Christ at the Centre

One thing that I have been convicted by throughout my life is that I need to be careful not to elevate reading—even reading Christian books—above my relationship with God. I confess that I will more readily dive into a book than the Bible at many times, and that this can start eroding my relationship with God. It's not that I perceive Him as being legalistic and counting how many times I am in His Word versus everything else I read. It's more that I want to do everything I can to guard my heart against idolatry. I believe that,

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21

While treasure can amount to physical objects, I am realizing more and more that my time can be counted as treasure as well. Thus, I need to be even more careful that I am not consumed by all the time and attention I pay to looking up new books, reading, shopping, and of course, looking at lovely pictures of other people's home libraries (a much more recent phenomenon for me).

Although I am not sharing specific details about myself on this blog due to being an intensely private person, I will be vulnerable in sharing about my struggles and thought processes from time to time. Part of the wonder of reading is that a careful arrangement of 26 letters can bring about such a connection to others through shared emotions and stories. My hope is that other Christians can find aspects they can relate to as I convey the impact that books has had on my life. I find it fascinating that the very tool, technique, or spiritual pathway—reading—that helps me feel closest to God can be the very thing that I need to watch out for, lest it take over my life in ways that I do not want it to.

I am not a perfect reader. There have been things I have regretted reading over the years. I do not always compare what I read to Scripture and am sometimes guided by the notion of a Christian worldview as opposed to specific verses. I am also an easily misguided reader where I can get sucked into stories where upon later reflection, I realize that it was not good or unhealthy. I have aspirations of being a discerning reader, but I can succumb to what's popular out of morbid curiosity. The life of a learner can go down interesting, but not always beneficial paths. This is where I need to continually remind myself that what I read both matters and doesn't matter. This paradox keeps me on my toes as I see how what I read can have eternal impact while other materials I read will pass away with the world and not have extended meaning.

Thankfully, I can hold fast to the following truth as I engage in the pursuit of reading:

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." - Isaiah 40:8

Comments

Review: The Road Unveiled - Bicycle Adventures #2

If you've had the opportunity to read The Persistent Road by Tim Bishop , The Road Unveiled is the second book in the Bicycle Adventures series where you can follow along for an up-close look at trekking across America with nothing but the wind and the open road. It's a book that will keep you guessing until the end as you get to enjoy the scenic beauty of American national parks. Many thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : violence, assault, kidnapping Book Synopsis Two wounded hearts. Long, winding roads. And second chances neither saw coming. Lauren Baumgartner pedals toward Yellowstone National Park, anticipating a grand celebration when she reaches the Atlantic Ocean. But when her wedding plans collapse, old wounds resurface—and a haunting secret still holds her heart hostage. Traveling alone with bear spray and a one-woman tent, she shares the highway with...

Review: A Heart to Treasure - Searching Hearts #1

There can be a genteelness to Regency books that allows for reflection while reading about the hardships that people faced during this time in history. A Heart to Treasure by Dienece Darling probes both the heart and the mind, allowing readers to be immersed in an era where trust in God is required when circumstances appear bleak. Many thanks to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis The vicar’s son and the draper’s daughter have fought against all odds to be together, but a storm is coming. One that will shatter everything. Life hasn’t been easy for Obadiah Howard, especially after that misstep at Oxford which nearly obliterated his chances of joining the church. Added to that, he fell in love with the draper’s daughter. But a miracle revived his dreams of having a curacy and his strict father allowed his betrothal to Miss Hill. Only, what if there was no miracle? What if all of Obadiah’s br...

Review: The Biblio Diet

Over the years, I've had the joy of reading many books on health and nutrition, partly a product of some studies I've done on it and also due to personal interest. As a result, I'm always intrigued when there is a Christian perspective on this subject. I'm grateful that I learnt about The Biblio Diet by Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe after having previously read Eat Dirt by Dr. Josh Axe. Many thanks to Worthy Books for providing a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis In this breakthrough book, New York Times bestselling authors and nutrition experts Jordan Rubin and Dr. Josh Axe offer a simple and holistic plan for building strength, health, and longevity. Based on the ancient wisdom of the Bible and confirmed by modern science, The Biblio Diet’s intuitive and easy-to-follow plan invites you to experience a breakthrough in the health of your entire family by learning to eat and live God’s way. In this book, you’ll receive powerful in...