hebrew word signifies, like a sheet spread, or a curtain drawn out. This includes all that is visible above the earth, between it and the third heavens: the air, its higher, middle, and lower, regions—the celestial globe, and all the spheres and orbs of light above: it reaches as high as the place where the stars are fixed, for that is called here the firmament of heaven (v. 14, 15), and as low as the place where the birds fly, for that also is called the firmament of heaven, v. 20. When God had made the light, he appointed the air to be the receptacle and vehicle of its beams, and to be as a medium of communication between the invisible and the visible world; for, though between heaven and earth there is an inconceivable distance, yet there is not an impassable gulf, as there is between heaven and hell. This firmament is not a wall of partition, but a way of intercourse. See Job 26:7; 37:18; Ps. 104:3; Amos 9:6. 2. The creation of it. Lest it should seem as if God had only commanded it to be done, and some one else had done it, he adds, And God made the firmament. What God requires of us he himself works in us, or it is not done. He that commands faith, holiness, and love, creates them by the power of his grace going along with his word, that he may have all the praise.
Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! I am jumping up and down inside myself. If I were to really jump up and down, I fear my son would stop playing independently and think Mommy was ready for playtime today! Why am I jumping up and down? It is the sweet reminder that God created….He creates. He did not command His angels. He did not “think it in to being” He formed it!! He commanded it into being and then formed it Himself! So it is with our life and faith. He commands us to be loving, generous, kind, forgiving, gracious, evangelistic, and so forth. He does not command without also forming it in us. What does it take to form it in us? Only He knows. I wish I could learn all these things and become a truly holy person through blessings alone. Truth is, my Maker knows where to twist, turn, oil, and shape me to make me holy. It is not about this life. This is the temporary station for the permanent place.
9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
This is just, for me, a continuation of how God is shaping what He already made. Notice this happened over a period of days. Some believe this to be literal – God made the earth in 6 days, while some believe the days to be years. Whatever was the case, God was not in a rush. He confined Himself to a process. He took His time, commanding and forming, watching and being involved in every step. This God of process is not going to change the rules for us just because we are impatient or don’t like to hurt or struggle. Obviously, process is important to Him. Just remember, whether at a time of blessing or hardship, process means constant change. Your situation will not stay the same forever. We cannot count on tomorrow. We can only count on the ONE CONSTANT He gives us, Himself.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Light
Over the past year, I have made many discoveries about God. Basically, the sum of it is that my perception of God was incomplete. Until life is turned upside down ad nothing is certain, we do not have to question Who God really is and how He works. You see, God has always been my Hero, My Knight in Shining Armor. A little over a year ago, Rick took a position pastoring at a church in an unnamed location in Texas. They said all the right things to get us there. Once there, it was evident the focus and goals of some of leadership were not in line with Scripture. There was a pull for power, and many hurtful things were said and done to my husband. After being there less than a year, my husband resigned. How could God not intervene and step in? How could He not take down this handful of men? How could He let this happen? Looking at Scripture, we see times God was/is our Hero. However, that is not His goal and primary role. Though I struggled at first with figuring out who He really is, I have set out on a quest. I am going to go through every verse in the NIV that includes God. What I find and learn, shall be noted here.
Genesis 1
The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Matthew Henry Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us. (Gen 1:3-5)
My thoughts: Not a day passes that God looks at what He has done and wish He had done differently. He does not regret His actions or doubt His supreme ability to control anyone or anything. He sees darkness and always brings light. God works best with darkness. The earth started formless and empty, and God created all from it. Before anything else, He created light. In my life, that means, Light/Truth is what is important to Him, over anything else. We must see before we proceed. I think about going into my daughter’s room at night before I go to bed. She does not have a nightlight, so it is total darkness. In order to change Abbie’s pull-up or fix her covers adequately, I must have some light. Without it, I cannot proceed or be successful! So it is with life. When I do turn on the light, it is uncomfortable at first, Abbie shifts, it upsets the current “known,” or current, situation. When God shines Truth on our life, it is not easy and is often unexpected. It may upset our comfortable living, but it is necessary. Comfort is not God’s highest value. He is our Hero and Rescuer when He forces us into the Light, into a better knowledge of Who He is. Reality is He uses our life and current situations to reveal Himself. He would not be a Hero is He crippled us from gaining knowledge and strength in Who He is. Wow! I do not know about you, but I have never gotten that much out of the first five verses of the Bible!
Genesis 1
The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Matthew Henry Observe, that at first there was nothing desirable to be seen, for the world was without form, and void; it was confusion, and emptiness. In like manner the work of grace in the soul is a new creation: and in a graceless soul, one that is not born again, there is disorder, confusion, and every evil work: it is empty of all good, for it is without God; it is dark, it is darkness itself: this is our condition by nature, till Almighty grace works a change in us. (Gen 1:3-5)
My thoughts: Not a day passes that God looks at what He has done and wish He had done differently. He does not regret His actions or doubt His supreme ability to control anyone or anything. He sees darkness and always brings light. God works best with darkness. The earth started formless and empty, and God created all from it. Before anything else, He created light. In my life, that means, Light/Truth is what is important to Him, over anything else. We must see before we proceed. I think about going into my daughter’s room at night before I go to bed. She does not have a nightlight, so it is total darkness. In order to change Abbie’s pull-up or fix her covers adequately, I must have some light. Without it, I cannot proceed or be successful! So it is with life. When I do turn on the light, it is uncomfortable at first, Abbie shifts, it upsets the current “known,” or current, situation. When God shines Truth on our life, it is not easy and is often unexpected. It may upset our comfortable living, but it is necessary. Comfort is not God’s highest value. He is our Hero and Rescuer when He forces us into the Light, into a better knowledge of Who He is. Reality is He uses our life and current situations to reveal Himself. He would not be a Hero is He crippled us from gaining knowledge and strength in Who He is. Wow! I do not know about you, but I have never gotten that much out of the first five verses of the Bible!
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