January 1 - Genesis 1:1-3:24

Good morning everyone,

Happy New Year! I am totally excited to embark on another journey through the pages of God’s Holy Word. I know you have all read the “The Wizard of Oz.” Right? I see myself as Dorothy traveling down the yellow brick road that was filled with learning experiences, excitement and the promise of hope. Only the path that God has laid out before us this year will not have scarecrows and tin men, instead it will be filled with heroes, villains, huge arks carrying all sorts of animals ,a big fish who swallowed a man, talking donkeys, and so very much more. 

As we go through the pages of the Bible, some of the events we read about will take a great deal of faith. It is important that we remember that this entire book is true. It all happened as reported and has been preserved for us to glean from, to guide us and instruct us as we make our way through life.

The Bible begins with, and I would encourage you to go over these slowly. See them in your mind’s eye. It is an amazing visual! “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

And God said, “Let there be light.”

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” 

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.”

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” 

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.

May I suggest, if you believe that, and you absolutely should believe that, then the rest of the book is easy peasy. Our God is so huge, so mighty, so completely, unreservedly powerful. A God that created an entire universe certainly would have no problem parting a sea or anything else. Agreed?

Just one more thing; Genesis 1:26 says Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” Notice the word “our.” Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there, with God the Father from the very beginning. They are a trinity sharing in the might and power. Jesus willingly set all that aside to humbly come to earth to suffer and die for us while the Holy Spirit continues to guide us through each and every day. 

Psalm 8:3-4 says, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Friends, our God loves us.” God is love, and because of that love and his wonderful creativity, he made us so we can enjoy all that he is and all that he's done. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..