Not by Bread Alone

     I enjoy reading.  Wait.  Let me rephrase that.   I really, really, REALLY like to read.  Always have, hopefully always will.  I loved it as a little girl.  My favorite presents were dolls and, you guessed it, books.  (I also like to give books as gifts, but mostly for my own pleasure, and not so much for the recipient.)  My first library card opened a new world to me.  I can't remember how old I was, but I recall checking out big stacks of books at the old Carnegie library downtown on the corner (which is now the county museum).  I loved that place!  As a child I read everything:  books,  of course, magazines, newspapers, comic books.  My generation read a lot of comic books.  My dad would take me and Mike to Harry's Dairy (which was more like a neighborhood grocery store) once a week.  We would buy all our favorites:  Little Lulu, Little Dot, Little Lotta, Archie, and Richie Rich.  What a simple pleasure that was!  After the first read,  most of them ended up in the bathroom for our   continued reading pleasure, along with Transport Topics (my dad owned a trucking company) and the  Farm Journal.  I read whatever I found.
   As a teenager, I continued my reading passion.  I got into science fiction, and typical teen novels, but also read lots of classics (and not just because I had to for school).  By the way, I also loved English, Grammar (LOVED to diagram sentences) and Composition.  Yes, you could say I was, and still am,  a nerd.
     When my kids were little, we went to the library and got them stacks of books that we would read sitting on the couch together.  I probably enjoyed it more than they did.
     Reading has always been my pleasure, relaxation, solace.  And I like the actual books--can't really imagine myself reading on an electronic device.  That would take away the pleasure of going to the library!  But there was one important book that I neglected.
     About 10 years ago, as a New Year's resolution, I decided to read the Bible through in a year.  Even though I had been a Christian for many years prior to that, my Bible reading had not been very organized or consistent.  I was surprised and amazed at what I discovered when I read the whole Bible!  When I read about God's plan, beginning to end, it gave me the perspective to realize that God cares more for my character than my comfort!  He truly did provide us with a Guidebook to help us traverse this life that he has given to us!  Why did I ignore it for so long?
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path." Ps. 119:105  He shows us the way we should go!
"Thy word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against thee."  Ps. 119:11  His words keep us from sinning!
"For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  Heb. 4:12
  And best of all, Jesus's words:  "It is written 'Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" Mt. 4:4  and Deut. 8:3

   I discovered that the word of God is not just for Sunday school.  It is my DAILY BREAD!  I need it daily to nourish my spirit.