Genesis 2: One Shining Moment

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.

This 2nd chapter of Genesis repeats the story of creation- this time narrowing the focus to God's precious handiwork that He made in His own image- us. What exactly does the phrase "image of God" mean? Some would contend that God created human beings so that by looking upon them He sees something of Himself. What does God look like? Maybe the answer lays in the reflection of your own mirror. Alone of all creation, we received the breath of life from God Himself- a pretty incredible gift!

Life Question: Think about a close friend or family member. In what way does this person reflect God? Does he or she possess a quality or personality trait that reflects what God must be like?

I'd have to say that the first person (s) that come to mind are my kids. It may sound silly, but looking in the hopeful eyes of little Sarah- how can I not be reminded of my Creator? Or, on occasion, when I lose my temper with my son over something silly- he's right back at my side waiting for me to play Nintendo, Legos, or chillin' on the couch with him watching the latest episode of Teen Titans- unconditional love. Marie's maturity over serious issues that she unfortunately has had to deal with in her young life (like the divorce of her parents) are also reflections of a loving and prudent God. Yeah, all my kids, to me, are His reflection...I just pray that I can return the gift to them.

Genesis 1: a Book of Beginnings

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

The opening chapter of the Bible insists on two facts: Creation is God's work. Creation is good.

The first few books of Genesis can be seen as an artist's signature on a painting...God is simply saying, "This is mine." On a sad note, much has been spoiled since the days of creation. Genesis 1 described the unspoiled world that God designed for us. Whatever beauty we see in nature today probably does not do justice to the world that is described in this first chapter.

Life Question: Think of a time when you noticed- really noticed- the beauty of the natural world.

Living on Robinson Ave ( a pretty high-traffic road), it can be somewhat difficult to take notice of the natural world. Fortunately, we have an awesome backyard with four huge trees- home to every squirrel in northeast Ohio, I think. One of my favorite things to do in the summertime, is simply to have my coffee outside at the picnic table and take in the sights and sounds of my yard...and try not to grumble too much as I watch the chipmunks dig up my flowers!