The
Experience
I recently spent two weeks in the heart of Los Angeles. As I walked the neighborhoods, the smell of marijuana and tobacco danced from the streets and into my nostrils. Girls in mini- skirts and fishnet stockings winked and waved at men in their cars. I watched homeless men carry “help me” signs, and every so often they scratched at their soiled beards. Over a loud- speaker I could hear a voice screaming Bible verses and calling down fire upon sinners.
Day 1
Read Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Luke 5:16.
Have you ever been so disturbed or drained by problems that you needed a break? If so, how did you deal with it? How did Jesus respond to such chaos? In the verses listed above, we note that Jesus spent time by Himself, on a mountain, at the seaside, or in a garden to restore His soul. He understood the importance of letting God lead Him to green pastures, places where He could be nourished.
In the beginning god created Adam and Eve. He covered them with light. They stood before each other naked and unashamed, and it was very good. God gave them an exciting to-do list. Do be fruitful and multiply. Do eat from the fruit of the trees. Do fill the earth. Do have dominion over everything. Do name the animals. No name was out of bounds. Chihuahua, hippopotamus, and cockatiel all made the list.