Just one breath

God made all things. And everything continues through him and for him.  (Romans 11:36)

God made all things - from the sand at the seashore to the hair on your head. Nothing exists without him. His breathe gave us life and his breathe sustains that life. His blood brings us into his family and his blood ensures we are cleansed of all manner of sin. His word puts all things into motion and sustains all things in perfect order. All things are in his care and under his careful watch - including you!

Everything continues - telling words that indicate we don't just "come to Christ" and stagnate! We continue to grow in grace. Can we become something greater than what he calls us to be in his kingdom? Nope, but some will still try to remake their own lives even when the God who made and sustains all things provided all they need to grow in grace. The grace is a gift, but the growth must be intentional. We must press into his grace each day in order to grow in it.

It isn't that his grace changes. It is that our appreciation of what it is doing within us has. We begin to see rough edges smoothed out in our character. Trust issues resolve as we press in a little deeper, willing our hearts and minds to catch up to what our spirit already knows to be true about the one who made us. God's "ask" is that we come and remain. He sustains us as we do. Nothing of worth really exists in us without his careand grace, but all manner of goodness can be birthed within us by one breathe of his Spirit! Just saying....

Look around

 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (Romans 1:20)

When you consider all the wonders in nature and the beauty all around us, it is almost impossible to deny the existence of God, but some still do. Why? There is this innate desire to 'explain away' the things we don't understand - the things that are very hard to wrap our heads around. So, we deny the existence of a higher power and say all that is around us is the result of some big bang - it just evolved that way. I have t ask - if it just 'evolved', who put it there in the first place with the capability to 'evolve'?

Like it or not, the 'invisible qualities' of God are all around us. We cannot escape the fact that heaven and earth exists and there must be a way it all came together. The more we consider the sheer miracle of all things working together, the more we must consider there is a creator of it all. There is no excuse for anyone not being exposed to the Creator of the Universe - they merely need to look around to see him. If creation was enough to reveal God to us, how is it he gave us his Word, sent his Son, and continues to speak to us through his Holy Spirit?

Perhaps we need to see (creation), hear (the Word of God and the life of Jesus on earth), and feel (the ministry of the Holy Spirit prompting us). God made us 'multi-faceted' in that we have emotions, the power of rational thinking, and even the capacity to interact with each other and the things around us. He ministers to us in all the ways we are capable of knowing him. Now, that tells me we have a Creator that didn't leave things to chance and continues to reach out for those he has created. Just saying!

Creator - Creation

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. (Psalm 139:13-14)

How we come to realize the complexity of our body's structures and systems differs for everyone. Some may discover the uniqueness of their body, how it works, and why each 'part' is so important for the other parts because of illness, while others just discover it through the normal aging process. Bones that moved silently at one time are now creaky and crackle like a bowl of rice cereal. Muscles that once existed on the top of your arms are now like bat wings, jiggling about as you motion with your arms. A heart that once beat without notice may now pound out of your chest with each stair you climb. God made all the 'parts', but the most important part of our body is really our spirit - for it is the place he communes with us.

His workmanship is indeed marvelous - nothing compares to the majesty he puts on display in each and every one of us - each uniquely created to resemble him. The 'inner parts' of mankind are meant to commune with him - in prayer, meditative thought, and even in times of just enjoying the splendor of all he has created around us. Our psalmist opens this psalm with the reminder that God knows everything about us - helping us to know when to take action, and when to be still before him. When we fail to recognize the Creator, we may just be failing to fully appreciate the majesty of his creation.

"How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can’t even count how many times a day your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, you are still thinking of me!" (v. 17-18) God doesn't sleep when we sleep, zone out when we zone out - he stays ever vigilant, always alert to our every need, and in tune with our every heartbeat. We are continually a matter of his 'undivided' attention. I don't have to understand that God is all-knowing and ever-present to know fully that he cares for my every need. I just have to trust the Creator that he will ALWAYS take care of the creation! I may not always like the way my body responds, but I know my body is continually in his care. Our lives are always in his focus, and we will never 'do life' alone. Just sayin!

You are beautiful - inside and out

Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God.... (I Peter 3:3-5)

I might just burst your bubble today - that new hairstyle is nice, but your real beauty comes from within. The more 'beauty' your heart develops, the greater the true beauty within your life will begin to shine forth. This type of 'beauty' is only possible for those who have said a resounding 'yes' to Jesus' authority in their lives - not a casual acquaintance with him, but a deeply committed relationship with him. Some have used this passage to say we should not wear make-up, dye our hair, or adorn ourselves with jewelry, but this was not the meaning. The goal of these verses is summed up in the beginning of verse 5: They put their trust in Jesus. This is the only thing that will produce lasting beauty when all the other forms of 'adornment' begin to fade. A gentle and quiet spirit is not the byproduct of anything this world has to offer us. It is the byproduct of spending time with Jesus. The beauty produced in just a few dedicated moments with him in the quiet of your day can surpass all the masking of any beauty product, tuck, or peel you can find on this earth. We search for beauty in various places, but it is found at the foot of the cross. The moments we spend with him each day begin to soften our hearts - clarify our minds - and settle our emotions. Nothing produces such a beautiful 'adornment' as these three!

Was does it mean to put our trust in God? It means we stop trusting in the things 'we' can do for ourselves, and we begin to trust in the things God has already done for us. I had to see how the dictionary actually defined beauty and this was the first definition I found: the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest). That part about a 'meaningful design' caught my attention. Why? I think God has given each of us a 'meaningful design' that only he can create and complete within us. That 'design' doesn't come together by casual encounter, but by consistent contact and submission to the one who loves us so much. Our 'design' is realized at the cross - it is completed with each contact we have with the one who makes all of life 'meaningful' - Jesus. So, get your true beauty on today by taking the best of your day and spending it with him. Your heart, mind, and will will be transformed so that the highest spiritual, mental, and physical qualities are manifest. Just sayin!

Change things, God!

Most of us would think of a "circumstance" as something which modifies or influences what will happen next - what the outcome will be. When we have the right one in charge of the "circumstances", there is no "modifier" beyond our ability to deal! Do you know what a drought is? It the simplest sense, it is a period of "dryness". Most "dry spells" are not a matter of our doing. They are the result of some "circumstances" beyond our control. In the times of "dryness" there is much at work attempting to modify our responses - perhaps even shaping our outcome. In the time of dryness we have a couple of options: 1) scheme our way through it, figuring and refiguring a way to bring life back ourselves; 2) bolt, looking for refreshment in any other place than where we are at; or 3) hunker down, trusting God for the refreshing rains just around the corner. I don't know about you, but I don't want to the varied circumstances to modify my life by driving me away from what God will do "in" those circumstances! I want God to drive me "into" the circumstances deep enough to allow HIM to modify me, not the circumstances!

Lord, change our circumstances for the better, like dry streams in the desert waste! Let those who plant with tears reap the harvest with joyful shouts. Let those who go out, crying and carrying their seed, come home with joyful shouts, carrying bales of grain! (Psalm 126:4-6)

One thing I have come to recognize - God often changes US before he changes our circumstances. So, in respect to the "modifying" effect of circumstances - it is really not the circumstances which "modify" us, but finding God in the midst of them which does! Explore the character traits of one who is not modified by the circumstances, but is met in the midst of the circumstances by the "modifier" of our hearts. First, they are not just hunkered down, hoping for the best. They are planting, carrying seed, going about their regular tasks. They don't cease to do what they know to do! Too many times, we face circumstances which seem to be beyond our control with the attitude of just standing still - not even doing what we know to do. God's advice to us - do what you can, then let him take care of the rest. If I am capable of putting my hand to the plow, I need to plow. If I have seed, I need to sow it. The principle is quite plain here - do what we know to do, then trust God!

Be honest with your emotions. Most don't plant with tears, but it may be these very tears which are the first "moisture" to touch those tiny seeds. Did you ever stop to consider the tears you shed as being the very thing which waters the very seed you are planting? It may not be a significant amount of moisture, but perhaps it is enough to begin to breakdown the tough outer coating of the seed and cause it to begin to germinate! I don't think God ever expects us to mask our emotions - if we are honest with him in our emotions, he can deal with them! Go out - you will return. Our return is not empty-handed, but with much more than we ever imagined. This is the principle of sowing and reaping. In due season, there is a harvest. When we trust God with our "circumstances", we also trust him with the "outcome". It was not the circumstances which modified us - it was the great "MODIFIER" of the circumstances who modified us. The harvest may not have been possible without us first going out - doing what we knew to do. The seed spread in drought is there when the rains come. Think about it - if the seed is never planted, no amount of rain will produce a crop! Instead of allowing the circumstances to modify us, allow the modifying to come from the one who hold the circumstances squarely in his hand! Just sayin!

The mystery at work

It was Dickens who reminded us that, "the whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists." (Charles Dickens) The 'created thing' is loved before it even exists - think on that one a little bit and you might just begin to feel a little differently about yourself. In fact, when you realize that God saw you fully formed, created you specifically for his purposes, and enjoyed you even before he created you - that is the beginning of wisdom! We may not fully understand how he sees each of us, but we can stand assured that he sees us as we are often incapable of seeing ourselves.

Just as you’ll never understand the mystery of life forming in a pregnant woman, So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does. (Ecclesiastes 11:5 MSG)

What is the 'all that God does' in your life? This is a pretty open-ended question, but I really must ask it this morning because it may just be that you and I are not entirely certain God has been at work at all within us! We have fallen too many times, doing the wrong things over and over again, and then we get all wigged out over stuff we shouldn't have even been engaged in at all. We might think there is just too much water under the bridge to ever 'come back' from wherever we are at the moment. We could even imagine God isn't interested in this beat up, broken down life of ours - made all the worse for the wear because of all the junk we have put it through. Regardless of where we have been, how many times we have fallen, or whatever 'stuff' has drug us down into the mire, God sees us as he has always seen us - his perfect and totally loved creation.

I have studied the process of human conception, recognizing the coming together of ova and sperm, the division of cells one after another at what is sometimes an astronomical pace, but I still marvel at how little we know about how life 'comes together' in the womb. The process is nothing short of a miracle. The mystery at work in all that God does is most certainly the result of his loving care over all he does. His 'design work' isn't limited to a cookie-cutter creation - it is uniquely different in each of us. We might think we aren't as 'good' as the one we admire or look up to as a role model, but trust me on this one - God didn't design that individual with any more care than he has taken in designing you! There is no 'difference' in his love for us - even though there is a 'difference' in the color of our hair, tone of our skin, or shape of our body. His 'total care' is the same for each of us.

What is the 'mystery at work' in what God is doing in your life today? If you don't know, then maybe it is time to ask him yourself. God isn't put off by that question - he doesn't think we are questioning his love or challenging his authority. He is genuinely interested in us being interested in what it is he sees in us, and in fulfilling the specific purpose he has created us to fulfill. Even the most 'insignificant' life in this world's eyes is a much treasured life in the eyes of God. He has created each life with a purpose and the mystery at work in each life begins and ends in him! Just sayin!

Truth brought to life

I was watching a show the other day in which a scientist was being ridiculed for his belief in the 'creation story', as they called it. To those who were accusing the scientist of being foolish in his 'fairy-tale' beliefs, there was only one answer to how creation came about - what often is referred to as the big-bang theory. I don't know about you, but I'd rather believe in a truth than a theory! There are just too many 'holes' in that theory to make it truth in my book - especially since my 'book' is the Bible!

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. (Genesis 1:1-2)

Imagine all he has formed, all that exists, and all that no longer exists. Things, people, and trends - all have a tendency to come and all will go. As I reflect on the "Creation Story" - the record of creation - I marvel at the awesome order in which God put things together. Consider this:

Light and Darkness - the first to be created. Why? Well, it is pretty obvious - without light, the rest could not be appreciated. That is the way it is in our lives - without the light of Christ shining bright in our hearts, there is no fullness of appreciation of what he has done. He brings light first because we need to be able to fully appreciate all he has begun and is continuing to do in our lives.

Sky and Sea - has it ever occurred to you what a miracle it is that the oceans stay where they are - separated from the sky and not just "flying around" willy nilly? I have sailed the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean - each unique in its own way. I have flown the skies high above clouds, hardly able to make out much below other than shape and form. The sky and all contained in it governs the ebb and tide of the oceans. The radiant warmth of the sun's rays makes the day evident and the night's moon reminds us of the presence of the sun even when it is not seen. Jesus is the reflected image of our Heavenly Father that we cannot see - even God uses the skies to bespeak his presence and his glory. Even the faithfulness and consistency of the tides reflect his continued care.

Waters and Land - separate, but joined. Each existing for a different purpose - each supporting the other. Just as the waters and land are separated, yet joined, so it is with us - we are separated from this world, but joined to it by our very existence as part of the human race. We are called to be the light that radiates into the world. There is no hope for the world without the joining influence of Christ. 

Trees and Plants - each bearing fruit in their unique way. God has a plan with all created things - it is to bear fruit in a unique way - only the way we can bear fruit with the help of Christ in our lives. What is the fruit that God is bringing forth in your life? It is meant for a purpose on this earth.

Lights in the Sky - Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, Galaxies - we know not the depth or breadth of what he created in the galaxies. We only see a fraction. So it is with what we know of Christ - we see in part what we will one day behold in all its majesty and glory. As we grow in him, we discover more and more of who he is and what he is doing in our lives - the discovery of truth in the person of Truth.

Fish and Birds - one to inhabit the skies, one to inhabit the waters. Nothing is to be devoid of life - all are to be filled. Each serves a unique purpose - each has a unique role. The birds spread seed, the fish clean the ocean's floors. The birds call and warn, the fish provide nourishment and. What is your role in God's creation - are you fulfilling the unique place he has called you into existence to fulfill?

All the Animals - more than we could comprehend - every creature alive, every creature no longer in existence - all by his hand tenderly formed and uniquely placed. Each supporting the other in what we call the "circle of life". Last, but certainly not least - human life! All he had created, placed in the hands of his final creative work - us! All to be enjoyed by us, all to be respected by us, all to be cared for by us. Not worshiped - enjoyed. Not idolized - respected and cared for. 

Sometimes we blow by the creation story with the quickest glance at the words contained on the pages - oblivious to the unique order, the specific purpose of each phase, and the outstanding glory of what he created. Each aspect of creation reflects him - his light, his glory, his life, his power - think about it. See the Genesis Story (the Creation Story) through the eyes of one who is placed specifically in the midst of it all - to enjoy it, to learn of God from it, to know God exists because of it. In the beginning...God created all things. Even you and me! We are his unique creations - made for a purpose, created by his specific plan, included in his vision of the creation story! More than a story - more than a theory - it is TRUTH brought to life! Just believing!

I don't have that piece!

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. (Psalm 139:13-14 MSG)

Body and soul - marvelously made. Being a nurse, I understand much more about how the body's 'parts' interact - seeing the linked relationships between one system and the other. I studied hours upon hours to learn this stuff - because it helped me to understand the potential cause of my patient's symptoms. Yet, even with all my hours of study, I don't fully understand the human body. I went to Bible College and studied hour upon hour to learn the truths contained within the Word of God about the man's soul and spirit, yet I don't understand either of them very well. Sure, I know we have a sin nature and that nature gives us a whole lot of trouble in this lifetime. I even know that we can live with an exchanged nature, but do I really understand that nature all that well? Not really. There is so much about each of us that is 'complicated' beyond our full comprehension - yet the Creator knows all those intricate inner-workings of body, soul, and spirit completely. He knows how one plays off the other and then affects the whole. Why then would we look to any other source for our help for what troubles our minds? Why would we seek other 'spiritual guidance' when we have full access to the one who breathed that spirit into us in the first place?

From nothing into something - this is how God works in all of us. He takes what really amounts to nothing and from what others may write off as 'nothing' he creates a thing of majesty. I have come upon a pile of Lego blocks left by my grandsons on occasion as they hurried off to engage in some other activity that caught their interest. I will not shy away from admitting I love these little building pieces. They are so 'versatile' - allowing the imagination to create item after item until one's creativity is satisfied with what has been created. Yet, even with all my 'vision' of what I want to create, there are times some of the blocks just don't seem to be in the pile that will 'fit' my vision. God isn't limited by what is in the pile of our lives, though. He isn't bound to create only what others can see in us, but is free to create from 'nothing' - he doesn't need that 'one missing piece' because he IS that one missing piece!

Inside and out - we are known. There is no hiding from the one who does the creating because he already knows what is within and what has been put on display for all to see. He knows about that blemish on my chin long before it emerges, just as much as he knows about that blemish in my soul that emerges because my choices weren't always the best. As much as I'd like to be 'blemish free' in this life, I am not. Inside me there are struggles between what my body wants, what my spirit needs, and what my emotional soul is driving me toward. On the outside, I might not give the impression there is a battle raging on the inside, but trust me on this one - there is! Others may see what is on the outside of my life - those things I have carefully allowed to be on display. God sees what is inside my life - those things I am a little bit afraid to display! He even knows those things that I'd be ashamed to put on display - those things from within my soul that really don't belong there any longer. 

We aren't made haphazardly - we are a thing of created excellence. We may not be fully perfect, but in God's eyes, we are a things of magnificent beauty and purposeful intent. We may not have all the pieces of our lives together as some would see us, but in God's capable hands, all the right pieces are there - he is at work putting them together as only he can do. Just sayin!

Intelligent Design - YUP!

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist at the Hayden Planetarium in New York. You might recognize him from the History Channel's show called "The Universe". He was one of the ones opposing keeping Pluto as a planet and who frequently lectures on the extreme "limitations" of any scientist who believes in "intelligent design". His stand is that to believe there is a God and Creator of the universe is to limit the possibilities of all other 'discoveries'. You can be very well educated in the sense of 'intellectual content' and be very empty when it comes to connection with the God of the Universe! If we truly believe all this beauty and majestic 'inter-working' of all of creation could just occur by a 'big bang' or some 'alignment' of the universe's 'forces', then we are missing out on the most amazing relationship we can have with not just this universe, but with the Creator of it all! We live within the confines of a much bigger set of boundaries - those of our human knowledge and understanding.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. (Ephesians 1:7 MSG)

The things in the deepest heavens and the yet undiscovered mysteries there - all were set in order by his hand - all are held together by the power of his word. The things we have discovered about our earth and those planets around us - these discoveries are part of his doing - even though we might want to take our claim to fame for them! God reveals himself in all of creation - but the mind's eye and soul's heart must be open to receiving them. Nothing in all of creation is a greater mystery than to be free of sin's dark hold on us - the power it has to sway our minds, direct our heart, and captivate our souls. When we behold Christ, we have at our disposal a full disclosure of all of God's mysteries. We don't need microscopes, telescopes, and magnified lenses galore. We need open eyes, responsive hearts, and yielded wills!

Abundant freedom is no accident - it is purposeful design! Education usually expands our minds - but those scientists who approach education with a heart in tune with God's heart discover much more deeply the truths evident in nature and the vast universe. They should not be criticized for their 'narrow view' of science, but praised because they are discovering truth in the way God intended - through the eyes of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Discovery takes on new meaning when it is done through the eyes of the one who knows the plan from start to finish, doesn't it? All we need to discover is Christ - the rest  of all that we discover after that is up to him. 

Intelligent design doesn't take a degree in astrophysics to understand or appreciate. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. The human body and mind compare to nothing else. We don't need to understand the vastness of the universe to appreciate the total awesomeness of the God we serve. Just sayin!

Let every breath....

Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or better. 

(John Updike)

Isn't it true that we are always looking for a new way to do things, or perhaps a new take on a matter? I don't care how many photos I take of the landscape, or things found in nature, no two are quite alike. Something different is there each time - maybe the light, or even the focus - but something is just a little different from the last view. Do I take these time and time again because I am impulsive or compulsive in my actions? No, I do it because there is something "divine" in the work of capturing that new image! After all, isn't it the process of change and creating that the Master is continuously engaged in within us?

They all depend on you to give them food as they need it. When you supply it, they gather it. You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied. But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust. When you give them your breath, life is created, and you renew the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:27-30 NLT)

God supplies - we gather it in. God provides - we relish the provision. God opens his hands - we are fed spiritually, emotionally, and physically. God's breath is the very thing that creates newness within each of us each and every day. We cannot enjoy newness apart from his work of creation within us. Renewal is part of our daily walk - to think otherwise is to drift dangerously far from his heart - for anytime we settle for what is, we fail to recognize he is still working!

Change is an inevitable part of living. Each cell within our bodies is being renewed each day - those which are old and no longer at their optimum within are being renewed. Did you realize your red blood cells only live 120 days on average? That means you have totally new blood "content" about three times a year! The muscle cells are burning all manner of "food" and making the byproducts of their work, with all that byproduct being carefully and quietly removed, making room for the renewal of that cell's food supply. In so doing, it is readied for the next time it will be put to use.

In much the same way, God is always and continuously renewing us in the attitude of our minds, the bend of our hearts, and the strength of our spirits. Why? He is the God of Creation - it is what he does! He crafts and then he continues to give beauty upon beauty into our lives, even where ashes once abounded - he brings forth newness! No wonder why David's psalms are so filled with words such as:

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! (Psalm 104:33 NLT)

Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord. (Psalm 103:22 NLT)

Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. (Psalm 148:5 NLT)

Indeed - it is time for creation to recount his goodness - to see his movement in our midst and to celebrate his presence there. All he is doing is restorative and renewing. Let's celebrate his creative power within! Just sayin!

The great design

Charles Eames said, "Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design." He was an American designer made famous during the 50's and 60's. He worked with is wife in a design business, whose mission was to create the first types of furniture which could be "mass produced" in warehouses and sold to the millions. He is also known for saying, "Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose." Sometimes we see all the elements (pieces) in life, but we really cannot break past the mess of the pieces to see the design which those pieces can produce. We might recognize the need for a particular thing to occur, but we just don't know how all the pieces of life we are juggling at the moment all come together to create anything even remotely like what our "condition" demands.

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. (Romans 8:28 VOICE)

If we look at what Eames said - that the arrangement of the elements can be done in such a way so as to accomplish not just ANY purpose, but a specific purpose - we might just begin to wonder what the "specific" purpose is for these PARTICULAR pieces we are given right now.  God isn't unaware of what those elements are designed to form - the unique way they are to fit together in our lives to create something beautiful, functional, and purposeful within, for, and through us.  Those elements have a purpose within us - maybe to change a fear into a trust, a hope into a motivation, or a desire into a fulfillment.  They also have a purpose for us and that may just be to allow those elements to begin to work in us so that what comes "through" us will be a blessing to others.

I have moved a few times in my life, dreading the endless task of packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking.  Why is it such a drudgery to "start anew" in a new location, a new home, or a new job?  I honestly believe it is the chaos of seeing all the pieces, but not knowing how they will all fit together yet.  As I moved into a new home, for example, all the boxes get stacked in the rooms I "believe" they belong in.  My first move, I simply marked them "Kitchen", "Bedroom", or "Bathroom".  After trying to find a coffee mug for almost an hour going through boxes labeled for the kitchen, the next move included just a little more detail on those boxes!  The furniture gets put in the general space of the room it is intended to go in, but until it all put together in then "placed" into position, it has not really served the purpose for which we placed it there.

We have pieces, but we don't have order to them yet - we have a vision, but we don't know what that design will fully produce.  Good news is - God knows both the design and how to make the pieces fit as they were designed!  Don't we wish that life was as easy as rearranging the furniture to get it to "fit" a room?  Life is way more complicated, though, so I am pretty certain the "designer" of the pieces is much better at fitting them together than I am.  The boxes we move into the various rooms of our new home are capable of being called "pieces", right?  They are labeled that they belong where they have been placed, but not too many of us leave the boxes.  We know their "design" was to house the pieces inside until they had a place to be mounted, displayed, housed, or function.  The box served its purpose, but once the move is over, it no longer belongs.

Sometimes there are pieces of our lives which no longer serve a purpose - things we need to take to the curb, so to speak.  We break down all those packing boxes, placing them in piles to be hauled away by the recycling folks.  We don't leave them in their original form because in order to get rid of them, we have to have them "broken down".  The same is true in our lives - sometimes the pieces we are ready to get rid of must be "broken down" a little so we see they are no longer useful, serving a purpose, and so we can easily move them to the place where we can finally be rid of them!  We recognize the need for something in our lives.  God prepares the design of what will be needed to meet that need.  We allow him to bring the pieces together in such a way the design begins to unfold, then we allow the stuff which no longer fits to be removed so it no longer clutters up the space for that which he has designed! Just sayin!

A colony of families

There are times you just read over stuff in the scriptures and totally miss what is being said.  You can do this year after year, without even "getting" something. I kind of think this may be on purpose because God has a season and a specific time for certain things to catch our attention.  In those moments, he pours something into our lives by sometimes even the shortest of passages. What we do with what God gives us is ours to determine - he can provide the feeding, but he cannot force feed us.  He can spoon feed us, but he doesn't cram it down our throats!  One thing is for sure - remain open to what he provides and you will have your "fill" of good things and "stuff" you can actually use in your own life!  Did you ever stop to consider for just a moment how much "scripture" is declared in the things around you, not just in the written words between those leather bindings you call a Bible?  It is true, for even the heavens tell of his glory and the world of nature all around you bespeaks the creator's power, honor, and majesty.  Sometimes all that is needed is for us to just sit back a little and take it all in - contemplating his greatness in the expanse of what we behold.

The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power. You cannot hear them say anything.  They don’t make any sound we can hear. But their message goes throughout the world. Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.(Psalm 19:1-2 ERV)

My BFF and I have discovered the little ground hogs are back in the field behind our hospital.  It seems like we see them each year and then all of a sudden, it is like they are gone.  I don't know if they hibernate, move to different parts of the field, or what, but they are there now and we are enjoying them.  There are lots and lots of wee ones, not much bigger around than my thumb, but cute as a button.  We happened on them this year quite by accident, but were both bowled away by the tiny one who came running up to us, actually approaching within just a couple feet of us, obviously looking to see if we had brought them anything good.  It is kind of like the ducks at the park, feed one and the entire flock zooms in.  This tiny critter left a little disappointed that first day, but we have been out there at least 3 times a week since then with left-over morsels, fruit, and the like.  We just sit down on the bench and watch them come out of the various burrows scattered around the shade of the trees and under bushes here and there.  We even have named the "communities" similar to those around us - like that set of burrows is Apache Junction, the other is Cave Creek, and the ones closest to us are Mesa!  So as the "families" emerge, we welcome them from their "township"!

As I stop to consider their little lives, I see just how fragile they are, but also how resilient the can be.  They are tiny, but mighty.  With those tiny little feet, they carve out vast tunnels, inter-related communities, entering one place and emerging in just seconds at a totally different location.  They can scamper with quickness akin to race car drivers going from zero to sixty in under a few seconds.  Yet, they are also constantly attentive to their environment - scouting for those birds who might swoop in and carry away their young.  They must compete for their food, with grackles and black birds and sparrows zeroing in on anything left for them to feed upon.  Their constant "hunt" for food is unending, emerging in the coolness of the morning, the stillness of the evening, and likely the cover of darkness to gather seed pods falling from the mesquite trees. When we come along, there may not be one in sight, but when we call for them, one emerges, then two, and then you hear these tiny high-pitched little cries. Within minutes, the older ones emerge, followed by the tiniest of the colonies.  Each sits at attention, awaiting the treat of the day.

We are kind of like those wee creatures - buried deep in the "regular" part of our days, not really aware of what is going on around us, until all of a sudden we catch a glimpse of something good.  In just that short moment of time, our worlds can change.  We can go from being absorbed in the day-after-day existence we are enduring into the delights of something magnificent and totally unexpected.  Yesterday, we took them cherries.  A couple of days before that, we took them grapes, and even an orange.  It was comical to see them race hither and yon, gathering up their new-found treats, and even more comical to see the wee ones hold them in their front paws and chow down.  The "good stuff" is constantly different for them - just as it is for us.  We can count on one thing - God isn't boring!  He delights in giving us new things in new ways, but really their are simply "old things" reborn in a way we just don't fully understand.  

As we sat there a couple days this week, the humidity was high, but the clouds in the sky were delightful.  Big, fluffy, and filled with rain!  June isn't usually a wet month in the Phoenix area, so we are delighted with even the "prospect" of rain!  Those clouds filled the sky, drifted by and changed shape with such rapid succession, that we just pondered them for a while.  Just like kids on a lazy summer afternoon, my BFF and I just sat their gazing into the skies.  Anyone coming by must have thought we were a little strange - feeding the wee critters, talking with them, and then gazing into the vastness of the skies.  I don't know what was running through the head of my companion as much as I do know what was deep within my heart.  There was an appreciation for the smallest of blessings in life - the simplicity of enjoying God's creation spurring the recounting of the blessings of family (as I observed the ground hogs scurrying about), the treasure of friendship (as I sat in companionable silence with my BFF), and the greatness of grace (as I looked into the highest of heavens and considered the awesomeness of our Creator God).

You don't have to look far to see the greatness of God declared, my friends. Sometimes all you need to do is stop long enough to look!  Just sayin!

Stop to consider

I think we humans sometimes forget just who is in control of this entire universe and who it is who actually holds all things in motion.  We forget that our sphere of control is not really our own - but is something "granted" to us by a loving and caring God.  Lest we get ourselves all puffed up and proud about what it is we do, possess, etc., let us remember it is God who "lets" us rule everything his hands have made!  Sometimes we think it is the other way around - we do all the making and ask God to have a little oversight into the matter!  If we were to be totally honest, we actually have the intelligence we have to create because the Creator gave us that small bit of intelligence we possess!

I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place.  Then I ask, “Why do you care about us humans?  Why are you concerned for us weaklings?”  You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor.  You let us rule everything your hands have made.  And you put all of it under our power—the sheep and the cattle, and every wild animal, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all ocean creatures.  (Psalm 8:3-8 CEV)

It is good to step back on occasion to actually consider what it is God has made and how it is we come into possession of what it is we have influence over in our own lives.  You see, although I am a mother of two, I could do nothing to actually cause the miracle of life's creation to occur.  I didn't create my womb, nor did I make the egg which would be fertilized, nor did I dream up the tremendous miracle of cells replicating at astronomical speed.  I "participated" in the birth of my children, but I did not create them, nor do I sustain their lives.  All this is the doing of one much greater than I - God himself!

I enjoy the times I get to be away from the hustle and bustle of my daily work life, often choosing a place to vacation which allows my pace to slow a little and my thoughts to be able to just focus a little on the beauty God has created.  I have enjoyed several trips to Virginia, where I took in many caverns extending deep into the earth, majestic with all the beauty of a crystal cathedral.  I took in the beauty of leaves changing colors, hillsides covered in lush green grass, and wildlife not normally seen from my own backyard view. Yet, even in the sparseness of my most recent trip through the Arizona desert via automobile, I took some time to reflect on the beauty of God in the tiniest of butterflies gently gliding across the roadside, and the prickliness of the tall saguaro cacti, lifting their "arms" toward the sky in what I imagined to be praise to the one who created them!

Equally as important is for us to remember who remains in control, even when we aren't. We often "get out of control" and think the entire universe is crashing in just because we are for a moment in time not able to "maintain".  Keep this in mind, my friends - God made us a "little lower" than himself, crowning us with his glory and honor, but he never made us gods! He still wants us to submit the control of our lives into his hands - just managing what it is he gives us to manage the very best we can - as stewards of his grace and love.

A couple things I would like us to remember today:

1) We have a limited focus, but one which is to bring intent and purpose to our lives. God places us in control of some things in this life, not because he needed help in keeping it all organized, or running smoothly, but because he knows we need purpose and intent to help us experience the value he sees in us.  

2) We don't always see what God sees, but it is good to stop on occasion to just refresh ourselves on just how majestic and totally awesome our God truly is.  Just as we might consider how it is the birds can soar high upon the wind drifts, or how it is the tiny caterpillar makes the cocoon from which it will "hatch" forth a totally different life, we might just consider how it is God elevates us above circumstances beyond our control, or creates something totally different from what our lives seemed to be at one point in time.  In so doing, we are moved to praise and adoration of the one who holds all of creation firmly in his hands.

We don't always "get this" when we are just going about the hustle and bustle of our daily routine, so build in time to reflect from time to time. We need these "seasons" of refreshing and refocusing.  They help us to reconnect with the one who made it all and the one who has a unique purpose in the design of our lives.  Just sayin!

Meet my other brother Larry....

Have you ever read a portion of scripture so many times, you just gloss over it because you think you are already "familiar" with it?  What happens is we tell our brains we already know the "story".  It is like when we asked mom or dad to read us the bedtime story for the 2,000th time!  We didn't need them to read it out loud because we could have just looked at the pictures and told THEM the story!  It wasn't that we memorized it - we remembered enough of the details to "tell the story".  I like to go back to some of my favorite portions of scripture frequently because they have challenged me, given me hope, set my thinking straight, etc.  I count on what happened before to give me something "new" this time around.  The most amazing thing about scripture - it almost always does this when we come with an open mind and a seeking heart!

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.   (Romans 8:29-30 MSG)

This passage is one of those places where you can find richness each time you look into it again.  Here are just a couple of things which came alive to me today:

- God knows what he is doing, even before he sets out to do it.  This should give us hope we don't just live by "fate" or "happenstance".  There is a plan in every experience - because God designed us!  Too many times, I hear people saying they will just play the cards they are dealt, as though there is no one in control of what "hand" they receive.  It is like saying the thing was just unavoidable - it is just chance or luck.  Let me tell you - we don't live by chance if we are God's kids.  We don't rely upon luck to get us through.  What we rely upon and live by is the truth and reality of being created by God, to be his kids, and to enjoy the privileges of this relationship.  It isn't kismet.  It isn't good fortune coming your way.  It is predetermined planning on the part of our Creator!

- God shapes our lives, not into some whimsical fancy of his on a particular day, but by the "standard" of his Son.  In other words, he created us and formed us in the image of who he is!  Our lives follow a pretty unique "standard" - that of the life of Jesus Christ.  The word "shape" here should give us a moment to pause.  Shape is used as a verb here, not a noun.  As such, it is a word which describes an action, not on our part, but on God's.  He shapes us (from the outset) to conform to the image of his Son.  In the most literal sense, this means he gives us a definite "form" by which we should live.  Yet, it also means he adjust, adapts, and directs our lives so we will come into and maintain the perfect form he envisions for our lives.  He makes the necessary adjustments, brings us to the place we "adapt" our behavior, aligning character, and directing our path. 

- God gives us the "finished product" as an example because he knows we do better when we "see" what it is we are moving toward.  It is like when we get a jigsaw puzzle in a bag.  If all we have is the pieces, we struggle for a while bringing order and form to the pieces.  We don't "see" how they fit.  Now, give us the box it came in and we now have a perspective by which to evaluate each piece in comparison to the original.  Jesus stands as our example of how to live in relationship with others - sometimes they are easier than others. He stands as our example of how to deal with temptation - using the Word to drive a wedge between the tempting thought and the right action.  Having the right example helps us know how the pieces fit together in our lives.

- God is not content to just create - he also names his creation.  There have been goofy comic routines throughout history where someone will introduce themselves as Larry, then introduce their brother as Larry and their other brother Larry.  In essence, they are designed to poke a little fun at some corner of society, but I think we might just occasionally believe God doesn't know us any better than the guy next door.  We have a hard time with this idea of believing he could know us each by name, paying close attention to each detail of our lives, simply because there are so many of us!  We think it must be like him calling us Larry, our other brother Larry and his brother Larry! Truth is - we are each unique in his eyes and perfectly attended by his care.

- God is concerned with our footing.  It is one thing to stand us up straight; it is quite another to give us solid footing upon which to walk through this life. The wobbliest of objects can be made to stand up with enough ingenuity.  Try taking it out of its "environment" and it may not do as well!  It is great to know God goes with us into our new "environment", preparing the footing we need to be able to navigate through it safely.

What God envisions, he completes.  This probably baffles some of us because we struggle so much with completing the stuff we set out to do.  It is indeed good news to know the Creator sticks with his Creation all along the way, so as to get us more than "established", but also totally "in line" with what he envisioned in his creative work!  Just sayin!

What inter-dependencies do you have?

Incapable:  Not having the necessary ability, qualifications, or strength to perform.  Some of us might even equate being "incapable" to being incompetent - lacking not only the strength, but also the knowledge behind the needed action.  If you asked me to fix the engine on my car, I'd admit I am incompetent - I don't have the strength to do some of the work anymore, and I sure don't have the knowledge to know how all those pieces fit together so they work exactly as they are designed.  I could go to school to learn the "how to", but it is not until I have practiced it a while that I develop some of the skill to actually say I am "good" at the task.  Yet something is still lacking  in the picture - I may know how it is supposed to all work, but I still am not as familiar with the engine as is the creator of the engine!  The creator has the most intimate knowledge because he envisioned it before it took form, designing each "moving part" to fit together a certain way, and knew the inter-dependencies of the parts he was designing.  It is this vantage point of the creator which gives him the unique position of being both capable and qualified to take the greatest care of that which he created.

When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.  (Colossians 2:14 MSG)

Solomon spent a great deal of time evaluating some of the things he had encountered in life.  As a matter of record, we have his conclusions in the book of Ecclesiastes.  Some of this book has some pretty sad observations - almost as though he was concluding the worst with very little hope for the best.  About in the middle, he pens these words:  God made men and women true and upright; we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of things.  (Ecclesiastes 7:29 MSG)  I don't know about you, but I couldn't agree more.  We certainly do make a mess of things, don't we?

I think Solomon was simply saying we don't see how all the moving parts of our lives are fit together for good, so we do a lot of adjusting without really understanding the way our creator designed for our parts to function.  In reality, our lives are only functioning at their best when rightly connected to our creator - God himself.  Any other connection leaves us feeling a little incompetent - simply because we might have some "developed skill" to deal with life's challenges, but we lack the intimate knowledge of how the creator envisioned us working together for his purpose.

The most important thing we need to realize is our inter-dependencies.  If you are a strong-willed, mostly self-sufficient individual (like me), you probably struggle with this one a lot.  We don't want to admit we cannot take care of business on our own.  We don't see the missing "value" of the inter-dependencies.  Let me give you a little illustration to consider the importance of the inter-dependencies God has uniquely designed in our lives.  I have taken the back off of a watch on an occasion or two.  What I find behind the shiny backing is an inner working of multiple tiny gears, springs, and arms.  On tiny part "playing" on the strengths of another.  In contrast, all those tiny parts also are dependent on the weaknesses of the others.  Get just one out of position and the whole inner workings of the watch fail.

God has developed us to work best only when we are rightly positioned to allow all the inner workings to play upon the strengths of the other.  For example, if our emotions are out of whack - the inner workings of our mind begin to be "played" by the emotions.  Where the mind begins to go, the body is soon to follow.  The body responds with all kinds of hormonal changes, slowing this function, speeding up another.  In turn, we "feel" the way our emotions are leading us.  The old adage, "Laughter does a heart good", it more true than we might just realize.  

So, what does this all have to do with our passage today?  As easily as one tiny gear is dislodged in the watch, gumming up the works of the entire watch, so is the effect of us not being rightly related to God.  Sin disturbs this right relationship.  The fact is, we need to have our "gears" put back into right order by the master watchmaker himself - for only he knows how all these moving parts were actually created to work.  We could probably identify the one which is out of whack pretty easily - but only he knows how to get it into right position again, perfectly balanced so its inter-dependencies are played upon perfectly.  In Christ, God does this for us.  He brings about the ability for us to respond again to his touch in just the manner we were designed to respond from the beginning - all in the actions of the cross.  

It is often in the discovery of the "hidden" inter-dependencies of our life where we discover the absolute need for the wisdom and touch of the creator to put them into right order again.  Just sayin!

What pattern are you following?

With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.  When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, 
      those who fear you will take heart and be glad. 

(Psalm 119:73-74 The Message)

The term "take heart" means to gain strength and courage in a difficult situation.  David reminds us that the example we exhibit in the times of waiting on God to act has the potential of causing others to take heart - - to gain strength and courage for their own difficult circumstances.  In the midst of difficulty, what makes you stand strong?

According to our author, it is the confidence he has in the one who has created him.  It goes without saying that the one doing the "assembling" of the pieces of our lives is the best to address the pressures that come against those "pieces".  I have sewn a few things in my days.  By the time I finished with the assembly of those pieces, I knew everything about that garment.  I had touched the material so many times, turning it this way and then that way, until it was "formed" into what the pattern promised.  The key to the "forming" was in the "pattern" that I followed!

The same is true in life - - the key to us being "formed" well is in the "pattern" we are being formed to fit!  We are reminded repeatedly that we have but one pattern worth following - - Jesus Christ.  The one doing the "forming" is God himself - - the pattern he follows is his one and only Son, Jesus.  It stands to reason that God would know us "inside and out" just as I got to know the ins and outs of the garments I put together.  As his hands pass over the pieces of our lives, he is forming them into something that no longer resembles what they were before - - disconnected pieces without any recognizable form.

I marvel at the skill of God in taking those things within our lives that seem to have no recognizable purpose and then using them to become the very things that give stability and testimony within our lives.  The hands of God sometimes have to "pass over" the pieces of our lives many times before the "forming" work is complete.  There is a technique of making a french seam in sewing that allows the frayed edges to no longer be visible - - they are sewn within the framework of the seam in such a way that they stop their raveling!

God is all over that work of keeping us from "unraveling"!  His hands skillfully guide the parts that are given to "unraveling" into a protective "meshing" of the parts so that the unraveling no longer is a threat!  In his skillful way, he guides us through the "forming" process, stitching together the pieces we don't see value in.  It should never surprise us that God sees value in every stitch he places!  Nothing escapes his perfect touch.

In making those garments, I often wanted to leave out some of the pieces.  I just did not see the importance of that small piece of facing, or the hidden pieces of materials that would give "firmness" to the finished product.  The facing served to "tuck out of view" the edges - - in so doing, not only was a "prettier" image presented, but the edges that were raw were protected from further fraying!  The "interfacing" was placed within the structure of the garment because it added firmness and support.  In much the same way, God's Word provides firmness and support when it is allowed to be "sewn into" the structure of our lives.

We may not see what is taking form within our lives - - but when we trust the skill of the one doing the forming, we can stand strong.  In the forming process, others look on and take courage - - seeing that reliance on the skill of the Great Craftsman yields a finished product that mirrors the "pattern"!

Sermon Lessons: Carefree

^30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."

(Matthew 6:30-33)

I had never really considered the fact that most of the wildflowers in the world go completely unnoticed by human eye.  They spring forth from the hard soil of the earth, struggle against the elements, bloom in all their majesty, and no one ever sets an eye on them!  Then there are the potted flowers I buy from the nursery with high hopes they will adorn my flowerbeds long enough to give me a little enjoyment through the milder seasons in Arizona.  I barely get them planted, stand back and admire my work, then watch them fade away!

What are the differences between the wildflowers and the ones planted in my garden?  Well, first of all, it is who is doing the planting and caring for them!  One is completely God's handiwork - the other is a local nursery worker, followed by me, then left to the fate of the sprinkler system and sun!  No wonder God's do so much better than mine!  Yet, that is not the only difference between the two.  There is also the fact that one is deliberately planted to bring God joy - the other is planted to bring only me joy!

That wildflower, bending with the gentle breezes, in the meadow, or tucked gently into a crag on the side of a cliff, has been placed exactly where they are by the hand of our Creator God.  They enjoy their placement because it has been designed by God.  I doubt if that wildflower on the side of the cliff says to itself, "I wish I was in the meadow" and then bemoans its "fate" of being on the majestic cliff!  Yet, how many times do we "bloom" where we have been planted only to complain about our "planting"?

The fact is that God plants us where we will bloom best!  In his perfect wisdom, he plants us - some in meadows, others in seeming "aloneness" in the "crags" of life.  Yet...in our perfect position we have the true honor of bringing God joy.  It is when we understand that we are not placed to bring ourselves joy that we truly begin to enjoy where we are "planted".  It is there that we can begin to be "carefree" - allowing God to soak up the beauty of our lives as he designed it!

You may not be noticed by the masses, but God has his eyes constantly directed toward you.  You never escape his watchfulness.  He sees your struggle to get your "head above the hard soil" of life.  He knows how you will "fit in" with the "environment" where you have been planted.  He encourages your growth with "gentle storms" and "forming winds".  He opens you to fullness of beauty with the warmth of his radiance, much as the sun does for the wildflower in the field.

It is in being "carefree" that we truly become aware of how much we are "cared for" and watched over.  In blooming exactly where we have been planted, we bring much joy to the one who has planted us exactly where we are!

The "real thing"

^9-13The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering life he brings into Light.  He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice.  He came to his own people, but they didn't want him.  But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, he made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.  These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.

(John 1:9-13)

It would be quite easy to read the first chapter of John and pass over the passages that are familiar to some and seem "cursory" to others.  In considering the truths laid out in this passage, several things come into view when we stop to dig a little deeper:

• Jesus is the "real thing" - many years ago, Coca-Cola entered onto the market and began a marketing campaign calling Coke the "real thing".  It became the way people thought about the differences between every upstart "cola" and Coca-Cola - only one was the "real thing".  If we examine this passage in its entirety, you will see that Jesus is who is outlined in these passages.  He is presented as the "real thing" - not just another "thing" to be worshiped, but the only way into true and everlasting life.
• He brings us into light - no one who has truly experienced light wants to willingly settle for darkness.  Darkness has very little appeal after we have experienced the wonder of all light exposes - color, hue, form, etc.  It is important to note that we don't somehow get into the light ourselves - he brings us into the light.  The challenge of being blind is that we must trust another to guide us in our darkness.  A blind person must learn to place their faith in another - coming into step with the one who is "in the light" in order to move through the darkness.  So it is with us - we need to trust in the one capable of bringing us into light - coming into step with him.
• The world did not even notice him - it amazes me that the creator of the world, the sustainer of the world, was in the world, right there living and breathing alongside us, and we failed to notice him.  Each of us has had a point when what has previously been a lack of focus for us suddenly comes into view and we wonder how long that object or solution has been right there in front of us.  Most of our "revelation" of Christ in our lives is really just a discovery of what is already there.  We just didn't notice it.
• Whoever wanted him he made to be their true selves - at best, we walk around trying to be what we think we should be.  We have an "image" of what we want to achieve, how we want to be perceived by others, or what we present as the goals of our lives.  No one knows us better than the one who created us.  When the manufacturer of an automobile is brought the automobile and told it is making a certain noise, he is likely to know very well what to consider as the cause of that noise.  Others may be "trained" to look for certain things - but at best, they can "guess" at the cause.  The one who made the automobile "knows" - because he is the one that formed every part, placed every part into its particular use, etc.  Jesus is the one who knows how we were formed - and he knows the purpose for each one of us. 
• We are "God-begotten" - sure, we were all born the typical way - a sperm made its way into an ovum and conception occurred.  Today, this can occur in a test-tube in a laboratory, but the fact still remains, the sperm and ovum must come together and then the action of physical life begins.  In a spiritual sense, the same must occur.  The Spirit of God enters into our spirit, and spiritual life begins.  We sometimes refer to this as the "new birth" experience.  The "replication" of Christ's character begins to take place - until we are completely formed into his image, reflective of his character.

We become the "real thing" because we are inhabited by the "real thing"!  What we once overlooked has become our very existence.  The absolutely amazing thing about this transformational process of the "new birth" experience is that we come into a place where we are free to be exactly who we were created to be - our unique qualities on display for God's glory and at the ready for his use.  

In the beginning

^1-2First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. 

(Genesis 1:1-2)

I awoke this morning thinking about God's creation - all he has formed, all that exists, and all that no longer exists.  Things, people, and trends - all have a tendency to come and all will go.  As I reflected on the "Genesis Story" - the record of creation - I marveled at the awesome order in which God put things together.  Consider this:

• Light and Darkness - the first to be created.  Why?  Well, it is pretty obvious - without light, the rest could not be appreciated.  That is the way it is in our lives - without the light of Christ shining bright in our hearts, there is no fullness of appreciation of what he has done.
• Sky and Sea - has it ever occurred to you what a miracle it is that the oceans stay where they are - separated from the sky and not just "flying around" willy nilly?  I have sailed the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean - each unique in its own way.  I have flown the skies high above clouds, hardly able to make out much below other than shape and form.  The sky and all contained in it governs the ebb and tide of the oceans.  The radiant warmth of the sun's rays makes the day evident and the night's moon reminds us of the presence of the sun even when it is not seen.  Jesus is the reflected image of our Heavenly Father that we cannot see.  
• Waters and Land - separate, but joined.  Each existing for a different purpose - each supporting the other.  Just as the waters and land are separated, yet joined, so it is with us - we are separated from this world, but joined to it by our very existence as part of the human race.  We are called to be the light that radiates into the world.  There is no hope for the world without the joining influence of Christ.
• Trees and Plants - each bearing fruit in their unique way.  God has a plan with all created things - it is to bear fruit in their unique way.  What is the fruit that God is bringing forth in your life?  It is meant for a purpose on this earth.
• Lights in the Sky - Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, Galaxies - we know not the depth or breadth of what he created in the galaxies.  We only see a fraction.  So it is with what we know of Christ - we see in part what we will one day behold in all its majesty and glory.
• Fish and Birds - one to inhabit the skies, one to inhabit the waters.  Nothing is to be devoid of life - all are to be filled.  Each serves a unique purpose - each has a unique role.  The birds spread seed, the fish clean the ocean's floors.  What is your role in God's creation - are you fulfilling the unique place he has called you into existence for?
• All the Animals - more than we could comprehend - every creature alive, every creature no longer in existence - all by his hand tenderly formed and uniquely placed.  Each supporting the other in what we call the "circle of life".  
• Last, but certainly not least - human life!  All he had created, placed in the hands of his final creative work - us!  All to be enjoyed by us, all to be respected by us, all to be cared for by us.  Not worshiped - enjoyed.  Not idolized - respected and cared for.

Sometimes we blow by the creation story with the quickest glance at the words contained on the pages - oblivious to the unique order, the specific purpose of each phase, and the outstanding glory of what he created.  Each aspect of creation reflects him - his light, his glory, his life, his power - think about it.  See the Genesis Story through the eyes of one who is placed specifically in the midst of it all - to enjoy it, to learn of God from it, to know he exists because of it.

In the beginning...God created all things.  Even you and me!  We are his unique creations - made for a purpose, created by his specific plan, included in his vision of the creation story!