Wonderfully Made

(Part 1 of Man/Woman)

We’ve going to start with a little exercise, don’t worry it won’t take long. 

Take your hands and interlock them as if you were praying.  Go ahead, I’ll wait. 

Squeeze them together making sure your thumbs are pushing down on your hands until you can feel a pulse. 

Still squeezing your hands, take a deep breath through the nose.  Hold it two seconds and release slowly through the mouth. Repeat this. 

Now once more, but this time as you breathe out slowly release your hands and relax.  Do you know what you are experiencing?  Life! 

Welcome new friends this week from:

See if your city/state/country made the list. 

New on DFB – Vanuatu; Afghanistan; Croatia; Iraq ; Kuwait; Cameroon; Hong Kong; Romania; Kincolith, BC & Moncton, NB, Canada; Quadring, England, United Kingdom; Germany; Portugal; Russia; Turkmenistan; Yemen; Brazil; Ukraine; Kenya. 

USA – Magalia, Paradise & Chico, CA; Aledo, Andalusia, Rock Island, Lawrenceville, Milan, Chicago, Reynolds, Olney & Moline, IL; Cedar Springs, MI; Manchaca, TX; Milford, CT; Newark, DE; Runnemede, NJ; Rehoboth, Swansea & Westport, MA; Linglestown, PA; Tazewell, VA. 

I am so thankful for your visit and hope that you come back each week to participate in the weekly challenges.  Join us in our new series as we spend time in the study of Daily Favor Relationships.

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Don't miss out on this week's challenge (below).

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Let’s Get Together 

Do you know how hard it is to actually collaborate anything with a spouse? If you do, I can relate.  Every time I wanted to “discuss” our topic either my husband wasn’t available or I was on another assignment.   

Our conversations would begin around 2 a.m. when we were both ready to call it a night, but one or the other would fall asleep.  Finally when we did get together we’d talk for hours and get so deep into the conversation it would take us off topic.   

Then we decided to focus on one verse (like that would keep us off the rabbit trails).  This is where hubby would accuse me of holding up the rapture saying God isn’t ready to face me with all my questions. 

I got to thinking, what day in past eternity did God decide, “Hey, I know what we should do today.  Let’s get together and make a man.”?  

Why now?  Why was this the time to change the rest of eternity? 

Did Jesus have to clear His schedule, “Father, I’ll be out of the universe that day. Let’s make it next Friday for creating mankind.” 

Was the Holy Spirit running behind because all of the other things He just brought to life?  No of course not, but it doesn’t stop us wondering, “What happened the day man came to life?” 

So God created man in His own image;
He created him in the image of God;
He created them male and female. 

First Relationships 

When we look back to the very first chapter of the Bible we can see the origin of earthly relationships and how they developed over time.  In this series (although there are many more) we’re going to discuss particular relationships that began in the first week of creation.  We’ll begin with the connection between God and man. 

 “And Jehovah Elohim (plural Deity) formed Man, dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and Man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 DARBY) 

“Then Yahweh Elohim formed the man from the dust of the earth and blew the breath of life into his nostrils. The man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NOG) 

Is It Just Me? 

I don’t know if it’s the creative part of me or just strangeness, but when I think about how God created the human race all kinds of things float into my imagination.  It’s not that I’m taking it lightly or being flippant, but “I gotta know.” 

How many lumps of clay did He use?  For some reason I picture bread dough being formed where you add a little water in the center to work it into the right consistency as it’s being rolled, thumped and pounded into the desired form. 

Was God standing or kneeling on the ground forming the image after His own kind? 

When His part was finished did the Holy Spirit breathe life into man like in giving CPR or just a quick puff in the nostrils? 

Why did God stop at five fingers?  Did six cause God to say, “Nah that doesn’t look right”?   

How much did Adam already know when he awoke?  Was it the Frosty the Snowman wake up, “Happy Birthday”?   

How much did Adam know when he first stood on the ground from which he was formed?  Was his mind like the fake Santa in the second Santa Clause film where Curtis the elf says, “I programmed him.”? 

Is it just me or have you ever wondered any of these things as well?  Please say yes … 

Then God Said  

We can let our imagination go wild with all sorts of scenarios of how we “believe” man was actually formed, but the reality of it all is that God spoke all things into existence. Every day of creation began with this phrase: Then God said.  It was the same with mankind. 

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, (sky and land) and the creatures that crawl (scurry) on the earth. 

So God created man in His own image, He created him in the image of God He created them male and female." (Genesis 1:26-27 HCSB) 

When God said, “Let Us make man in Our Own image,” He was talking to His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit Who were present when Adam was being formed.   

In His statement referring to making man in Our Own image, God didn’t mean physical appearance as in the twin likeness one sees in a mirror, but resemblance as in spirit, soul and body image like He is.   

Jesus had a body however it wasn’t “flesh” as we know it, but He had form.  (Job 10:10-12 Message Bible). We don’t understand this, but Jesus said that one day we will be like His resurrected body that never dies. (1 John 3:2) His flesh body wouldn’t come until 4,000 years later when He was born through the Virgin Mary. (Luke 2)  

When the race of man was created he had a flawless spirit, soul and body that was supposed to live forever like his creator.  Man was perfect in every way … the image of God, but not the totality of God. 

When Man Met God 

The “image” was formed, a complete living being breathing on his own – he would be called Adam, “reddish” in skin tone. His organs, bone structure, nervous and digestive system, heartbeat and every cell was up and running. 

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2L7 NKJV) 

I used to wonder why God created Adam as a full grown man, and joked that it was because He wanted to by-pass the terrible two’s and the troublesome teens. 

No diaper changes or “the talks” with His kids, nope … straight to adulthood.  Since God already knew man would sin you would have thought He might have passed that stage as well, right? 

God’s creation of race began in adulthood around the age of 30-33 as most scholars agree, which is in line with the age of when Jesus would be die on the cross to save the wonderfully made Creation of God. 

Man was a wonder to behold, a “hunk” in every aspect (not a dough-boy) and he didn’t have to work out to get his lean cut body.  The first Adam’s body was constructed with everything it would need to live eternally. 

God formed man as a Divine act.  He was designed or fashioned, framed as an original creation that was pre-ordained and pre-determined at the conception conversation and throughout the entire work until completion. 

The Holy Spirit breathed, blew oxygen, literally inflated Adam and he came to life! 

It is easy to repeat the words of the psalmist in confidence when we think on the creation of man and say: 

 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well." (Psalm 139:14 NKJV) 

What do you picture happened when Adam first opened his baby blues?  He met GOD! 

As man rose from the dust of the earth His creator was there to guide, direct and protect him.  Man’s first relationship ever was with God Himself.  It would be a metaphor of Jesus who would later rise from the dead (ground) and ascend into Heaven resuming His position in the Godhead.  

What was the first thing that entered Adam’s brain?  Do you think he realized how highly favored he was by God to be the first child of the living God?  There will never be another … he was it! How wonderful was that?

Isn’t He Wonderful? 

When we look back on the “wonder” of creation, what moves our heart?  Is God wonderful to us like we are to Him?  In church we sing the old time hymn, “Isn’t He Wonderful”, but do we mean it? 

Lying on the ground Adam opened his eyes for the first time and saw “Wonderful.”  That’s right, he saw God … whose name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)  

Did the later prophets, kings and worshipers of God mirror the first words of our earthly fore-father Adam: 

 “You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
(Job 43:3 NKJV) 

 “Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40:5 NKJV)

         ... and 

 “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men.” (Psalm 107:8 NKJV)

Could Adam comprehend or understand how wonderfully made he was?  As he saw the kaleidoscope of beauty in awe and amazement were the first words Adam spoke: 

“Father, make me understand the way of Your precepts so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works. Such knowledge is too much for me; it is high above my thinking abilities, I cannot attain it. 

I will praise You, for I recognize that I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and my soul knows very well.”  (Psalm 119:27; 139:6, 14 NKJV emphasis mine) 

Wonderful You 

Throughout the Bible we learn of how special we are to our Creator God.  He knows every intricate thing about us including our thoughts, the number of hairs on our head and our days that will be lived here on Earth. 

When God made Adam the LORD thought of him as an individual not just as the man who would keep things rolling.  He saw Adam as someone wonderful and fearfully made to be part of His life forever. 

When God looks at you He sees you, not anyone else. Freckles and all, you are His one of a kind, wonderfully created work and here by design not chance.   

It doesn’t matter if you were or weren’t planned by your parents.  God planned for you, and wanted to breathe life into your form as He did that very first living soul. 

You were wonderfully made in His Own image and He smiles knowing that you were created as “very good” to behold.  From the beginning God planned you to be part of His forever and wants to be there for every part of it – from now into eternity.   

“… and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” (Matthew 28:20b NKJV) 

Think on This Challenge:

When Adam Met God

A few weeks ago when we began this series with Before There Was You, I asked you to recall the first person you remember having a conversation with after you were born. 

The reason for that assignment was to help you with this week’s challenge. 

What do you think Adam’s first words were to his Father, which happened to be GOD?  Talk out the conversation with someone; it will be more interesting than you can imagine. 

You have always been a part of God’s plan in relationships; Adam was the “seed” to get you here.  God loves you and there is nothing He ever made that moves His heart like wonderfully made you! 

Wonderfully Made  

Don’t Miss it … Coming up … The Next Act of Favor 

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Until next time, a life of favor begins when you meet God!

“Hello My child, this is God.”

Jesus Christ

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.

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Image:  Folded Hands Praying  God's Calendar God Creating Man  Then God Said  Genesis 2:7  You Are Wonderfully Made