From the beginning . . .

I thought with a new year and all, we should start at the beginning – the top – where it “all” began – the Garden of Eden.   The Bible starts with Genesis:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

There was nothing – in the beginning.  After God created light, came the earth, the ocean and the perfect place, the Garden of Eden.  Scripture keeps telling us, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. “  Very good:  beneficial, wonderful, lovely.

You know the story.  He put Adam and Eve there to live.  They were doing just fine, living in perfection, in God’s Presence, until Eve doubted what God had told her.  The serpent twisted the Truth and had Eve doubting.  She did the one thing she was told NOT to do – she had everything, nice home, loving husband, good food, God’s Presence, but the one thing – the ONE THING she couldn’t have, she wanted.

I’m like that.  I hate that about myself.  I’ve been thinking about this and do you think the first sin, this taking what she couldn’t have, what she was told not to have, was this all about comparison?  Satan told her she would be like God if she ate the apple.  Was she wanting that?  Not being okay with who she already was, but wanting to have more – to be someone she wasn’t created to be?  I think it was. 

Oh boy – that’s me!  AND I HATE IT!  Comparison is a sin in my book.  And we are well, let’s just say I am, experts at it!  Whether its comparing our bodies, our homes, our children or our hairstyles, we compare.  So why is it a sin?  When I compare, I am thinking in my head,

“I am not happy or thankful for how I am or who I am, I would rather be like that over there.”  Right?  In other words, “God, You made me wrong, I like that instead.”

Paul wrote in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 1:

In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.  

We are the chosen, accepted, adopted children of God – His possession – and I have the gall to want more – seriously, that just slays me!  THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE!!!!!!

I don’t make new years resolutions anymore.  I start a new “theme” for each year.  My new “theme” for 2013 is “thankful”.  This year, this new beginning, I want to be thankful for who God is and what He has done.  I want to be thankful for how He made me – just as I am – and tell Him that every day.  I want to be thankful in my dealings with others – even at my job and with people who irritate me.  I want to get up every day and the first thing that is out of my mouth is, “THANKS!” – no matter what.  No more thanklessness, no more comparing – just thanking.  Wanna join me? 

Lord, thank You for Who You are and how You made us – help us in this new year to be more thankful for just that – truly, in Your Holy Name, Amen.