Genesis 2, Part 1

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%202&version=NKJV


I love Genesis 2 so much I'm splitting it into two days. There's just so much to say.

The first thing that catches my attention in this chapter is that God didn't micromanage Adam's first job: "The Lord...brought them [the animals] to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name" (Genesis 2:19).

Amazing! God didn't micromanage, and Adam wasn't afraid! So often when I feel God speak to my heart about a task, I wait for incredibly detailed instructions, alongside a guarantee of success. But Adam didn't look for a miraculous sign in-between each animal; he didn't do a 40-day fast before naming a dolphin. God brought the animals, Adam named them, ta-da!
        ...the point was their friendship, I think. Their partnership. God delighted in Adam' s work, and Adam wasn't afraid to freely do the job he'd been given. Lord, let me have the same response with the tasks you give me.

The second thing I'm captured by is that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). Oh how I love this. Adam, in pure companionship with God, still needed someone. Sometimes I feel like American-Christian society gets angry at people for needing other people. It's almost as if we're scared that needing others declares a lesser need for Jesus. But this isn't true! In the midst of Adam being entirely dependent on God, God said that it was not good for him to be alone. We're made for relationship with people! God knows this and delights in giving us friendships/marriage!

Last gem of truth and then I'm done: anyone waiting to find their life partner should gather great hope from Genesis 2. I always hear my peers say they aren't sure if the right person for them exists, or if they'll ever find that right person. But here's a beauty: even when no woman ever existed, God still found a woman for Adam! This should be joy to anyone feeling lonely!

This chapter, though not entirely discussed, breathes freedom. Freedom to pursue the responsibilities God gives us without stopping every two feet to make sure we're on the right path. Freedom to pursue Godly relationships, not terrified that they're taking the place of God in our lives. Freedom to trust in God to bring the right people to us, even if we feel they don't exist. And more freedom awaits in the rest of the chapter! Praise God!

Genesis 1

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201&version=ESV

^"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3).

I love the picture of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. The Holy Spirit- who didn't just suddenly appear on the day of Pentecost, but who has been intricately, irreplaceably involved since before time! I just love Him!

Genesis 1 is the perfect premise for the entire word of God (obviously). This chapter isn't about whether or not evolutionary theory is valid, and it's not just fuel for a debate on whether all these events actually took place in six literal days. This chapter sets the foundation for the character of God, eager to be displayed in the following 65 books of the Bible.

Every section begins with "and God said, 'Let there be ____,'" followed by, "and there was," which is then followed by, "and it was good." This is the basis of faith in God! That He looks into darkness- darkness of hearts, darkness of cultures and countries and lifelessness- says "Let there be light," and it comes to pass! Even today, in the areas of my life which I feel are void and without form, God "gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17). Praise God; He is still in the business of speaking new life, whether it be in relationships, dreams, identity, or salvation. The first chapter of the Bible bespeaks God's faithful power, and all of history has since been proclaiming this good news.

Lord, build my faith!

I'm starting a blog! It's been on my mind for a long time, but I've repeatedly put it off because of laziness or fear. Yet this morning, I was wide awake at 6:00am, and said, "Hey, why not today?"

In high school, I got a ton of praise for my writing ability. But for some reason, I let this praise have a crippling effect on me. I became terrified for people to see my writing, lest I produce an off-par piece of work and it didn't measure up to the praise I'd been given. And so I stopped writing, and I've been afraid to begin a blog or book all these years. I'm about to graduate college, and I'm afraid because of praise I got in high school! How silly!

Enough of my craziness. I have no more time for perfectionism! I'm ready to have grace with myself, and not constantly grade my own efforts. I'm ready to be faithful with the small opportunities God gives me.

I want to use this blog as a way to hold myself accountable. Accountable to taking risks, to being vulnerable with others, to putting in writing the truths God speaks to my heart. Generally, my plan is to read through the book of Genesis, and write what God speaks to me through each chapter. Other ramblings are sure to be intermixed, but I basically just want to use this as an avenue to study scripture.

I love the direction in which courage is moving me.
Woo! I'm happy to begin.