Weekly Inspiration - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New International Version)

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I recently went to Texas to visit my family and to see my brother off on a new adventure with the ARMY.  It was difficult to watch my new sister-in-law and my mom cry as they realized they would not be seeing him for the next 10 weeks.  The only real communication any of us will have with him from this point on are letters that we get to write him.  My sister-in-law put together a little packet of addressed and stamped envelopes so that my brother will be able to write letters back to us as well.  In his absence we three began to research on the Internet what boot camp is like and how we could support my brother during this time, his first real time away from home.  An overarching theme was to make sure and write, write, write.  Plenty of soldiers said that the only thing that got them through the tough times was looking forward to the letters from loved ones.  This first week has already felt like a century waiting to get an address to send the first letters too.  I have found so much information on his camp though.  I have had the fortune of finding out who his drill sergeant will most likely be, thanks to Facebook!  I have read all about his life, his family and even requested to be his wife’s friend in hopes of learning some more information.  While I can’t physically be with my brother to encourage him or to see how he is doing, knowing all about where he is and what he is going through has provided my family and me some comfort.

This letter writing got me thinking about the Bible.  I have always known that it is important to read the Bible; mostly because I have heard my pastor and other spiritual leaders tell me so.  I have never really understood why, or how to do it and so I have mostly taken the approach of randomly opening up to a page, reading a few lines of so and so begat so and so before I was bored and willing to do anything else.  I remember being ecstatic that the Message bible came out and that the cryptic phrases were finally unpacked for me, but there was still a distance I felt as I read the stories, especially if I found the story particularly boring.  I have tried countless tactics to get more interested in the bible such as keeping various scripture written on papers inside my purse for encouragement, exciting bible studies that applied the lessons to my life and even looking for passages that I think will speak to the women that may read these weekly messages.  While all of these things have led me to “aha” moments and have definitely benefited me, I have still always felt like it was still a book with lots and lots of boring parts. 

It wasn’t until I began thinking about these letters to and from my brother that I realized that this book, the Bible, are the words of our Father in heaven specifically written to me, to us!  I could never get passed the “so and so begat so and so” until I realized how important it was for me to know the background of my brother’s drill sergeant.  When I was reading the “begats” I was getting to know the background, the ins and outs of God and Jesus!  How could I have missed this treasure that I had in my possession?  I have letters written to me from God himself since he cannot sit here and tell me all of the wonderful things he did, is doing and has done.  Anytime I feel lonely, confused, thankful or simply want to be comforted by His presence, I can open up my book of letters from Him to me and feel so close.  I opened my Bible for the first time and read with emotions of love so deep that I knew I had to share it with you in hopes that you can do the same!

Dear God, I am constantly amazed at how you can stretch my heart to limits I never knew possible.  Thank you so much for knowing that we would need letters from you Lord.  Thank you for giving us words that will feel like arms wrapped around us when we need our Father’s comfort.  Thank you for words that will give us insight into your presence, background into the world you created and hope that you have taken care of everything we will ever need.  I pray for the women reading these words that you will open their hearts to the personal nature of these letters and to give them the understanding that they are written specifically for each one of them Lord.  In your name, Amen.