A Shepherd and a Gardener: Genesis 4:1-8
The first shepherd and the first gardener in the Bible offered spontaneous worship offerings to God. From the beginning, God guided his people to be like him and to worship him. He too is the Good Shepherd and the Gardener.
Taking Things into our Own Hands
Consider Sarah and Abraham, shall we? Sarah wanted a child. When she had no luck on her own (so to speak), she devised a plan to get what she wanted.
Jesus' Response to Control in the World Around him was Love
The life that Jesus led while here on earth showed little struggle with control or evil. He saw plenty of it but didn’t show that he struggled with it.
Gift of Rest(oration)
We all know the creation story: light, sky, land with vegetation, sun and stars, sea and air animals, land animals and man, rest. God could have stopped at day 6, said it was good, and then continued on with the rest of the story. But he chose to rest. We all need rest.
Peace with Ourselves
More often than not, we are not at peace because we are upset with ourselves: blaming ourselves or feeling guilty for brokenness. Finding peace with ourselves
Patience for God’s Handiwork
It is not time that heals all things, but our Lord who works in the waiting.
Power and the Peacemaker
Similarly, when we rest in the knowledge that we are blessed by God, why do we always have to have the last word or come out on top or be the winner!
When We Want Reconciliation
Reconciliation is possible, with time and patience. We are fallible humans who need grace in relationships. How can I protect myself when I reconcile with someone?
Noah's Zoo - Genesis 6-9
How could we have a month of animal stories of the Bible and not look at Noah? Animals galore.
Serpent causes fall of mankind-Genesis 3
How could we not take a look at the animal that initiated the greatest deceit of all time? That even sounds like an exaggeration, but it isn’t.
Yahweh Yireh, The Lord will Provide - Genesis 22:14
The strength and wonder made available to us in crying out to Yahweh Yireh is immeasurable. In crying out to him, we will strengthen our faith in his miracle working power and renew our patience in time of trials. The Lord will provide.
El Roi, The God who Sees Me - Genesis 16:13
Hagar calls God the One who Sees ME. He doesn’t just see, but he is personal and Hagar felt like the only one in the room, so to speak.
Elohim, First Name - Genesis 1:1
The first name of God in the bible is Elohim. It is Elohim who created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:1. What I find most interesting about the use of Elohim is that this is the pluralized form of the word.