FAITH:
Genesis 2:4-3:24God the Creator completed his masterpiece by creating man and woman. God breathed life and spirit into his special handiwork. Though sin entered the world, God also provided for redemption from sin.
God created people with the freedom to choose or reject him. When his creation chose to rebel, God revealed his plan for salvation.
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground.....
All were silent as the Creator reached in himself and removed something yet unsee. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice."
Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form.
An Angel spoke, "But what if he..."
"What if he chooses not to love?" the creator finished. "Come, I will show you."
Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow...
The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Never had he seen anything like these....The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth. Rotten hearts. Ruptured promises. Forgotten loyalties...
The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him...
"Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?"
"It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love."
....They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him.
God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened.
But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped.
Perhaps it was the wind who said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it:
"It looks like...it appears so much like...it is him!"
The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside--at the soul.
"It's eternal!" gasped another.
Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of his self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.
Now it's our choice. by Max Lucado
Applying it: God did not create us as robots. Praise him for giving us the ability to serve and love him purposefully. Thank him for his gifts of freedom and creativity. Set aside time today for creative praise. Make that choice today.
Exploring it: Human Spirit--Job 32:8; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Acts 7:59.
FRIENDS:
Father, We look at your plan and it's all based on Love, not on our performance, and we pray that you'd help us to understand that. We know that no matter how far we fall, or what we do that your will accept us back when we run to Jesus. Teach us your ways, and to be captivated by your love. To be overwhelmed by your grace. To come home to you in that beautiful path that you've already carved our for us. In Jesus' name, Amen
FOOD:
Waffle House Hash Browns (copycat recipe)
You can use regular potatoes that have been peeled and shredded,but for this recipe I prefer to use the refrigerated ones. Serve with your favorite style eggs and toast.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons margarine, divided (DO NOT use butter for this)
1/2 cup diced cooked ham (diced small)
1/4 cup finely diced onion
1 cup refrigerated shredded hash brown
1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
Garnish with your choice of grated cheese
Method:
Melt 1 Tablespoon margarine in a medium sized non-stick skillet, over medium heat. Add onion and diced ham, cook until onion is soft and ham is heated through. Spread ham and onion into an even layer, add rest of margarine in center of ham/onion mixture. Cover ham/onion mixture evenly with shredded potatoes. Cover potatoes with salt and pepper. Cover with lid and let brown for about 5 to 10 minutes.(depending on how brown you like your potatoes). Remove lid and divide into 4 pieces, turn each piece over to brown other side.
Serve with your choice of grated cheese put on when plated up.
