Hanging on by a holy thread,
One which will not let you go.
No greater gain nor guide for life.
It takes only coins to buy a book from the seller,
but the cost is time to plumb its depths.
Men oft purchase the chest,
yet prolong-neglect the treasure.
The shelf can be full while the mind remains empty;
the heart left untouched, though the wallet has spent.
Many collected and bound pages prove deceitful—
but you know it not, if Truth is not first absorbed.
The book that is kept near will be reflected,
by the speech and insight and ideas of a man.
Take heed. Count not the pages read quickly,
while your being is unaffected, Living Sword in hand.
Some of the greatest works are those read slowly;
those read often, while others are willingly left unread.
Treasure the Truth, morning by morning.
Many own the greatest work,
yet they could not place it.
Others proudly know the exact location, but they…
must hurriedly clean it if the minister approach.
Some read with regularity while the mind wanders far;
Truth only condemns the hypocrisy of the unwitting.
Others read with the meek-zealous heart of a child;
not all is understood, yet they grasp with all they have.
And that one finds gold, page by page.
That one is washed with living water.
The feeling of foolishness may invade,
even as the humble one grows wise.
Fear God and serve Him;
this is man’s whole duty.
And in your God given duty,
Delight will take hold of you.
How can you fear a God you refuse to know?
I urge you Christian, not to be so by name only.
Know the Creator-God who is your Savior.
Be a good student to this sweet Master-Teacher.
If the faithless cannot believe without hearing,
those of faith ought to listen most earnestly.
Open your ears, your hearts.
Read the Scriptures with vigor.
Glean something today.
Do it again tomorrow.
Holiness will flourish as the Spirit works.
And the Spirit will work until you die.
Death, you will not fear as others fear.
For? For it ushers you to see the King’s glad face.
Do you look to him as a peasant, or stranger?
Nay! as beloved child, guarded by Him.
Welcome, good and faithful.
As enemy purchased to be family.
As wayward rebel brought home.
Many men have shed blood for a crown,
But here highest crown shed blood for unworthy man.
And reading, you will learn.
You will taste, you will see.
And through the lens of God-given Truth,
your eyes will rejoice to rightly read all else.
From Tom Sawyer to The Lord of the Rings.
From your kin to your neighbor to your enemy.
From your weighty-grief in the pits that feel like hell,
to mountains where your heart feels heaven near.
But all this is forfeit by way of neglect;
By way of busyness, idleness, distractedness, lack of love.
Hold-fast to first-things, my Christian friend.
Faithful soldier-athlete-farmer, now till the end.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grow your appetite.
Be hungry for Truth. Buy wisdom, and do not sell it.
In Christ alone you will be satisfied.
Now, tomorrow, and forever.
Hear and do the Word.
Live by the Spirit.
Build your life on immovable foundation.
Look forward, always, to entering his glory.
The table is set: bring many along with you to the banquet.
#letmeintroduceyou
#JESUSisLORD
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
#LETMEINTRODUCEYOU 
Convicting and encouraging!
I stand convicted! Many good books still on the shelf unread…