Before there was book on tape.......there was me!

I love to read aloud, especially to my family. It all started years ago when our family was traveling from Winnipeg to Kansas City. The children were small and so we decided to make the 14 hour trip through the night so that the children would sleep. We left our house at 5:00 p.m. ate our picnic dinner in the car and then got the children settled for the night. I had brought a book to read and so I picked it up to begin reading. It was "The Client" by John Grishom. Just to be a smart aleck I looked at Garry and began reading it out loud. He gave me a look to let me know that he was not impressed.......so just to be irritating I continued reading aloud. I finished the first chapter and decided that was enough and continued chapter 2 silently. All of a sudden Garry said, " Ahhh...I was really getting into that. Could you keep reading it to me?" I just looked at him in shock. So I kept reading and reading and reading.

After a few hours the sun was disappearing and I was struggling to see the print so I stopped reading. We were just entering a town and Garry pulled over to make a stop. We didn't need gas so I sat patiently in the car as I thought that he needed a "pit stop". Much to my surprise he came out of the convenience store with a flash light.....so I could continue the book. I couldn't believe it. I agreed to read to him only if he went back in the store and bought me a drink as I almost couldn't speak from the reading that I had already done.

To make a long story short I finished the book as we pulled up to my parents house at 8:00 a.m. I had read for 14 hours straight. It took me two days to get my voice back but we had a blast together listening to that story. Over the last 10 years I have read many books to my family and we have thoroughly enjoyed each one. It is a source of comfort to us. It makes us feel like a family.

This has been on my mind as I began reading a book to my son Trace last night. It is a long book and should take us most of the summer holiday to finish. The cool thing is that Trace is now 13. I would have never guessed that he would allow me to read a book to him at this age. I just left his bedroom where I was reading our daily quota of pages. As I finished the last few words of the chapter I noticed that he was sleeping. It was precious. I kissed him good night and told him I loved him and he sleepily said he loved me too. Life does not get better than that I have to tell you. Life may seem complicated in most aspects but nothing is more comforting then simply spending time with someone you love and a good book.

Thank you Jesus for the gift of time with Trace. What a blessing. He won't hold my hand in public but he will let me sit on his bed and read to him and this mom is extremely thankful for that .

I don't want to be a Bible smarty pants......I want to know Him.

Have you ever just had a revelation moment? I had one of those this last week. I have always wanted to go to bible college. I did go to university but when I explored the possibility of being a bible major I was discouraged because I was a woman. I caved and became a history education major. In fact, I didn't quite graduate because of our call to a church in Winnipeg. So deep down I have kicked myself for not following my heart and going for the Bible major.

Several moves and three children and a crazy life has come on full speed and that desire to dig in and study has not had chance to completely develop. This week I had that moment when I asked myself, "Why not?" I still don't have the time or the money to actually go to school. However, I can know God's Word because the Holy Spirit is my teacher. I have made the decision that I am enrolling in the school of the Holy Spirit. I am doing deeper!!!!

I have enrolled in a bible study seminar this month at Precepts Ministries and with the skills that I learn I am going to make Bible study a priority. I have scheduled the books of the Bible that I am going to study for the next 5 years with Precepts Upon Precept courses. Here is the thing.......... I plan to never graduate. I plan on being the oldest student ever and I also plan on seeing Jesus with my reading glasses on and my Bible in my hand and questions in mind.

Here is the reason that I have made this decision. I want to know Him. That 's it. I do not want to be a Bible smarty pants but I want to know God. My prayer is that He will make me smarter than I am. I am glad that I don't understand everything about His Word because if I did wouldn't you be afraid.

I am on a journey and God is doing a great thing in many more people that feel a call to go deeper. Let me challenge you to tuck yourself away with His Word, a pencil and paper and let Him speak to you.

True Confessions of a Bible Sniffer!

I have a serious addiction. I love books. One of my favorite get aways is a book store. Preferably a Christian bookstore but I have been know to spend hours in a Chapters bookstore as well. It is like a spa day for me. I especially love picking up a Chai Tea Latte from Starbucks then browsing through the rows of books. I love historical fiction, biographies, and children's books.
I love the smell of books. I have been known to flip the pages of a new book and sniff it. Yes I know that it is ridiculous. But.....I love it. You know that you have a problem when your friends know this about you and want you to sniff their Bible. My friend Kimberley P. received a new Bible after home church one night from her husband and she had to come back in the house to show it to me and to let me sniff it. Which I did and enjoyed immensely. My idea of a great holiday is a chair on a beach and a book. Preferably a real thick saga. When I read I truly escape.
So I guess it will not surprise you that I have many many bibles. I have most translations. All sizes and shapes. I am so tempted when I am in the book store to check out whats new in the Bible department. They have come out with some of the coolest Bibles. I adore the red leather briefcase Bible. It is smashing. No, I didn't buy it. But I sure wanted to.
My husband says that I need to join of support group for Bible addictions. I think it is called Bible study. So I think that I will take him up on that. Ha Ha
At the end of this month Garry and I are taking a 4 day Precepts course where we will learn to study the Bible inductively and we are so excited. I have wanted to do this for years and years and the fact that I get to do this with Garry is so cool. There is nothing more important then knowing Jesus and that happens when you spend time with Him in His Word. So I guess if there is an allowed addiction it would probably be the Bible.
Take a deep breath of His Word. It is OK to be a Bible sniffer.