Ya'll, okay I may not have been posting, but I have been reading. HAVE YOU? I love starting that we are starting in Genesis. It's such a good story, "In the beginning..."
MAN OH MAN, what a week it has been. It was so easy to get caught up in the mess Hurricane Milton has left us with - all the cleanup, things needing fixing, no electricity, etc. - and while none of that is fun, what I really want to focus on is the fact that the storm went from a Cat 5 to a Cat 3
in a matter of 20 minutes. The storm surge was minimal, and for that, I am just so grateful. As I write up some of my entries this week, I want to encourage you to stop right now, before you read any further, and just thank God. You have a roof over your head, food in your fridge (which is working, I might add), electricity, and internet! We take so much for granted on a daily basis. What a reminder of how truly blessed we are. I can't wait to have a HOT shower tonight.
As I read today's chapter verses 16 & 17 jumped off the page for me, "And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.””
Genesis 2:16-17 CSB
Today’s text is a very familiar one. I have heard so many sermons on so many various aspects of this chapter. I went back and read it a for a 2nd time asking the Lord to "give me revelation as I read. Help me see something that would speak to my life today." I was immediately drawn to the verse where the Lord told the man he could eat from any tree in the garden, except one. The Lord even said if you do, YOU WILL DIE! Did Adam or Eve follow instructions? Not at all. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have walked by a sign that says, "wet paint." Instinctually I walk right up and touch it. WHAT ON EARTH am I thinking. The sign was clear, "WET PAINT."
As I reflect on what I have read, I find myself crying out, "Lord, where am I focused on what I feel I lack versus all you have given me?" God has provided so much, provided for me every step of the way, and yet I can so easily focus on what I lack. AND THEN, even worse, I act upon what I think I need, get upset, or worse yet, am not a good example to those around me. I do believe that I am a grateful person, but I think even subconsciously my mind is always going to the things I don’t have rather than being present with what I do have. As the storm came and went, the damage was significant but so much less than we had planned for. I was so looking forward to returning home to my nice air-conditioned home because I had a generator. Guess what? The last guy to maintain it didn't lock it, and so water got in and broke it. I was just so frustrated. Regardless, my focus needs to continuously be on what I do have and what God did in this season. This whole experience has really continued to show me what is important in life.
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