In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3
Good morning fellow sojourners. Before you think that you started your reading the wrong place or that I have completely lost my mind, God lead me to the gospel John so that we to establish a truth. The Word is God. The Word was God and with God. Well, read it again. Read it aloud.
In the beginning the Word was here. God is the Word. All things, all creation was made and established through Him. It is important that we establish this truth, because in my Bible I highlighted "God said" seven times. His Word is powerful. His words are powerful. The Word's words are powerful! It bears mentioning, I believe at this time to recognize since we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, our words are powerful, too. Let's be careful with our power today.
I enjoy reading the creation story. It excites me every time, just like Luke 2 and the birth of our Savior. One of my favorite parts is creating an image in my mind of creation as it happened. Oh, can you picture with me the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that is in us, hovering over the dark empty formless mass called earth. Within an instance, with the breath of His words it was not dark anymore.
I also loved how he allowed Adam to see his own need for a companion. Did you get that in verses 18-20 of chapter 2? God already knew Adam needed a companion (2:18) but in His sovereignty He allowed Adam to see that himself as he was naming all the animals. Pretty cool of God, huh? God doesn't just fill our needs, He allow us to see our need so that we can go to Him to have the need met, thus creating and maintaining an intimate relationship with Him. A relationship with us is what He wanted in the first place. Wow!
I don't even want to go into a discussion about the apple ordeal and whose fault it was. But what did notice in the reading is a reason for a woman's possible fear of snakes. In 3:15 God says to Eve, "From now on you and the snake will be enemies." There you have it. It is scriptural. Women were cursed to be afraid of snakes.
All joking aside, I did have one question I thought would make for good conversation: Why did God make the tree of knowledge of good and evil? If He knew what was going to happen, and you know He did because He is all-knowing, then why would He even put the temptation there and right in the center of the garden . Could it have been to establish our free will? Perhaps it was to show us our need to be dependent on an intimate basis, showing us we needed to stay close to Him to avoid sin.
Share your thoughts. This journey is going to be so much fun, isn't it?
In the beginning the Word was here. God is the Word. All things, all creation was made and established through Him. It is important that we establish this truth, because in my Bible I highlighted "God said" seven times. His Word is powerful. His words are powerful. The Word's words are powerful! It bears mentioning, I believe at this time to recognize since we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us, our words are powerful, too. Let's be careful with our power today.
I enjoy reading the creation story. It excites me every time, just like Luke 2 and the birth of our Savior. One of my favorite parts is creating an image in my mind of creation as it happened. Oh, can you picture with me the Spirit of God, the same Spirit that is in us, hovering over the dark empty formless mass called earth. Within an instance, with the breath of His words it was not dark anymore.
I also loved how he allowed Adam to see his own need for a companion. Did you get that in verses 18-20 of chapter 2? God already knew Adam needed a companion (2:18) but in His sovereignty He allowed Adam to see that himself as he was naming all the animals. Pretty cool of God, huh? God doesn't just fill our needs, He allow us to see our need so that we can go to Him to have the need met, thus creating and maintaining an intimate relationship with Him. A relationship with us is what He wanted in the first place. Wow!
I don't even want to go into a discussion about the apple ordeal and whose fault it was. But what did notice in the reading is a reason for a woman's possible fear of snakes. In 3:15 God says to Eve, "From now on you and the snake will be enemies." There you have it. It is scriptural. Women were cursed to be afraid of snakes.
All joking aside, I did have one question I thought would make for good conversation: Why did God make the tree of knowledge of good and evil? If He knew what was going to happen, and you know He did because He is all-knowing, then why would He even put the temptation there and right in the center of the garden . Could it have been to establish our free will? Perhaps it was to show us our need to be dependent on an intimate basis, showing us we needed to stay close to Him to avoid sin.
Share your thoughts. This journey is going to be so much fun, isn't it?
23 Comments:
Wendy although I as awake until after 1am this morning, I was sitting with God's Word in hand before 7am so eager to draw into His presence today.
I just wrote a post with the exact same title on my blog (http://ponderinginhispresence.blogspot.com/2009/01/in-beginning.html). My heart is overflowing with all He has spoken to me today. Thank you for calling us to take up this challenge. I have prayed for eyes to see, a mind to understand, a heart to receive, a spirit to yield.
In regards to the tree question, I will share something I included earlier in my post today. If God created everything and said it was good, then the tree of good and evil was good too. I think the tree was there as a sign of true love. True love always requires a choice. The only way to give a choice is to command something that is not allowed. We have to choose to follow. We have to choose to obey.
With the two trees being positioned so close together - the tree of knowledge and the tree of life - it reminds me of the scripture that says, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Jesus is the tree of life. Choosing life!
May His will be mine in 2009,
Joy
Wendy,
I,too, woke up excited this morning thinking about our journey together this year through the Chronological Bible. I have a request though. I do not have the "through the Bible in one year" Bible and so do not know how much we are reading each day. Could you give me an idea or perhaps put it in your posts in case there are others like me who did not order the new Bible but already had one. Mine is "new"....in that I have never read the Chronological Bible although it was given to my husband probably 20 years ago. I can see that it will be quite different than the way I am used to reading my Bible from Genesis to Revelations. I hope to learn a lot.
As to the question of the tree of good and evil I think it was a test. And although God IS all knowing and knew ultimately what would happen, I believe he wanted to give His creation a choice to love Him. I don't think he wanted a bunch of robots who worshiped Him because they had no choice. It's the same with us humans. We want people to love us because they WANT to....not because they HAVE to. That may not be very theological but that's my theory. ha
Looking forward to this year.
God bless,
Marilyn
Wendy
Happy New Year
I am an infant in my christian walk but very anxious and excited to learn the word of God and apply it to my everday living!!
I think the tree of good and evil represented the basis to which right and wrong choices were to be made. It may have served as a test of Adam and Eve's obedience to God and ultimately as an example for us to follow when we are faced with similar situations.
I really look forward to the upcoming year ahead.
Wendy,
I'm so eager to see all the hidden truths that God will reveal to each and everyone of us in this journey.
I think,God placed the two trees in the center of the garden to shows us that it was to be our choice to love Him. His love for us was already written in the palm of His hand.
Even satan was given the choice to love God but as we all know choose to love himself.
I imagine,satan watching the relationship between God and man and as he remembered what he once had with God,it angered him.
He thought,seeking out Eve to draw her away from the relationship with Lord God would surely be one up on God.
This is what I've learned:
Having a conversation with satan is the...first mistake.
Listening to his reasons why life is better through our own desires is the...second mistake.
Receiving his ways is the ...final mistake.
I also noticed in the conversation between Eve and the serpent,satan refered to the relatioship as "God not Lord God."
Could it be to make God appear less intimate,so that she would feel like her Lord had been keeping something from her?
In His Grace,
Tammy
Wendy,
I'm sure I'll say it at least a hundred times during this journey - but Thank you for hosting this.
I like that you pointed out about God Said, I went back and looked at that. And I want to highlight it or underline it too. Our words are so powerful and we do need to be so careful with them. (A life long journey for me) :)
I was touched with the fact that with one decision or act of disobedience the ripple affect of the lives that are changed. I thought of how sad they must have been to know that they blew it. Wondered if they cried because they no longer had that close fellowship with God in the garden any more.
About the Tree.. I believe God from the beginning wanted us to choose Him. He wanted our fellowship and us to have free will. With out the tree He could not teach us of true love, because with out choice is it really love, or is it servatude.
Your right this going to be great.
Lynn
Thank you for starting this study of God's word together!! I live in Boone, Iowa..I had bought my bible thru CBD and so I wonder how many others out there there are...I look forward to a year of New Beginnings and growing deeper in my relationship with the LORD. I like what Joyful had to share in her blog...that was good! I had a word a year ago Sept. about handing over the "reins" to God and to my husband...and so, I thought it was interesting in the reading today that woman would have a desire to control her husband...this has been a challenge but the Holy Spirit does remind me when I try to take over and then I remember I am to "hand over the reins to the LORD and to my husband"...Raylene
Thanks so much for the encouragement you gave to start this journey.
I begin it with a sense of excitement, and also a bit of fear and trepidation.
I'm going to God with this fear--and will each day. You see, I don't like to fail--and I have failed (Went back on my promise too many times to mention.)
Also, I don't want this to fall into the legalistic, religious "duty"--but to have my daily Bible reading be all about the relationship that I have with Jesus.
The concept that stood out for me today--for the first time was that in verse 13 it says, "And evening pased and morning came, marking the third day."
then verse 14 goes on to say "Then God said, 'Let lights appear in the sky to separte the day from the night.'
Just like in the resurrection--after the third day--light, and hope entered the world.
I LOVE the connections all throughout the Bible--God is good!
Thanks for praying for me--and all of those represented by those pins!!
Luanne, I left a comment on your blog.
Hey, Wendy!
Like the other girls, I got up this morning excited about starting to read the Bible in its entirety! I know that satan will try to deter myself and others from keeing this committment through busyness, sleeping in, etc. But...I want to do this do stregthen my relationship with Him. He knows all about me, and I want to know all about Him! The best way to do this is to spend time in His Word and in prayer. It also has to be a priority. Thank you for the challenge!!
I have a question for you! About how much should we read daily? Should we read by time...if so, how long? I want to set a goal each day so that by Dec. 31,2009, I am not scrambling to read the last 5 books of the New Testament! I appreciate your thoughts!
It was really cool to go back to the creation verses and ponder over them more deeply. I am taking my first Precepts Bible Study--awesome!--and we are using inductive studying in Isaiah. I am also reading a book by Louis Giglio where he talks about meditating on each word that you read. I am loving this! God is speaking to me through His word...I am not just skimming over the verses.
Thanks again for doing this and giving me your thoughts on how much daily reading we need to do.
Hugs,
Susan
Runner Mom
The daily reading is dated. If you reading the section for each day, you will finish the entire Bible by December 31, 2009.
Wendy,
Thank you for asking us to join you on the challenge to read the Bible in 1 year. I awoke early this morning excited to see what God had in store for me as I began my journey!
Grace to You,
natalie
Wendy, I am sure I will be saying this many more times this year - thank you for your willingness to host this discussion. I, too, am anxious to begin this journey with God and so many of His followers.
As I ponder your question regarding the tree, I can see a possible reason for its presence.
If God knew that Adam and Eve wouldn't resist the temptation, then did He place the tree there to show us our need for a Savior right from the start. Was this the foreshadowing and introduction for the needed hero in this great love story called the Bible?
Just thoughts, but as someone who loves a good romance, I am amazed at all the details God put into place in order to make us His, in order to rescue us from sin.
Blessings to you!
You know, in every classroom of students, there will always be at least one child who stands out from the rest! Sometimes it's ok--in this case, it's not! I am the oddball who has the New King James chronological Bible-not the NLT that y'all are using with the chapters and verses to read! (I wanted the awesome archeological photographs and maps and other school "teachery" stuff found in mine!!! I wanted to be an archeologist in the third grade,and this is as close as it gets!!!) OH, well! I'll just read and do my best!!Thanks anyway.
Hugs,
Susan
Wendy, it is such an encouragment to see so many women eager and hungry to hear God speak to them through His Word. I am praying for each one of you to hear His voice, to receive His Truth, to trust His promises, and to obey His commands. What an incredible journey you have ahead of you!! Thank you for inviting me to be a sojourner with you in prayer.
I love you, friend,
Wendy
Happy New Year, Wendy! I am so excited about reading the Bible through with this translation and chronological version. I even got my mom and dad copies of the Bible to read along, too. My sister shared with me today that she would like to read the Bible with us as well. (What an answer to prayer.)
As for the question about the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I know that everything God creates and everything he choses is with great purpose. I believe that the tree in the garden is one way he chose to give us a choice to completely follow him, trusting in his commands. It was an opportunity for Adam and Eve to walk in obedience. What a reminder to me to tell satan to "get behind me" on a daily basis. Well, those are just a few thoughts as I relax after cleaning up the kitchen. I am currently burning several candles to rid the house of the left over "fragrance" of collards, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. Happy New Year!
Laura
I had never thought about why he placed the tree in the garden knowing full well the outcome. I don't even know that I have an answer. What I do know is that I am glad He has given me the opportunity to go on this journey with you and everyone else and to meditate on questions like this.
I am so excited to see you started with this verse. I didn't end up getting the Chronological bible, but I still want to make my way through the Bible this year and my husband always says that John is an excellent place to start. :) God knows us and our desires so well...I was praying that He would give me some little wink to let me know I was on track today because I have felt very un-peaceful today. Thank you as always for your obedience and your blog. I really enjoy it and it has been a testimony of how one person can touch and inspire SO many like you did with reading through God's Word in 2009. God bless.
Also, for Runner Mom, I followed a link on gospel.com to BibleYear.com and it gives you multiple reading plans for each version of the Bible. I printed one off since I don't have the Chronological and am using King James. I figure I will highlight off what I read and hopefully stay on track. :) Hope that helps.
Thank you, Victoria!! Bless your heart!
Love,
Susan
I too am an infant in my journey, as this is my first time to read the bible in it's entirety.
I am so thankful for this group. I look forward to gaining lots of insight from others in the group.
Thanks Wendy.
Kim
I am by no means a new christian but have yet to read the entire bible. Reading the bible has always seemed like such a challenge for me! I'm so excited to have this blog & friends that will be with me while on this journey.
I feel so good starting the year off with this study, and I'm excited to be able to share with others. I participated in Rachel Olsen's study on Women of the Bible and gained so much insight from the other women... I'm already expecting God to bless me each and every day!!
I didn't focus entirely on the two trees, but God says everything He created was good... what made the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil bad? Disobedience? The motive from which it was eaten? I cannot say, but I now realize God's plan of redemption was already in place, right there in the garden!
In the later part of today's reading, God covered Adam & Eve in animal skins - this is the first blood sacrifice God offered for man's sin. Jesus Christ is the last blood sacrifice God offered for man's sin. What began in the garden ended at the cross.
Also noted is that God removed Adam & Eve from the garden, "before they eat from the Tree of Life." God did not want man to live in an eternal state of sin and separation... being banished from the garden was done because of God's great love for us! I cheated a bit and read into the next day; Adam & Eve restored their relationship with God. They could not enter into the garden again (the consequences of their sin) yet God provided a way for us to be reconciled for eternity. God banished man from the Tree of Life in the garden, and gave man Eternal Life through the tree on Calvary. I wonder if that beautiful tree in the garden now bears the nail-spike holes and bloodstains of our Savior on it.
I once read, "God loves me just the way I am... but He loves me so much, He won't leave me that way!" God's Word is life-changing, and I'm praying that for each one of us this year.
Wendy, I am so looking forward to reading the bible daily in chronological order and having the ability to converse with other sisters in Christ.
I think the tree questions was a test of Adam and Eve's obedience and their willingness to trust and lean on the Lord
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