God spoke and There was Life 

-God saw that it was good and continues to care for it.-

Genesis chapter one is about God speaking life into existence. All creatures, known and unknown, were given life by the very words and will of God. God created humankind with the charge to care for creation and God saw that it was all good.

Genesis 1:26-28 - Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 

Prayer: For the Beauty of the Earth

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen. 

(Book of Common Prayer, 1979; pg. 840.)

Ponderings…

Did you know that we are called to care for creation?  What can you do in your daily life to help care for God’s creation (nature, animals, and environment)?  What can you do to promote the proper care of our natural resources? Are there changes you can make in your daily life to contribute to preserving creation?

Illustrations used with permission. Copyright information for print above: Illustration by Elizabeth Wang, T-04425-CW, ‘God saw that His creation was good and He continues to care for it’, copyright © Radiant Light 2006, <http://www.radiantlight.org.uk/>