How does God’s love comfort you? Have your eyes been opened to see his special touches? Maybe you caught all the green lights on your way to work. Perhaps the perfect parking spot opened right in front of you. When did you last see a rainbow or a special bird or butterfly? Maybe it’s your favorite song just when you need it. It could be the smile of a stranger, the scent of someone you miss, or a hug from a child. Perhaps it’s the Spirit inside you filling you with joy, spurring you on to the next adventure, assuring you that you are never alone.

What about the Book–his Living Word? Does that comfort you or are you among the group who think the Bible is just an outdated book full of judgment, incest, and murder? Those topics are certainly included, but there is so much more–peace, joy, love of a heavenly Father…. What are you looking for when you open a Bible? It will make all the difference in what you find.

If you are looking for healing, guidance, love, peace, assurance, truth, history, freedom, hope, or even a glimpse of the future of this world, they’re all in the Book. Sure, if you enter in looking for the ungodly behaviors, you’ll find them–even if you aren’t looking. It’s not just a feel-good romance story. It’s the field guide for those of us on the ground–things to beware of and safety zones–what some have done and how you can avoid the traps or get out of one that caught you.

You’ll find encouragement to finish the course strong if you start with this mindset: “May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable in your presence, ADONAI [O Lord], my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) It’s like a life preserver on rough and stormy seas that protects you from you.