B-I-B-L-E

Example of groin vault in medieval architecture: the portico to the church of Santa Maria Maggiore at Guardiagrele in the Abruzzo region of southern Italy.

Good morning, friend,

As a child, I remember learning the song, B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me, I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E, BIBLE! I’m sure you’ve heard and sung that song. VBS’ of old and Sunday schools would start us off with this rousing song.  We were  taught  this song  but did we have any idea what in the world this song meant? We were taught  Moses parting the Red Sea. Joseph and His Amazing Coat of Many Colors. Noah and the Ark. Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Jesus’ parable of Good Samaritan. Of course, Jesus living, dying, rising from the dead. I came from a generation that didn’t teach the entirety of the Bible, just what seemed safe. Oh, yes, because what happened to the thousands of soldiers who were after Moses and the Israelites was very cheery. Or, the destruction of the entire world taught to children…

Am I on my high horse? Am I criticizing Mrs. Smith or Mrs. Gavin or my parents? No, no. As my family works harder and harder to create this habit, this daily routine of listening to the Bible, some nights, I will be honest, it’s not easy. Some nights, we get home late and it would be so easy to just, well, not. I know that sometimes my daughter will drift off before she hears the whole thing. There is something about hearing the entire story. Not just picking out the parts you like. Or want to read over and over and over again.

This man who reads to us every night, Brian Hardin, has been reading for the Daily Audio Bible for nine years. Nine years! Nine times reading through the whole Bible. You know, friend, I think somethings in my heart are changing about  knowing the entirety of His word. My children knowing His word. Reading it over and over again. There is good reason for it. Do I get excited to read Leviticus? Not especially. Yet, friend, God,  my God, has placed it in His word for me, for you. Maybe it’s time I read it all. I think that’s why I love reading part of the Old Testament, part of the New, Psalm and a Proverb.

A friend shared with me that she had no idea that these stories all connected and you know, I didn’t understand how they all connected until I started studying the Bible in-depth with Precepts. We have to stop taking a verse we like and making it our “favorite” verse and not knowing it’s context. We can’t keep plastering Noah and the ark on our children’s bedroom walls without stopping and thinking of the worldwide destruction. Cute little pictures of Noah and a little boat (trust I have them, I have a Noah) with a giraffe smiling, a lion, an elephant…this all puts the Eternal One, Mighty God in a box, our neat tidy box where He can be safe and happy. And when we separate the Bible into stories and not into THE story, we miss the LOVE story that God has been pursuing with us all along.

So, may I urge you, exhort you, come with me, yes, it’s the 16th, grab a…

1. Computer and listen to the Daily Audio Bible, so you are a little late? Whoopdeedoo!  http://dabplayer.com/

2. Bible..read on your own with a plan of your choosing.

3. Chronological Bible…

Just don’t miss out on the Love story that Jesus died to tell you.

Love,

Cara