I don't read the Bible enough. I go in spurts with it. There is no doubt that my life runs more smoothly -- I am better able to sense God in me and the world around me -- when I am regularly reading the Bible. But, still, oftentimes life and my "self" take over and, even when I get up early in the morning to read, I am easily distracted and end up doing other things (usually checking and responding to email.) Staying in the Word is a true discipline and I need to focus more on it. I am always truly amazed at the complexity yet the complete comprehensiveness of the Bible. For those who study and know it, it is a "whole life guide," not just a set of basic rules or guidelines. Even the most scholared, I believe, will find new personal discoveries even in re-reading the Bible fopr the 20th time.

The last few mornings, I have been up and able to enjoy some quiet time watching the sun rise. Usually, I am hurrying around and racing for work at that hour but, with Thanksgiving, that hasn't been the case. Over the past three days, I have been blessed with three beautiful sunrises. Each one different in terms of color and cloud formation. The first was a very foggy morning and you could see the colors, diffused and mixed, breaking through the clouds. The second morning was clear and the colors were distinct. At one point, a distinct V-shape formed in the sky unliked anything I've ever seen before. And, on the third day, the colors were their most glorious ranging from reds to orange and yellow along with blue, gray, and turquoise.

It made me think some about how the sun is always rising somewhere. Across the globe, at every second, someone is enjoying the beauty of a sunrise. And, of course, someone else is enjoying the beauty of a sunset.

I do need to read the Bible more. As in the story from John 6 of the boy's few loaves and fishes which Jesus used to feed 5,000 with plenty left over at the end, God has given us so much to go on in our journeys. Yes, oftentimes it is just one step at a time that is revealed to us but there is always so much there for us in His Word and His majestic creation. So much to feed and inspire us if we only take the time to stop and feast in all that is His.

1-4After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.
5-6When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
7Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
8-9One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
10-11Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
12-13When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
14-15The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, "This is the Prophet for sure, God's Prophet right here in Galilee!" Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself. (John 6:1-15 The Message)