I love to read the Bible.  I read it every spare moment I have…I am infatuated with the stories and imagine myself in the same situations that faced the men and women of the Bible.  I mourn as Eve takes a bite of the beautiful yet forbidden fruit, in one disobedient act, bringing tragedy, pain and death to a once perfect world.  I cry as I fashion a cradle out of bulrushes and place my baby in the river to save his life so he could later save mine.  I imagine standing in front of the burning bush…taking off my shoes…and being humbled by the very voice of Almighty God.  I literally sit up a little straighter and feel empowered when I read God’s repeated command to Joshua “be strong and of good courage...” I envision myself with enough faith to face the giant with a few smooth stones and sling.  I sit in the belly of the big fish and repent of my disobedience.  I reflect upon the character of Nehemiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and I long for the qualities that caused God to look upon them with such favor.  I put myself in little Hadassah’s shoes…as Queen Esther, would I have had the wisdom to see that I was placed in the palace by God ‘for such a time as this’?  I become desperate and then full of hope as I, along with Habakkuk become secure in this resolve:

          17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
          and there are no grapes on the vines;
          even though the olive crop fails,
          and the fields lie empty and barren;
          even though the flocks die in the fields,
          and the cattle barns are empty,
          18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
          I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
          19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!
          He makes me as surefooted as a deer,*
          able to tread upon the heights.

Oh, and then I read Paul’s letters...over and over again.  I make every effort to follow his example…because he followed Christ’s.  I remember when I came to the spot in the road where I first met Jesus.  I sit in prison with Paul and rejoice in freedom because I, too, have learned to be content.  I ask God to give me the kind of love that Paul tells us of in 1 Corinthians 13.  I read the books of James and Jude (Jesus’ brothers) and I can’t rap my head around what it would have been like to grow up with God!  And then I read Revelation…such a book of hope to those who read aloud and hear (understand and act upon) the call back to holiness.  I examine myself and ask God to show me which of the seven churches I am and then I pray daily for the Holy Spirit to change me.  I kneel before the Lamb and sing to Him, “Holy, Holy, Holy…”  Yes, the Bible…the God breathed Words of Life and Hope…I cannot live without!