living Word – KARLA LEES

I love getting a new version of the Bible. There is something holy and fresh to me about holding a brand new Bible. Opening the cover for the first time, and taking a peek at the insides.

As a book lover and word crafter, I can appreciate a pretty cover, fantastic graphics or eye catching images. Yet if I never open the book, I will miss the point.

If you don’t move past the cover, you miss the meat of the words inside which you are meant to meet. To read. To chew on. To ponder. To be challenged, entertained by.

Without reading the words inside the covers, a book becomes just an ornament on a shelf.

Which isn’t the point of a book.

Nor the point of the Bible.

The Bible, or the Word as I prefer to refer to it as, is designed to help us along our journey.

It not only instructs us, but gives us insight into situations we might experience, and the God we hope to encounter we meet inside.

If you remain a cover lover, the Word will not come alive for you. For the Holy Spirit speaks to us as we read it, whispers the words He has for us in the moment, and reminds us that the Word is an invitation for a fresh encounter with the Living Word, Jesus.

The Bible is meant to be read, digested, interacted with. We are to allow it to shape our mindsets, fix our values, guide our emotions and be a foundation we can turn to in the hard times.

The Word reminds us…

We are not alone.
God is with us.
God is for us.
God is in us.
God lives through us.
God knows us.
God guides us.
We are loved.

Crack open the cover of your Bible, and allow His words to seep into you. Ponder the mysteries. Savor the love. Delight in the truth. Align your path to the one He has for you.

Move beyond the covers into the best part of the Word, for He is just waiting you there!

Prelude:
This post is about the Message version of the Bible. If you don’t prefer this version of the Word, I bless you as you study your favorite version.

However, God has used this version to help me find my voice as a writer, and hear His voice more clearly. Which is one of the reasons I love using it, as one of the versions of the Scriptures I study from. I believe God can and will use any version of the Bible in any translation or language it comes in, because of who it’s Author is. The One who wants all men and women to find Him.

If you don’t prefer this version, I get it. But I would prefer not to have negative comments posted about my choice to enjoy it as one of my favorite books to read.

Thanks for showing respect as you honor my request, just as I honor yours to disagree with me.

Lectio Divinia: the classical method of reading, thinking, praying and living Scripture with the intention of inviting an infinite, omniscient God into your life, as it is, no gloss, no veneer. Lectio divina is more Bible basking than Bible study, as it teaches you to absorb & meditate on Scripture. converse with God openly. and live out what has become a part of you; His Word.

-Eugene Peterson

When the Message bible was released, it rocked my world. As a Christian university student, I had studied the bible in several different ways, but found in doing so that it was becoming a text book, and less God’s personal Word to me.

The way this Bible, and in particular their devotional format is designed? To bring the reader into wholeness in His Presence.

There are four key parts to Lectio Divina:

READ– taking the time to read His love story, the Bible. And not just reading it, but savoring it, enjoying it like a perfectly cooked steak or your favorite dessert. Read it closely, taking note of its nuances, key words.

THINK– every word is meant to be read as God speaking to you through it. Meditate on what a phrase or passage is saying, and ask God to make His voice known to you as you seek His knowledge, guidance & wisdom. Read what it actually says, not what you think it should say.

PRAY– God want to have a conversation with you, face to face. He longs to hang out with you over a coffee, unrushed as you enjoy one another’s company. Tell Him what’s going on with you, then wait for Him to respond and share His heart with you, His now words for you. If you don’t get part of what you are reading, just say so. He gets it.

You can read, think, and pray all day, but unless you live in God’s words as well, you miss the point.

-Eugene Peterson

LIVE– We are meant to live out the Word with which we are interacting. To bring it deep within, and watch it take root and grow with a flourish when we water the Word. To speak it out over our life’s situations. To demonstrate it with our love, our words, our hands and actions to those around us. The Author is alive, and His Word is too.

When we live according to the Word we have read, pondered and prayed over, God lives through us!

So, it really doesn’t matter what version you prefer to read of the Bible, but how you interact with it! Which is why I love Lectio Divina, because it helps guide us through our Word walk as a starting place for interacting with the Word & its Author. 🙂

To celebrate over 500 blog posts now (!) and only being a few away from 200 followers here at Hope in His Presence, I am offering my first giveaway.

I have one brand new copy of The Message:Solo Women’s Devotional just waiting for one of my blog followers who live in Canada or the United States! Since 99% of my followers are from North America, this giveaway is for y’all 🙂

To enter the draw to win it, please do the following three steps before the deadline:

1. Follow my blog, either through Word Press or email, or follow me on Twitter @HopenHisPresenz coz like you I know sometimes we just don’t have time for all the news coming our way, so whichever way you prefer to connect is cool with me. 🙂

2. Visit my Connect page, and shoot me off a comment via my contact form. Share with me what you love most about His Word! Your first name and email are a must in order for me to contact you if you are the winner!

3. You can only enter once. As this is a small blog, this first giveaway is too!

This giveaway is only open until Sunday night, March 22nd, 2015 at 11:59pm Central Time.

It’s time to fall deeper in love with Him, through spending time in His Word, conversing with Him and seeking His face!

The winner will be announced (via first name only) on Monday/Tuesday here on the blog, after a confirmation email has been received from them 🙂

I can’t wait to hear how the Word stirs up in your hearts!

Tag: living Word

cover lover or lover of the Word?

lectio divina giveaway