Father's Day

"For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; 

and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints also and the marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  

Hebrews 4:12 ~ Douay Rheims version ~

I have read Hebrews before but this verse never drew my attention as it does now.  And just in time for Father's day.  I got my dad a Bible for father's day.  He has a Bible already.  A Bible I remember all through my childhood.  He would read to us at the dinner table with that Bible, he would take it to Bible studies, and late at night I remember seeing him read from it by his bedside.  But over the years the Bible has become worn and tattered.  In fact, the whole Book of Revelation fell out at some point and now is no where to be found.  I like to think that the Book of Revelation is in the hands of someone who really needed it.  However, since my family is doing our Bible study on Revelation I felt my dad really needed a new one.  He only reads from the Douay Rheims Bible so that is what I got.  I wanted to quote a scripture from it for him for Father's day but the trouble was picking just one.  I wanted one that summed up the importance of reading the Word of God and everything that it has taught me. And it came to me in Hebrews 4:12.  This is exactly what the Bible has done and continues to do for me.  The Bible, of course, enlightens and informs me but it is becoming all there is to be known about me.  It reaches every part of me and becomes every part of me.  The word has pierced through my soul (the eternal part of a living being) and filled my spirit (a force within living things), gotten into my joints (allows movement and provides support) and right down into the marrow (tissue that fills the cavities of the bones).  It has invaded my thoughts (organized beliefs) and intentions (goals) of my heart.  And I have to thank my dad for the foundation he has set with me.  There have been many trials in my life so far.  And there were more upsets than victories.  But my foundation has stood strong.  It did not crumble.  I only hope the foundation I am laying with Lane is as good.  He is the next generation of who will spread God's word.  I thought this verse was fitting for Father's day because of the obvious effect our Father in Heaven has over our bodies, thoughts and heart.  His Word transforms us and makes us who we are.  But one word did catch my eye more than the others, marrow.  This is the tissue that fills the cavities of the bones.  But it also holds the red and white blood cells.  This to me is what dad's pass down genetically to their children.  This is the best part to me because it is usually the parents who instill the beliefs in their children.  A dad guides his children like sheep to the Word of God.  We are all guided by the Holy Spirit and I am so glad I have my family to help me.  I had a great Father's day with my family and I am so thankful that God makes it possible for us to still get together because I still have so much to learn from my father.