Genesis 1:1-6
1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on 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. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.
NKJV
Our Father God created. And it has continued to expand, for you and I continue to hear reports from NASA about another galaxy, and another planet like ours being spotted in the vast universe.
God said and it was so. And He called out LIGHT!
With light shining within our homes, what do we see?
What do we create for our families? What atmosphere do we create when no one is there, when no one is home? Are the beds made? Are the dishes done? How about a meal for that spouse? Or is he limited to the two meals a day and snack for evening, as a purposed plan for his eating habits today? Remember that weight thing has to be considered.
It tells us from the above scripture, that the earth was without form, void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep waters.
And then God spoke:"LIGHT!"
So when we have our beginning with God, do we ask for His light into the 1st part of our early morning time and if we do, what do we start with?
Hopefully it is in praying, asking the Holy Spirit to have His way in us and then move into worshiping the Lord and give voice to His Word by speaking it out!
In the days of "old" the people started on their days before the sun arose. There was water to get from a well or stream. There was wood to gather for a fire. Much activity could be heard, inside and outside of a dwelling place. Remember what might have been used to light a room.
Was it winter or was it summer time? The wife would be starting on the first meal of the day and it had to be a hearty one to get the husband off to do his duty of work for the day. Also in those days, the man worked with the wife to prepare for the family, prepare for the aged members who could no longer see to their needs. So everyone knew how to cook a meal on an open fire. Yes it was a family affair!
Today, much has changed, and I am not certain all for the good. Let God be the judge!
So which one would we embrace, which one do we look like, and which one will expand us in the right direction to make a difference for the kingdom of God?
For both will expand just as God's light has expanded. This whole world is based on that foundation He put into motion.
1st Scenario:
On rising on the 1st work day of week:
Husband works, wife works part-time, two children, part-time family cat.
They rush around, one makes coffee, another makes sandwiches to fill paper bags. One or two yell at each other. Maybe one is kissed, door slams, and the house is empty!
Looks like Hurricane Sandy went through it! Making a quick walk through, one finds that place in upheaval.
No beds are made, dishes in the sink, pans on the stove, and clothes everywhere.Yikes!
The father gets home, dishes in the sink, pots and pans on the stove. Oh my! What's for dinner, who shopped?
Kids come in, not happy again.
Mom comes in to find everyone arguing, gazing around the room she sees the piles of stuff and nothing put away. Stumbling, and numb from her day, she grimaces at the noise escalating from the kitchen area. "Oh yes, I forgot to shop again."
There is more loud talking, one is sulking, then everyone complains they are "the hungry".
Still have to wash a pan or two, Mom is done. She has vacated the kitchen. She probably had to with no room to really stand in a space with both feet as the boots and shoes cluttered the walking area of the living room. Then she spots an empty box on the living room floor and oh yes, the seldom home cat is demanding something to eat as well! He is meowing loudly and rubbing against her pantsuit leg! Then she remembers speaking aloud, 'oh my", the "cat needs food".
She asks her husband did he not get work off early. He said of course, "it is Monday, right." " It was our bowling day."
She responds, "yes, but the market is right next door." He turns with a scowl and shrugs his shoulders to the "kids".
Dinner is something like ramen noodles. The kid's snubbed their noses at it. Both are off to bed with no dinner. The father kicks the boots out of his way, looks around the room and falls into his chair in front of the T.V.
Mother has gone in to shower and plans on going to bed. She makes a mental note: "PBJ for lunches:kids! She turns off the light!
Who put the kids to bed? Who helped?
When night is done, the day starts again.
2nd Scenario:
Rising on the 1st day of work week:
Husband works, wife works part-time and they have two children. And one dog!
Husband comes in after work to help with meal preparation. He stopped at the market for some special fixings to do up one of his famous burgers. Meats on the grill!
Kids come in from school, hang their jackets up, Mom is on her way home.
Dinner table set, mom arrives, dinner is on the table.
Mom had a meeting downtown and saw some adventure movies on sale and got a couple for the family to watch on "Family Night".
Everyone eats. Dog looks for some kind of meat from the table. But alas, he returns to find his bowl full of dog munchies and his water bowl filled to the brim as well.
Dad and kids wash dishes, Mom prepares lunch boxes with sandwiches for the next day. She pours milk into thermos for the kid's, put in their favorite peanut butter cook with chocolate chips. Laughter is heard throughout the house.
Dad goes in to turn back the bed covers in the kids rooms for the kids. Mom checks how the bath is going for the younger child. "Is that too much bubble bath in the water?" She checks their clothes for school the next day, but knows she has no choice in what they will wear.
Dad helps the eldest kid with homework, it is some new "math".........and when done sends him off to think about their plans for Saturday for the whole family in the park for the big game of baseball.
Mother and Father visit: each child in their room, they pray, and tuck them in. The eldest complains, "ah, I am too old for that "kid stuff" dad!"
Mom and Dad smile and exit quietly........in the living room over a cup of tea, they
talk about their day at work, check on their bank account, all bills paid, they go over any goals for the end of the year.
She tells him about some things at work and they pray together over the situation. They ask the Lord's direction for the day and week ahead.
She readies for bed, and he then follows. He checks to make sure all is in place. And that every door is locked is his final look at the security of his family. He prays over the family again, pleads the Blood of Jesus. Turns out the light!
When the night is done, the day starts again.
Seems scenario 2 would be the best solution for a thriving and growing family, yet I think the 1st is what a lot of people see and experience.
The important thing to remember is that our Father God created. And when He is in it, there is light, life, and a place to really thrive and grow in Him. It is joyous and maximizing the God- kind of life.
It is ease when everything and everyone is in their place and fulfilling their roles.
Also understand this: both of these families know God. They have accepted Jesus as Lord. But only one family is truly living under the leadership of Jesus. The other is floundering!
Now this is really pointed or directed to the men who read this.
Since we are made in the image of God, we are to imitate Him and follow what He has written to us for our good.
Ephesians 5:1-2
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
NKJV
So husbands, what did you sacrifice for your family today? Did you shop for groceries? How about some special berries or chocolate for your wife?
Could you have done the dishes, put them away and have the counter ready to prepare another meal later?
God created the garden of Eden and he created man. He gave him the garden and gave him the animals to name. What a job, right? How many is there and how long did that take? I know it took about a day to come up with a name for our little poodle. You know that name has to fit!
But seriously, God gave Adam some jobs to do and it was TO take dominion in that garden and do it with a walk with the Father Who created him.
Genesis 2:18-25
18 And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. NKJV
That
helper is "ezer" (ay-zer) OT 5828...5826 .....aid, help....to succor
I like what the definition states:
to provide with what is useful in achieving an end.
I think this one is amazing.........."and is liken to something that one does or gives to help another..........in a situation that is often difficult and can be one of suffering."
Remember that Adam came from the dust of the ground! He was a man of mind, will and emotions.
And then Eve came along. And they lived in a garden that God provided. It had every kind of tree and what beauty must have been in that garden!
Yes, she came along to help Adam in a situation. It might be something of a difficulty...........some hard work.........and even (
Yikes) some suffering!
The helper---the helpmate---- had come to assist what Adam was doing. Well, he had named the animals........but what else.......well, he was to tend the garden........take dominion and rule!
But the serpent came in, and Adam was not taking his right in dominion. It was that chaos again........and much like Hurricane Sandy! It looks that way in the lives of families who are to be led by the Father, Helpmate Mother, children achieving an end that is useful.
God said this in Genesis 3:16.........
Genesis 3:16
6 To the woman He said:
"I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he
shall rule over you." NKJV
When they had fallen from sin, they were given God's thoughts on their lives.
And He stated that Adam would rule over his wife Eve.
That word
" rule " is 4910 in the Strong's Greek/Hebrew definition.
It means t
o be in good condition. Even though they had now fallen into sin, God was stating, "Adam, your wife will be in good condition."
In searching further, we find it means to "feast" together. It is to revel in each other's company! Dancing together through life seeing after the other's need. It was to be done in a joyful attitude, and done together............not husband on one rail of a train track and the wife on the other rail of a train track, never meeting together except to produce a child. Yikes!
I like what the Webster's Unabridged Dictionary says about ruling: to indulge without restraint.
What if they worked together without restraint.........not putting up signs...........like:" me Tarzan", " you Jane"?
What if they worked in union together as say 2nd Scenario family?
They were to work together in preparation...........an agreement of life together, working together for the meal preparations, preparing for child/children.........and moving forward in their lives that was achieving an end. Every member of that family would prosper when the head, followed Jesus, and kept his watch over his garden, his family. Each doing, learning and prospering in the doing: like cooking, like shopping, like working in the yard, like painting a fence and like cleaning a dirty toilet?
Did our Lord prepare fish for His disciples when He was the RESURRECTED? YES!
John 21:9-12
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land,
they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." NKJV
Wow! The man, the God from Heaven, Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Lord of Lords prepared fish!
In leading the home, the leader, the man, the husband is to lead in every area. The wife, a leader in that understanding that her husband still leads. She is to assist him in that which to give assistance, and often times be one of a difficult situation that has some suffering in it. Ah, but who is it that suffers?
Jesus got the fish to prepare and not for just a couple of the "guys"! No He held a feast for them with bread added! It was to be one of joy, reveling as a dance together that Jesus was the RESURRECTED and was sending His disciples out to be "those fisher's of men"!
As the nurturer, both husband and wife are to nurture as God nurtures. The Garden God created, He designed for someone to oversee that garden. He had to care for it.
So too, the father of the family is to nurture his family. He is to brood over it as God does. He is to look to the future for those who will become his family. He is to talk about, but also do the things listed within the living quarters of the home. Today, families have a whole multitude of electronics and gadgets that help out in the cooking of meals, keeping in touch throughout the day, and also caring for those things of our mind, will and emotions.
Some families I have met over the years I recall the amount of effort a husband will do for the family when the mother becomes so ill that she requires help.
I remember one such woman I met back in Ranchester, Wy. many decades ago. What I saw, was a man who cleaned the house, bought the groceries and talked much with his ailing wife. She passed some five years later, but I remember that love he gave, the love he so vigilantly displayed that was without restraint. He had someone to come in to help with her meds and someone to help with the laundry. But he did the rest! And God bless his heart for the love that was displayed toward his wife.
In closing: If our days start out like "Croods" then we probably need lots of help. We would need lots of prayer time and not just five minutes a day. Let's see now, it has taken how many years to get in this condition? So, yes, it will take more than just a quick "5" minutes to get things right and in order.
What is it the Bible says....
....Romans 15:5-6
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
Our lives requires what we can bring to the table for others. If your son or daughter never sees you cook a meal, wash a dish or take out the trash, then why should they do it, right? If everything is done for them, then how will they be productive in their lives? You will either still be taking care of them when they turn 30 years old or you will have millions of dollars to pay out for the butler and the maid they will require!
My husband loved to take us out for a camping trip. His focus was to travel to the country, and generally the mountains was his preference and to prepare food. He was great at cooking out of doors and the food tasted so rich and delicious.
I believe he gave everything within him to be what God planned for him. He still loves to be outdoors and cook outside, but it is closer to the house. He showed our daughter what productivity meant. And in turn, both she and her husband are showing it to their own.
We truly want to be the family God created and that is to share all our experiences in living, in preparing food for another, help with math, praying with children at night, spending time at the park and paying bills takes team work. And when we work together..........love one another, without restraints, without the labels like "wife in the kitchen only" or "husband only brings in the bacon", or "housecleaning is woman's work", then we have missed the mark of what I believe God desires for His family to be. We must look back at what God spoke even when they were leaving the Garden of Eden..........and see what God purposed for Adam to do for his wife and his family.
Jesus came to serve. He was the true Servant! I have seen my husband do the same. In truth he does a better job at cleaning a bathroom than I ever did. He always tells me to leave something, so that he
will do it when he gets home. And he does it.
He makes a list to do for me and I am not to do them! I have truly seen what the love of God can do and how it can cause a whole family to flourish. When it starts in our homes, it will invade the "church" the body of believer's where unity will prevail,
Jesus will return, and we will be with Him, in His family without restraint! Amen.
