A Seat At The Island

I have my own special place at the kitchen island.
It is the seat I always sit in when I have my breakfast.
It is the place where my children would always find me each morning.
It warmed my heart to know that they would turn their head and look for me there.

It is the place where I feed my body.
It is also the place where I feed my soul.
My children knew that my breakfast would be in front of me.
They also knew that my Bible would be in front of me as well.

I may read my Bible later in the day if I was preparing a lesson.
I may read my Bible later in the day if I was searching for a particular verse.
However, it is this, by myself, time in the morning that is most precious.
It need not be a long time but it is my time with the Lord.

I remember when I first came to faith later in my life and ravenously read the Word of God.
I was soaking in years of not knowing.
I was like a sponge.
I was filling my heart and my mind with Truth.

Time in God’s Word is as important as the air we breathe.
It is the way we know Him.
It is the way we know how much He loves us.
It is the way we know Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

For me, reading God’s Word never gets old.
For me, reading God’s Word never gets boring.
I truly see new things each time I read it.
I still read through the entire Bible each year; this year will be my 26th time through.

That is not a, YAY me, kind of thing.
That is a, YAY God, kind of thing.
It is Jesus who is the author and perfecter of my faith.
It is the Holy Spirit who teaches me and gives me the ability to understand.

Through the years, that time in God’s Word has looked vastly different.
That ravenous reading in the beginning has been shortened but is still just as sweet.
Children were being raised; life was full and hectic.
I needed that time in God’s Word more than ever.

I had to give myself grace.
I had to realize that what I did last year may not work this year and that is OK.
I had to realize that if my time in God’s Word was a bit shorter on a given day, that is fine.
If a day went by that I did not have time in God’s Word, I would not beat myself up.

Spending time in God’s Word is not a thing on a to-do list.
It is a want to, not a have to.
God’s Word is the one thing that never changes and is always true.
Truth can be known; Truth is found in the pages of God’s Word.

Sometimes, I listen to the Bible as I walk.
That is a wonderful way to be saturated in Truth.
Nothing compares to holding that Bible in your hand and reading it for yourself.
I often think that as I read His Word, I am actually sitting on God’s lap.

My upper back is sore.
I know why it is sore.
As much as the achy pain is annoying, I smile at the wherefore and the why of it all.
It has to do with reading my Bible.

I am up early to walk and exercise before I have breakfast.
Sometimes, after being in the fresh air, my eyes get a little heavy as I read.
I rest my chin in my hands with my elbows on the island.
The other morning, I actually gave in to my heavy eyelids and fell asleep.

How I stayed in that position, with my chin in my hands is a mystery.
It could not have been for very long.
However, when my phone sounded that I had a text message, it startled me.
I turned my head in the direction of my phone and I was very stiff and sore.

I got so annoyed at myself.
I did not extend myself much grace at all.
My favorite spot was not conducive for a chin in my hands kind of nap.
My upper back is still letting me know that I did that the other morning.

Then I remembered a quote from Brennan Manning.
The quote made me smile.
I realized that I am not alone in this napping thing.
I am actually in good company.

There is nothing wrong with a old dog falling asleep before his master. (Brennan Manning)

That is exactly what I did.
I fell asleep before my Master.
I did not fall asleep because God’s Word is boring; on the contrary, God’s Word is life to me.
I fell asleep because I was tired and content in my Father’s lap.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

My time in God’s Word is precious to me.
My time in God’s Word is comforting.
My upper back is still a little sore from the awkward position at my seat at the island.
I fell asleep before my Master.