In the Word Daily - Day 2 (08/30/2011)

I'm moving my daily word journal over to the blog vs. what The City offered. The City doesn't allow you to create drafts of journal entries, and I'd rather not post an incomplete journal (it goes "live" at that point) and then edit it later. So, back to trusty blogger to post my journal entries.

Genesis 2

• God ceased his active creative work in the world - it was what he intended. He declared that final day blessed.
• No vegetation to speak of on the land in question. Watering by artesian means, not regular precipitation cycle.
• Man from mud. He didn't become truly alive until God breathed into him.
• God purposely cultivated a garden (Eden) in the east (also rendered 'ancient') where he put man.
• He put every tree that looked good and was good for eating. The tree of life was in the exact middle of the garden, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was there as well.
• A stream/river (headwaters) of 4 rivers flowed from the garden. The rivers, where they flow, and what is found in those lands. Cush is in Africa - how far did these rivers run, and how could they run these diverse directions?
• God put man in the garden to work and watch over it.
• Every tree was good for eating, except the tree of knowledge of good and evil (the day you eat of it, you die).
• It wasn't good for man to be alone - God formed the creatures for Adam. Adam named/called (classified?) them. No animal would do for Adam's compliment.
• The Lord took something from the man, made something better (a woman) and brought her to the man. Adam breaks out into poetry!
• Husband and wife re-join to echo that God had made them from one flesh.
• They were nekked and they were OK with that!

1 Chronicles 2

• Israel's genealogy.
• 11 generations between Israel and David.
• Funny names - serious genealogies!
• People, their families, and whole groups/tribes.

John 1:19-34

• John the forerunner wasn't the the prophet, Elijah, or the Messiah - he made the way for him.
• John wasn't even worthy of untying the Messiah's sandals.
• Jesus is the lamb of God - taking away the sins of the world.
• John was born before Jesus, yet he testified that Jesus came before him.
• John proclaims Jesus as the son of God.
• God clued John in - the one the Spirit rests upon baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

James 1:12-18

• We're blessed when we pass tests in life - we get the crown of life.
• God doesn't tempt/test us to sin. We sin because we want to. Sin brings death.
• Everything good comes from the immutably perfect and good God.
• God made His choice to make us the firstfruits by the new birth via His message of truth.

Psalm 2

• The nations/world want to be free from God's anointed ruler.
• God scoffs at their puny rebellion. He will stop at nothing to subject the nations to the rulership of His son.
• Listen, rulers of the earth - if you want to have a good life, pay homage to God and His son!