First Church of God

I am presently teaching/lecturing for a Wednesday morning Bible Study on the book of Proverbs that is provided by our Women's ministry.  The study was divided into two parts...one being taught in the Fall semester and part two in the Winter semester of classes.  We are nearing the end of our class and I will greatly miss the group of ladies that join me every Wednesday morning very faithfully.  Also, there are other groups of ladies that watch the taped lecture at a different time and I am very thankful for their faithfulness to the study as well.  The ladies that attend each one of these Bible Studies are very important to me.  I take the responsibility of teaching this class very seriously and because of this I spend a great deal of my time studying and preparing for Wednesday morning. 

During that time of study my Bible is put through the wringer! It is used, read, and flipped through over and over again.  One day I was in the process of preparing for Wednesday and just found myself really amazed at what I was reading.  It was a portion of scripture that I had read many times before, but that particular day it took on new meaning for me.  I am always overwhelmed by the newness of The Word everyday and it's ability to meet me right in the middle of my life! 

In Hebrews 4:12 it says, "For the Word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  This is a wonderful "definition" of what my Bible does for me!  And, what a precious gift it is to me.  If you read past verse 12 you will notice in verse 13 that the author goes on to say, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."  You see, the author is connecting the activity of the Word to the activity of God, and why wouldn't he?  The Bible is the Word of God spoken to us for such a time as this.  God uses the Word to speak to us in ways that convict and cause movement in our lives, and the lives of people the world over.  The two go hand in hand.  So, what does this mean?  What are you trying to say, Crystal? Well, what I am getting at is this:  GOD'S WORD IS AWESOME, RELEVANT, and TRUE!  And, God's Word is just that...GOD'S WORDS! 

I hope that you have a relationship with the Lord that involves time with His Word!  A friend once gave me a copy of something she found somewhere and now keeps in her Bible.  It goes like this:

"The Privilege of Reading God's Word"

Have I become so used to reading this beautiful message

that I no longer feel the wonder of it?

Have I allowed the marvel of the book to slip away?

How long since I have felt like royalty...

reading the most important book in the world?

We should feel like royalty...

as we hold the King's Book in our hands!

I am reminded that there are many things we marvel at...yet, none so precious as God's word!  Want to feel like royalty?  Want to marvel at greatness?  Want to feel loved?  Want to feel challenged?  Want to hear from God Almighty?  Want to find healing?  Want to gain victory?  Want to worship?  Want clarity?  Want wisdom?  Want guidance?  Want????...OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ!