Comprehension

I've been going to www.biblegateway.com everyday and listening to Max McLean read one chapter of the bible to me. I love how he reads it. It just makes more sense when sentences are read the way they're suppose to be heard. He pauses in all the right places and emphasizes certain sections with a change in the tone of his voice. I have to say, I've been tempted to add many chapters to this blog because I get so much out of reading and listening that I want to share it with everyone. Although, I know that not everyone is able enjoy these things as much as me because not all of my readers are Christians and have the Holy Spirit to help them to understand scripture. I pray that you will soon be included in the family of God so you too can truly appreciate these words of Life; the bible.

It's interesting to me how after spending the majority of my life with comprehension problems during reading, that I am finally able to read something as precious as the word of God and understand it. Now, keep in mind, understanding scripture and fully grasping it, are two different things all together. I do not by any means claim to understand everything and have it all figured out. I am, however, thrilled to be able to sit down and pick up the bible and read it without feeling like I've just wasted my time trying to read because I didn't understand a stinkin' thing.

Sometimes when I get to thinking about what it use to be like to read and try to understand the bible, I end up crying.

You see, I have asked God for years to help me to want to read the bible and to understand it when I read it. I still remember when my prayer was answered. It was in the summer of 2004. Tim was going to Ohio State University to get his Master's in Library and Information Science. In order to get to see him at all while he was in school, I would travel with him to Columbus each week. I had decided to take something to do along with me since I would be stuck in the hallways for 4 hours each day we went to the college or campus library.

At first, I took a notebook, pens & pencils, magazines, and the bible. Well, I'm sure you can guess what I ended up using and not using. The bible was never opened. I did everything else but read the bible.

This made me feel really guilty and so I decided that if I was going to read the bible, I was going to have to make sure there was nothing else to do but read it. The hallways were empty and I was the only one out and about in the entire building. Tim's class was the only people in the entire building and it was pretty boring to be there all alone. I decided that I would take ONLY the bible in the building with me. I figured I would get some serious bible reading done in a 4 hour time period!

Would you believe that from that time on, I was able to read the bible and understand it? God was just waiting for me to make the decision to read His book and nothing else. Now that I can understand things I read, I actually WANT to read the bible. I can read other things now too and understand them. I just choose to read the bible first though. I have always felt that if I have time to read a book, dag gone it, it's gonna' be the words from the mouth of God.

During that summer, great and wonderful things happened. I was inspired to write songs and poetry about God (I did carry the notebook to the building with me). It was also during that summer that God spoke to me about going to China and adopting a little girl. He has never spoken to me like that before. I have always wondered what it sounded like to have God talk to you. Now I know. It makes me wonder if He has been talking to me all this time and I just wasn't listening. Kinda' makes you think.

The point of this message is:

If you are desiring to do what you know you should do with God, make it a point to remove everything else out of your way so that all you have is God and God alone. He will speak to you and....... you will hear. You can read His word and...... you will understand what He wants to show you at that particular time. You can read the same scriptures again at a later time and He will show you something entirely different that you need. His word is alive and is sharper than any two edged sword. It hurts and it heals.

Anything that gets in the way and keeps you from God, is a sin and must be removed. God has always been here and He is simply waiting for us to make the decision to push everything else out of the way and come running to Him and Him alone.

Come to Him!