[Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations…from
everlasting to everlasting Psalm
90:1-2
During this season of reflection and renewal, join me, and let's explore
God’s Presence, our dwelling place. Are you dwelling in the presence of God? ~ Donna Howell Oswalt]
“And the LORD God
planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He put man whom He had formed.
And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is
pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of
the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis
2:8-9 ESV
God creates the Garden of Eden as an oasis, a paradise where
He desires to dwell alongside of mankind. This magnificent garden contains all
that is necessary to sustain life. In the garden, mankind finds purposeful
work and divine fellowship, as well as a place to worship the Creator. In this
place, God establishes the institution of marriage. Man and woman, created in
the image of God, have all that is needed.
Yet, in this place surrounded by the righteousness of God,
trickery and deceit test the obedience of Adam and Eve. Without confession of
sin and true humility, they begin to offer excuses. God sends them out of the
garden, and “at the east of the garden of Eden” He places “the cherubim and a
flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” Now,
a separation exists between man and God, and there is no way back into the
garden. Holy, Holy, Holy, I cry out to
the Most High God. Forgive my sinful ways, my rationalizations of sin, my good intentions, my failure in obedience,
my selfishness, my apathy. There is a broken road between You and me that is
beyond my repair. I long to once again dwell alongside You. Count me alive in
Christ. I desire to linger in the garden with You. ~dho
All rights
reserved ~ used with permission of the author
Copyright 2014
by Donna Oswalt/Co-Founder of Mangrove Ministries/Christian blogger and author
For more
information about this ministry visit ~
“May you be
blessed by the Lord Who loves you best!”
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