Monday, February 23, 2009

My New Sword

I did something this past weekend that made me both sad and glad at the same time! Can you identify with that? Sounds impossible but that's what happened. I bought a new Bible! A new "Sword"! It made me sad to have to retire my old faithful Bible but glad to find a new one that I liked so well.

I had the same Bible for over thirteen years and it was well...and I mean WELL...past it's prime. But I hate getting a new Bible because usually I know just where to go to find the Scripture I'm looking for in a Bible I've used day in and day out for years! I have passages marked and notes in the margin. It's like an old friend. That's the way this Bible was. Even though I had to put clear tape to hold the spine on a couple of years ago I still was not ready to give it up! The outside had gotten so shabby that I hated to take it out of it's case for fear some well meaning friend would run out and buy a new one for me! That's something I knew I would have to do for myself! So last week I decided to look for a new SWORD. It was time.

I had looked at Bibles about a year ago but gave up when I could not find what I was looking for. My Bible has to "fit" me, if you know what I mean. It has to have just the right "feel" to it when I pick it up. The right texture to the cover, the right weight, the right size of print....I could go on and on! I had money left from what my ladies Sunday school class had given me at Christmas and had been waiting for just the right thing to buy with it. What could be better than a new Bible from them? So with that in mind I entered the Christian bookstore Friday afternoon. It only took a few minutes to find the Bible that I was pretty sure would be my choice. I did take the time to look through all the others and check them out but always came back to my first choice. It is a KJV "Personal Size, Deluxe Giant Print Reference Edition" published by Thomas Nelson. The cover is dark green and black soft leather. It has large print but yet is a small Bible. Just what I was looking for.

However....it's still going to be hard to totally switch over to using it yet! I'm sure I will still use my "old-faithful" here at home to do a lot of my studying in.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" Ephesians 6: 17

Marilyn

13 comments:

Lisa said...

I certainly can identify with you. When I travel - I won't even put mine in my suitcase for fear that the airlines will lose it. It is truly a roadmap to my soul, more precious than gold. I'm glad you have a new sword, ready for battle!
Blessings - Lisa

Leah Adams said...

I can so identify. I got a new Bible last year after many years with my old one. I am always a major fan of the NIV Life Application Study Bible and that is what I retired. I decided to try a new translation and so I purchased the MacArthur Study Bible in the NKJV. I like it and the study notes are wonderful, however, I miss my NIV. I'll probably go back to the NIV next time. Of course I still have my old NIV very close by for when I study or prepare a message.

Have a great day!

Leah

Liesa said...

Oh Marilyn, I'm sooo happy for you. I love the new "sword".
I know how you feel about retiring a Bible though; I feel like I'm somehow burying an old friend or something. Just sort of sad. You'll have this one broke in soon!
Happy Monday to you.

Yolanda said...

Marilyn,

Your children and grandchildren will cherish your old bible as a dear sweet memento that holds a world of information to WHO you are, and WHAT GOD WAS TO YOU in a time of much needed comfort. Not implementing anything....just saying.

;-)

There is nothing like the feel of my bible in my hand...I could so grasp what you were saying, the look, the touch, the feel, the smell, the print on the page, to the actual page itself....hmmm.


Love you,
Yolanda

Anonymous said...

Dear Marilyn,

This sounds so much like me. One of my best friends gave us a Bible at Easter, 1973. I have had two new Bibles given to me over the last few years and acquired others in large print from an aunt. However, I have written all over this one from my best friend for years and have sticky notes sticking out the edges and it is starting to get a little "frail." But I always use it at home for my daily Bible readings. It is so special to me and it is my friend. It just seems to be "alive" to me.

Take care and have a wonderful week and enjoy your new Bible.

Love and blessings,

Ouida

Anonymous said...

A very pretty Bible! Hope you are having a great week!
With Love,
Peggy

Karin said...

I just did the same recently! It was a gift to 'me' at Christmas. I enjoy my new Bible - but I do miss my old one.

LisaShaw said...

Dearest Marilyn, I've done this twice in my life because I've used both Bibles (one from my younger years), one for another 11 years and I'm telling you it was very difficult even moreso the second time. I've now had that same Bible since 2002 and it's hard to think about every changing again and it's already really worn.

Our Bibles are so personal to us and so special. I was in a situation many years ago and had a split second to grab either my purse or my Bible LITERALLY and I grabbed my Bible and ran. Thanks be to GOD that everything worked out and we were able to get back inside and get our things.

I just could not imagine losing my Bible. I felt that the contents of the purse could be replace but all the tears, the lessons, the special dates and important Scriptures that have been marked and all the times I've met God in special moments...Wow this is making me cry.

I wish you all the best with your new Bible -- your new Sword! I'm sure you will make it your "own" shortly.

Bless you my friend.

Joyful said...

You know what I enjoy most about a new Bible? I take a fresh look at ancient words.

Sometimes I find my eyes gravitate to previous markings etc...and I miss God's new Word to me. When I open a Bible with no markings (yet), it's the start of a new journey with new treasures to unfold.

Enjoy your walk down a familiar path with fresh eyes,
Joy

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

I love to look at Bibles. They are so beautiful. I just bought a new ESV version, but haven't had the strength to let go of my 3 year old NIV which is literally falling apart. I think the publishers don't realize that there are some of us who actually use them on a regular basis! Enjoy it friend, every LARGE word, every red letter, and every other word in between.

Beyond enjoying it, wield it mightily for the King and his kingdom come.

peace~elaine

Kay Martin said...

How wonderful that you wore out a Bible. How pleased our Father must be that dust didn't make residence on it?

Yes, I agree with you on letting the old one sit back. I write in my Bible so I hate to lose my notes, but I find a new Bible causes me to look at each verse with fresh anticipation.

Love to read your writing. Thanks for being here.

Deborah said...

I'm on my third King James Bible, and each time it has been hard to switch to a new one! However, I gave my first one, which was a Giant Print, to a friend who has vision in only one eye, and even that is limited. Not only does the larger print help her, but she says she loves reading the notes I wrote in the margin!

Aliene said...

I know exactly how you feel. I have two Bibles. One that I carry to church and write all in and make precious notes and all the good stuff. I can just open right up to what I want. Then I have a Nelson big print that I have my daily devotions in. My husband has his Dad's Bible that he preached out of before he passed away in 1988. It has tape on it. But the notes his Dad left in there are interesting. He won't read out of anything else for his devotions. He also has a smaller one that he carries to church. All aour Bibles are KJV. I'm like you, I don't like swords. Takes too long to break them in.