Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also.Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Unless noted, scripture reference in series was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway. ImageCreative Common License if not specified.
Welcome, Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Daily Favor Teaching Blog
Have you ever wondered what it was like to be the first person created, let
alone be the only existing human walking on earth?
Envision opening your eyes for the very first
time … behold, the face of God. There
could be no better way to begin living!
At that moment, everything is new.There will never be another time or
experience like this.Could Adam possibly
realize how loved, favored and special he was to Jehovah and what this would
mean to all mankind - forever?
If I close my eyes, I can picture how it might have
happened in my sanctified imagination, walking through each scene mentally as
life begins for the firstborn of many.A
molded creation lies still as if it were a mere part of the ground.Then something miraculous happened!
As when the Spirit of God moved upon the waters, He moves
on the formed body, making it become real.With the very breath of God, energy is stirred into the shape called “human”
awakening man … a male man known as the first Adam”, created by the hands of Yahweh.
His lungs expand as they fill with air; new life has
begun.Leaning over Jehovah smiles and
extents His hand to help raise up His likeness and says, “Walk with Me. I have
something to show you.”
Taking His hand, Adam stands as if he always had the
ability to move.The Creator and created
walk side-by-side, but Adam has yet to speak.He wonders where they are going, but is not afraid to follow.
“So, the LORD God took the (human,
newly formed) man (He had made) and settled him in the Garden of Eden to
cultivate and keep (watch over) it.” (Genesis 2:15 VOICE emphasis mine)
What was it like for Adam to walk in with God in His
garden and witness its original splendor and heavenly glory? Could Adam describe what he was seeing, smelling
and hearing or did God explain each detail as His child touched Creation?Did his jaw drop in awe of such beauty and
that he was the reason for God’s lavishing favor?
Before woman was made, he spent time with God alone … it
was just the two of them. This would be
a relationship like none other.How long
did Adam have with His Creator before yet another new thing was paraded before
his youthful eyes?
“Look, I am about to do
something new; even now it is coming.Don’t you see it coming? (Isaiah 43:19a CSB emphasis mine)
Did God go over the things that only men discuss amongst themselves? What
little tidbits of advice did Jehovah share with his first son that no one else
was privy to or ever heard? Besides the topics of animals and the precious
responsibilities entrusted to him, we know there was a discussion over food
choices … why doesn’t that surprise me? Was
fruit the first thing that awakened his taste buds to the glorious creations for
nourishment?
What love God had for Adam (mankind) from the beginning in
giving the promise of favor through blessing his life and the work of his
hands, before he ever lifted a finger!
How would the man of dirt bond with a substance called “earth”
that literally conformed into his existence?Would words of thanksgiving be the beginning utterances spoken by the one
God had chosen to be first? Could you hear
voices of praise echoing through the Garden at night by everything that had
breath?
“Let everything that has
breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah, praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6 NKJV)
Favor I Knew Before Birth
I don’t know about you, but I can’t get over the awesomeness
of God.Every time I glance out my
windows or walk in the yard, I am reminded that this is God’s world and I’m
walking in His created favor designed by love for me!It’s personal to me, because of the
relationship I share with my Creator, Savior and Lord.
Before I was even thought of by my parents and brought
into this world, I was already born into favor in God’s world.He would have my parents move from state to
state until they arrived at the right place for when I was to be born.
His plans were to “put” me into position for service as
He did with the man Adam He had first formed (Genesis 2:8).In a place where I could fellowship with Him,
walking in faith and favor along my life journey on earth.God knew where to place me on the planet –
the “Garden State” … how appropriate.Not
quite Eden, but a beautiful place to grow!
He knew the things I view as beautiful and what brings me
pure delight and pleasure.He knew what
tugs on my heart to worship Him with thanksgiving for all the things He’s
created for me to enjoy.In other words,
God personalized me to be me, the way that would bring pleasure to both of us.
When the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the Old Testament prophet,
He first spoke these words to Adam and continues to speak them to every child
that belongs to Him through Christ Jesus. How do I know these things?His Word tells me so, because God never
changes and neither does His love.He is
the same yesterday (from before time), today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
“So, God created man in His
image; in the image of God, He created him (mankind); male and female He
created them. The God bless them, and God said to them, be fruitful and
multiply …” (Genesis 1: 27-28a NKJV)
As you read these words, dwell on them as if God were
saying them to you like I have:
“Fay, (say your name) I am
your Creator, and before you were born, I chose you to speak for Me to the
nations.
I chose you before I gave you
life, and before you were born, I selected you, set you apart and appointed you
as My spokesman to the world.” (Jeremiah 1:5 CEV, GNT, TLB, AMP emphasis mine)
This Week's Challenge: Walk in Your Eden
We look back on history and think how great our life
would be if we were someone else … like Adam or Eve who were the only ones to
walk in the Garden of Eden.Well … we’re
not, but that’s the way it was meant to be and it’s okay!
I’d like to inform you of something big!Like Adam (and his wife Eve), you are also a
creation that God formed perfectly in His image, for His glory and
fellowship.There is only one you, and
God likes … no, loves the way He designed you.He planned for you to be a part of His life during this time in
history.
In your alone time, close your eyes and image what it
would be like if it was you instead of Adam walking with God in His garden. What kinds of things might be on your list of
topics to discuss that are just between the Creator and you?
Open your eyes; look around you. Now think about where
you are today and don’t focus on the cosmetics of it.No matter where you live, God knew you would
be exactly in that place.It may not be
perfect and it doesn’t mean that this is where you will always be.
At this time in your life, do you recognize “this” set
aside earthly place for fellowship, as created favor and blessings designed with
you in mind? It’s your Eden; a place to
learn and grow spiritually.
God has allowed this particular “Eden” at this time to be
part of where He wants to walk with you.It’s a place where blessings and favor were planned from the beginning,
but have yet to be given.Be excited and
learn everything He is revealing while you can, because change is going to
happen!
The Garden of Eden wasn’t special because it grew great
crops.God’s garden was special because this
is where relationship was created between Heaven and Earth.
Eden was a place where God and mankind could establish a
close fellowship as well as highlight His full creation.It birthed new beginnings where God could
give favor for a lifetime, not just for the first human, but for all humanity.
Practically everyone knows how the first Adam and his
wife Eve fell from God’s grace.However,
most fail to recognize that God gave them favor when they repented of their sin.They returned to the Lord and fellowship was
restored, not in God’s Eden, but a new place.
At this time in history, we do not have an earthly Eden
as in the Beginning.Eden itself takes
on a new meaning besides a certain location on the map.Your Eden (or mine for that matter) is
wherever you walk with God spiritually, and wherever He walks there is favor!The amount and kind of favor from God is
established along the walk, and Eden is where it begins.It’s where you are right now in your
relationship with Him, and has nothing to do with where you live or what your
house looks like.
Eden is a set aside place chosen for loved ones to
fellowship that is not specifically a location, but a place in your heart. Have you a place where the Lord can fellowship
and walk with you daily?The wisest
thing you can do right now is to begin walking in the Eden God has set before
you, so His blessings and favor will be multiplied. Why not start here!
“Blessed is the man who listens
to me (wisdom), watching daily at my (wisdom) gates, waiting at the posts of my
(wisdom’s) doors.For whoever finds me (wisdom)
finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD.” (Proverbs 8:34-35 NKJV)
Maybe you don’t know the
Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life
also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more
information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image
Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Scripture reference was
taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Bible Gateway.
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Image credit: Google Images Creative Common License if not
specified. Image Adam
Have you ever been in a situation where you told someone that you’d
get back to them, and before you know it months have passed without you keeping
your promise?Good, I’m glad you can relate
to my circumstances.
It's been a while since I've filled you in on some of my activities, but Hubby's illness and recent hospital stays really took us off course. Thankfully you have been wonderfully patient and hung around.
As many of you know, the summer months “fun-cations” are full of
surprises around our neck of the woods, especially when it comes to weeks and
weeks of gardening in preparation for the fair. By the time it rolls around we’ve had our fill
of fertilizer and dirt embedded under our nails.
Thanks for joining us on Daily Favor Blog.
Be sure to read News from Fay, updates and visit the Q & A or other sections.
Yet Another New Approach
Hubby and I actually begin planning what we want to enter in the
county fair back in the winter months when we start our seedlings.We review the previous year to see which items
did well in the competition and what flopped. Believe me there have been some big
ones that seriously, we don’t know why we entered them.Strangely, one of those actually placed!
If an entry didn’t do well, we try to figure out a new approach
for keeping the item for competing or revising it in some way so it will do
better.It often works, but not always
and that’s what enables us to search avenues outside our comfort zone.Here’s where it starts to get fun or freaky,
depending on what we discover!
Each year I like to enter a new category or do something I’ve
never done before, just so I can keep growing and learning from the best.Succulents and cucumbers were a first for me …
it may be the last, who knows. Ugh … it didn’t go well.Let’s
say it was 50/50, one did okay and the other I never entered.
Sadly, I had to let a few crafts go unfinished, because there
simply wasn’t enough time with the rebuilding of the garden after the flood in
2017. We still have a ways to go in getting it back in order. The good thing though is that I’ve got them
started for future craft fairs! (I just have to remember where I put them by
that time.)
The Money Tree
Chinese Money Tree
With so many fabulous plants to select from, it’s hard to say no
to some of God’s beautiful creations. On
the other hand, if we’re not wise in our decision making it can become quite
costly or turn into a prideful event that the Lord will not bless.
At times it can be difficult staying in the allotted budget, because
I keep adding to the list of things I want in the garden.After all, money doesn’t grow on trees (… or
does it?)Maybe I should research
growing that money tree, people say it is a sign of wealth! (Note to self – add
it to the list.)
A Fair Promise
Through
prayerfully seeking the Lord for favor in accomplishing His plans, He has
always led us to sales and great “finds” in exploring the plant world, which
allowed us to expand our entries in the fair.
It
is God’s desire to bless the Righteous with favor and never withhold anything
good from His children.So why wouldn’t
we ask for His advice, counsel and favor?He wants to be a part of everything we do and He isn’t afraid of a
little gardening!
“For the Lord God
is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows
favor and honor. No good thing does He
withhold from those who walk uprightly (are in right standing with Him). O Lord of
hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You!” (Psalm
84:11-12ESV)
Keeping
My Promise
This
week I wanted to share some of the Daily Favor we experience from the Lord when
it comes to the desires of our heart, which in this case is gardening and the
yearly county fair competitions.God is
more than willing to direct us in the way we should go so that our efforts do
not fail and we have victory.
Psalm
37:4 tells us that if we delight (enjoy, take pleasure) in the Lord, He will
give us the desires of our heart.In
order for Jesus to do that we must maintain a close relationship with God, and
that means including Him in everything.
God
wants to keep His promises to us, but sometimes we make it difficult by not
allowing Him to take part in our lives and everyday activities.It takes commitment to our Savior, obedience
and faith in God to release favor on our situation at the right time.
This
year was exceptional and in keeping my promise I began posting some of our
entries for the competition on my Facebook site.I’d love it if you would hit the
follow and like tab on the page to be notified of all the posts.
Throughout the week you’ll see entries in several categories, but
not all of them because some the pics really didn’t turn out that great.(Sorry about that; I still need a camera.)
Frankly, it's impossible to know how plants will thrive during the
hot or stormy weather. We step out in
faith as we pray, believing God for an abundant harvest and that He would bless
the work of our hands.We weren’t
disappointed.
It's Grace! God’s Amazing Grace! He never ceases to lavish us with
His mercy and unmerited favor. Jesus
makes a way and continues blessing us over and over … I am so thankful! Although I may fail to follow through with a keeping a promise at times, God is always faithful to His Word.
He says that He will establish and bless the work of our hands
when we seek to do His will (including succeeding in a competition).That promise was fulfilled for us, and soon I’ll
share even more about the outpouring of favor that was shown to us this year.
Only
the Lord knows the future, but we can faithfully trust Him to see us through
all the “seasons” we may experience.
“Let us see
Your miracles again; let our children see glorious things,
the kind You used to
do, and let the Lord our God favor us and give
us success. May He give permanence to all we do."
(Psalm 90:16-17TLB)
Now
that’s a fair promise I can cling to for everything in my life. How about you?
Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to
have this kind of favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me About Jesus” for more information on becoming
a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible
Version provided by Bible Gateway.
Image credit: Google Images Creative Common License if not
specified.
I couldn’t help myself; the weather was too
nice to be indoors, and besides this was probably the last 80+ degree day left
in the season. Gathering a plastic container for recycling I headed out to our garden to collect seeds from the
flowering vines.
My husband had a headache and wanted to sit
back to rest for a little while.Believing the fresh air would help him, with some coaxing I was able to
convince hubby that he needed to come help me.
For the next few hours not only could I imagine Life in God’s Garden, I
was living it.
Welcome new friends this week from:
See if your city/state/country made the list.
International – Norway; Czechia; Perth, WA,
Australia; Barreiro, Setúbal District,
Portugal; Luxembourg; Hyderabad, Telangana & Malappuram, Kerala,
India; Kigali, Rwanda; Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil; Lae, Morobe Province,
Papua New Guinea; Lamongan, East Java; Palembang, South Sumatra; Baumata, East
Nusa Tenggara, Sunggal, North Sumatra & Kepung, East Java, Indonesia; Taipei,
Taiwan.
USA – Greenwood, AR; Temecula, Vallejo & Yucca Valley, CA; Hutchinson, KS; Boyce,
LA; Boston, MA; Elkton, MD; Sunrise Beach, MO; Lincoln, NE; East Wakefield, NH;
Minotola, Paterson & Vineland, NJ; New York, Camden & Rome, NY; Linton
& Grand Forks, ND; Fairborn & Plain City, OH: Woodburn, OR; Glenolden
& New Cumberland, PA; Frankfort, KY; Galveston, TX; Fairmont, WV; Albuquerque,
NM; Guthrie, OK.
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.
You are welcome to leave comments or prayer requests below.All are private. I would love to hear from
you and how Daily Favor has worked in your life.Contact me by leaving a message in the box at
the bottom of this week’s post.
Opening the gate to the garden I began
working my way around the inside of the fenced in area plucking tiny pods off
the twine vines.The past few cool
nights caused the flowers to wither.What was once a beautiful lush covering that scrolled around the entire
garden looked rather messy having been hit it by the first frost of the fall
season.
The pods were so delicate that even the
slightest jiggle would make the seeds fall to the ground.By the time my husband joined me I had
already finished one side of the fence.With much more to be done, he decided to work his way along the outer
side of the garden fence.
There was a slight breeze; perfect weather
for the task at hand.Dropping a handful
of seeds into the pail I pictured what Adam and Eve might be doing had they
still been living in God’s Holy place.
It was so quiet, even in the middle of the
afternoon and in the city to boot.No
one was around; it was if we were the only two people on the planet.Working my way towards where hubby was I
said, “I wonder if Adam had to do this?”
I answered my own question … of course he
did.God said that He gave us seed to
sow for future gardens.
“And God said, See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on
the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”
(Genesis 1:29 NKJV)
Serenity Now
When the vegetable plants, luffa and
flowering climbing vines are in full bloom they cover and surround the entire
fence.It creates a secret garden place to
dwell and spend time in the presence of our Creator.
Our little garden becomes a place of worship
… a temple so to speak, and provides the atmosphere needed to hear from God as
you draw close to Him.So many times I
have sought the Lord for answers and within a few minutes in the garden I hear
from Him.
Serenity washed over our spirits as the hours
wore on and we didn’t even notice the sun beginning to set. Hubby and I had such peace and calmness fellowshipping
together with the Lord that it made us long for the time when the Garden of
Eden would be restored for the children of God.
Blessings
Unmeasurable
For the past eight weeks we have “walked” through the
Garden of Eden and marveled over the favor God prepared for the race of man
from the very beginning of creation.
We learned from only a few named blessings how God made
provision for Adam and those to follow that would last all the days of the
earth. There are yet untapped water sources, seed bearing fruits, vegetables and herbs at our disposal for
sustaining life.He created gold and
precious stones that set the economies of the world in motion even to this day,
giving great provision for all of mankind.
Although there are too many blessings to
count that God has given us, from my short list I’ve saved the best for last.
Tenth Blessing –The
Garden was a Holy place for Worship.
From the very beginning God made it clear
that the Creator was the heart and center of creation, not humans or anything
else.His garden was created to
establish communication and a place where relationships would grow.
The Garden of Eden was to reveal to man God's Heaven. It was a reflection of the dwelling place of the LORD God Almighty revealed to man and where he may boldly seek favor (mercy). (see Hebrews 4:16)
For a brief time before sin entered, Heaven in a sense was here on Earth.
When God brought Adam into His garden, it
was to perform the duty of the first High Priest of God’s temple … the Holy
place where God showed up to fellowship with man.
The Garden was a separate place in Eden; it
was set apart just for the LORD to be worshipped. Although Adam and Eve could go wherever they wanted, God only showed up in His garden certain times of the day.
Throughout scripture we read how the high
priests “tended” to their duties inside the Holy of Holies temple.It was a place where public service to God
was performed, including worship where He was acknowledged as the Creator of
all things.
God gave Adam stewardship of the Garden where
he was to serve, guard, protect, shepherd and preserve (shamar, Genesis 2:15). In other words, Adam was the servant of the
Garden, the attendant gardener.Now we
can understand why God was so angry with Adam having let “sin” (through the
serpent) into His Holy dwelling and family.
As the High Priest Adam had the
responsibility of caring for God’s temple and taking watch over His sheep
(Eve).He failed at the task, but thankfully
the grace (unmerited favor) of God would already be planned for man before he
was created through His Son Christ Jesus.
The prophet Isaiah (in chapter eleven)
describes how God’s special garden temple will one day be restored for man to
fellowship with Him. In the meantime, the first temple built (and others to
follow) by man was representative of the Garden of Eden where God walked and
dwelled with man.
Think Back
Every teacher tries to plant “seeds” into the
thinking of their students by setting up something for future lessons.I did this to prepare you
for this week.
In our second “think on this” challenge we
pondered the significance of the gifts that were brought to Jesus upon His birth
into this world.I had you think about it
without giving you an answer for a reason.
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem three
specific gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were given to him.The Magi knew what to give and the
significance of the items they were to take to the newborn KING.They were symbols of worship in the original Eden
temple of God, and a path for us to follow leading back to the Heavenly Father
through the seed of Jesus Christ (the Anointed Holy One).
The vessels and furnishings of the temple
were made of gold, and the walls of precious metals and gems.However, the two perfumes of frankincense and myrrh combined were the main ingredients of the anointing oils inside the
garden temple.
Burning of the specific oils signified that
God was present.We know this
information from the description given to Moses in the Old Testament scriptures
on how God wanted His temple to be built.Moses received the detailed “floor plan” of what no one else had seen in
the original place of worship in Eden.
Although some of the gifts pointed directly
to the death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah, they represented much
more than we first learned.Presenting
these gifts at the birth of the Savior symbolized the promised restoration of
the Garden of Eden as a place where God and man could remain in relationship
forever.
The Living Vine
For the few hours it took to tear down the
lifeless vines we didn’t think about what we lost, but focused on the life in
the seeds for seasons to come.I could
already envision the new vines trailing along the fences bursting
with life and color.Through one little seed a
new garden would bring forth a multitude of plants revealing the wonder and glory
of God.
Part of the favor for man is the promise of physical seed for as long as we are here on earth.
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter
and summer, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NKJV)
God provided the initial seeds for everything
we will ever need back in the Garden of Eden, including the Seed of Himself.However, man would need spiritual seed and
that would come through Jesus.A
relationship with Jesus allows us to fellowship with God once more.
A Living Temple
Although we await the coming of Jesus to be
reunited with God face to face as in Life in the Garden days, our worship and fellowship with Him doesn’t
have to wait until then.Jesus gave us
the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us.Through Him we can talk to the Lord whether
it is in our own garden, our prayer closet or anywhere.We are a living temple, garden, that grows
and grows the more we spend time in relationship with Christ.
What we can take away from this is that God’s
love for His creation is so wonderful that He went to great lengths to save
it.Everything He created was good and
meant to remain forever.
God’s mercy (favor) endures forever, without
regret, for every generation from the beginning to the end.We worship Him for His goodness, grace, mercy
and favor … we worship Him because He is worthy of our praise!He is the one true GOD!
If we are connected to the Living Vine - Jesus,
God’s creation will one day be restored to us; like Adam and Eve we’ll
experience Life in God’s Garden, but this time it will never end.
I AM the vine – the Life in God’s
Garden.There is no garden life without
Me.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in
Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out
as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are
burned.
If you abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.By this My Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:4-8 NKJV)
Think on This Challenge:
A New Eden
When we planted our garden this
year we already knew that there would be a time when it would return to
seed.Gathering seeds was proof that we
believed what God said about seed time and harvest for this earth.Spending time in the garden however, our
thoughts were not of this world, but Heaven’s garden.
Our life has a beginning and an
end.It started with God, but not every
life ends up with their Creator.Jesus
is the Alpha and Omega Vine, the beginning and end of all things Where does the Vine dwell? In God's Garden; only those who believe in Him will receive unmerited favor to see the new Garden of Eden.
Our think on this challenge asks …
Will you see the new Garden of Eden?
If this article has encouraged or helped you, please
consider sharing it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this
post.
Maybe
you don’t know the Living God that I know, but would like to have this kind of
favor in your life also.Click on the
above tab “Tell Me About Jesus”
for more information on salvation and becoming a child of the Savior.
Content
and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due
to lack of belief. Scripture
references provided by Gateway Bible in the New King James Bible Version or as
noted. Image
credit: Google ImagesCreative Common
License if not specified. Image: Gathering SeedsMorning Glory VinesJohn 20:29The Temple Symbolism Life in Gods Garden, Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, Salvation, Daily Favor Relationships, Daily Favor Blog, Favored1, Holy Spirit, Israel, Heaven, Unmerited Favor.
