The Joke's On Me.

Today I began my day spending some time with my 10-year-old before he left for school, then went for a 2.5 mile walk/run/walk (I like to interval train). I finished up my alone time by spending it with God and in my new Bible.

This is turning out to be a true gem. It's the TrueIdentity Bible (TNIV).

I'll admit it - I'm a bible glutton. I have so many bibles in different versions with devotions written for different aspects of my life: women, parenting, marriage, becoming closer to Christ, etc.

I believe that God works in amazing ways, of course, and I love it when I can actually see his hand moving in my life. I recently felt called to give away one of my bibles - notes, highlights and all. I love this friend and felt her struggle, and God showed me a way to help. But I thought I was helping her.

Turns out, He was using the situation to get to me, as well. I set out last night on a trip to the bookstore. I benefit greatly from the messages that are pulled out from the text of that particular version (shown right) and wanted to replace the one I had given away with the same one.

The bookstore I went to didn't have the Becoming Bible, so I began browsing through other versions and happened upon the TrueIdentity Bible. I sat and read and read through it before ever leaving the store. I couldn't put it down.

I love being excited about being in the Word, and I love even more when a good group of writers can pull from the text and talk about issues that we are facing in today's world and can give answers and solutions with more of God's word.

The first thing I randomly turned to when I first picked it up was about precisely an issue I've been struggling with. What I read totally convicted me and made me ask for forgiveness right there in the religion section of the store. I love it when God speaks to me bluntly, even when it is something I'm not particularly ready to hear.

Life just wouldn't work for me without staying in God's Word daily. I would wither and die.

Here are two other bibles that I read from daily. One is great for general life application of God's word in today's world, and the other one is a devotional bible for Moms.