My Love for Words

Bible

I’m guessing that I got it from my sweet mother… she’s an avid reader and the champion Scrabble player in our family, and now we’re addicted to Words with Friends. She’s retired now, but her former occupation as a proof-reader definitely gives her an advantage! 😉 (Love you, Mom!)

The written word has changed course, and most in this generation are reading everything digitally. I am just as guilty, as I no longer subscribe to any magazines or newspapers, but read them online.

BOOKS, on the other hand, are a different story. When I was much younger, I would spend hours in the library pouring over books, in awe of the sheer mass of volumes that were available to me. (I was greatly disappointed that the library carried a limit on how many you could check out!)

I do have the Kindle App on my phone and iPad, but still prefer the feel of a book–pen and highlighter in hand. Embracing both worlds has proven to be of great benefit, though. The Bible is still my favorite and THE most important book I own, but I am loving the easy access of websites like BibleGateway.com and YouVersion’s Bible App where I not only can find different translations, but I can search for any word or scripture passage easily. I use them most often like a concordance, and especially love that it will show me every verse that has a particular word in it.

For example, the Holman Christian Standard Bible shows that there are 700 verses with the word LOVE and that doesn’t even include many of the other words that would imply the same meaning, like the words loving-kindness and charity. I have finished reading Psalms over and over (for my Scripture Memory Challenge) and the words, “faithful love” just keep jumping out at me…

But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth. Psalm 86: 15

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and I am reminded that God is the author of love and not only teaches us what true love is, He demonstrates it.

I want to LOVE like that, don’t you?

Passionate, sacrificial, undying love that is not just a spoken word, but a Living Word.

Living out the words that we say, dying to prove ourselves faithful.

My romantic nature causes me to be stirred emotionally when I read of just how much God loves us. My desire is that it would stir me to LOVE.LIKE.THAT.

If nothing else would be said of me when I leave this place, I would smile from heaven if only the words on my tombstone would say,