Books On The Shelf 3/8/14

Good Morning,

Saturday Morning and I am headed to breakfast with a friend today. My coffee of choice is Door County Mocha Mint. I just received my new order of coffees today.

My wife and I have collected quite a few books throughout the years.Aactually it could be considered a small library. We have books in, business, radiology, anatomy, engineering, hunting, fishing, camping, survival, comedy, romance, cooking, history, westerns, religion, and Bibles.

I am sure I missed a few in that list. We do like to read, especially early in the morning on cold winter days. Our goal next weekend is to go through some of the books and donate them or toss a few. You would think that with the amount of books we have that we would be scholars at the very least. I will admit that many of our books have been used to gain knowledge. We are not scholars, but we like to learn. Of course our Bibles are our favorites. Our supporting books that help us study our faith and come closer to God rank second.

There are many times that I use a book to escape from reality for awhile. I have a very vivid imagination that allows me to actually see in my mind the scenery described in books. When I read a book about duck hunting and close my eyes I can actually hear the ducks and smell the marsh.

I do the same with my Bible. I love the Lord there is no doubt. I believe every word in the Bible. So when I read that heaven awaits me I start to day dream and picture what it might be like. But here is the difference. There is no fiction to read in the Bible. And although heaven will be beautiful, the one thing I dream about most is meeting the One who paid the price for me to be there. I have enjoyed many books, laughed while reading some, cried with others, learned from a few, but not one has ever impacted me the way God's Bible does. My Bible led me to Jesus and it will lead me home!

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

God bless,
Marty