Visions of earth

He spoke and it came to be...

It is almost 25 years ago since I met my husband. During those years we have seen many different parts of the world, since we both share a love for traveling and a curiosity for cultures, languages and people. Much later we found a new love: traveling through the Bible! My first Bible with cross references was the NIV and a whole new world opened up for me! I no longer regarded the 66 books of the Bible as separate accounts of individual writers and poets, but as a huge puzzle. It was up to me to find a fitting piece each day and discover that all those people, eyewitnesses, prophets, writers and poets are connected and share an awesome story, even through the ages of time!

I am learning new things all the time and one of my favorite subjects to meditate on is Creation. It fascinates me, although my human mind is way too small to comprehend the vastness of the universe. Yet, The Bible offers me triggers that provoke my thinking. Hebrews 11:1-3 for example teaches me the following:

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

I think this is an awesome verse and a great starting point for one of my travels through the Bible.

Many centuries before these words the psalmist had a revelation about God's creating power. He wrote in the 33rd song, verses 6 and 9,

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm!

The psalmist knew that the visible nature around him came forth from the invisible word that God spoke.

My journey doesn't end there, it takes me to the writings of the prophet Isaiah, who listened to God's voice all the time. He received insight about the power of God's words when the Lord gave him an everyday example from nature in the 55th chapter, verses 10-11;

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what i desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

I love this! All those pieces fit in the puzzle, they form a picture in my mind that is getting clearer and more beautiful and more perfect! May I end this blogpost with the words from the beginning...

And God said:"Let there be light." And there was light.

Finding the knowledge of God

Treasure Hunt

Already at a young age I developed a love for the Book of Proverbs. I just loved the practical lessons in that book. I was 17 when I left for college and my best friend and me exchanged handwritten notes (yes, this was in the 80-s) with verses from the Book of Proverbs, to meditate on during the week.

Proverbs opens up with a few chapters on the benefits of wisdom. I should write Wisdom, with a capital W, because every verse points to Jesus Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24).

The second chapter in the Book of Proverbs opens up with a call to interaction between God and mankind. It always helps me to create a mental picture of the relationship between God and mankind, and I do so by looking at the natural relationship between parents and children.

Let's say your child lies on the couch all day and never asks you for anything, just waits for whatever you drop in his or her lap. That would worry you, right? Isn't it sign of an open and healthy relationship if your child asks you: 'mom, can I go outside, can I play with so and so, is it okay if I sleep over at my friend's place? Dad, why do I need to be home so early? How come my older sister has more privileges?' Even if the answer is already known, asking and searching for answers and boundaries builds a strong relationship. I believe it works the same way with God and man. He enjoys our curiosity and hunger to learn more about Him.

Chapter 2:1-5 is a great example of our action and God's response:

• If you accept my words,
• and store up my commands within you,
• turning your ear to wisdom
• and applying your heart to understanding.
• And if you call out for insight,
• and cry aloud for understanding,
• and if you look for it as for silver
• and search for it as for hidden treasure

THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

It is not enough to just accept God's Word, we must store it within us and remember it. We must do more than just listen to His Word, we must apply it. We are urged to call out, to cry out for understanding and insight. ASK & SEEK!! God's reward will be awesome, we will find the knowledge of God. Verse 6 goes on to say: For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

May I inspire you to actively go on that treasure hunt?

Abhor what is evil

Guest writing

My blogpost for this week can be found at colleague blogger Lynn Mosher's site, Heading Home. She started a series of posts on Romans 12:9-21, all written by guest bloggers. Lynn divided this part of Romans into little sections and asked her guest bloggers to write a short study on each section. It was my turn this week to write on the second part of verse 9, where it says: abhor what is evil.

Please visit Lynn and read my contribution there.

Happy blogging!

Ancient Truth is Still Fresh!

From Atheism to Christianity
The fool says in his heart: 'there is no God' [Psalm 14:1]

"Smart people don't become Christians". That was the thought of college professor Holly Ordway when she was still an atheist. Christianity was a historic curiosity and a stain on modern civilization. At the age of 31 , however, her worldview began to change. In her new book Not God's Type: A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith Ordway recalls her journey from atheism to christianity.

Click on the following link to read more about her story:

http://www.biola.edu/news/articles/2010/100712_ordway.cfm

Encouragement!

Press on and move forward
Are you following your dream? Have you set a certain goal? Are you fighting for your work to be recognized? Are you tired of running the race? I know from experience that we all have times that we want to quit, give up and sit on the couch for a while and not even think about our work anymore. In that stage many people give up on their dreams or they simply start something new, only to find themselves at that same point again a year or so later. I have also learned that THAT is exactly the point where we need to press on and move forward. With the help of a little encouragement this time can be our most important time! If you are there, read this post by literary agent Rachelle Gardner:

http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/08/good-to-great.html