In A Nutshell

As I sat quietly this morning, it was a time of introspection. “My life in a nutshell”.

How to describe it? How would others define it? What am I most grateful for this Thanksgiving season?

God’s word – simply and emphatically. God’s word.

Oh yes, I am extremely grateful for Dave, the kids, the grands and great grands, my health and home, my friends but without God’s word these would be shallow. Without God’s word I wouldn’t know of His endless, boundless love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. Without His word, peace, joy and hope would be fleeting and that would seriously affect my family, health and friends.

What has had the greatest impact on my life, kept me on a firm foundation, been my source of strength and wisdom is God’s word.

“I deeply love your Law! I think about it all day. ⁹⁸ Your laws never leave my mind, and they make me much wiser than my enemies. ⁹⁹ Thinking about your teachings gives me better understanding than my teachers, ¹⁰⁰ and obeying your laws makes me wiser than those who have lived a long time. ¹⁰¹ I obey your word instead of following a way that leads to trouble. ¹⁰² You have been my teacher, and I won’t reject your instructions. ¹⁰³ Your teachings are sweeter than honey.” Psalm 119:97-103 CEV

I spent a large portion of my early years, up to my thirties, not searching the Scriptures as my daily bread. I was too busy to take time to study the Bible. Oh yes, I loved the Lord. I was a Christian but a shallow one. I worried and fretted with the best of them. I could be short-tempered, easily frustrated and stressed.

Then little by little all that changed. Just a few minutes each morning – time was short so I had to be quick. After a while I realized without my morning time spent in God’s word and prayer the day just didn’t go as smoothly, and I wasn’t prepared for the challenging situations that would arise.

Just as I began to put fingers to keyboard this morning the words of this old song came flooding in:

“Wonderful Words of Life”

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
Sanctify forever. [Refrain]”

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Once when Jesus finished a teaching, a large portion of the multitude that followed Him left. They said it was a “hard” teaching.

“ Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they also were going to leave him. ⁶⁸  Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.’” John 6:67-69 CEV

Words of Life!

My greatest joy – my life in a nutshell – is to know God’s word in greater, practical depth each day.