Summer Reading

by | Jun 5, 2012 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

I love to read!  And this is the perfect time to settle in a comfy beach chair and devour the words on a page.  In fact, if I’m not careful a good book can keep me from cleaning, cooking and all of those other household duties I’m supposed to be doing!!!  (It doesn’t take much!)

This leads me to what I’m reading – I like inspirational, romance and murder/mystery.  I usually have about three books going at one time because it depends on my mood which kind of book I will choose.

However, my most important reading is not for entertainment value, but for knowledge, wisdom and encouragement.  Every morning I read an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading and about three other quick devotionals.  (I get up 30 minutes before I wake the kids to get ready for school).

As I’ve said before, this is the reading that has changed my life!

I used to be scared to open my bible because I always seemed to land on the page where God was angry with Israel for turning away from Him and people were dying…yikes!!  I had it in my head that if God was killing off His chosen people, then I certainly would have no hope for salvation.

However, I never read enough of the Old or New Testaments to have a clue to what was going on and what God was really all about.  I had a skewed view of a damning God getting mad when humans weren’t walking His narrow path.

The truth about who God is and why He does what He does was never revealed to me until I took the time to make reading the Bible a priority.  And that’s when I learned about myself.

“As it is written:  There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.”  Romans 3:10

I found out that I have been born in sin (Psalm 51:5), am a slave to sin (John 8:34) and only have hope through the blood of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:19-21).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

What I found out about God surprised me!  God wants to give ALL of us the opportunity to be saved!

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2Peter 3:9

WHEW!!!   I’m finding that God is all about second chances…and third chances…and fourth chances…and so on.   THANK YOU, GOD!  (I think I need a few of those chances)!

Basically, I am learning that I am on a journey.  Each day is a new day to explore, learn and love.  I will always struggle with sin, but there is One who has overcome it for me.

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. ” Ephesians 1:11-14

Now, that is some good news from a GREAT book!!!

Some Wisdom for Today:  Proverbs 10:14 – Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

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