Lent Day 1.

I wanted to write the Lent Blog again this year but was a bit clueless as to what and how - so I've gone for a book ( at the suggestion of a friend)   Days of Grace - a forty day journey with Jesus  by Raymond Chapman.   It will hopefully provide a starting point for some musings and who knows where it may take me.

So we start - aptly - at the beginning .   Genesis and the very reason for all of everything.  The question Chapman asks is WHO AM I ?    Its a question I've asked a lot in the past few years - possibly because my identity seems to have changed massively as I've moved from single to married, from couple to family, from beloved and valued to stranger and newcomer.  From 'sorted' to depressed.  From worker to housewife.... the list of transformations seems to go on and on and I have to say its left me wondering who I am.....

So it's good to go right back to the start and be reminded of what God did then , and why.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number;fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

The italics are mine .  These are the words which stood out to me particularly as I pondered the passage this morning.  I was struck that one of the primary reasons God made man was SO THAT he could look after and care for the earth.  And of course the primary reason He made the earth was SO THAT man could care for it.   Im not particularly into the whole 'saving the planet' thing.  I dont vote Green.   I do recycle and hate littering but Im not a vegan and I dont sign up to most of the petitions on Facebook shouting about the melting ice caps and things.   But reading this today has made me remember that God has put us on the planet to look after it and that means me.   What do I do which contributes to the trashing of this beautiful orb?  Do I really realise just how sad it makes God when I am wasteful and neglectful and take it all so much for granted?

Male and female.  God is both. So why arent I ?  It would cut out a whole heap of hassle and all of that Mars and Venus stuff - as well as persecution and abuse and all the rest.  But He chose to make us male and female.  Distinct and relational.  Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em .  I'm pretty sure its all to do with the marriage relationship which God uses as the closest analogy to the relationship He wants to have with us - a depth of intimacy and commitment demonstrated through a physical union which is a pale shadow of what is to come when Jesus takes us as His bride.    The Bible is the story of God looking for a bride and I am she.  That's who I am.   Mustnt forget that.

 And finally God blessed.  He is always blessing.  I think it's just about His favourite thing to do.  After years of pondering I'm still pretty sure that I don't really know what blessing is.  It is the intentional speaking out of goodness - and when God speaks then what He says happens.  It is therefore creative and holds an element of promise.  I wonder why God blessed us with fruitfulness and ruling and not with obedience and faithfulness ??  He clearly wanted us to bear fruit - a theme which continues throughout the Bible and which moves through physical childbearing to the spiritual gifts and all points in between.  He also wants us to subdue the earth and rule over it - exercising authority, organising, tending, being stewards, being productive and managerial.    He sets out how we should do it in great detail - and of course, His ways work and our ways... well, they work less well.  Check out this site if you want to know what farming God's way looks like for example.  http://www.farming-gods-way.org/

God saw what He made and He liked it. 

When God made me He saw what He had made and He liked me !   He liked you too.  You are very good.  Not a mistake.  Not a second.  Not a work in progress who will eventually be good enough when all the rough edges have been chipped off..... but very good.  Right now.   I know that sin came in and spoiled it all but the bottom line is that God puts us together in our mother's wombs and everything He makes is very good.  We bear His likeness.  We are here for a reason. He loves us.   A good place to start I think