Created and Blessed

Male and Female.

Created by God.

Blessed.

Let us not forget this.

Loving Again

I can't imagine what it is like to have lost a child. To have one that you nurtured and loved so deeply torn from you. What joy the birth of Seth must have brought to Eve. Not in that he was a replacement for Abel but in that she found herself to still have the capacity for love. What a blessing it is that even in the shadow of loss, we can still love!

Same Kind of Different

Eve had now given birth to her second son. Like most mothers, I'm sure she appreciated how different her children were. Was it their natural bent that set them on the path of Cain working the ground and Abel raising the flock or was it simply out of necessity? Two sons, same parents, different.

Creating

Finally, we read how Adam and Eve have gotten around to the business of being fruitful and multiplying. Yet, because of sin, all Eve can think about is how she's become like God. We should rejoice not when we see the fruits of our sin realize, but when we see the fruit of what we were creat d for realized.

Clothing

It's that time of year. Back-to-school shopping time. I have memories from when I was young of shopping for school clothes. Mom might pick,out something that I thought was downright ugly and I never wanted to wear. She would remind me that it was something I needed.

Adam and Eve's attempt at clothing themselves didn't work out. It may have covered them (just barely) but it wasn't going to be enough in the world outside the garden. God took them shopping. Here, wear this. It may not have been what they wanted, but it was what they needed.

God loves us and provides for us. I'll remember that as I walk through my day.

Living One

She's not just woman. She has a name. Eve. Living One. Life Giver.min Hebrew, her name is even contained within the name of the great I Am.

Are you alive or are you just existing? Do you give life to those around you or do you suck the life out of them?

Dear reader, God wants you to have life to the fullest. He wants you to bring life to those around you. Live vividly. You are the living one.

Curses!

It doesn't seem like too long ago that we read be fruitful and multiply. But now, after the fall, we are left with the curse. Multiplying will be painful. Instead of complete harmony between husband and wife, there will be discord. If we keep our eyes on ourselves and try to control our husbands, we won't be satisfied. But, if we and our husbands keep our eyes on Christ, we can know harmony!

Hiding

We sin. We want to hide from God. We know that God can see us; but still we try to hide. We know God will find us; but still we hide.

It is, of course, better to not have sinned in the first place, but when we do, we should be quick to confess our sin and repent. Isn't it better for us to run to God for forgiveness than for him to come looking for us?

Open Eyes

Adam and Eve sinned and their eyes were opened. They realized they were naked and they covered themselves. God had created them naked and they covered themselves.

What about how God created you are you trying to cover up? Do you feel shame about how you're made and dress to minimize it? Do you dress to impress so that people don't notice something about you?

You are beautiful. God created you to be special and unique. Embrace it. Don't hide it.

But It Looks Good

It's a battle we're still fighting. I know I don't need to have dessert tonight, but oh that piece of pie just looks scrumptious. It won't hurt me. Will it?

I know the speed limit is only 35 here, but I'm running late. It won't hurt if I speed just a little.

We all do things that we know we shouldn't do. It may look good. It may feel good. We may think we're going to receive a benefit from doing it. But we know it's wrong.

When we do something God told us not to do, we sin. We may think we gain some short-term benefits, but it separates us from God. In doing so, we may lead others astray.

“But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 NET

http://bible.com/107/1jn.1.9.net

Questioning God

Are there voices in your life that are trying to get you to question God?

Is there anything trying to get you to doubt your personal relationship with Him?

Is something making you not remember what He has said?

Curl up in your favorite cozy place and open up your Bible. Remember who He is. Remind yourself of your relationship with Him. Meditate on His truth.

He is there for you. Be with Him!

Naked

Naked and innocent.

Exposed but not vulnerable.

Neither ashamed nor embarrassed.

Free from fear. Free from fear of exploitation.

Man. Woman. Very good!

Woman

She shall be called "Woman".

Woman. From the Hebrew 'ishshah. Female. Wife. Woman.

Being called Woman is a good thing. Woman is distinct from Man. Woman is, of course, very good.

She was taken out of Man. Taken. Fetched. Laid hold of. Snatched. Seized. Received. Acquired. The same word for taking a wife is used for the woman being taken out of man. It sounds violent. It sounds forceful. This woman who was taken out of a man. Creating a woman was deliberate. Creating a woman took action.

Celebrate Woman.

Call out Woman.

Be Woman.

The Lord God Made A Woman

Woman, God made you.

You are intentional in your design.

Made from a part taken out of a man, but separate and distinct from the man.

Brought to the man not for subjugation, but to show the completeness of God's creation.

Woman, God made you. It is very good!

Not Alone

Have you ever tried to be fruitful and multiply by yourself? It doesn't work.

God designed us to not be alone. We were designed to have a companion - not just a helper, but someone who is indispensable to us - to walk through life with us.

How precious is it to have found your companion? How wonderful is it to have found the one who corresponds to you? Ladies, know that your husband fills needs for you that you cannot fill on your own. Remember too, dear readers, that you meet needs for your husband that he cannot meet on his own.

God Blessed Them

When God created man and woman, he did not want them to be alone. He made them fertile and bade them fill the earth. Be fruitful and multiply. Make a family. Make this world your home. Enjoy it all because it is God's blessing for you!

In His Image

We were created in God's image.

We were created to reflect God's character.

We were created to show what God is like to this world.

Men, women, boys, girls... We were all created in God's image.

We all may show God's image differently, but we all show God's image.

Thank you Father, that I was created in your image!