Tag: Eve

Horsefly Bites

I was bitten on the back of my leg by a horsefly during a workout at my gym.  Luckily, my partner that morning smashed it like she was trying out to be the heroine in my life movie.  

It was less that 30 seconds from the nip of the angry sky raisin to his untimely death via Angie’s shoe.  However, his actions impacted my life for days afterwards. The bite area became red and swollen.  My pants rubbed uncomfortably on the spot.  The bite mark alternated between itching and burning.  I woke myself up in the middle of the night scratching.  

In short, it was a nagging reminder for days that I’d been bitten by an insect.

Sin is like that in our lives.  A few seconds or moments, which impact several days, weeks, months or even years of our lives.  Sin is like the bite of an insect, which seems small initially until you truly feel the ripple effects.

The first bite of sin happened in the Garden of Eden when Eve was enticed by the devil to eating fruit from the forbidden tree.  Genesis tells us that Eve eats first and then Adam follows suit.  For years many have ‘blamed’ Eve for bringing sin into the world, myself included. However, it should also be acknowledged that Adam committed sin too.  He knowingly committed the sin and was punished alongside of Eve in Genesis 3. 

While Genesis 3 shows Eve committing the first sin, Romans 5 states that Adam caused sin to enter the world.  And as sin came through one man, Adam, it is also through the death of one man, Jesus Christ that the gift of salvation is offered to sinners.  It’s also interesting to note that while Eve was the first to enter into sinful behaviors, the solution to sin came through her seed (Genesis 3:15) with the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Scripture is clear that sin and death entered the world through Adam, while Eve is the first recorded to commit an overt act of sin with the bite of fruit from the forbidden tree.  

One bite.  

Which became a problem for all of mankind.

Just like one horsefly bite has become a problem for me.

~Emily

Uncomfortable Moments

This last week, I’ve had a few uncomfortable moments.  There was the afternoon where I got insulation on my forearm, which became an itchy mess. Friday around midnight, I let the dog out and then had to stand outside in my PJs calling for him repeatedly when he wouldn’t come in.  And then today there was the sliding sock in my work boot while I turned the compost piles. 

Each scenario was an uncomfortable moment, that was annoying.

I also get uncomfortable teaching Sunday School.  I start to doubt my abilities to lead the class.  I wonder who will actually show up to class. I worry that someone else will know the lesson better than me. I occasionally feel like I’m not prepared enough. 

Every week, without fail, I have a slight uncomfortable moment as I walk into the Sunday School class.  And every week, without fail, I remind myself that God is in charge of the Sunday School class. It doesn’t matter with someone is in the class that is more knowledgeable than me. It doesn’t matter if one or twenty people come to the class.  It doesn’t matter if I’m prepared or if I have the ability to lead.  God will take care of it.  

There are numerous examples in the Bible of God providing in the aftermath of uncomfortable moments.  Imagine being Jonah in the belly of a whale.  That would have been uncomfortable, but God provided.  Imagine being Lot, realizing your wife just turned to a pillar of salt.  That would have been an uncomfortable moment, but God provided.  Imagine being Eve, having to admit to God what you have eaten.  That would have been an UBER uncomfortable moment, but God provided.  

Here’s the deal—God wants us to step out of our comfort zone and experience that uncomfortable moment.  Why? Because that’s when we are most able to see just HOW He is providing for us!  

Whether it’s itchy insulation, midnight runaway dogs, lazy socks, or teaching Sunday School, each of our uncomfortable moments are a reminder that God will provide.

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone this week…watch how God provides!!!

~Emily

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

Culinary School Expectations

My husband and I often tag-team in the kitchen.  We normally work as a pretty good team on favorite recipes, but new ones tend to create drama. I begin to lose patience and get some attitude.  It’s usually accompanied by a snotty comment. Inevitably, my husband throws up his hands and says something to the effect of “you’re the one who went to culinary school, you do it.”

I think this is a more common reaction than we recognize.  When we lose patience or when we get aggravated, we have similar reactions.  When we feel we know better or when we feel that someone should behave a certain way, we have similar reactions.  It’s the reaction of literally or figuratively throwing up your hands and saying “you’re the one who…blah, blah, blah” and you’re able to insert whatever finish to that statement that you want.

At work, one could add “you’re the one who is in charge or has the degrees.”

At the grocery store, one could add “you’re the one who works here.”

At church, one could say “you’re the one who went to seminary or has been a Christian longer.”

I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks, and I’ve concluded that when we use this reaction at work, in relationships, and especially at church, it’s not helpful.  It becomes blame-shifting in a passive-aggressive manner while justifying why we should be held more accountable for the interaction.

When you look at the Garden of Eden, you see Adam react in this blame-shifting manner when God asks what has happened after they ate the fruit.  In Genesis 3:12-13, Adam states “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”  Adam blames God and the woman.  In turn, Eve replies, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.”   Neither takes responsibility for their own role in the sin.

Because we don’t accept our own sinful behavior, we end up not exercising grace. And that dear sisters is when we start to say things like “you’re the one who….blah, blah, blah.”

Even though I really did go to culinary school, I’m going to try to control my patience level and not push my husband to the point he throws his hands up at me.  I challenge you to find an area of your life that you can work on too!
~Emily

chef