Fishing

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 

Genesis 1:1

I watch my son tie flies. He is patient, thoughtful, exact in what he is creating. His flies need to be the correct color, size, shape, and texture as the real bug he is portraying. He's not a "fly by the seat of your pants" fisherman. He's a top fishing guide because he researchers every bug, every season, and every weather condition. Those fish aren't going to jump into his creel because he wets a line. He has to be a master creator who knows the needs and likes of the trout in his rivers and streams. Every day he works in harmony with the Master Creator and His natural order.

the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 

How is it that humans struggle to understand there is a Creator, the Creator who knew from the foundation of the world how ecosystems would work in harmony, who knew blood would be the life of the creatures and the blood of His only Son would be the answer to man's sinful choices? Before the foundation of the world, there was a master plan for every color, every size, shape, and texture. There was a master plan to bring mankind back into the grace of God. That plan was to show love. That plan included the sacrifice of God's only Son. God didn't come up with that idea on the spur of the moment because Adam and Eve at the forbidden fruit. 

My son did not learn to flyfish on his own. He had teachers who took the time to train him. Because of them, he fell in love with fishing. When he learned to study the river ecosystem then he became a master fisherman. 

 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 

We need training. We need encouragement. We need to fall in love with the Master fisherman and learn the details of fishing - fishing for men. These are a few things I am learning.

• Be a part of a Bible Study
• Take notes/journal 
• Talk to the Master Fisherman 
• Have a time set aside each day for personal Bible study
• Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to "fish". 

Share your "fishing" stories here. We'd love to learn along with you.

Blessings,

Gail

Rainbow Theology

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

What do you do when you see a rainbow? Do you show it to others? Do you take a picture? Do you ask if anyone else saw the rainbow? Sounds like rainbows can be pretty exciting. They also create a sense of peace and calm. Why?

Once when I was up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I was above a storm cloud. I could look down through the cloud and see a complete rainbow, a circle. That's a once in a lifetime event for me, but God says He looks on the bow and remembers the covenant between Him and every living creature.

So what is that covenant? It's a promise not to destroy the earth again by water but I think there's more to it than that. I did some research and found some interesting thoughts,

Grace - The rainbow is seen again in the book of Ezekiel 1:26-28. Jesus is at the center or clothed in the rainbow. He is our sacrifice so we can be given grace.

Mercy - There is a covenant of mercy that we not be destroyed. Think of how the rainbow is formed. The seven colors are always topped by the red bow. It is pointed upward so if an arrow were shot by this bow it would go upward showing us mercy and covering us by the sacrificial blood of Christ.

Mediator - We need Jesus to be our mediator between us and the Father. He is between us and the Father and we can only come to the Father through Him. In Revelation 4: 3 there is a rainbow around the throne. We can't get to God who sits on the throne without going through the rainbow.

Trinity - Think of how the rainbow is formed. It's after a storm. The light of the sun shines through the water and creates the separation of colors, a glimpse of heaven. The Father (sun), Jesus the Light of the world (sunshine), and the Holy Spirit (water) work together to show us the plan of salvation.

Rainbows are used in lots of ways in our culture. Wherever we see them they are a great opportunity to open up a conversation about God's love, grace, and mercy. It is God's love, God's grace, and God's mercy, God's goodness that leads us to repentance. May we always remember to temper our conversations with love and kindness even when we may disagree with the use of the rainbow we find.

Blessings,

Gail

Water in the Beginning

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. Genesis1:7

Eight times in the first nine verses of Genesis the word water or waters appears. One of my Bible Study students mentioned that her "aha" moment this week was the often mention of water in the creation since The Holy Spirit is often symbolized by water. 

I'd never really thought of water in the creation like that! All three of the Trinity were present at the time of creation. God said "Let us make man in our image." But here was the water covering everything as the Spirit covers our lives and controls our thoughts and actions if we know the Lord and allow Him control as we should. Here the water was above and below saturating the universe with life. Yes, life because without water we cannot live and without the Holy Spirit we have no eternal life. 

The image above helps me think of the beginning of the world. The clouds above and the water beneath, both in motion yet controlled and purposeful. The tides to cleanse the ocean and more. The clouds moved by the winds to move great ships, bring more water in rains, and more. All working in tandem for God's purposes. 

There is so much the Creation can teach us about God and His eternal purpose if we only stop and take the time to notice if we study and share if we listen to God's creation speak to our hearts and in our lives. 

Our Bible Study uses the S.O.A.P. method. 

• Scripture
• Observation
• Application
• Prayer

Read a chapter and write down the verse that seems to jump out.

Write down what you observe about the passage

Write how it applies to you.

Pray and ask God to help you apply this truth to your life.

Who will you study and share with this week? We will continue our study of Genesis in our Bible Study Class. We invite you to share your thoughts with us.

Blessings,

Gail