This post is both personal and priceless to me.

Looking back over this past year, I could have never imagined that it would be my last with my mom. For the most part, my life was on cruise control as a wife, mother, daughter, etc. And then it came to a halt on August 6th, 2009. The day we found out Mom had caner. Life changed drastically.

I spent many hours with Mom at her house and at doctor’s visits. Moments I wouldn’t trade for anything this world has to offer.

But life also changed drastically in my heart. Things that used to be so important to me, just didn’t see important anymore. The things that used to stress me out, didn’t anymore.

What mattered most was my family and my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Mom always knew that. She had spent a lifetime preparing for the day she would be with her Lord.

Throughout my life, I have had the honor of watching that preparation…the hours my mom spent in God’s word. If there is anything I know for sure about my mom, it’s that she loved her Bible. Or should I say Bibles.

These are just a few of her bibles.

They were in every room of the house, on every bookshelf, and by each bed.

Mom loved to write in her bibles too, and I am so glad she did. Some of the writings are her own thoughts, some are sermon notes, and some are inspirations she gathered from other Christian books she was reading.

I wanted to share with you some of her writings. These writings focus on the importance of reading and studying God’s word. I have no doubt that the peace and grace that I saw in my mom as she faced death was a result of the time she spent in prayer and bible study. They mean so much to me, and I hope they do to you as well.

I will write underneath each picture just in case you cannot read my mom’s writing.

(God still speaks to us today through His word. When He does speak, the words of the Bible come alive, and glow with a brilliant relevance to our lives. He uses the Scriptures to place truth in our minds, inject truth into our decisions, and impress truth on our hearts. He comforts us and corrects us. Our hearts are captured and stirred by His word.)

(Read the Scriptures with an expectation that God is going to speak to you. Listen for His voice. Depend on the Holy Spirit to open your ears. Read the Scriptures until His voice sets your heart “ablaze”. Do not be satisfied with checking off the day’s reading assignment—-long to encounter Him in His Word.

(Read the Bible daily. Although the amount of Scripture read may vary from person to person, the believers who read it daily are better prepared spiritually for the journey ahead. Walter Price)

(Read the Scripture in the morning. Even if you intend to read more later in the day, do not start your day without the intake of God’s Word.)

(The Words of God. Oh who could express what they ought to be worth to us! Each word carries with it all the life of God, all His saving power and love. God speaking in His Son. Surely we who know Him will be ready to cast aside everything for the sake of hearing Him!)

(Wherever you look in Scripture, look to Jesus. Let every passage tell you something of His Father, and His Spirit, and thus Himself. Make it your aim in all your use of the Scriptures to “see and savor more of Christ.” Be on a treasure hunt to satisfy your soul more and more in Him. In this way the Spirit of Christ will be at work to transform you into His image. The aim of the law will be fulfilled more and more in your life. And you will magnify Christ in your life until He comes to complete the work He has begun.)

(As we read the Bible it begins to form us and mold us until we become to look like Jesus Christ.)

(The hope for America is to come back to the Bible!) Amen!

I also wanted to share some of Mom’s writings that seem even more poignant since she passed away.

(We have no control over how we die or when, but we do have control over how we live. Our hope is in the Lord! We must live for Him and Him alone!)

(I only have one life to live and I want to live a life of obedience to God. John 14:23 “If anyone loves me he will keep my Word and I and my father will come and live with you.”)

(Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple. Psalm 27:8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face, my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.)

(Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.)

(Everything that happens to us is for a reason. When trouble comes we should not say, “How can I get out of this,” but rather—“What can I get out of this.”)

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My desire for this coming new year is to spend more time reading and studying God’s word.

I used to spend time in His word every morning until I had kids. I would tell myself that I was just too tired to get up so early…I just couldn’t do it, and I’m sure God would understand.

But can I make a confession? I have woken up excitedly in the wee hours of the morning and even in the middle of the night to get on my laptop to see if someone had left a comment on my blog. I wasn’t too tired to do that!

No offense, but the living Word of God is so much more important than the comments left on my blog. The Bible is FULL of comments from God to me (and you).

I want to be excited about hearing from God through His scriptures. I may not be too excited those first few mornings that I start getting up early again. But through obedience, God will deepen my desire to seek after Him, and He will bless me.

That is my prayer.

Thank you for letting me share the thoughts beneath my heart,

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