Living Freely and Lightly

Earlier this year, I decided that each night I would focus on one thing I'm grateful for as a way to offset my recent proclivity to focus on my problems rather than my blessings (it's uncanny how dealing with a personal illness or that of a loved one can become so all consuming you start to overlook the good stuff).

Well, one good thing usually leads to one more thing then one more thing, and soon, many more things. But that's kind of the point. Tonight I'm grateful for the Bible on the Internet. I've already shared how it helped me during my surgery last year (I was able to access Psalm 91 on my sister's smart phone), but it has also transformed my regular study time.

At my fingertips, I have access to hundreds of different versions of the Bible: the traditional King James, the New King James, the New International, the American Standard, the Amplified (which offers sort of an expanded translation of the English from the original Hebrew and Greek), and so on. If I get stuck on a passage, I can quickly look it up in another version that may offer a translation that's easier for me to understand. Or if a scripture comes to mind but I can't recall exactly where to find it, a simple word search will take me right to it.

And some versions of the Bible on the Internet have sound, so now I know how to pronounce names like Philemon, Habbukuk and Abihu.

I still tend to study primarily from the King James, but with such easy access to so many others I'm developing some new favorites. The Message is fast becoming one of them, if for no other reason than how it translates one of my favorite scriptures, Matthew 11:28-30:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Awesome!

Live freely and lightly. Peace!