It wasn't that long ago, I was working with a fellow trying to disciple him in the things of the Lord. He was having a particularly hard time, but I know that all the answers are in God's word. I knew Romans had some of the answers I needed so I jumped on
eSword to do some print-offs for our next study.
"
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate."
Romans 7:15 NLT
That's where it started, and I think it ended somewhere around the
seventeenth verse of the eighth chapter.
I left the printout laying on the counter. My teenage daughter saw it and read it. She exclaimed how beautiful it was. Her comments were flattering, but I explained that I did not write it myself.
She was surprised even more.
I explained that it was out of the Bible.
She expressed she knew what the Bible was and says, but this particular rendering was so easy to read it was like a conversation between two people.
I told her it was the
New Living Translation.
I then asked her if she would like a New Living Translation Bible of her own.
She ecstatically said yes!
I got her the "Student's Life Application Study Bible" NLT with a soft two-tone cover.
She tore into it like a little boy with a new comic book! I lost count of how many times since I have seen her reading it like a bookworm would a new novel.
I also got my wife a "
Hands On Bible" for Christmas. I was hoping she would be able to use in children's church.
She fell in love with it and so did the kids. She had a hard time keeping it away from the kids so she could maintain the element of surprise when it came to game time.
Since then, she thought it would be good to have a "parallel" so she didn't have to lug several Bibles AND all her other supplies to and from church. I did a little searching around, and, sure enough, The People's Parallel Bible is just that - a KJV and NLT side by side. That has proved to be an invaluable tool for her.
Later on, the Lord blessed me with a surprise. I had entered a contest at a Bible ministry called
Operation Worship.
I signed, I shared, I
YouTubed,
and I won. The shirt is indeed cool, but the
NLT Study Bible is an absolute treasure!
I have tried "study" Bibles before and have been very disappointed. These so-called study Bibles have notes that are drenched with denominational doctrines. Since they are generally so big, the only thing they are good for is adding stability to book ends.
The NLT Study Bible has been and remains to be a refreshing tool that stands up to its name. Every note, diagram, historical fact, time line, and piece of data is worthwhile, and not infected with
false doctrines.
Reading the NLT Study Bible is like reading the Bible for the first time, or getting a Bible of your own in your own language after being taught from a Bible in a different language your whole life.
The NLT folks have a motto on their website,
"
The Truth Made Clear"
Ya, that's it; I couldn't have said it better myself!
The study Bible had some special codes to get special access to some stuff on the website. That's pretty cool.
Through all this wide-eyed looking, I ended up at a personal blog of one of the NLT's big wigs. His name is Sean Harrison. In his blog he expressed his desire and concern for a venue for seekers of God and studiers of the Word to get together. He shared some stats from a conference and many thoughts and concerns regarding the situation. Through this I gained an appreciation for the people behind the NLT.
Mr. Harrison also mentioned a website,
http://www.youversion.com
Thank you Sean Harrison!
That is the neatest site for studying and using the Word, particularly if you are on
Twitter,
Facebook, and if you
blog. You will see bible.us links in all my stuff; that is from
YouVersion.
"
The Truth Made Clear"...
The reading and studying in the NLT has been a real blessing. I can say that it has really made a difference in my life. I have a better understanding of God and a better understanding of how God looks at me (and what He sees!).
My wife does a daily Bible study with the kids and part of that is from the NLT. It has really done wonderful things for the kids and their understanding of the Word.
- - - - -
There is something very special about the NLT that I guess I'm having a hard time expressing in typed words. Maybe it's just too personal.
Let me try this-
Recently I went through a terrible trial. I mean, it was bad!
God was trying to tell me that I was about 3 steps from a terrible fall!
I didn't take heed to the warning and I fell! HARD!
I was mowing grass, listening to my iPod. I try not to waste time and strive to utilize grass mowing and yard work time by listening to good teaching/preaching and/or God's Word. That day I was listening to
Mike Kellogg reading the Book of Job to me.
"
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God."
Job 1:22 NLT
Ouch!
I did NOT share this same testimony with Job. He had it 1000 times worse, but he maintained his integrity.
Hearing Mike Kellogg read that into my ears was like my best friend telling me, "bubba, you messed up, man."
The reading of the NLT version of the Book of Job helped me get back to a proper standing with God that day. The NLT was a friend in a time of desperate need.
That friend that bails you out when your in trouble, you never forget him.
The NLT has been that kind of friend to me.
Does that make sense?
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