…And It Was Very Good

By Barbara Chadwick

 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…  Genesis 1:1

 In that first chapter of Genesis we have the account of how God began the creation.  He created the heavens and the earth and light. In verse 4 it says …and God saw the light, that it was good! Yes! My mother says that from the time I was born I would cry when the light was turned off. Light is good.

He continues. Next, God separated the light from the darkness and called the light day and the darkness night.  He made the firmament and divided the waters. He called the dry land earth and the waters seas.  Then in verse 10 we see that,  God saw that it was good!

He called forth grass and herbs and fruit trees and in verse 12: God saw that it was good! Then God made the sun to rule the day, the moon to rule the night and stars in the sky and in verse 18 – And God saw that it was good! 

He put living creatures in the seas and birds in the sky and in verse 21 – And God saw that it was good.

He put living creatures and beasts upon the earth and in verse 25  - God saw that it was good.  Each time we see deer or moose grazing on our property we enjoy it as if it were the first time.

In verse 27  God created man in His own image… male and female He created them. And finally in the last verse of chapter 1 – Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good!

Did you ever wonder if He created the earth in the Fall?  There are brilliant colors across our mountains right now. It is, indeed, a very good sight!

O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your Name in all the earth…When I consider Your heavens and the work of Your fingers…What is man that you are mindful of him? Psalm 8:1

ENSALZAR

By Barbara Chadwick

 

This morning there was a piece of paper on my desk with the word, ensalzar written on it. (I am working to refresh my Spanish.  Ensalzar is a Spanish word meaning to extol, exalt, or to magnify.

This week-end a group called Christian Challenge from UNC (University of Northern Colorado) came to our house in the mountains for a retreat. There were 26 freshmen through seniors. So our usually quiet house was filled with laughter and action!

Since we go to bed pretty early – we were already there – in bed – when they had their evening devotional time – their singing, reading God’s Word and reflecting on it time. It was great to hear their voices ring out with enthusiasm and sweet to hear their harmonies with the guitars leading.  Some were new Christians but the desire of all to magnify the Lord in their lives was evident in their words, actions and treatment of each other. 

It is a beautiful thing to see young people – the future of our country – studying scripture together in love with excitement and enthusiasm. Paul tells Timothy to in I Timothy 4:7.

Throughout the Bible we see examples of God using young people to take His message to the world.  David, Jonathon, Samuel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Mary, and Timothy are some examples.

In I Timothy 4:7 young Timothy is told to, train yourself to be godly and in 2 Timothy 1:6,  fan into flame the gift of God… Then in chapter 2 verses 22-24, Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because they produce quarrels. The Lord’s servant must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. And in I Timothy 4:12, Paul tells Timothy to, set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 

When we do these things, regardless of our age, we “ensalzar” our Lord and Savior.

Throughout the week-end we heard these students extolling the character of God, exalting the Word of God and magnifying His Name. May their tribe increase!

GOD'S CREATIVITY IS AWESOME!

This past week I had two walks that showcased God’s awesome creation:

Wednesday:  I walked with my sister Ruth and her husband John from their house in San Pedro, CA to the Cabrillo Beach pier. Every few steps we greeted people as we passed palm trees, houses facing the Los Angeles harbor and lots of cars.  There were  people fishing from the pier and across on the jetty were hundreds of pelicans also preparing to swoop down to fish out of the ocean.  Thousands of sea gulls proudly strutted around. A huge machine raked the beach, cleaning up the sea weed and other debris the waves had washed up overnight. It was foggy so we heard fog horns in the distance and the slosh of kayaks nearby. It was already in the 80’s on the way to high 90’s with humidity at 78 percent! It seemed like I could feel the air. I was already sweating at sea level!

On the way home I commented that God’s creativity is awesome!  This busy beachfront scene contrasted sharply to the scene out our windows in the Colorado mountains and to the desert and the Grand Canyon we flew over on the flight to Los Angeles. I don’t believe a “Big Bang” could have given us such diversity and beauty!

Saturday:  My husband Kenneth and I walked up Mic Mac street to Flathead drive. (On the way back I decided they named it Flathead drive in order to keep from being overly serious! Because it is straight up!) He continued to Elk Horn drive and Ottawa Way then home.  I, however, not being conditioned like he is, turned around to come home after one mile! 

My sneakers crunched on the rocky dirt streets. I heard the wind in the pines and the shushing of the aspen leaves shaking in the cool breeze. I passed a brook gurgling down the hill. A deer made its way through the forest cracking a limb on the forest floor. Little chipmunks scampered over the boulders. White clouds wafted by in a deep blue sky. There was no one else walking and I heard no other voices.  It was a beautiful tranquil scene.  It was 55 degrees on the way to 65 and 10 percent humidity in this almost 9,000 feet thin air. My heart was getting a good workout but I was cool.

I reflected on the difference of this Colorado mountain morning to the walk to the CA beach.  Isaiah says,  This is what the God the Lord says – He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people and life to those who walk on it…  Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices… Let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise in the islands. Isaiah 42:5; 10-12