Does this title bring to your mind a song from the past? Does “Feelin’Groovy” sound familiar? This is what came to my mind the other day as I was reading. I love to read. I think I always have, ever since I learned how. And I love to read a book that I can hold in my hand. That sounds pretty funny coming from a person who writes a blog that people read on-line. But, hey – I’m keeping it real. If I’m reading a novel, the bigger the better. Or better yet, a series of books. I like something I can really get my teeth into and rest a while. My Mom on the other hand likes small, short books she can get through quickly. We are all uniquely made in more ways than one.

When our kids were growing up I had little time to read but now that we’re empty nesters It’s a non-issue. Now my only problem is that I can get so lost in reading that nothing else gets done. Does the word dust bunny come to mind? So, I have to take breaks from reading and make myself focus on other things (like quilting for instance). Hobbies – aren’t they wonderful? [side note: I really do manage to get chores done too.]

One book I don’t take a break from though is the Bible. It’s a book you can really get your teeth into. It’s a book that can really get its teeth into you. It’s a book you can read and re-read and never get bored. You can find something new speaking to you each time. The problem for me is that I tend to go too fast. I am a fast reader but often I have to go back and reread something because it didn’t stick in my brain. This was brought to my attention again the other day when I once more came across the term “meditation” in a book I am reading. We’ve all heard the word and sometimes we get a mental picture of someone in a yoga class closing their eyes, crossing their legs and chanting. That’s not what either the author of my book or God mean when they use the term. In my book, it says that Biblical meditation means taking a verse of the Bible and seriously pondering its meaning, thinking through what it means in our lives and situations today. It’s applying God’s truth to our lives and allowing Him to speak to us through it. Not only is it to meditate on His Word but to meditate on what He has done in our lives. How He has proved Himself faithful, over and over again, to all whose trust is in Him.

So, as we are at the beginning of a new year, I am committed to meditating on God’s Word and writing down truths He speaks to me. Prayer and reading go hand in hand. It’s a two-way communication with the creator of all, the I Am, The Lord. When I find myself moving too fast when reading, I’ll sing that song to myself and slow down. I pray that God shows you all a time when you can sit with Him and read His love letter to us all – the Bible. God Bless!