Original Post Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens - and no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no man to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:4-7
Man was sculpted by God's own hand. But a sculpture is not alive. A sculpture can be beautiful and captivating, but it cannot talk, reason or love. God wanted a companion not a decoration for his courtyard.
Every single one of us was formed by God's hand (Jer. 1:5). Not one of us takes our first breath or last except by God's will.
Two of my brothers were stillborn. My mother still grieves for them, yet knows that somehow God's wisdom prevailed. He did not breathe into their nostrils the breath of life. He did not entrust them with the opportunity to live and grow and make their mark in the world. When I think of my brothers, I am convicted that I've not done more with this gift, this privilege we call life.
Life is a series of stolen moments. If we don't cherish them while they're here, they are gone forever. And, at the moment when God chooses, our breath stops and the book of life closes. Nothing therein can be added or changed. One chance, one privilege, one life.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ACCOMPLISHMENT & BEAUTY
Original Post Date: Friday, July 11, 2008
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 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. Genesis 1:31-2:3Accomplishment is one of the abilities and emotions that we inherited when we were created in God's image. The Creator, like an artist, takes a step back from the completed masterpiece we call Earth and breathes a sigh of satisfaction. "This is good - very good."
Like a toymaker testing a new wind up toy he has just finished, God takes a day to stop His work and enjoy the scenery. The birds are soaring above the trees, riding the thermals. The caterpillar is inching along a tree branch, dreaming of the day it will take its own flight as a butterfly. Adam sits on the soft grass and gazes into the eyes of the most beautiful creature he has yet seen in the most glorious paradise that ever existed.
Peace and beauty abound.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
EVERY LIVING THING EATS PLANTS
Original Post Date: July 3, 2008
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. 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. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
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. 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. Genesis 1:29-30
Isn't it strange to think that humans were created to be vegetarians and all the animals were created to be herbivores? Scripture tells us that it wasn't until after the Flood that humans and some animals began to eat meat. Until then, animals were not afraid of humans and, I suspect, weren't afraid of each other.
The issue of fear with animals has been a heartbreaking topic for me. I am a huge animal lover. I want to pet them, hold them and share in the goodness God put inside of them. This fear that God put in them after the Flood keeps me from being able to do that.
I come from a family of hunters. I would imaging that my dad and brother are very grateful that they didn't live in the pre-Flood era. What sport would there have been for men before there was hunting and fishing? Perhaps they had games to keep them busy - football anyone?
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