Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Read The Book

My first husband was somewhat of a computer guru. He often bought broken computers and fixed them to sell. He had boxes and closets full of hard drives, mother boards, mouse(s), monitors, extra memory cards etc. As his illness took a toll on him, he became housebound and so, in order to remain useful, he became a beta tester for computer companies, like Corel and Photoshop. He was also a systems administrator for a computer company in Lubbock. Everyday, usually around 10 pm, our phone began ringing. (People with computer problems seemed to be most desperate after dark). Eddy would often talk with them for hours, trying to get their computer up and running and glitch free. He knew all the technical terms and jargon. I seldom understood anything he said, except for one particular phrase. Over and over again, his advice to consumers was "read the book". He explained that it made sense that the best one to solve the problem was the creator/producer of the device.

I have often thought how appropriate that advice is to Christians. The Bible is the manual that guides us everyday. From the book of Genesis, we learn how we were created, (in His image), and who created us. From the story of Cain and Abel, we also learn about appropriate sacrifice. We learn from the story of Noah, that God is all-powerful and can destroy the world just as He made it. We read about Joseph and Moses and we see that God is a God who rescues His own from man's evil schemes. We study Abraham and we see that God is indeed a promise making and promise keeping God. We travel with the Israelites through the wilderness and we learn that God provides for Him people. He gives us everything we need. From David, we learn about God's forgiveness. From Solomon we learn about wisdom and marriage. This book teaches us resilience in the struggles of the Apostle Paul, it teaches us courage to speak up in the zeal of Peter. It teaches us that God can make good things come out of bad situations. In this book, we learn about goodness and light, about sacrifice and redemption. We learn that we are loved by God and separated from Him, brought back only by His mercy through the blood of the Lamb.
The Bible tells us everything we need to know about life, love, worship, work, marriage, parenting, teaching, growing old, dying and living. It is the manual for God's creation. The very One who made us, gave us the instruction manual to help us fulfill all our potential.
Sometimes, things get crazy. We feel like we are beating our heads against a brick wall. We feel like we are riding the merry-go-round of life and getting nowhere. We try our best and yet we always end up taking two steps forward and three steps back. We can't figure out what we are doing wrong. Perhaps it is time to look to the One who has figured it out. Perhaps it is time to "Read the Book".

Peace
Neva

Hope y'all have an amazing worship tomorrow!!!
n

20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post, Neva!
We don't spend enough time in the book.

Pat

11:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen!
You can't live it if you dont read it.

Carlos

11:51 AM  
Blogger Lori said...

My husband is a Systems person for the U of M. I guess we have more in things in common. If you don't mind my asking, if you do please let me know. What did your first husband die of? You are now married to a preacher? I am trying to get to know some of my closers blogging friends. I have a four hour motor route and I like to think about the good things about the people I know. It helps me come home in a good mood so I can be pleasant to my lovely family.

12:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, read the book!
More public reading of scripture is needed in our worship and more individual reading at home. You hit a home run with this one.

Interested Bystander

12:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"His divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness." I read that in The Book! Great post.
Love ya
Debbie

1:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The manual for all things pertaining to humans---what a great book!


Rachel

6:45 PM  
Blogger Bob Bliss said...

Every, year I hand out the Bible reading schedules and shout from the pulpit - read the book (well maybe I don't shout but I do get animated). What a joy it is to read the book and to know that the rest of the congregation is reading the book. Thanks for the good illustration.

7:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Every year I commit to reading my bible and every March or so, I stop and then I wonder why things dont go quite right.
Thanks for the nudge, friend. Hope your worship is amazing too.

Carol

9:34 PM  
Blogger Beba said...

Wow! Comparation you made is grate. Yes, we need our Book, red the Book! I missed church last night cause the service was canceled for some reasons, but yet, we will have worship during this day :)

6:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh how true. And how often we read "books about THE book" instead of reading the book. Or we have others read the book for us and telling us just a summary...

Thanks, Helen

6:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Powerful reminder, Neva



Dan

12:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great thoughts, today Neva. Our church has just started doing some public reading of the Word. It is very powerful.
I like Helen's comment about reading books about THE BOOK.

Thanks

8:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We cant say we truly listen to God if we dont get into His word.
A one-sided relationship is not one, really.


Love ya
Kel

9:25 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

Lori,
I don't mind at all. Eddy and I were married 17 years. 13 of those he was ill and on and off Hospice care. He died in June 1994 of Cobalt poisoning (exposure from a former job). My new husband, Ned is a preacher and we have been married 9 years. Eddy and I had two boys, Chad and Nathan. Chad lives with his wife Traci and their three boys, Morgan, Matthew and Austin in Lakeland, FL. Nathan lives in Lubbock, TX and recently left his wife and three children, Madi, Kyle and Mason.
Thank you so much for considering me one of your blogging friends.
Have a great week.
Peace
neva
nevaecooper@yahoo.com

9:45 PM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

Great post! The teacher in our class today said the Bible is not a history book, it's a book that tells us how to live and what God expects of us. How can we live how God expects us to if we never open it up. Have a great week!

11:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, said! The word shapes us, forms us a little at a time. But we have to read it!

Ben
http://benoverby.wordpress.com

9:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post!

Shari

12:59 PM  
Blogger Keith Davis said...

Reminds me of most of us men who will wait until the last resort to read the instructions. Just ego I guess. We must be more attentive to the Word in order to live it out for Jesus.

10:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are so many self help books out today--millions of dollars in business a year, a huge selection at bookstores. But all we really need is God's Word. It tells us everything we need to know. This was a good reminder for all Christians.
Thanks Neva
Corinne

7:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I struggle with how easy it is to place God's Word on the back burner, we cannot possibly know what pleases God unless we read his word.

Jeneane

6:56 PM  

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