In the beginning … a good way to start don't you think?
I love so many points she raises in this chapter. It begins with the always coming of Christ. (12). He was there. He's always been! The power of the words spoken - to create out of nothing.
But you? You alone were formed by a huddle of hearts. Let us make human beings. The authority of God made all of creation. But it was the affection of God that made all His children. (12) Don't you just want to cry?!! If I ever doubted my significance or wondered if I really mattered, this just smashes those lies to pieces.
You are made of the dust of this earth and you are made of the happiness of heaven, and you are flesh and you are spirit, and you are of two worlds longing for the home of forever and Him.(12) Yes and yes!!!!!!!!! I'm crying out!!!!
I have the distinct privilege of home educating my children. And while I started out thinking I was going to impart all my adult wisdom on my little chicks, I've since been taught through reality that it is I who have much to learn.
It was when were studying science (a subject I've never been particularly fond of) and specifically earth science that my eyes were opened to some of the things she mentions in this chapter. That could be because the curriculum we used was written by her - haha! "Explore His Earth - a Child's Geography" is the loveliest way to learn about the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. To learn of the water cycle, structure of the earth and earthquakes and volcanoes from the perspective of creation as this constant around us that declares his wonder and glory to us every day down to the smallest detail brings me to my knees!
The answer to deep anxiety is deep adoration of God.(14)Amen and amen. As someone who has been struggling with anxiety lately, I need to hear this again and again. Change the focus from fear of what may or may not happen to a holy fear of an awesome God.
This love story you and I are reading - we love because He first loved us.
Question #1 - This may sound weird but it's the water cycle. Yep. When I think about how the water that's constantly going around is the same water that's been going around since Day 2 of Creation, that's a pretty cool thought. The same droplets that engulfed but never sank the Ark, the pool of water that Jesus was baptized or any number of events from history all over the world. Wow. As the rain comes down, when I turn on the tap or give my daughter a bath or shovel snow - it goes round and round. The water cycle.
2 comments:
The example you used with the cycle of water is so wonderful and leaves me awed by the whole thought of God's pure continuity with which He creates, preserves and cares so deeply for humankind. Susanne
I was struck by the paragraph you mentioned, Rachel - "The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God." I believe this. The following paragraph also was thought-provoking for me: "And the greatest gift we can give our great God is to let His love make us glad." Sometimes I feel that God wants me to strive to be a good little Christian, running this way and that, spreading God's love everywhere. Spreading God's love is good, but it can only happen when I am first filled with adoration for Him. I must first receive His love and be filled with it and gladdened by it. The rest will follow that naturally and genuinely, and in a God-pleasing way (not a self-serving way). This distinction reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha.
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