January 1st

This is gonna be pretty basic tonight. I'm already behind a day (It's actually January 2nd), and I read the Creation chapter, Genesis 1:1-2:25, the really long list of Jesus' grandfathers and great great great......great grandfathers in Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalms 1:1-6 and Proverbs 1:1-6.

Just had a couple of thoughts.

In Genesis, I think the thing that stuck out to me this time in the Creation story was the part where the Bible discusses the food God gave us to eat. Apparently, in the original plan, we were supposed to be vegetarians. Genesis 1: 29-30 says "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground- everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food.' And it was so." Just think that's kind of interesting. Maybe I'm taking it out of context. Might have to look into that a little more. :) UPDATE: Looks like the change to meat eating happened after the flood. :)

In Matthew, and this is something I always find just amazing about Jesus' birth story, I was reminded of the character of Joseph. How much integrity does a guy have to have to stick with a girl that's pregnant, but claiming to still be a virgin, and then even after he marries her, to not sleep with her until she has the baby Jesus. He had such a vision for the plan of God, and without much apparent hesitation (he did think things over a little) decided that he was going with God's plan over his own. Amazing.

Psalms talked about the man that is blessed because he delights in the law of the Lord. That meditating day and night on the Lord is like being a tree planted by streams of water, that bears all kinds of fruit in its season. If I can think of one place that feels refreshing to drink from (besides our filtered water cooler) it's a stream with fresh water. Oh to be like a tree planted there. With roots that are just soaking up that goodness. I pray that God gives me the desire to continue to seek Him daily.

Proverbs talks about wisdom and having a disciplined life. About seeking guidance from the wise and adding to your learning. Something I need to do more of. May I seek out counsel of those and not be shy to ask questions.

God, thanks for new beginnings and for always being faithful, even to my wandering heart.