This weekend I was gifted a new bible by my sister.  The reason for this gift stemmed from the passing of my father on april 1st.  My oldest brother told me that if I wasn't saved I wouldn't see my father again in heaven. I didn't know what to do....because even though I have always believed in GOD I don't know him personally. 

You see, we didn't go to church much growing up, and when I was a teenager I had tried to read the bible but it was confusing and I didn't understand it. So I just gave up trying.  And even though I DO believe in GOD, I don't always believe in church. I have been to a few churches that weren't what I was expecting. They either seemed way to money hungry, or were being used a a place to "see and be seen" if you know what I mean. People there just to show off what they have or have done. And although I don't know GOD, JESUS, or the BIBLE intimentally, I do know you are supposed to be humble. Showing off what you have or have done for others is bragging and to me that is not humble.

So since I don't go to church and am shy and afraid to try new things, I have never really tried to understand any of this. Oh I have wondered, and had questions, but have not asked for help understanding it all.

So since my brothers and sister are afraid for me, and want to help me my sister got me, my dh and ds each a new bible. And for this I am very grateful.  Now I will read the bible, and hopefully understand it better now that I am older. I am thinking of using an online bible study guide as extra help. I will also ask for help from family and friends if I don't understand something.

I have already started reading, I started at the first to begin with, but have skipped to Ruth, Job(not finished with him yet a little confused with parts of it), and James(which is my fathers name and I felt like I needed to read that  too).

To tell you all the truth it was reading the blogs here that got me back to thinking about GOD, and the bible and everything. And wanting to learn more about it all. Sometimes I wonder if maybe this is why GOD took my father, He knew that I was wondering, but would not take that first step on my own and needed a push. Of course if that is why I am sad for it, although it was his will. And if that was it....it worked.

Here is a picture of my new Bible that is gonna get lots and lots of use from now on.

It is very pretty isn't it? LOL

If anyone has any tips or suggestions I would gladly accept them.

Thank you and GOD bless you.

Nancy

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Posted by shopannies

Read the book of John, it is found in the new testament. Yes, you will not go to heaven if you do not know the lord for yourself. A great verse for you to read is John 3:16. In this verse it says that God loved the world that he gave his only son to die on the cross so whom so ever beleives in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. This means you, like me can see your dad up in heaven and walk those streets of gold with him All that you have to do is pray and let god know you are a sinner and that you are sorry and you want to ask him in your life. God bless you and your search.

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Posted by Kitty

I'm so glad that you are doing this, I'd be so lonely in heaven, LOL LOL. Take your time and don't feel that you have to know everything all at once. It takes time, and like you said, some parts are confusing. Don't put it away, just read a chapter a day if you want. The Psalms and Proverbs are great too. Love and miss you..........Kitty

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Posted by Schatzi

What a beautiful post...you are definately on the right path...Start reading in John....beautiful passages and wisdom in there....remember that no church is perfect because we are all a flawed and sinful people....and if there was a "perfect" church, it would be empty:-)

God will lead YOU to the place that is for YOU and for you to grow and learn.....He loves you so much and will never leave you....all you have to do is ask, repent and accept the free gift of salvation.

Don't put pressure on yourself to read it all and understand everything....I have been a Christian all my life and I still know so little about the bible....what what I do know is that Christ sent His son to die for me and he forgave me ALL my sins and that I am a new creation....and he forgives me everytime I mess up and He never remembers my sin....."as far as the east is from the west, so far as He has taken our sin from us"....just know that you are loved by the Lord of the Universe...the God who holds the world in the palm of his hand.

I will be praying for you.

Blessings,

Connie

Edited by Schatzi on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 07:57

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Posted by mamaof2andtwins

Nancy,
Your Bible is beautiful. How precious for you to write about it. I am sorry for the loss of your dad.
To know God you must know His son, Jesus. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but only those who know Him will find themselves in heaven when they die.
We all sin. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This means that every person has failed to meet God's holy standard as presented in the moral law.
It gets worse. Because we sin we must be punished. "For the wages of sin is death..."Romans 6:23a. The punishment for all sin is death. That is both physical death and spiritual death or separation from God for all eternity.
Now the absolutely fabulous news! "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23b Jesus took the penalty for your sin, and because of that you can live in heaven when you die and you can have God's indwelling presence now.
All you have to do is confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved (paraphrased from Romans 10:9). Those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
May the Lord bless you. You are in my prayers. Please let us know if you need anything.

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Posted by a1health

Nancy,
Congratulations on your willingness to learn!!! Your relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is the most important relationship you will ever have.
For beginning readers I think reading a chapter of Proverbs every day is a good way to start.
Blessings,
~Farrah

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Posted by christianmomof3inoh

Nancy:

What a wonderful gift you have received from your dear sister. I pray it will become a treasured possession for you. Please know how sorry I am to read of your father's death and how much you loved him and miss him now. May God wrap His comforting arms around you today.

The other comments are wonderful and I thought I'd provide one more thought--start with the beginning. Starting in Genesis and reading in chronological order will give you an idea of WHY Jesus had to come to save us from our sins, to pay our penalty for them, and to reconcile us to a right relationship with God. Without the background, some of the rest might not make as much sense, including a torturous death and glorious resurrection. In fact, missionaries around the world have found that starting with Jesus makes it harder to understand the salvation story--people who have never heard of God and Jesus understand it and accept it more when the missionaries start at the beginning.

As much as we might want to believe the lies that we are different from the ancient Israelites, we are no different. We sin in the same ways and fail just as often as they did. Every person has to make the same decision and separate from the decision of their loved ones (you can't ride on their coat tails) -- you will either live for God and love Him, or not. The consequence for the decision we make is also the same--eternal life or eternal separation from God.

May God richly bless you as you seek Him with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Amy

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