God's Marvellous Plan

You know when you have one of those "ah ha!" moments? When you feel like a lightbulb goes off in your brain and you "see the light"   I had one of those "lightbulb" moments just today. It has shown me that God has a marvellous plan for us, long before we have an inkling of what's to come.

I've been following the Good Morning Girls' study of the book of James. Its lead me to check out different biblical translations. I have a New Jerusalem bible, a New Jerusalem pocket edition (for when I want to slip it into my handbag) and I also have a bible that my grandmother gave to me before she died,  more than 25 years ago.

Believe it or not, the pocket edition's translation is sometimes different to the larger book. I've even googled the passages to see the translations of other bibles... I find it interesting and it gives me a more well-rounded view, so to speak.

Anyway, back to my story. I've always loved the bible my grandmother gave to me. Its smells like old leather and has a variety of added features, like biblical scenes painted by renowned artists through the centuries, the beatitudes and ten commandments printed separately on colourful and glossy pages, stations of the cross, rosary (I'm catholic) and a family tree... which I have yet to fill in. I also have a love for the old english used and I love to try and translate for myself the meaning behind what is printed.

At the front of my bible is an image engraved into the leather, the same image is on one of the first pages. It's an image of Christ knocking at a door with a lantern in his hand... the title? The Light of the World. Inscribed on the inside cover and first page are two biblical quotations :

John 8:12 "I am the light of the world"

Matt 5:16 "..Even so let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven..."

I have had this bible for all these years, though I must confess that I have not used it as religiously as I should have and I suppose, though I knew what it looked like never once did I  truly "see" it. Just yesterday, I felt that God had led me to create my own blog and that He himself gave to me the name. For years I've believed that I felt God calling me to be his light. I have created internet accounts using names like sunshine and light of love etc.

Today, like a lightning bolt, as a picked up my grandmother's bible.. I truly saw for the first time the absolute and incredible fact that I have had in my possession a positive proof that indeed God is calling me to be His light. I don't think it was a coincidence that I received this particular bible. My grandmother had more than 30 grandchildren. She could have given this bible to any one of them, including one of  my own sisters, yet she gave it to me. Perhaps, she was moved by God to do so, an all-seeing God who knows what each future is supposed to be. A God who has been gently guiding me to a particular path.

Upon reflecting on James 1:1-4, which is where the bible study has taken me, I have to say that its taken me a while to get to this point and I thank God for every trial that got me here, for testing me in the fires and purifying me and continuing to mold and shape me through each difficulty, each cross. I know that each day I say yes to him, I am being drawn higher and higher. Trials may come and go, but I know that He remains with me because His promise is that He is with us forever... even until the end of time.

By the way, the name of my grandmother's bible is... Holy Bible, New Catholic Version, Light of the World Edition... coincidence? I think not!

Til next time...

God bless you all abundantly