Dawn had not yet arrived and Jerry had not awakened, when this morning I drew on a warm robe and slid my feet into red wool slippers. In our living area, I pushed the switch to activate heat strips and turned on the lamp at the end of the sofa. It was quiet here in DJs RV park, and for a while I sat in solitude and read. I read again of God, and of the Genesis of our earth. I read of His six unique days; of humans and animals, of form and void, and of water and space; of darkness and of the moon. By the time I finished reading, light had swarmed through the windows, Jerry had made his appearance, and the aroma of freshly brewed Peets coffee pervaded the place.
Of those verses I read today–and their images–my favorite is this:
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
Can you visualize this dynamic picture? Can’t you see God relaxing, leaning back, (don’t ask me how God could have leaned back, for I have not a clue–just see Him, please) and, as a master gardener at season’s peak proudly looks over his handiwork, God surveyed all He had done…”…saw every thing that He had made…,” and the next words are the ones I love…”and, behold, it was very good.” Isn’t that the greatest thing! People, elephants, trees, the sea, seven continents, a brilliant sun, and one subdued moon…”it was very good.”
It was quiet in Eden that day–no fighting words, no striving for position, no frantic clawing for understanding, no confusion, no apprehension, no quarrel. It was quiet as God looked–quiet except for the cacophony of bird songs and brown monkey yips and the gentle purr of leopards.
And today, I long for Eden where there is no apprehension, no misunderstandings, no confusion, no wrong ideas, no misperceptions. No lack of assurance.
But how could I expect such?…for the spirit of Genesis is known to be a distant stretch.. far outside my grasp. So then, are we closer to the end? Are the ultimate reaches of time and the birth of a new universe at my fingertips?
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My other blog is here.
God Things 
God is really and truly amazing. I am always shocked to find I learn so many new things each time I read a chapter from the bible. Your post just reminds me that I need to pick it up again. I have been in a really bad place, I would appreciate some prayers, you can contact me by e-mail if you like. Have a wonderful weekend Shirley 🙂
Good morning, Sansoucy
You’re a wise young woman to recognize that you need God and His Word, and that you reach out to others when you have a special need. Remember this: God knows where you are. He sees you, loves you, cares about you and your special situation. Run to Him. He is your ultimate answer.
I’ll email you later in the day. In the meantime I am praying for you, and do care about your problems.
Shirley, I read this last night, and the quietness that came over me matched the scene you described. This is a truly beautiful devotion. The questions you posed are almost mystical. Love, Helen
Thank you Helen–
Because you’re a poet–and for other reasons–your compliments mean a lot to me.
I wonder…just wonder…in time we know as 24 hour periods…how long was it before the serpent began his work…how long was there peace in Eden?
Deuteronomy 4:39
Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
He made it all and yet he knows what each one of us need. Jesus is an awesome God! I preached it on Wed. night ‘All You Need is Jesus”!
Kevin:
Wish I could have heard the sermon. There is nothing in this world like anointed preaching. Nothing.
Hi Shirley,
Thank you so much, it is not easy even asking for prayer from a stranger, but I am in such a place right now that I need it. Thank you for your kindness,
Martine
Martine, there is nothing wrong with asking a stranger for prayer. God bless you, give you hope and grace.
I have emailed you.
This is a nice post, but, honestly, one of the issues that I struggle with is the biblical explanation of creation. It doesn’t stand in the way of my faith, but, tends to act as a speedbump whenever I consider it. I am the science chairperson and main science teacher at the elementary school where I work and, even at the fifth grade level, I can’t help but to constantly try to find some way to rationalize the geological and biological evidence with the biblical idea of six literal days of creation. It befuddles me and will provide good conversation in heaven, I hope, when all is made clear.
Beautiful Post. You do have a way with words.
Blessings
Thank you, Ronda.
Gracemark, thank you for visiting and for commenting.
There is so much we don’t know, I agree. I love the statement you made early in your remarks: “It doesn’t stand in the way of my faith…” As I write this afternoon, having minutes ago returned from the funeral of a most godly and righteous missionary who died with liver cancer, I’m glad I can join with you and say, “I don’t know,” about a lot of things and yet resoundingly finish with, “but…it doesn’t stand in the way of my faith.”
As you well know, there are certainly inconsistencies in scientific studies, and it is not unheard of in many fields for “facts” to apparently undergo changes. And of course, the facts did not change–what changed was our understanding of them. Certainly that is true in God’s kingdom–His Word, His Kingdom is securely founded–it is our understanding that is lacking
….but thank God, not our faith!
To be honest with you, I am befuddled a lot, and I find great freedom in being able to say, “I don’t know.” But then I’m not staring into the impressionable faces of pre-teen boys and girls who one day will stand in judgment and who will spend eternity somewhere.
Conversation in Heaven? What will it be? Will we even care about all this? Some say we will not, and we probably won’t, but I’m so inquisitive and eager to know these things, that at this point I hope we are able to have such conversation.
Continue in Jesus…and be blessed.
Shirley, thanks for your response. In a conversation I was having with an atheist friend of mine I mentioned the generally accepted scientific concept that space is limitless and the fact that the concept is extremely difficult to really wrap ones mind around. He agreed. Then I related it to God and His wisdom. Equally limitless and equally unfathomable.