I was starring at my Bible this morning in church. Still listening to the message even though my mind went back to when I first got my Bible- it was a graduation present from my parents. It's a Tominson Chain KJV Bible that has my name etched in it. I got it just before I went to BTI 3 years ago. At that time life was peachy and everything seemed so wonderful and like life just couldn't get any better.
Well I was looking at my Bible and you can see where my fingers have worn the gold leafing off the pages as I searched for comfort, direction, peace, wisdom, and for God's perfect will for my life. You can see where I've hugged my Bible as I cried for my tears have left stains on the top pages. You flip through my Bible and you can see the scriptures that touched my heart and eased my hurt and took away my confusion as I prayed and studied for a deeper relationship with God. Its been this Bible that's gone with me every where, thats been by my side during sleepless nights, during the moments I've felt so all alone.
They say about the walls of a house- if they could talk the stories they would tell. It seems to me that if the pages of my Bible could speak they would be able to explain all that has gone on in my life these 3 years better then I'll ever be able to. The years that I believe have made me into who I am. The years that taught me to love, taught me responsibility, taught me the power of prayer. Then taught me the importance of forgiveness, the value of respect and trust. These years have brought a whole new meaning to walking by faith and trusting God that His perfect will is and always will be better then mine. I thought of all of this just by starring at my Bible. Its worn leather says so much.
I once heard a saying that said "where you find a tattered Bible you won't find a tattered life" Its been because of God's truth that my life isn't tattered. Its been a hard year but Praise the Lord I've never been happier then I have been this last month. I'm with my family in one of the most beautiful states in the USA where daily I am reminded of God's wonderful majesty. Our local church is excited about serving the Lord and we're all doing the best we can to do the best for the Lord and His church. I've got friends around that are a blast to hang out with, that care about me and even greater just because I moved I haven't lost contact with my dearest friends that I've grown so close to these last few years. God's blessed me with a job that I daily enjoy even during the boring moments hehe. Things aren't prefect and its hard being away form the familiar but this is home and its been worth the struggles to get to the point where I know I'm in the Lord's wills and there isn't any questioning it.
On another note I need your prayers. Its actually rather funny until I laugh and then I remember why I'm asking for prayer. We went sledding this afternoon and I went down first and Tim gave me a push to get me going and I went flying heading straight for the fence. Tim ran after me to try and stop me. Well I still hit the fence but thanks to Tim I didn't hit it full force but man does my back really hurt. Ive got a few bruises but its seems to be the muscles that hurt the worse. So if you could please remember me in your prayers I know sleeping is going to make me horribly stiff and thats going to be very painful.
Sorry for such a serious post just felt the need to share what was on my mind. We had a wonderful evening services and the Lord took over and blessed and so that add to alot of my thoughts.
All of this has tired me and so I think Im gonna head to bed sleep sounds nice.
Gracie I'm on ch. 22 and I think I know "who dun it" but normally its never who you think it is but Im excited that I've had time to read :o) I haven't thanked you in awhile for your wonderful gift- I LOVE IT!!!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Worn and Torn and Beat Up
Posted by The Middle J at 11:06 PM
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7 comments:
Hey Jenna!! The Pictures are awesome!! I'm so jealous! :P I miss all of ya'll, hopefully I'll be seeing ya'll soon!
Luv ya, sis!
~AKCameraGuy~
IT WAS A GREAT TRIP I LOVED IT ! IT WAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES HOW MUCH YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED IT AND HOW MUCH WE MISS YOU
What a beautiful ode to your Bible. I, too, have a VLB Bible like Gracie. It was a gift from my parents 21 years ago, when I still had a few years left of being a VLB. ;-) I have been VERY careful with it and guarded it with my life. It has meant SO MUCH to me. Your post was perfect to describe how I feel about my precious Bible. Ephesians and Philippians are loose and falling out, but I still baby the thing because I haven't been able to part with this special copy of God's Word that has guided me through so many trials and victories. This year I've been reading through the Bible another time and highlighting all the same verses in a brand new Bible that I will adopt as my new companion in January and retire my old Bible to a special place of honor. I'm going to make sure and put my new Bible in a Bible case to begin with. If I'd have protected my 21 year old Bible in a case from the beginning it would have served me for several more years probably. Thank God for the Word. I've come to realize so clearly this year that by reading the Word we actually ingest Jesus! The more we READ, the more we get the Lord in our heart and life. Praise the Lord. I want to be spiritually FAT! :-)
"A Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." Every time I look at my Bible, I think about that quote. There have been times when it has felt like I was falling apart, but the reality was far from the feeling. God's Word has kept me, guided me, sustained me and encouraged me. I bought a new Bible to replace my seriously worn Bible, but I just cannot bring myself to switch. I KNOW where everything is in my worn out Bible and can get there quickly. I even know which side of the page the scripture is that I am looking for, so to switch would just be too much for me. ~grin~ Thanks for sharing your feelings about your Bible with all of us.
Yes that was the quote I was trying to think of! My Bible by far has lots of life left- the leather is wearing but still very strong and intact- it just caught my attention as you can see the affect my life has had on my Bible and I pray that people can also see the affect my Bible -God's truth- has had on my life.
Sis. Smith being spiritual FAT sounds good to me :D I love that hmm I think I have an idea now for a devotion :)
Gracie I agree- I don't want to know what a miserable mess I'd acctually be without God.
I know what you mean, Sister Tammi, about knowing which side of the page a certain scripture is on. That's one of the things that has detered me from getting a new Bible for years now. I've searched and searched for a new Bible that was identical to my old one, but couldn't find one. So, come January I'll no doubt begin facing a lot of frustrations with my new intact Bible. *sigh*
We've used our worn Bibles so much that we truly do know them better than the backs of our hands and to switch is just HARD! I have gradually, during devotions, tried to highlight the Scriptures in my new Bible, but I still can't bring myself to take it to services or conventions with me yet.
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