In the Beginning...

What a glorious day it is! The weather is beautiful after several days of nasty rain and storms. I’m always grateful when the sun comes back out. I am a sunshine kind of girl for sure! I haven’t written for a while and my mind is full today with thoughts, too many for just one blog. Sometimes I lay in bed at night thinking about blog ideas. I know that sounds crazy, but they sometimes pop into my head, or at times they bubble up deep from within my heart. They evolve from great joy and at times from deep sorrow. I keep a tiny notepad on my nightstand to write the ideas down. Some I use and others never go any farther than my little notepad. I love how God sends me these thoughts and then expands them into writings. This one bubbled to the surface after I read my Bible study notes this morning, and after a long walk through our neighborhood, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Creation truly does display God’s glory and it makes me want to write!

Today, I am feeling overwhelmed by the majesty of God and His creation. Last week, my ladies Bible study started back up and as I think I’ve mentioned before, we are studying the entire book of Genesis this year. I am SO excited about it. I cannot wait to dive into this beautiful book that is the foundation to all of the rest of God’s Word. There are two to three hundred ladies and about one hundred children who will be studying together from now through the end of next May. Within that group, I meet with a smaller group of about fourteen each week. I look forward to getting to know the ladies in my present group. Some of them have been doing BSF for more than eight years! I am in my second year and I know that I will learn so much from them. I know God has so much in store for us as we systematically study His Word together this year.

We have met for two weeks and I am so excited that I can hardly stand it! Last week, our teaching leader gave us an overview of the book of Genesis. This week, we learned about creation, our amazing Creator, and the different views on how creation began. I was not aware that there are SO many different views about how our Universe began. I knew of some, but not so many. I have always believed by faith that God’s entire Word is true and that He is our Creator, but not everyone believes that way. Our lesson notes taught us about those different views, but mainly they taught us just how incredible and powerful our God is. Reading through my lesson notes and back through Genesis 1 reminded me this morning that God’s name is mentioned over thirty times in that one chapter! He is the main Character of creation! The lesson also reminded me that God “created”, He “said”, He “saw”, He “called”, He “made”, He “set” and He “blessed”! And, He did all of this from nothing! When you and I make something, we already have something available to create start with. Not so with God. He is the Creator of all things! He started from scratch! This truth comforts me because it reminds me that if God says it, He will do it! In other words, if He thinks it, plans it, ordains it, promises it or commands it, it will happen in His way and timing. That is an incredible promise that we can count on!

One of the many other lessons that I was reminded of this week in our studies is that if we are His creation, and we are, then He has a beautiful purpose and plan for our lives! All over the book of Ephesians, one of my favorite books, we are reminded that God chose us before creation, He adopted us and made us His sons and daughters. We are His “workmanship”, created for the works and purpose that He has for us – and that purpose is to bring Him glory with our lives! (see Ephesians 1-2) God loves each of us so much that not only did He create us, but He created this magnificent earth as our home and for our delight, to meet our needs and to fulfill His purpose. He gave man dominion over the earth. He also created this earth so that His only Son could come here in human form to save us from eternal death. He is a loving and generous God! Now, there is one catch – we must choose God and His plans, He leaves that choice to us. He will never force Himself on us. I believe that if we choose otherwise, that life will be without true meaning and purpose. In my mind, a life without God will be a wasted life. I have always found that when I am following God’s purpose for me, I am most fulfilled and find the most joy. His plan is best! We were created for His delight and for His glory! I do not want to miss His best plan for my life.

I am no scientist or great theologian, but I do have faith and though some days it is only the size of a mustard seed, I firmly believe, without a doubt that God created all things including me, and since I believe that, I desire to start living more like I believe it. I want to live like I believe that He still has an incredible purpose for my life. As long as I am taking in air, I want to live for Him and serve Him. I want to seek direction and wisdom from Him as I continue to walk through the ever changing seasons of my life. I want my life to always demonstrate that I was made by Him and for Him. I want my thoughts and my actions to glorify Him. Just as God spoke light in the world, He has spoken light into my life and I want to live and walk in that light and spread that light to others. God is always doing a new thing and I do not want to miss it! I do not know what He has next for me, but I am excited and I want to trust Him in it and hopefully I am ready for it. But, even if I am not, HE IS! May He continue to give me grace to walk through whatever it is. God bless you and thanks for reading!