We love books, no, I mean, we really LOVE books...books, books, and more books.
We have books in the family room...my favorite ones to help guide me along the way...
Books in the foyer...
Music books in the closet with the girls knitting...this isn't all of their music...
On a shelf in my closet, we were running out of space...
Most are on the balcony...
Journals (these are Julia's nice, leather journals she cherishes)...
On shelves in the girls room in a closet, I did say we were running low on shelf space, right?
Yes, even comic books, gotta love
Calvin and Hobbes and
Garfield...
On Sarah's bed...
A side table...some of my favorites right here...
The coffee table, a study I'm doing now, trying to finish, and my Eucharisteo journal, up to 2,470 now, and still counting, still giving thanks.for.just.this...
Even on the floor...
Another shelf unit...
Beside our piano, near the violin, (Julia broke a string, Jamin didn't want me to put this pic in because it isn't pretty, but that happens)...
Books, literally everywhere in our home and we love it. I do wish we had one room to devote all to shelves and it would be our library, maybe someday...(Sarah would love them all the way up with a rolling ladder to get to them, but now we are just dreaming ;) ).
We were at our favorite used bookstore recently, McKay's Used Books, and the kids were going to go look. I almost didn't go in because I have, oh, I don't know how many books begun, and still have not finished. They are all so very good, I have such trouble finishing. But, no, that did not stop me from going in. Then, once inside I may look at a few movies, but I always end up at the Christian section, and maybe glance at the children's on the way back, maybe the young adults if I know the kids are looking for something, but this time, once I was inside, I began thinking about the many different authors I enjoy; the wisdom, the knowledge, the experiences, they are all so gifted, and I wondered why I was looking so hard for another, yes, another book when I do not devote near the amount of time reading the Book of all books, inspired by the Creator Himself, the God of the universe, who made me, who gives instruction for all that is happening in and around me.
God's Holy Bible should be my go-to book for all my questions, and all my answers. We look for answers everywhere except the one place we really should go. We look for programs, for better studies, but we don't look at God's Word first. Are there many helps out there for us? Yes. Are there good books to help us understand something a bit better? Yes. There is also God's Word we should read first, then read others whom God has given knowledge to.
We must be very careful because there are also many books that are, what we would call, fluff, just full of whatever would please us, tickle our ears, make us feel better about a given situation. So I have a list of the good and the "fluff?" No, because it may be different for everyone, although some simply should not be read. Read God's Word, listen to His Holy Spirit, gain wisdom and knowledge by asking Him for it. He had His Words written for us, to guide us, and then we must obey it or it goes away void.
I had to stop reading some books, because as good as they were, and exciting, with lots of good Christian content, I always came away with a false sense of reality. It was like reading Christian soap operas, not a good idea. Do I tell you not to read them? No, because it was a conviction the Holy Spirit had for me, and I had to follow. I just wanted to give you an example of books and my life. Yours may be different.
I love this scripture which tells us ALL of God's Words were written for a purpose, to guide us to the saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ...hope...
"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
Everything written in God's Word, the Old Testament, the New Testament, and all in between passages were written to help guide us today. Written many, many years ago, but oh, so relevant to our lives today in 2013. Wow! Only a Living God could have had His guidelines written that would transcend the ages. Amazing.Just.Amazing.
So, to all you book lovers, enjoy, but do not neglect the most important Book of all time, The Bible.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
Thanks for stopping by today.
Does your family have many books?
Do you have a family time for devotions or to read together?
Always Experiencing Him,
Jody
