pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: Creation


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Love As He Loves

As God continues creation He culminates His work by making mankind in “our image”.  We are created in the image of the Holy One.  Just as God made all, He charges mankind, the one created in God’s image, to care for the earth and all of creation.  We are called to stewardship over what God created.  God gives plants and animals as food and gives the command to all of creation to be fruitful and multiply.  As God finishes creation, He says it is “very good”.

It is too easy to read ‘very good’ as applying simply to mankind.  I think it refers to the whole He created.  It is like a banana split – the ice cream is good, the banana is good, the toppings are good, the whipped cream is good – but together they are very good.  God saw the sum of creation and said it was ‘very good’.

God is a God of relationships.  We are called into a personal relationship with Him through His son Jesus.  When God looked at the complete works of His hands, He saw the relationship between all parts and that was what is very good.  It is all about relationship.  In our role as the ones created in the image of God, we are called to be loving parents of one very large family.  We are called to love the earth as God loves the earth.


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Time to Walk

“And God saw that it was good”.  This phrase occurs in Genesis after He creates plants and trees and after He creates the stars, sun, and moon.  (It also occurs after He creates the birds, animals, and humans).  God created all for our pleasure, for our enjoyment.

At times my simpler side draws me to a time of camping or to a walk in the quiet of the early morning.  I find an undeniable presence of God when outside.  When I take in the song of the bird or the gentle rolls of the stream or the light breeze rustling the trees, God is definitely there.

Quiet time in God’s creation offers us much.  He created it for us!  Nature has a way of calming and renewing our spirits.  Plugging into creation rekindles our connection to God.

It can also be a place of sorting through this or that situation or of seeking guidance and discernment.  When we still ourselves we become more open to the Holy Spirit’s voice.

And lastly, nature is a place of peace.  Whether we find healing from a sorrow or relief from the constant buzz of technology, God’s creation calls us to Him and beckons us to find peace in His arms.

Isn’t it time for a walk?


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The Sacredness of Life

“How lovely is your dwelling places O Lord almighty” is the opening line to he song, “Better Is One Day.”  Truly I believe God’s dwelling place is amazing – hope to find out one day myself!  The chorus to this song speaks of one day in His courts being better than a thousand elsewhere.  This too I believe to be true.

Psalm 104 speaks of all the living things God has created and sustains.  His Spirit breaths life into them and when He removes His spirit, death comes.  Within this psalm we can see and feel a sacredness to all of life, for He creates all life and is in all life.

Although we are living for that one days when we will enter His courts, we need to be equally mindful that as we wait we need to care well for all of His creation.  As Christians our great commission is to make disciples of all nations, not just some.  In the same manner, we are called to care for all of creation, not just what we find under our roof or in our neighborhood.

Psalm 104, verse 31 reads, “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works!”  And may we do our part in the living out of this psalm.


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Time to Play!!

Ah, to play! Remember what it was like to spend all day just playing?  Maybe breakfast in front of a cartoon, a quick bike ride, a little sandbox time, a few games of tag…  Ah, the life of a child!

As adults it is important to play too.  Can you remember the last time you played?  Maybe if you are older you have been recently blessed by some play time with the grandkids.  Or if you are really young, you still play with your own kids.  But for many, one cannot even remember the last chuck of time spent simply playing.

Many of us adults think there is not ever enough time.  We allow ourselves to be too consumed with the tasks of the day and worry about tomorrow to simply play.  Surely we all have responsibilities, but play is important too.  It reminds us that all is not wrapped up in our jobs and other worldly things.  Play draws us back to our creator – the one who made all things for our pleasure.

For some of us, play may be reading a book.  It may be a walk in the woods.  Maybe it is a sport or a hobby.  Play provides spiritual refreshment and connects us to God in an elemental way.  This week, find a little play time!!


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Healing Our Hearts and Minds

In Psalm 104 we read of God’s loving care for the earth and all its creatures.  God’s Spirit brings life to the animals, birds, plants, trees, waters, mountains, and even to us. His absence brings death to all these things.  All He creates is good.  All that is lost He mourns.

In our care of His creation we have done much that is wrong or bad for the earth and its creatures.  But we are leaning and beginning to rights our wrongs and to live with more attention to creation.  God’s Spirit guides us here too if we listen.  We can trust the Spirit’s leading and the Spirit’s lead to bring our efforts to fruition.

In our care for all of mankind, we still have some progress to be made.  In a world that produces much more food than it needs, no one should be starving.  In a world full of vast medical technology, no one should be dying of diseases that are preventable and/or curable.  In our nation of amazing resources and huge wealth, no one should be living in poverty.

Please pray with me today for God to continue to nudge us with the Spirit and to continue to bring healing to our hearts and minds so we can truly love all of His creation.


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The Reality of Eternity

Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”  He also told them that no one comes to God except through the Son.  Just as these words are meant to encourage and strengthen the disciples, He meant the same for us.  Jesus wanted all to know that the path to eternity led through him.  For the disciples, soon Jesus would die and He wanted them to trust in His continuing presence.  He was going on ahead of them to prepare a place for them – a heavenly home.  As they continued the work that He had begun, He wanted them to work in the peace and comfort of the reality of eternity.

Jesus knew, as He spoke these words, that His disciples – both the 12 and us today – would face trials and would be asked to go into uncomfortable situations and places.  He asks us to trust into His “everlasting fellowship”.  The earthly Jesus is now the eternal Jesus, calling us to know Him more and more through how we engage Him in study and Word and prayer and in how we participate in His mission in the world.  His call is today and every day, in the here and now.  To know is to love,  To love is to serve.  To serve is to know.

As we continue to grow in this cycle that Jesus calls us to, we step closer to that reality of eternity.  For some of us, we are a part of bringing the new creation to this place where we dwell.  Some may see the new creation come right before their earthly eyes.  For others, while we share in the building of the kingdom here on earth, we are bringing ourselves closer to our eternal glory.  We will be a part of the coming of the new creation.  It matters not.  We are all part of the same plan.  Thank you Jesus!


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His Mystery and Power

How does God see our hearts today?  Does He see us like the Israelites who saw the mighty miracles of their exodus story yet chose to test God almost as soon as they were across the Red Sea? (Psalm 95: 7b-11)

In our lives we see the beauty of creation, witness the miracle of a birth, experience healing from a rare disease, … We give thanks yet so often in the same breath say, “but could You also…?”

Instead we should take the time to rest in the creation and mystery of God.  Maybe even sing a song of praise to Him!  But most importantly, acknowledge Him as the creator and ruler of it all.  Bow or kneel before His awesomeness and take notice of the Lord almighty.  Draw in a deep breath, focus in on His presence, and lift up a long, slow thanks.