Introductions

In the beginning, God created… Gen 1:1a

The constant wringing warmed my hands as my eyes widened at the suggestion presented.  On its surface, the task did not seem difficult but nevertheless the unsuspecting challenge left me with a bit of unease despite being faced with it many times in the past.  “Everyone stand and introduce yourself to the group”, the women’s bible study facilitator said.  My heart pounded as I scanned the room for a quick yet discrete exit.  With no obvious way out, I listened intently to what others shared for guidance on the content of my own self introduction.  The challenge exists in needing to tailor the introduction to the makeup and purpose of the audience with attempting to balance too much with too little information.  As we go through seasons in life, we pick up, put down and reprioritize various titles, roles and responsibilities.  In this passage, let’s explore introductions further in the setting of the creation story. 

Introductions set expectations

The titles we carry inherently set expectations.  Some expectations are reasonable and while others are not.  Assumptions are made with certain titles.  These assumptions may be tailored by direct experience, portrayal of these roles in media or through conversations with others.  The titles we choose to share speaks to what we deem important while simultaneously saying what we think of ourselves.  Likewise, the titles we identify under dictate how others may perceive us whether intended or not.  For example, once we are identified as someone’s mom, we become the point person for insight about our child from food and sleep preferences to personal interests and tendencies.  For some, the expectations of mom do not end there and may include unreasonable expectations because of their own perceptions, biases, or experiences.

God knows introductions matter

In the very first scripture, God introduces Himself.  In the beginning, God created.  Enough said right there.  He identifies Himself not as a contributor or a visionary with no execution but The Creator.  The one who created not just the whole world but also the heavens, the universe and everything in it including us!  Of all the ways He could have begun His letter to us, He started with this one fact in the very first sentence, the very first verse so no matter how many times I endeavor to read the bible from beginning to end, of which there have been many attempts, this scripture remains on the reading list.  The title creator carries a degree of expectations.  I expect creators to own a depth of knowledge above and beyond any layperson.  I expect a creator to possess an unattainable breadth of understanding of the true nature and inner workings of the creation.  God wants us to know that He created us and everything around us in the opening of this book.  God introduces Himself throughout the creation story.  In the first verse, He says He is the creator of all.  As we go further, He says through his actions He is creative (Gen 1:20-21), speaks with authority (Gen 1:3 - Let there be), efficient and effective moving from one task to another (Gen 1: 10 – It is good) and compassionate (vs. Gen 2:18 – community).  He has quite a way with introductions!

God knows who you are

“I know you better than you know yourself” a statement udder by a mom to her children at least once every generation.  As a mom, there are certainly times in our children’s lives where this may be true.  We spend an amount of time that generally surpasses the amount others spend so as we tune in and focus on their needs to learn and adapt as they do we acquire an intimate knowledge of them others may not know as well.  The same is true of God’s knowledge of us as our creator.  “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”, Jer 1:5a.  Before we were even a thought in our own mother’s mind, God was spending time with us, forming us and creating us with the fore knowledge of who we were.  He who can number the hairs on our head (Luke 12:7) has an intimate knowledge of us above the level we own ourselves.   He knows everything we could possibly want to know so when we need to answer the question “who should I say I am” He is the place to start. 

Created in His image

We are not only made by Him but more importantly we were made in His own image (Gen 1:27)!  That is good news because it means that as God outlines who He is through the creation story He is outlining the truth of who you are as well!  The essence of who He is lies inside of us.  Yet we let the world’s expectations define us at times.  We let our earthly eyes deceive of us as we compare ourselves to the other moms or other women in our lives.  We measure ourselves against the picture we see of others and if left unchecked it will reshape how we think of ourselves.  Here’s the thing, God never intended for the mom on social media or the one you see while going about your day to day to define you.  He tells us He created us so we knew from the very onset that He has the foreknowledge of who we were created to be so with this in mind, let me give your introduction as I believe God would. 

Introducing you…..

It is my pleasure and honor to introduce the person on the other side of this page.  She is a mighty woman of God whose possess a heart on fire for God.  She leads her home with a persistence of spirit that serves her well during her motherhood ministry.  She brings glory to God as she serves Him on her mission field.  She is relentless and tenacious in her efforts possessing a level of creativity that rivals any masterpiece allowing her the ability to design, sculpt and structure a life best suited for her family, their needs and their growth.  With compassion, she sows seeds of life resulting in a fruitful harvest unsurpassed by those whom she encounters.  She exudes authority as she moves through life intentionally, effectively and efficiently executing her duties in her motherhood ministry.  She is a blessed woman operating under the favor and covering of God.  Let us applaud her as she goes out loving her children with an eternal supernatural love and loving herself with the unconditional love she deserves. 

God has already written your introduction so don’t rewrite it.  Here’s some more great news! This is just the introduction!  I can’t wait to get into how much more He reveals about Himself and ourselves as we journey on with Him! Can you?!

Nurture the seed: Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God.

Sow the seed: Let the mind of God and what He says about you be your banner.  Start with “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Ps 139:14. 

Practice saying it to yourself and over your child because there is power in the tongue.  Speaking these life giving words over them will lay a foundation of self-value through God that cannot be destroyed.  Speak them over your child, while they lay in bed, in the car or spontaneously through the day and embrace these words for yourself because God is speaking them to you too.