Highlights and Tear-Stained Pages
April 30, 2016
When I earned my minister's license, I received a new Bible as a gift from my mom. I love this Bible more than any other I have ever owned. After all, it's pink, has my name in silver, and has two great versions side by side (NIV and the Message), which makes studying or preparing for a sermon so much easier. Did I mention it's pink?
So needless to say, when the binding of my bible broke, I was devastated. My kids offered to buy me a new one, and I have been telling them no for almost a year now, even though they could get the exact same fun, pink, useful version. Instead, I continue to use my poor, unattached-to-its-pretty-cover bible. Which makes it difficult to truly use. I guess the reason I feel like it's irreplaceable are the highlights and the tear stained pages that mark the times I have spent with Jesus over the last few years. There are scriptures marked out of joy, when I realized God was speaking directly to me through his word, and scriptures where the type blurred from my tears as they fell onto the pages while I poured out my heart break to the only one who could mend it. There ae highlighted scriptures of wisdom and discipline, where I knew God was asking me to mature in my walk and draw closer in relationship to him. There are names scribbled in margins as I would insert those I love into the verse as a prayer over them, and there are entire stories highlighted in bright turquoise, pink or yellow as I would decide that the entire portion had to be shared with the kiddos who I had the honor to pastor.
The highlights and tears are the memories of my relationship with Jesus over the last few years. They are the markers of growth, of challenge, of blessing and of love. I can open up this particular Bible, go specifically to the highlighted areas and be reminded of who God is for me, and of what He promises He will do. I can also see those pages on which I cried, and have to turn them carefully, as the paper is weakened from my tears. The interesting part is that for every tear stained page, there are several more highlighted verses where I can daily go and find strength. God has never allowed me to come to Him in my hurt without answering me with encouragement and hope.
Much like my Bible, our lives also have the more tender, delicate memories that are marked by our tears from when the pain felt like it was too much to bear, Where we felt weakened by life's circumstances. However, if we are walking closely with Him, when we take a look we will see that for every tear stained memory, there are beautifully colored highlights of wisdom, blessings, healing, provision and unconditional love, where God answered our cries.
When studying, the areas that are highlighted are the ones that we are to commit to memory. We know that that will be the information we will need for the test. So, when we are being tested, lets remember the highlights, they are brighter and stronger than the tear stained pages.
April 30, 2016
When I earned my minister's license, I received a new Bible as a gift from my mom. I love this Bible more than any other I have ever owned. After all, it's pink, has my name in silver, and has two great versions side by side (NIV and the Message), which makes studying or preparing for a sermon so much easier. Did I mention it's pink?
So needless to say, when the binding of my bible broke, I was devastated. My kids offered to buy me a new one, and I have been telling them no for almost a year now, even though they could get the exact same fun, pink, useful version. Instead, I continue to use my poor, unattached-to-its-pretty-cover bible. Which makes it difficult to truly use. I guess the reason I feel like it's irreplaceable are the highlights and the tear stained pages that mark the times I have spent with Jesus over the last few years. There are scriptures marked out of joy, when I realized God was speaking directly to me through his word, and scriptures where the type blurred from my tears as they fell onto the pages while I poured out my heart break to the only one who could mend it. There ae highlighted scriptures of wisdom and discipline, where I knew God was asking me to mature in my walk and draw closer in relationship to him. There are names scribbled in margins as I would insert those I love into the verse as a prayer over them, and there are entire stories highlighted in bright turquoise, pink or yellow as I would decide that the entire portion had to be shared with the kiddos who I had the honor to pastor.
The highlights and tears are the memories of my relationship with Jesus over the last few years. They are the markers of growth, of challenge, of blessing and of love. I can open up this particular Bible, go specifically to the highlighted areas and be reminded of who God is for me, and of what He promises He will do. I can also see those pages on which I cried, and have to turn them carefully, as the paper is weakened from my tears. The interesting part is that for every tear stained page, there are several more highlighted verses where I can daily go and find strength. God has never allowed me to come to Him in my hurt without answering me with encouragement and hope.
Much like my Bible, our lives also have the more tender, delicate memories that are marked by our tears from when the pain felt like it was too much to bear, Where we felt weakened by life's circumstances. However, if we are walking closely with Him, when we take a look we will see that for every tear stained memory, there are beautifully colored highlights of wisdom, blessings, healing, provision and unconditional love, where God answered our cries.
When studying, the areas that are highlighted are the ones that we are to commit to memory. We know that that will be the information we will need for the test. So, when we are being tested, lets remember the highlights, they are brighter and stronger than the tear stained pages.
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