365 Reflections

Genesis 2:4–9 (ESV) These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, 6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:18 (ESV) Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man sho

God creates the world in the most interesting way you can imagine. Why such detail? Why does the Creation account unfold as it does? There is a pattern and a purpose to it all. The first three days of creation - God separates and forms. The second three days - God correspondingly fills the space He formed with related objects. Day 1 - Light separated from Darkness. Day 4 - Stars and lights in the universe fill that form. Day 2 - The atmosphere and oceans. Day 5 - Birds and Sea Creatures. Day 3 - Land and vegetation. Day 6 - Beasts and Man. The pattern: God forms then fills. In the Old Testament it was the same way... God had the people form the tabernacle after the pattern God shows Moses. Once it is formed, God fills it with His presence. In the New Testament - Jesus forms the Church, then God fills it with His Spirit and people come filling it up. God is in the business of forming and filling. And He does that with us. He forms you with the family and story you

Today I start in the book of Genesis. Having done the New Testament and Psalms, it seems logical. Only one verse to begin... appropriately: Genesis 1:1 (ESV)   In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Origins are significant. We ask people where they are "from." We want to know if someone is someone's father or mother. We like to find out people's "story." What brought you here? How did this family, business, industry, adventure start for you?  Companies love to put the year of their founding after the abbreviation: "est." Lawyers and Doctors talk about practicing since "x" year. We love the STORIES of others portrayed in movies, novels and plays. Consider the rise of the prequel in the movie industry. Star Wars spent millions of dollars producing 3 mediocre movies explaining where Anakin Skywalker came from. Someone's origins gives them meaning, purpose, dimension and depth that we previously didn't unde

Psalm 150 is the last of the Hebrew songbook. It is the most powerful and striking verbiage of praise we can find in the Bible. Psalm 150:1–6 (ESV)  Praise the Lord ! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!       2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!       3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!       4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!       5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!       6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord ! I found out that in the original language, there are no more than 4 words between the Hallelujah's of this powerful song. This song is a climatic conclusion to a life of devoted worship.  We are made to praise. And it tells us where to praise: "in His sanctuary"  "in His mighty heavens." Notice the language of possessi

We are the people who sing. Psalm 149:1 (ESV)   Praise the Lord ! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Our Psalm calls us to worship the Lord with singing lips! Singing is done by those enjoying life in the moment. I live in New England. When the Boston Red Sox reach the middle of the eighth inning, the entire crowd sings at the top of their lungs "Sweet Caroline." They are singing and making a joyful sound. What I realized is that outside of that Fenway experience, singing really only happens in the Church. Men used to sing as they went off to war. Families used to sing around the piano. Scout troops had their songs. High School students used to know their school song... But today, singing isn't very common. May the Church never lose her song! Why? Because we have something to be joyful about! Psalm 149:2–3 (ESV)   Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise hi

Psalm 148 is the ultimate call to worship God. The Psalmist begins with the highest heavens and descends and descends to the littles people on Earth - children... calling all areas of God's creation to worship Him. Psalm 148 (ESV) Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!       4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.       7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all r