Reflections

Today I began reflecting on the pages of scripture. Feeling, touching, highlighting, and writing in these pages. Being able to go back and see the journey of my life through them. The place I have sought refuge, the place I have rejoiced, the place I at times was too hurt or angry to read so I just held it close...

This Bible and I have spent a decade together; I've never held another Bible that meant more to me than this one. I've have other Bibles, in depth study Bibles, devotional Bibles, the Chronological Bible, and if I look hard enough, I can probably find my second favorite Bible which was with me throughout my teen years and literally fell to pieces.

A decade is a long time. 10 years, 3,650 days, 87,600 hours, 5,256,000 minutes, and 315,360,000 seconds. For me this past decade has held both great joy and great sorrow. In the past 10 years I have lived in 5 different cities, worked in full time ministry, went on the Walk to Emmaus, became a mother, got my heartbroken in ministry and became a stay at home mom, learned that bad things happen to good people even when they pray and seek God with all their hearts as we stood beside friends and said goodbye to their daughter, our beautiful Makiah, became a pastor's wife, graduated college, gave birth to another son, took another job in full time ministry, turned 30, and adopted my sweet baby girl.  Those are the headlines, the timeline, if you will, of my first decade of adulthood.

A decade filled with love, laughter, sadness, tears, anger, uncontrollable joy, fear... I guess you could say all the feelings. When you look back on your last decade, I bet you can say the same. Your headlines probably don't match mine but the whirlwind of life and emotion is something I bet we have in common.

What does all of this have to do with my Bible? Today I was holding this precious book in my hands and reflecting on how invaluable it's contents are to me. Thinking about how we are so tempted by technology to just use that Bible app on our phones, nothing wrong with that, it's a great tool, but I realize that I miss something when I can't touch these pages. You see, these pages have caught my tears, it has laid open in front of me through countless hours of study, it has ripped & crumpled pages from wear and tear, it has been highlighted and marked in, I have held this Bible close to my chest when I needed to feel the presence of God close like a hug, and I have even held it when I was too hurt or angry to read it but knew I needed it. You can look through these beautiful pages and see dates and notes of what was happening when I read those scriptures or what the Holy Spirit was speaking to me at the time. In it you will find special things as bookmarks such as love notes from my husband, ultrasound photos, and notes from the dearest of mentors. I can't say that about my phone or an app or even a journal. The times I have spent connecting with Him through these pages are indescribable and there is something about being able to touch them that fills me with warmth.

When I open these pages, I am reminded that in the midst of life, in this crazy world we live in, with so many ups and downs... where you will be hurt and disappointed and where you will hurt and disappoint, where things are constantly changing and people are coming in and out of your life... where your heart seems so incredibly fragile... one thing remains true... HIS WORD! When I touch these pages and read these words, I can see how He has been faithful to me. Through every season, every day, every year... He remains faithful and true to His word. He heals the brokenhearted, he comforts those in need, He loves us beyond measure, He is faithful even when we are not! This Bible reminds me of my history... my walk with the Lord. It reminds me of when He rejoiced with me in the good and held me in the bad. It shows what scriptures were speaking to me when I held my first baby and when my best friend buried hers.

Sweet friend, the Bible tells us that His word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Whether you use a printed Bible or the app on your phone... dig into His word and let Him speak to your heart. Let Him show you that He is faithful to His word... highlight, write, mark down what is happening in your life, what He's speaking to you so that you can go back and see how far He's carried you and just how faithful He has been. In our ever changing world, His word is the one thing that remains constant and true. I pray that as you open your Bible that He speaks to your heart and develops in you a craving for more and more of Him.