“SHARING A PASSION FOR READING,” is the heading of the article. It is the story about a book lover, who is especially fond of books for kids and keeps herself fulfilled by supporting others, who need encouragement to try writing or illustrating. (The Northern Advocate, Tuesday, August 14, 2012)

Articles about reading and books are of great interest to me, because reading is one of my hobbies and I have a particular passion for reading the BIBLE.

Why do I have a passion for reading the BIBLE? I love to tell you why, and will do it as plainly and simply as I can.

I must tell you about two experiences, spiritual experiences, actually miracles. I looked up THE COLLINS  CONCISE DICTIONARY and there I read that a miracle is “an event contrary to the laws of nature and attributed to a supernatural cause.” There I read also that a miracle is “any amazing  or wonderful event.”

THE FIRST MIRACLE

Is it easy to talk about and explain miracles? I don’t think so.

But the first miracle happened in Germany many years ago, when I was eighteen years old.

Until a certain day of 1958 the BIBLE was for me like any other book on the book shelf.  But that changed on that particular day, and the BIBLE was no longer like any other book on the book shelf.

Slowly, very slowly, I began to understand, what the Bible was all about! I began to grow spiritually.

On that day in the year of 1958 I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and I was conscious of peace and happiness.

THE SECOND MIRACLE

The second miracle took place many many years later in Kaikohe in New Zealand.

Until then I was not really satisfied with my reading of the BIBLE. Let me just say my reading of the BIBLE was not good enough. And I knew it. And I wanted to read the BIBLE systematically, it was my desire to read the BIBLE like any other book, from cover to cover.

And then it happened, all of a sudden I was able to read the Bible from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation. If I remember correctly, and I think I do, when that happened I read the BIBLE twice from cover to cover in one year. And when I say I read the BIBLE from cover to cover, I mean I read every word!

Yes, miracles are still happening today. They happened to me. Please, tell me if they happened also in your life.

“Start living now.

STOP saving the good china for that special occasion.

STOP withholding your love until that special person materializes.

Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift.” – Mary Manin Morrissey

“Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those  who have rekindled this light.” – Albert Schweitzer

He did not say very much, whether it was at the meal table or when he was together with other people. That’s how I  remember the elderly gentleman.

We are not surprised when somebody does not talk very much at the meal table, but rather eats.  But I was rather surprised and could not understand why the elderly man was sitting there like a stone even at a gathering of the family.

Sadly it is now too late to ask him, “Why are you always so quiet?”  When he was still alive I thought he was just shy.

Maybe I am talking too much at certain times.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT WISDOM IS?

I read this about wisdom lately and I am again challenged:

Wisdom has two parts: 1. Having lots to say. 2. Not saying it.

Many years ago the Lord burned one verse of the BIBLE ino my mind. The verse is Isaiah 30:15, especally where it says, “….,  in quietness …. is your strength, …..” Please read the whole verse. I am reading there also, “…., but you would have none of it.” But I want all of it.  And I really do. I want to be quiet. We can ask the Lord every day to help us to be quiet. Who does not want to be strong? But what a challenge!!

I am still wondering about the old gentleman. Was he shy, not at ease in the company of other people, or was he wise? Since we cannot ask him, let us say he was wise and follow his footsteps.

To win From the Heart, tell us about someone who has influenced your life.

I wrote:

Yesterday I met Ryan here in Kaitaia, who is carrying the cross on his Walk for Christ from the bottom of the South Island to the top of the North Island of New Zealand. He is 25 years old and wants to see God move in this nation!