Back to the Real Thing

I will be the first to admit that my study of the bible over the last few years has been spotty at best. Having a couple of little boys makes that generally acceptable in Christian circles. But as our two newest family members' entrance into the world nears, I'm reminded of how badly I need to eat sleep and drink in the word of God. I won't survive without it. My marriage will suffer, my wife and children will suffer and I will suffer.
The Bible App on my IPad has been useful. Maybe it is how people will read all of their books, including the bible in the future. But for me it has only served to help me become less connected with the word. I need to hold it, smell it and write all over it.
So, today, I have decided to lay down my IPad with its Bible App and return to the real thing.  It is heavy, bulky and inconvenient at times, but in it I can record my thoughts as I'm led by the spirit. And one day, my children will be able to open this extremely worn book and see that their father was an imperfect, broken man who loved The Lord and desperately wanted to know Him more fully. And that knowing and serving the Lord and leading my family to do the same was more important than any fancy car, big house or social status.  That my treasure was in heaven. May that be my legacy.

Comfort

I have always been very comfortable running in my middle to upper middle class circles. But The last few years have been ones of lessening comfort. As I seek to know and walk with Jesus, I find that he calls me out of my comfort. To a neighborhood where people don't look like me, dress like me, or talk like me. To a job that takes me to the end of myself and then some. Out of singlehood into marriage. From childless to soon-to-be father.
It is a blessing for me to walk in the brokenness that is a result of, among other things, discomfort.
Because it is in the deeps of this discomfort that Christ meets me and is enough.