God's Creating Hand

Psalm 104:24-30

Are there things in this world that still surprise you? I saw the latest picture from the refurbished Hubble Telescope the other day. It was an incredible image of 3 Milky Way-type galaxies that looked like they were in a sort of orbit together.

The amazing thing is, these images are not pictures of something that happened long ago, rather they are still images of the creative process in action, galaxies in process! The creation is still being formed, altered, recreated, perfected.


Did you know that this is exactly what God is doing with you?

Yes, God has created, but is still working. While the scriptures say that God rested on the seventh day, that doesn't mean God is still resting! There is an active role God is playing in all of Creation still today. Listen again to the Psalmist's words,

"All the creatures look expectantly to you to give them their meals on time. You come, and they gather around; you open your hand and they eat from it. If you turned your back, they'd die in a minute - take back your Spirit and they die, revert to original mud; Send out your Spirit and they spring to life - the whole countryside in bloom and blossom." (Psalm 104:27-30, MSG)

No, God is not finished with us. We have been made by God's hand, but we are also still being molded, perfected...

...by God's creating hand.

Prayer: My life is not exactly as I have made it or wanted it. There have been many things happen to make it what it is. Mold me, God into the image you have for me. Don't take your Spirit from me, but send your Spirit and give me new life. Amen.

God Made You for a Purpose

Genesis 2:4-25

I've always been a hard worker. My parents taught me well and always gave me responsibilities at home, some might call them chores: keeping my room clean, dusting the house, mowing the yard, taking out the trash, washing the dishes and many other things as my Mom would direct. I'm sure that I complained some, but it was life as I knew it and I learned some good habits.

During the summer school breaks I also began finding work. At 12 I started working for George who owned a small grocery in town and opened a concession stand at the town pool selling fountain pop, popcorn and candy bars. The very next summer I started to work as a life guard, and no less than a certified Red Cross Junior Lifeguard!

From those early days until now, I've worked, never unemployed for more than a couple of weeks at a time, even in college. From lifeguarding to McDonald's grill cook, to dining hall dish washer, to diamond salesman, industrial tool sales, insurance sales, financial planning finally to pastor one of the things I've always known is that I'm created to work.

So are all of us.

"At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground - God hadn't yet sent rain on Earth nor was there anyone around to work the ground." (Genesis 2:5-6a, MSG)

It may not sound like much fun, but there's something important in this statement and in God's creative purpose. We were created intentionally for more than one purpose. One of them is to work!

As communities were built, jobs were divided up among the members so that all would survive, even thrive. Everybody had a task and everyone had different skills to put to work. It's part of God's ultimate design. My skills help you, your's help me and so on. Each of us fit into a grand plan of a relational community, by God's hand.

Yes, God made you intentionally, for a purpose...

...to Work!

Prayer: God, there are times that I don't think I have much to offer. I don't seem to be great at much or confident in my abilities. Yet I see that you have given skills to so many others. Please help me discover the skills you have given me so that I can use them for the good of all humankind and for you. Amen.