The Genesis Directive: Part 1

The first chapter of the Bible is the story of creation. The creation of all things: the heavens, the earth, the seas, and all means of creatures by the spoken Word of God. Then God intentionally created humankind from the substance of the earth and His own breath, (See Genesis 2:7) in His own image, according to His own likeness, with the position of dominion -- caretaker and authority -- over all other life:  "over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."   Genesis 1:26

Humankind's position on our planet is one of authority and caretaker. Adam's first job according to Genesis 2:1, was to name and identify all other creatures. Genesis 1:27 - 30, spells out specifically God's intended role for humankind.

So God created humankind  in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 

Our earth and the condition of its inhabitants is testimony of how conscientiously we have served our created position. What can we do today to restore, refresh, or replenish our precious planet? It's our job!

Check out Robyn's new B.L.E.S.S.E.D. devotions at Blessed to Believe!

"Speak, for Your servant is listening."

Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. He told Samuel, "Go and lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’" 1 Samuel 3:8,9

When was the last time you heard God? Really heard Him? In Hearing God Through the Year, Dallas Willard writes “that the same Spirit who delivered the Scriptures to holy men of old speaks today in the hearts of those who gather around the written Word to teach and to learn.” Dr. Willard suggests that you list people you can talk to about how they hear God in their lives.

If we truly believe that God created us so that He could have a relationship with us, how then can we possibly think He would not want to speak to us? Who do you know that hears God on a regular basis? Consider treating them to a Starbucks and then listen to what they have to say!

Seven Filters, part 2

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, 

There are six things that the Lord hates, 

seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that hurry to run to evil, 

a lying witness who testifies falsely,  

and one who sows discord in a family.

Therefore, is it reasonable to conclude that:

There are six things that the Lord loves, 

seven that are a delight to Him? 

Humble eyes, a truthful tongue,

and hands that reach out to help, 

a heart that considers righteous plans,

feet that hurry to run to goodness, 

an honest witness who testifies truthfully,

and one who sows peacefulness in a family.

At the end of the day, how do your actions measure up?

Food for thought during a fasting season!

Seven Filters

Proverbs 6:16-19 says, 

There are six things that the Lord hates, 

seven that are an abomination to him:

haughty eyes, a lying tongue

and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that hurry to run to evil, 

a lying witness who testifies falsely, 

and one who sows discord in a family.

This season of Lent and self-examination offers us a good opportunity to look at how our perspective (eyes), words (tongue), actions (hands and feet), attitude (heart), and character (witness) measure up. When we filter our day through this Proverb, it is easy to see if we have spent our time well -- pleasing God; or if we have fallen into habits and behavior patterns that displease Him.

Food for thought during a fasting season! 

Test of the Flesh

The journey of Christ in the wilderness was a time of testing and a time of discipline. Jesus’ first challenge by Satan was a “test of the flesh,” a challenge of self identity and physical comfort. Satan challenged Jesus to prove who he was by demonstrating his ability to satisfy his own physical hunger. Jesus’ response was to remind the evil one that humankind is more than physical need and ability.

How do we follow Jesus’ example in breaking the physical bonds by which we identify so strongly? Two ways are fasting and anonymous giving. One helps us break the strong draw of our physical appetite by intentionally depriving ourselves of physical comfort; the other helps us break the lure of self-prowess by selflessly, and quietly giving away those things that we hold dear.

Both of these disciplines help us recognize what it means—and feels like – to depend on God’s Providence.

Book suggestion: The God of Intimacy and Action: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice' by Tony Campoloa & Mary Albert Darling

Lent: Five Weeks until Easter

In the desert, Jesus faced physical discomfort. Hunger and thirst. Ironic, The Bread of Life Himself without physical sustenance. Scripture tells us that the Devil came to Jesus in the wilderness to test Him,

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:3

The enemy used Jesus’ physical condition to test His personal identity. If you are the Son of God – prove it! Prove who you are by showing what you can do for yourself.

An interesting test. The test of “flesh.” Prove who you are by the standard of how well you can take care of your own needs. If we can provide for ourselves, then surely we are independent. If we can buy big houses, fancy cars, designer clothes, then surely we are successful. “Don’t help me, I can do it by myself” is one of the first things toddler’s learn to say. “I can tie my shoes all by myself now” – it proves I’m a big girl!

Jesus’ answer to Satan was,

"It is written: 'People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4

In refusing to satisfy His own physical needs, Jesus is telling us that the true standard of who we are and what we need is not based in the physical realm. It isn’t about what we have or what we can do on our own. It isn’t about meeting all of our needs by ourselves. Who we are is based on whose we are, and therefore real sustenance is not about what we can provide for ourselves, but what God wants to give us.

How do we break this mind-set of trying to prove ourselves by showing how well we can provide for our own needs? One way is by going without… giving up, or better yet, anonymously giving away those very things by which we have been defining ourselves, and by turning our awareness and thankfulness to what God is giving us today.

Lent & the Spiritual Disciplines

Henri Nouwen once wrote, “In the spiritual life, the word ‘discipline’ means ‘the effort to create some space in which God can act’… if we create space in which God can act and speak, something surprising will happen. You and I are called to these disciplines if we want to be disciples.”

I have a passion for reading the writings and biographies of the early church Fathers and Mothers. I am always moved and filled with wonder at their capacity to know, hear, and follow God’s voice in their lives. Yet, I am also often left feeling a bit melancholy. Why, I wonder, if God does not change,* if indeed He is the same today as yesterday, then why do I not have that same degree or intensity of relationship with Him as those great Patriarchs and Matriarchs?

Could it be that they lived lives with much more space for God in them? Fasting, solitude, penitence, giving, serving… were all regular parts of their lives. In my life, they are very limited experiences only. Christ spoke of “when you give, when you fast, when you serve…” never if. The example of Christ at the beginning of the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke shows us the disciplines of solitude and fasting that Christ intentionally practiced – after His baptism yet before the beginning of His public service.

The practices of Spiritual Disciplines should therefore be the result of and response to our recognized dedication and devotion to God, and their purpose is to prepare us for and lead us to the path of service. We should not practice these disciplines for their own sake, but for the purpose of being prepared, tested, and empowered for God’s purposes for His Church, His Children, and His Creation.

The season of Lent offers us the opportunity to intentionally set aside time in our day for God to work in unexpected ways.

*(See Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

Book suggestion: The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster