Genesis 1:1 - The Beginning

Genesis 1:1 -- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

I could go into a long diatribe of what this verse means; but, honestly, why not just take it at it's word?

All things were Made by Him

"Look what I made, Mommy!" says the little boy who shows off his picture to his mother.

"I see!" says Mom. "It's a beautiful picture. But, did you know that you didn't make that by yourself?"

"I did! I did it ALL BY MYSELF!"

"You drew the picture all by yourself. But, where did you get the paper?"

"Miss Thelma gave it to me."

"So, Miss Thelma helped you draw that picture by giving you the paper. Where did Miss Thelma get the paper?"

"From the store."

"So not only did Miss Thelma help you, the store helped you. Where did the store get the paper?"

"From the paper maker?"

"The factory made the paper to give to the store that gave it to Miss Thelma. How did the factory make the paper?"

"From TREES!"

"So the Trees provided the materials for the factory to make the paper that sent it to the store to sell to Miss Thelma so she could give it to you. Interesting. Where did the trees come from?"

"From seeds."

"So the seeds grew and became trees that provided the materials for the factory to make the paper that sent it to the store to sell to Miss Thelma so she could give it to you. Where did the seeds come from?"

The little boy thinks...

"Mom? Where DO the seeds come from?"

"The seeds came from the first tree. Do you know where THAT came from?"

The little boy shrugs.

"The Bible says, In Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

This means that God created the first tree. So, everything was created with God. This means that even this picture that you drew could not have been done without God. So, did you create this picture all by yourself?"

The little boy thinks about this for a moment, then says, "No. God helped me draw this picture."

"That's right! Don't ever forget that you can't do ANYTHING without God!"

You are Only One Member of the Body of Christ

Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
Particularly this verse catches my eye:
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

What this chapter says to me is that not all of us are called to stand in front of the pulpit on Sundays. Some of us are called to sweep the church after services. Some of us are are called to have Bible Studies in our homes. Some of us are called to tell people on the streets that there is hope in Jesus.

We are all called to tell the whole world the good news of the Gospel, but not ONE of us can do it alone. So, we serve God right where we are with what God gives us to serve with; each of us being one member of the Body of Christ.

This World is Not My Home

I think reading this in context is best. Paul basically tells us that if you are a Christian, then you should gladly put away certain behaviors in exchange for more Christ-like characteristics with-in yourself. Once you have "become a new creature in Christ", all the bad behaviors you once had should be done away with, as you are no longer that person anymore.

It also calls us to do away with prejudices, such as racism, judging according to financial standings, or thinking you are better than anyone else because of your social placement (employer/employee relationship, etc.) Those systems do not exist in the Kingdom of God.


Colossians
Chapter 3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul!

My prayer is always to let every breath from my body Bless the Lord. Let my every action glorify His Name. Let every spoken word Praise Him. All I do, may it please Him.

When we bless The Lord, we are blessed beyond measure, no matter our circumstance.

When someone I meet each day asks me, "How are you, today?" I never fail to say, "I am blessed." No matter how I feel, or what I am going through, where I am or who I am with, I am ALWAYS blessed!

Waiting on God

Waiting on The Lord is never easy, but ALWAYS necessary. God doesn't show up just because we ask Him to. He shows up when He is needed AND trusted most. When you are at the end of your rope, and when there is nowhere left to turn, and no one left to turn to, THAT is when God shows up and shows out!

To wait on God is an event that happens numerous times in the Bible, and always with positive results. The Bible doesn't ask you to "wait" so much as it encourages "patience" during tribulation.

Wait. God is ALWAYS on time!

God is the God of Preservation!

This means that no matter what evil comes against you, if you are a child of God, God will keep you from destruction. He will ensure that your soul remains where it should.