Genesis 1, the first chapter of the first book of the complete, ” more sure word” of God, is well described and poetic in nature. It paints the picture and sets the scene for an atmosphere of creation. It is detailed enough to represent the careful and methodical approach of God the creator,and yet open enough to invite the reader to dream. Out of all of the chapters I’ve digested,this one is the most mystical. It moves me repeatedly. There’s something about it that I can’t get over, for those who love the word surely you understand. I study the Bible at length and meditate on many verses but somehow I always come back to this. 1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3. Then God said, ” Let there be light”;and there was light. The power to create with words, and give life with just a breath. How awesome is our God. I find myself questioning though, not in a doubtful way but from a sheer hunger for truth. I desire to know the mysteries and discover details reserved for the diggers. That being the case, I have to ask, why light first? Why not create everything and then shed light. That would seem to be a more dramatic unveiling of the artists work. It’s not as if He needed the light to work by, having already made the earth. After all does the God who calls things that be not as though they were need guidance or assistance with seeing? Not even a little bit. I will probably have to wait till I see Him face to face to learn all the depths of these few verses, them being so full and rich. For now though I will share with you my thoughts. God didn’t create light for Him to see, but rather that the creation could gaze upon the face of the creator. Light was designed for us to see Him. Our very existence as a believer rests upon the revelation power of Jesus in our lives. Jesus, ” the light of the world” was given to us , not to reveal the evil in us, but to reveal the goodness in Him. 2 Cor.4:6 ” For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge,of the glory of God, in the Face of Jesus Christ”. It was creation who needed light all along, the light of the knowledge of Him. It is in Him that we find grace, and hope. Not in the revealing or exposure of sin, but in the exposure of who He is. The Bible says that “God is light,and in Him is no darkness”. So in the beginning God said Let there be Me. Simply brilliant. God is Love, Brandon Marshall.

January.  A new year.  Resolutions.  Sound familiar?  Most of us would like to change something about ourselves or our life.  So we vow to lose weight and start exercising, or quit smoking, or go back to school and get a degree.  How long before we get discouraged and give up?

Resolutions are good, but only as good as our commitment to keeping them.  And that begins with our thoughts.  So how do we stick with it?  Romans 12:2 says “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed [changed] by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  That happens by being aware of the ideas, concepts, and perceptions we allow into our brains, where they take root and begin to grow.  Do you permit idle musings to permeate the inner sanctum of your intellect, or do you actively select what remains and what is discarded?  We control our destiny by the thoughts we allow to develop.

Negative or harmful thoughts lead to actions of that same nature.  Second Corinthians 10:5 tells us we should “Cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”  We would not be instructed to do it if it were not possible, so the excuse “I can’t help what I think about” just doesn’t cut it.  The remedy for this is to replace the erroneous thoughts with positive, more powerful ones.  This type of thinking is described in Philippians 4:8:  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  By planting positive seeds with edifying characteristics, we effectively weed out the damaging influences.

To aid in this process, Ephesians 5:26 reveals how Jesus carries out this mission: “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.”  The WORD.  Scriptures.  Read the Bible and meditate on it.  Daily.  Moment by moment.  Apply it to your job, school, relationships, attitudes, self image.  This is the only way to be transformed, to change what we don’t like about ourselves or our life into something and/or someone we can enjoy and be that light to the world.

One of the most powerful visuals I have seen that demonstrates this principle comes from a Sci Fi ad, “Bucket of Youth”, as seen on You Tube.  The water is the Word and we are the woman who is transformed by the continual stream of water/Word.

In a similar manner, the blood of Jesus covers us in a continual flow that cleanses us from ALL sin, past, present and future.  The blood and water that poured from his side at Calvary still covers us today.  We are simultaneously being cleansed and transformed, “line upon line and precept upon precept”.  Position yourself under the cascade of blood and water and enter into a life of joy and freedom like you have never known.