Start the Journey:Route 66; Day One

Well, this isn't actually Day One but I will be making some observations I have had while starting my excursion through the Bible.  The church I attend has started a new series entitled Route 66: A Journey of a Lifetime which will take our congregation through the entire Bible in a year.  In addition to the sermons the everyone has been asked to read daily a portion of Scripture that has been laid out for us and keep track of the sights we see as we go. The journey has been great this week and I have noticed some ideas I had not seen before as well as having been reminded of some old lessons that contain the wisdom needed to move about the earth in a way that will please God.

For instance, Day 1: Genesis 1-3- Man's nakedness or transparency (Genesis 2:25; 3:11) . Good or bad, God sees us right where we are--"Psalm 139:7 NIV - Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" We cannot hide from him. He sees us no matter where we go. Good thing to remember wherever you are in life, don't ya think?

Day 2: Genesis 4-5- Noah was obedient. He did what God said and oh, what a blessing. Cain on the other hand did what many people choose to do-his own thing, his own way. And then, he expected, even demanded, a blessing. Cain was about Cain, self-centered while Noah was about God's business, listening AND acting on His words.

God sees us as we are. Obedient or not so much. He sees us.  Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah. Their lives were open to him whether they liked it or not. God knew right where they were and what they were doing.  God hasn't changed. It is the same for us. He is here.  He sees us. He knows us, our downfalls and our triumphs. I believe that this journey through God's word will allow us as a church to really begin to recognize God's presence all around us. Getting to know his ways through the stories we will read will help us know how we should do life, what attitudes please God and the direction we should take in any given situation. We will begin to see God more clearly in exchange.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ~Colossians 1:9-12