What Does Your Bible Say About You?
A while back I had a talk with a friend. She had discovered her late grandmothers bible just a few days before and was excited and overwhelmed as she spoke of the treasures she found inside. She said that in times of trouble her grandmother had always told her that a bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't.
As she read through the thin, tattered, torn, folded, highlighted, and well noted pages, she discovered the heart of a woman who was constantly seeking her Father. She also began to understand how her grandmother had not only survived but thrived through the trials in her life. As she described them to me I couldn't help but become engaged in the legacy she left.
The question marks and exclamation points through the gospels revealed the young Christian's thoughts after giving her life to her savior at 19 years of age. The tear stained pages and repeated highlighting of Jeremiah 29:11 spoke volumes about her healing through the loss of a young child and coping as her husband was overseas fighting in the war. The pages that were most thin and crumpled (John, Ephesians, and 1 Corinthians) revealed her favorite passages and places of intense study. The notes in the margins of Genesis, Exodus, and Revelation revealed her desire to learn all about her Lord. Her faith was well recorded on every page.
Then there where the prayer verses she assigned to different family members at different times in their life. Some prayed so often and so intently that it was obvious to all that her tears had mixed with the ink on the pages and actually formed a hand print as she lay her hand on them. Letters from Vietnam and photos of her loved ones littered the book as though it was her most treasured lock box. Indeed it was. She shared her life, her most precious things, with Him.
All of these things started me thinking. What would my bible say about me? Will my love and passion for my savior be as obvious? Will my love for my family be as proclaimed? Will the complete expression of my heart be reflected in the pages of my well worn bible?
What about yours?
I'd love for you to visit me at my personal blog: Amy Bayliss.com
Labels: Amy's Articles, Bible study
posted by Amico Dio @ 12:05 AM
26 Comments:
Amy, thank you for sharing this beautiful image. I would cherish finding such a treasure. I only wish to leave such a heritage. My only problem... I have too many Bibles that I love using! You've given me wonderful ideas. Thank you for the inspiration.
Very precious post, be blessed.
Oh, this is breaking my HEART because I lost my bible last Sunday. I take notes in it so five years of notes and study - gone. I have been grieving all week.
So, right now, my bible says blank. WAAAHHH!!!
That's lovely Amy. I am like Shane in that I have too many Bibles that I love using! I have, however, 'retired' my first bible for a second bible I bought a few years after I was saved and still use that now. The pages are not as full and used as they should be due to an almost 20 year break in my walk. Both my grandmothers had very well worn bibles too. Certainly a legacy and an example.
I have my great grandmother's Bible and it's the same way. It tells a story of a woman who loved the Lord passionately and prayed the same way.
After using a favorite Bible for about 25 years, my 3 children got me another one. They said I need to be able to leave them each one. Have 2 others that are fairly marked up, but nothing like the one I used for 25 years.
How precious! I love my bible that I am using right now...it's pages are not too ruffled though. Still working on that!
I own one of my daddy's bibles..still has some of his sermon outlines in them...it's a precious gift that I cherish..it too it very worn and tattered.
~Beth
Amy, I love your post! It reminded me so much of my own grandmother who died nearly five years ago. She too was a God chaser who loved her Lord. She gave me my first Bible after my baptism at the age of 10...The Children's Living Bible...I still have it and it is a treasure to me!
what an incredible picture of her life!!
I've honestly been praying that my Grand-daughter who is 4 will want my bible when God decides to call me home. And until that time.....I know that His word will keep me from sin, and sin will keep me from His word. To grasp that He forgives and He is faithful and that HE LOVES ME....what a remarkable blessing.
Lovingly,
Yolanda
Such a thought provoking post! Thanks for sharing it and giving me something to think about.
Oh I loved this. This made me recall sitting beside my own grandmother as she studied her Bible and Sunday School lessons---many years ago. What a treasure!
A kind reminder to read His word as often as we read devotional books or magazine articles, or novels.
I have about 3 bibles I love using, I have 3 children, without planning it I think each one will have one to hold onto and use if they want.
Thanks for the thoughts
What a lovely post! I have 3 that I use and one I use more than the others. Wow. This post takes me back to remembering when I went to my Dad's house while he was in the hospital and was shocked to see no dust on his Bible. Our Bibles do say alot about us, more than we realize.
What an awesome post! I too have had these thoughts before. I look at the bible I several years ago, because it was falling apart, and it was like laying down part of me. One of my best friends, it was with me thru years of being a teen youth leader, lost loved ones, a divorce and many other events, joyous and sad. I have started making my notes in my new one and hilighting favorite passages. I just hope and pray some day my daughter and grandkids will treasure this book that is a part of me.
A wonderful post, God Bless!
Beautiful post. I too have my grandmother's Bible and it is one of my most treasured possessions.
Blessings,
Susan D.
My mother gave me her first Bible and it looks just like the one you are describing. You can tell she spent hours and hours on her knees reading the Word. I admire her commitment to Christ very much!
What a wonderful post! i wish there was a family heirloom like that in my family, but i don't believe there is. maybe mine can start something? i hope my faith road will be as evident to generations to follow, just like it was in this post...
First of all, I must say the photo is absolutely wonderful. It speaks loudly in itself about the subject the blog later confirms.
It was indeed a precious discovery. The blog is a blessing to me and an encouragement that I should hang onto my bibles that are looking pretty worn. Thanks.
I love this post. I wish I had a bible from someone in my generations past -- one that was well loved and worn. What a precious gift that would be! I hope my daughter will treasure my bible one day.
Bless you!
Beth
My Grandmother went home a few years ago. I have her Bible. They had it in her hands in the casket for the viewing but gave it me before they closed it. I put it in a baggie and take it out once in a while just to smell it. It smalls just like her. I don't know how long it will keep the smell.
More than that I hold dear the underlined passages and notes. Thanks for the post. I Tweeted it on Twitter.
I am convinced that Bible publishers no longer believe that we'll actually wear them out! I've had mine for 4 years; paid good $ for it, and it is literally falling apart. I think it a rather good thing, but I can't bring myself to get a new one.
peace~elaine
Those of us who use several bible and not just one will have to take comfort in the fact that it is much more important how much the bible changes us than how much we change our bibles.........
What a great post. ♥
Something to strive toward is it not? :) Not for people to say wow, look at her Bible, she was a great woman, but for the testimony it might bring to someone at that point. That it really meant something to her.
That's a very powerful post and true one; So many of us have bibles and yet, how often do we utilize them and not just for Sunday?
As often as we wear out a favorite pair of jeans, it leaves food for thought, how often do we wear out our bibles seeking Him?
Wow. It is obvious that she treasured his word and read it often. You can't have a bible like that and not be a changed person. His word doesn't return void. It accomplishes what it is sent forth to do. I really enjoyed the part about her using it to hold her most treasured keepsakes. That shows where she looka for comfort and joy.
Great post. I have often thought about my Bibles and how much a work-out they get. Great post. Thanks.
Post a Comment
It is good to hear from you... thank you so very much for leaving a note on the table. That makes us smile!
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home