From Our Son, Wes
Just finished my 10th Bible today. Here are some things I feel God has shown me about reading the Bible:
1. Keep reading: Daily, no matter how much or how little. God’s Word is alive and active. It’s an opportunity to spend time with God and listen to Him through His inspired words that we can have full faith in. We will understand different passages differently as we read them in various phases of life or in different situations; He has promised to reveal Himself more as we obey.
2. There’s a difference between reading and studying: We can’t get hung up on comprehensive understanding at the expense of growing in our relationship with God. Context will come with time if you maintain a daily volume of reading.
3. Pick a physical and practical Bible: Choose a translation that your non-believing community can easily understand. It should have a soft cover, room for notes, be small enough to fit easily into a carry-on bag, and allow for highlighting/notes with a pen. A physical Bible is important because your kids, family, and friends will see and remember an open Bible rather than scrolling on an app. Often, massive “study” Bibles are more distracting than helpful; spending more time reading someone’s notes on the Bible than the actual Scriptures is a red flag.
4. Have a practical plan: Plan to read through the whole Bible, but not at the expense of building your relationship with the Lord (this is not speed dating). Create a plan that focuses on seeing Jesus in the Scriptures, one that’s easy and free so you can pass it on. Use bookmarks and establish a routine that prevents distractions, putting you in the same place and time to read each day. Don’t make your plan reliant on someone else.
From our Daughter-in-Law, Tina
A little ( but full of gratitude) brag on the hubby for my 2024 timeline-
Yesterday, according the count on the bookshelf, my husband finished reading the Bible for the 9th time and put it with the others. This morning he opened up the fresh number 10 while I sneakily took this photo.
A discipline that started well before we were married, but has continued year after year, day after day — Wes in his Bible, at the table, in that spot, where the people under our roof know where to find him every morning. Though not all in our home have a hunger for God’s word yet, they’ve seen it and benefited from it.
As I notice and take note, we’re invited into a communion with God. We’re invited and there’s a seat for us at the table. Will we ‘come and see’ for ourselves.. not out of duty, but in pursuit of knowing the One who knows the depths of our hearts, who redeems and rescues? It’s God’s kindness that will move us to Himself.
Thankful for words spoken out of silence and from a simple obedience of meeting with God every day, an example set and etched deep into our minds that reaches far beyond our dining room table.
A fragrance that draws us, fills the room, the one that lasts, the Word of God. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”
(2 Corinthians 2:14)
ToBeLikeJesus 