Genesis 1:1

1. "In the beginning" 
1. The beginning of time
2. The beginning of Creation
3. Not the beginning of God
2. "God"
1. The way this sentence is structured highlights God, not Creation.  What about God?
1. He is timeless.
2. He is eternal.
3. He is creative.
4. He is powerful.
5. He is causeless (not created, not evolved, not born).
6. He is living.
3. "Created"
1. That rules out evolution.
1. It doesn't matter what science postulates.
2. It doesn't matter what "experts" declare.
3. It doesn't matter what revisionists pressure you to accept.
4. God's Word says creation, not evolution. I'll take God's Word over man's any day!
4. "The heavens and the earth"
1. Two spheres (a height and a depth)
2. Figure of speech -- synecdoche -- a part refers to or includes the whole
3. Yes, it means the literal heavens above and the literal earth beneath, but also serves as a summary statement for all of creation (Gen. 1:1ff; Ex. 20:11; Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16-17).

Balding Bumblebee

Photo taken in my front yard on 4.26.16 at 6:05 P.M.

Is it just me or does this bumblebee have a bald spot on the top of its head?  (Don't fight it, little fellow.  It won't get any better.)

Aren't those beady green eyes a work of art?  God, You do amazing work!

Another Week Or So And She's Gone

Deer / 609 First St., Apollo, PA / 10:30 P.M. / November 8

Right now, I have the deer coming to me.  No freezing, no half-day hikes to nowhere, no sitting in trees and waiting forever.  One shot, done.  Painless.  I have the memory.  She lives.  I've been inspired.  Thank You, Lord, for your wonderful Creation.

Jackson Falls

 





the trail that leads to the falls



Jackson Falls (lower)



This eventually empties into the Kiskiminetas River.

Jackson Falls is located off the Furnace Brook Trail in Kiski Twp., Penn.  There is a larger falls, but access was restricted due to hunting season.  The more I explore the natural gems around me, the more appreciative I become of western Penn.

 

This is my Father's world,

I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees,

Of skies and seas.

His hand the wonders wrought.

--Malthie D. Babcock

 

"You visit the earth and cause it to overflow..." (Psa. 65:9).

The Elusive Cardinal

I've been trying to capture the red cardinal on camera.  Satrurday night, I heard its distinct sound.  I can hardly believe it stayed in one spot long enough for me to setup my camera and take the shot.  I think God wanted to bless me.  Look at that color!  You have to admire God's handiwork.

 

"God created...every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good."

(Gen. 1:21)

Woven by the Lord (Psa. 139:13)

To weave is to take raw ingredients and put them together to form a finished product.

When a chef takes raw ingredients and blends them together, you enjoy a gourmet feast.  When a seamstress takes different fibers and stitches them together, you see a designer garment.

God wove your body the same way.  He took raw ingredients called cells and put them together.  The result was "you."  You are God's handiwork!  You weren't His experiment or hobby.  No, you're His masterpiece.

God is a personal Designer.  There is no cloning, no mass production with Him.  He hand-stitched you with care and pleasure.  You are His design, not His happy accident.  Rejoice and be glad in your Creator.  You bring Him pleasure.  Today is a new opportunity to live as He made you.

Shadows on the Kiskimenetas

What do you see? 

I see mystery.  I see adventure.  I see a trophy largemouth bass about to erupt from the shadow.  (I see it's time for me to go fishing again.)

I see color and change.  I see God's creativity.

I see peace, calm and rest.

Thank You, Lord, for the outdoors.

The First Commandment (Gen. 1:3)

The first commandment is not found in Exodus chapter 20.  The Hebrew of Gen. 1:3 reads close to "Light, be!"  How interesting that the first commandment has to do with light.  He who is Light (1 Jn. 1:5) created light.  The first separation was between darkness and light.  Right up front it's as if we're told, "You will be known by one or the other."  What side are you on? By the way, God still speaks into dark situations.

Creation: Seven Acts of Separation (Gen. 1:1-2:3)

If you had one word to summarize Creation what would it be?  Variety?  Creativity?  Authority?  How about "separation"?

• 1:2-5 > Separation of light and darkness
• 1:6-8 > Separation of water above and water below
• 1:9-13 > Separation of land and seas
• 1:14-19 > Separation of day and night
• 1:20-23 > Separation of sea life and sky life
• 1:24-31 > Separation of man from all beasts (only man made in God's image)
• 2:1-3 > Separation of Sabbath from previous 6 days

From the beginning God taught us sanctification (being separated, differentiated or set apart).  He did this 7 times.  You get my drift.