It is Saturday morning, and our girl climbs into our bed. White sheets are a jumble underneath a blue and white cotton quilt. Her dad is up already.
Photo from Flickr Creative Commons user: M Glasgow
She is in a talkative mood. Sleep still blankets my mind and eyes. I try to be present for her as I know these moments are fleeting.
She lays next to me, and asks, "What happens if you pump air into a dead person's nose?" My eyes open a little more. Surprised, but sort of not, because she likes to ask questions.
When I ask what brought about this question, she shrugs, and says she's just curious.
I tell her, "Nothing, they are dead."
"Nothing?" she asks.
"Well, I guess the air will go in, but when a person is dead, the body can't take in the oxygen, and use it like when one is alive. The air won't help a dead person to breathe."
Later, I reflected on our conversation. Before I became a Christ-follower, I wondered why Christians always quoted the Bible. It seemed like just a bunch of words to me. The Bible's words didn't come alive for me.
My soul didn't breathe in God's word like precious oxygen for my soul until God broke through to me as a little girl.
After I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and sit on the throne of my heart, the Bible immediately came alive for me. God's living presence spoke to me through the Bible although I was only eight years old.
Although I didn't grow up in a family of faith, and my parents didn't read the Bible to me, I grew to love the Bible.
I read the Bible by myself. Even as a young girl, my reborn heart's ability to breathe in God's words, and let it change me was real.
And as I grew older, and I had questions, I still continued to read the Bible. My soul needed it like my body needs fresh air.
His words remind me of the truth of who He is (a good and loving God) despite what circumstances, and other people were saying.
His words breathe his life into my discouraged soul. His words refocus my gaze onto Him.
His words remind me where the real joy can be found: in His presence and giving thanks, regardless of the circumstances.
His words tell me that I don't have to be good enough, because Jesus' death and righteousness make me good enough to be God's daughter.
What helps make God's word come alive for you? When did God's Words come alive for you?
Your words are a gift whenever you share. Thank you!
Giving thanks with Ann:
- I am grateful our girl talks to me, and considers me a reliable source of information.
- Grateful I can go to God with my questions.
- "For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 NASB
- For crunchy cucumbers from our yard.
- Finding a barely used kid's bike for our girl as we strolled our neighborhood
- Met a neighbor on another street: she was selling the bike for a friend
- For how God left us a window into His heart through the Bible
- Worshipping with other believers
- For how God is tugging my heart in a new direction
- My dad's condition is stable for now
- Finding a letter I wrote to my boyfriend (now husband) when we were in high school: funny and touching...no texting back then :)
Linking with sweet, and gifted friend Laura for a play date
and giving thanks with wise Ann
and talented L.L. Barkat
and the amazing Jen
© Soul Stops/Dolly Lee 2012.