A New Beginning...

I kept thinking I was missing something this week. The chapters seemed so short and it seemed like there really hadn't been enough time to gather my thoughts. Then I realized that it was short. We began four days ago. (count it as a blonde moment and move on.) Regardless, several things caught my eye and my heart this week.

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. Genesis 2:3

I ponder the concept of "sabbath" a lot. All last year as we read, God instructed His people time and time again that the Sabbath was a day to be honored. To be kept holy. I still struggle with what that actually means. While I would love the idea of an enforced "day of rest", I tell myself that it is not practical or perhaps even impossible. There are too many demands in today's time. God surely understands. The thing is, I'm not sure He does. Most of the actual demands on my time on the Sabbath are caused by my laziness or inattention during the week rather than an actual need. Things like laundry and ironing. Things that don't get done during the week because I'd rather read, watch t.v. or blog. Things that eventually have to be done and often find themselves being finished late on Sunday because I was not a good steward of my time during the week. I still ponder the sabbath. I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6

As I read this verse, the thing that immediately struck my heart was how attractive sin appeared. It was good for food and pleasing to the eye. Sin often looks attractive in the beginning. Honestly, if sin looked like the little green Mucinex guy on the commercials, it would be so much easier to resist. God gave Adam and Eve a direct command. He also provided them with everything they could ever want. Yet, it wasn't enough. And while it is easy for me to be condemning and self righteous, if I stop and think about it, God has given me direct instructions...and He has anticipated my every need. Yet, it isn't enough. Sin still looks pleasing to my eye.

As we entered chapter five, we started reading one of the things that often gets me sidetracked. I struggle with names of who begat who and who lived in unpronounceable lands and so forth. So sometimes my mind wanders. (I know that's a shock to you.) However, I love how God inserts something so sweet and fascinating in this chapter. We're reading about Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel (I practiced saying that one out loud.), and Jared. Then, we find Enoch. Enoch walked with God 300 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:24. I love stuff like that. It thrills my heart to know that Enoch was so loved by God that He took him away. He (Enoch) walked with Him for 300 years! I have no desire to live 300 years, but I long to have someone say at the end of my days, that I walked with God. (and having Him take me away might not be such a bad deal either.)

The final thing that caught my eye was a portion of a sentence inserted in the middle of a story as old as time. Genesis 11 finds man deciding to build a tower to the heavens. (Obviously they needed a hobby.) It was their reason that caught my attention. They were building this thing so that we may make a name for ourselves...(v4) Why do we do things? I have to be very careful to do things with the proper motive. Too often I do things because I want to be liked. I find myself agreeing to things or getting involved in things because I want to make people happy. To make a name for myself. I guess it reminds me that even the best of things can be spoiled with the wrong motive. (not that building the tower was the best of things.)

Well, hopefully all this made sense to you. (The basketball game is on in the background and my team is playing poorly. Not that I'm listening. Okay, so they are not playing poorly. They lost.) Anyway, I'd love to hear what caught your heart this week.

***argh. I can't seem to get the silly sidebar thingy to work at the moment. That said, Michelle has a post here. and Annette's is here.