Week 2 – February 1st – Robyn Watts

I found it interesting that the serpent (aka Satan) begins Eve's temptation with a question. Right away he plants in her mind a question that undermines God's Truth and Authority. I also noticed how Eve is able to quote exactly the command given to her by her Father, yet with one question and one lie Satan is able to convince her God was wrong. How is it that I can KNOW the truth, but favor lies over it?

I was struck by how beautiful that temptation looked to Eve. And at that moment in time how delicious it tasted (not unlike many of my own temptations). In fact, it tasted so good, she wanted to share it with her soul mate. I wonder what Eve said to Adam to convince him to eat? Must not have been a whole lot because the Bible tells us nothing of the conversation, just that he ate it too.

I can relate to the feeling of dread and shame that must have overtaken the two of them as they entered the world of sin for the first time. Oh, how good it looked from the outside; how rotten it felt once entered. I can't even count the number of times I've felt this exact same way... Hiding, covering, lying, blaming... all of these things Adam and Eve used to try and escape the judgment they were sure to face from their Father. All things I myself have tried at one time or another. I don't fare any better than these first two people did. I can only imagine the emotions that overcame God as He sadly watched his brand new creation fall into sin and then try to hide what they had done.

Although it hits me as being unfortunate at first, I realize God is a just God, therefore a judgment would be mandatory. Never again would humans walk in perfect unity with their Creator on earth. But, because I know God is a loving God, we can be sure our story does not end there. Even though our battles are many here on earth, the Victory is already won! The serpent is defeated once and for all by Jesus. He is who will bring you and I back to the garden of our Creator God, to dance once again before Him, shameless and pure.

Week 1 - In the beginning...

Week of January 25th - Doug Mathers

The week's readings include Genesis 1 and 2. I love those chapters for many reasons. Here are some highlights:

God seems to have an endless amount of creative energy and an insatiable appetite for doing so

God's special interest in humanity to create us in HIS image. We don't know what that means definitively but I think it includes personality, creativity, the desire for deep and meaningful relationships, freewill, a need for justice and of course a sense of humor!

God creating sex and sexuality, male and female, a purpose for pink and blue and his and hers towels. I love Adam's initial response to Eve in the NLT, "At last!"

What I hope we all catch from this reading is that if humanity is created in the image of God then I am and YOU are created in his image. We are intentional products of God's creativity and His love. We are from the voice!

Let there be... YOU!