Creating and Becoming

Baking, a tradition lovingly passed down by my grandmother during cherished summer visits, has always been a significant part of my life. Grammy and I share a deep connection through personality and pastries, a bond my mother carried forward, making me the third generation of women who adore sweets. It's truly an honor to bake and to consider the origin story of flour, butter, and sugar. After a period where my passion for baking waned, I rediscovered its joy simply by making beautiful cakes for friends' birthdays. The mental reprieve found in decorating and creating something lovely became deeply intertwined with my recognition of God's purpose in the creation story.

Lately, the creation story in Genesis has resonated profoundly with me. A group of women, hungry for God, began meeting earlier this year. We wanted more of God and decided to start from the beginning, in Genesis. This naturally led me to ponder creation and being created. The subtle reminders through Colorado's arrival of spring and nearing summer speak volumes of His design. Studying Genesis has brought themes and words like "made perfectly," "redeemed," "loved," and "grace"—so much grace in Genesis!—constantly to mind. His plan of redemption, so pure from the very beginning of the Bible, is designed to acknowledge our failures and ultimately bring Him glory and redemption. He even chooses and highlights the righteous among humankind from the outset, yet even these chosen

individuals falter at least once within their stories, only to be redeemed. This truth has been circling in my thoughts as I reflect on my own life and failures, bringing immense comfort in the knowledge that God redeems, God loves, and God chooses us.