Life Thoughts
It takes two!
Purpose! Think about that for just a moment, what is your purpose? Why did God create you and put you on this planet? I thinnk the book of Genesis starts the answer to that question . . .
Gen 1:26 – 29 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
We were created to rule over His creation, in His image! Have you ever just thought about that? A few years back their was a great popularity in the WWJD bracelets, bumper sticker and such, What Would Jesus Do? I think the concept of God’s image should help direct our actions. How would God do it? Our first purpose in creation was to rule over all that God created, we were in all points and purposes created to be the ruler, or king, if you like of his creation.
Funny, we in america, and most of the world today really fail to truly comprehend the duties of a king or ruler. We like the concepts of the power and priveledges, but often fail short in the role of protector and defender of the relm! You see that is part of ruling is protection, protecting all of His creation!
But wait there is more . . .
Gen 15 – 25 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Wow! So their he is, Adam! Sitting in God’s garden, filling the role of ruler. But God sees something that is just not quite right. Adam is alone! God says, man should not be alone so. . .
God brings in every creature He created and I can just imagine the smile on His face as Adam looks at what God has so wonderfully crafted and then Adam says, “I’ll call that a Giraffe!”. The thought of that day makes me smile. And as God and Adam go through the long line of creature, none of them appear suitable to help in the task of ruling over the creation. So God puts man asleep, and then borrows from His creation a rib, part of man and then delicately crafts woman, the crowning jewel and final act of His creation. And then God brings her before Adam and he sees her.
Imagine how he must have felt. After seeing all that God had created then to lays his eyes upon her, Eve! Adam, says I will call her woman, for she was taken from part of me! When the two of us are together we are complete, we are one! I love what the scriptures say next, their they stood and they felt no shame! What a wonderful place that must be! It has been a long time since I felt that way (but that is fodder for another post someday!)
So there it is. God’s created man, to rule over His creation. He created woman, by taking part from man, to be a helper to man as they rule creation together. The two being one! Now they can, as it says in verse 28, be fruitful and multiply.
Our purpose . . Rule His creation, with a proper view of ruling and be fruitful and multiply and do all of it with the helper, or co-laborer He has given us . . . wonderful, beautiful, woman!
Relational Thoughts
Over the years of adulthood and being a believer I have encountered many different perceptions about friends, relationships and what they should look like. I have heard sermons preached that cover the spectrum to men should have only one female friend, their spouse to their should be no relational boundries in our lives. I mean really, I have heard some serious wacked out stuff.
Alot of times it is easy to filter these things because they just end up so stupid, others, are more narrow and require close scrutiny and often lead to debate over interpretation and intent. Having been married most of my adult life, I found it easy to not even worry through those issues because, well frankly, I was content and happy with the relationship I had. That is not to say I did not struggle with relational issues, we all do.
However, now that I am no longer married I find myself often in a quandry over relational issues. How close should I allow my relationships with members of the opposite sex to become? And knowing how my marriage ended, I think that is a realistic question, whether you are single or married.
As a result, I thought I would take the next few blogs and explore relational issues, and focus alot on opposite sex relationships as this is something I really want to hone in on and tweak my life focus a bit. So I am also going to open up comments and would encourage you to give your thoughts, experiences and lessons learned along the way.
Buck.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Gen 1:26-28 NIV
Today
It seems like it has been a little bit since I felt that I had the wherewithal to put my scattered thoughts down in written form. With the onset of the holidays, the finalization of my divorce and just the business of life and my four amazing kids, I have been somewhat retreated from the online life, sometimes going days without using my computer except for work necessities.
My son and I were having a conversation yesterday and he replied “Life is hard!” Smiling, I looked at him and said “I know”. He then go this look and said, “I know you do dad”. That was all that was said, but as a father, it was one of those moments that you realize something clicked and you connected with your child. You mentally celebrate a moment of maturity you just witnessed in your child. TBut then your heart also breaks for the realization of knowing what your child has experienced over the past couple of years.
This morning, as I sat with coffee in one hand and a close friend across the table, at Starbucks, we were talking about my childhood and my heart broke as the deep sense of just wanting to talk with my Dad about life. To get his perspective. My mom left when I was young and my Dad retained custody of my brother and I and with the help of my grandparents navigated much the same waters I feel lost in today. We never really talked about it while he was alive, and maybe I never knew to appreciate it, but I do today. He did well. He kept it together and eventually married a wonderful woman, my stepmother, who loved and raised me as her own child!
So now your saying “yea, your thoughts are scattered!” And would reply yes and no. You see, over the years I have often viewed God, or personified Him much in perspective of my own father . . unconditional love, giving, sacrificing and yet also so perspective of my own relationship with my children . . the disciplinarian, the guide, instructor, helper, teacher. God. My strength, source and refuge for life. No, not a crutch, but a very present help when I find myself in need. He is my father. My provider. My healer. My teacher.
Psalm 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Give Thanks
Turkey, potatoes, beans and gravy
Delicously driving the taste buds crazy
Cakes, pies, and sweet treats
Lots of delicous eats
Eating too much thats so true,
how about you?
This is a time to celebrate and say Thank You
To God, freinds and family for all they do
Thank You everyone!
