Whatcha readin?

Recently, I have been asked about what I am reading these days by a couple different people.  The first thing that came to my mind was the Bible.

I knew that both the people asking meant what else am I reading these days.  That got me thinking about my life and reading.  You see I was a very late reader.  I was almost 14 by the time I truly could read and comprehend a book on my own.  But once I started reading I was hooked.  My mom and sisters were readers, and I think I wanted to be a reader because they made it seem so awesome.  So, I started reading historical fiction, and Christian fiction, and mysteries, and such.  But when I went to college was when i realized books didn’t just have stories in them, but they could impart wisdom and knowledge.  I could learn anything from a book.  That’s when I started reading books about parenting, house keeping, being a good wife, cooking, fixing cars, making music, and making things.  I also found books that helped me learn and understand other books better.

But it was when I became a homeschooling mom that I started reading books for my kids sake.  I read textbooks and school books.  Classical and Biblical education books.  Then I began learning new things from my kids.  Then the internet was born.  Wow, I found there are so many things to read and learn.

But the most amazing thing of all was that I could use books and the internet to understand the Bible.  I could understand the history of the people in the Bible and the church.  I could understand the original language of the Bible.  I could understand the context of it.  This has now become my passion, my hobby, my past time.  Oh, I still love a good fiction book now and again.  I still love a good self help book or a do it yourself book.  But, to be honest, my favorite book really is the Bible.  I love it and I never tire of it.  I love that there are so many resources to help us learn and understand it.

But I want to tell you something I have learned in my years of reading and studying the Bible.  The Holy Spirit will teach us what we need to know and understand from the Word of God.  When we go to the Word of God we must go seeking Truth and with ears to hear and eyes to see.  We can use other peoples commentary and insight, but we must remember that they are just men.  We must always seek the wisdom that comes from the Holy spirit alone.  Also, I have learned that I can read all the wonderful books of other believers on their understanding of God’s Word, but if I don’t take the time to daily read the Bible myself than I can be deceived.  And worse, I can deceive others.

I have a lot of bloggers I love to read, I find very wise.  I have a lot of authors I enjoy reading and find very insightful.  But, they can be great men and woman of God and still be wrong.  So, it is my job to study and read DAILY to be sure that I am grounded in TRUTH.

I am so blessed to live in a time and place that I have the privilege to be able to actually read my Bible every single day.

So what am I reading today.  Well, I read Proverbs chapter 5-10 this morning.  Then I read Acts chapter 4.  I also read 1 Thessalonians chapter 4.  Then later a friend mentioned Ruth, so I decided to read the whole story of Ruth.  Later tonight, the kids and  I will read from Genesis.  Most likely before the day is over  I will read something else in my Bible.  Because you see to me the Bible is a great story.  The Bible is a great manual for life.  The Bible is encouragement.  The Bible is my phone to God.  When I read the Bible I connect with God and others in a way no other book can connect us.

So, maybe you don’t have a lot of time for reading.  Maybe you are too busy to read anything at all.  I want to challenge you to do this trick that changed my life.  Don’t touch your phone, computer, or tv until you have read your Bible each day.  It will change your life.

GO FOR IT.  Now is a great time to start a GREAT BOOK.

Written by Katie