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Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Genesis” is a word that can mean “birth,” “history of origin,” or “genealogy.” What can you observe about who God is from this passage about beginnings?
The creator of the universe is immensely creative, unimaginable in the intricacy of design. The detail work, the color, indicate an artist beyond my imagination. What's more he has decided to allow his creation to have some of that creativity. We from our inner most self are built with the DNA of God, Elohim. Wow
That it can't just have "happened". There is too much detail, too much incredulous intricacy to be by chance. When I look at a skyscraper, or a city skyline, or even see someone well dressed, I never think oh well, that all happened by chance. Just my luck that we get to use it. All that was carefully designed by someone. How could our universe just be chance?
Obviously by taking care, by honoring faithfully the resources that we have- from animal husbandry to stewardship of the land.
The joy that the change of seasons and constant changing of weather brings. There is no sameness in our days. The peace that outdoors can bring from taking a walk to camping to enjoying new vistas everywhere. Even to enjoying the benefits of a warm home on a cold wintry day is a reflection of Gods careful creation.
I should view people as his great gifts to us as well.
Made in the image of God is an audacious claim.
First, the truth about you is that you are creative because God is creative. Every human has the capacity to make things, to create, because we are all made in the image of a creative God.
The second truth about you is that you are spiritual because God is Spirit: "The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Genesis 1:2). Every human possesses spiritual aptitudes and capacities. We are more than the sum of our physical parts
A third truth about you is that you communicate because God communicates: The human ability to think and reason, to use language, symbols and art, far surpasses the abilities of any animals. This gift was bestowed when the communicative God's image was imprinted on us.
A fourth truth about you is that you are intelligent because God is intelligent:Because of God's intelligent image imprinted on our lives, though we possess different kinds of intelligence, each of us is to develop our mental capacities to their fullest
A fifth truth about you is that you are relational because God is relational: This capacity for a relationship with God extends to humans, which is why the Genesis story declares that God created Eve for Adam because "it is not good for man to be alone."
A sixth truth about you is that you are morally responsible because God is a moral being. Just as there are natural laws that govern the universe, universal moral laws govern human behavior. The Bible teaches that these laws are written on human hearts and are universal.
“You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
One who knows my heart intimately, not just sees what I do.
I'm always tempted to take things into my own hands. Sometime it's so blurred I can't tell the difference between my will and Gods. I wanted back into teaching badly that I tried every way to insinuate myself into it:
Playground supervisor
Volunteering
Applied and interviewed in a school district 25 m away
Called for all sorts of weird jobs
Abraham needed to know that this God was indeed all powerful and could do what he said. It was not an impossibility that a man with no son would be made into a nation
Moses needed to know his name too
out multitude of nations. Here, God changes the name of Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah. So Abram (Noble Father) becomes Abraham (Father of many) and Sarai, (Princess) becomes Sarah(Mother of Nations).
Abraham and Sarah's very names indicate a ?God who keeps his promise, who can do what he says
What's in a name and why change it? To discover the reason for God changing the names of Abraham and Sarah, we must first discover the nature and purpose of a name. A name reveals the "authority" of an object or person. The purpose is to bring about or reveal God's will. This is why we are called co-creators with the Divine One.
When God changes a name, He is pointing out a new destiny. It is also called a "status change." You might call it a "spiritual promotion." Through Abraham, that is - by the authority in his name, all the families of the earth will be blessed.
When I was waiting for Ron to find a job. It was a struggle because I was suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into change. I knew I would be giving up a job, a church, friends.. Nathan was graduating and leaving, Jon was getting married. Waiting was the hardest
A tree would be a living reminder, permanent, that something big happened here, and couldn't be forgotten with the visual reminder
Fear, faith mixed. Abraham believed that God would raise his son from the dead, but killing is bloody and final. How could you physically prepare for something like killing your very own son?
This Was a test to reveal faith. God built Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith.
e. He took the fire in his hand, and a knife: Abraham took the knife up the hill. He didn’t leave it behind or claim to forget it. “That knife was cutting into his own heart all the while, yet he took it. Unbelief would have left the knife at home, but genuine faith takes it.” (Spurgeon)
Abraham believed that God was going to do something here on this hill and he would come back with Issac.
He tests us to build our faith, so that our trust in him will grow . The way Abrahams faith was grown
the words translated “test” mean “to prove by trial.” Therefore, when God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real. no trial will overcome our faith.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We, likewise, are called to expect times of testing. They are designed to help us mature in our faith, serve as an example for others, and reflect the example of Jesus.
Dreams of a house in the country in Monona.
Not well.
Health, family, friends, spiritual food in the form of church family, job, community...
