Francine Rivers --- born-again Christian and the bestselling author of several novels, including REDEEMING LOVE, HER MOTHER’S HOPE and, most recently, HER DAUGHTER’S DREAM --- reflects on a special holiday gift that helped bring her closer to God.
25 years ago, some friends gave my husband and me a copy of THE ONE YEAR BIBLE. This was during a time when I was “seeking,” but hadn’t yet opened the door to Jesus. I had grown up in the church, and my knowledge of Scripture was limited to bits and pieces of the Bible stories I had learned in Sunday school. I had tried reading the Bible several times, but I always got bogged down when I reached Leviticus. All those laws…and who was Leviticus anyway?! But since the gift of THE ONE YEAR BIBLE had come from valued and respected friends, I decided to try this new way of reading through the Bible in a year. Each day has a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament and one from Psalms and Proverbs, starting at the beginning of each and going straight through. (Psalms and Proverbs are read twice during the year.)
What I found while I was reading the Bible this way amazed me; I could “hear” God’s voice in all four sections of the daily reading. Though the Bible is a collection of books by over 60 authors, one Voice is distinct –-- one message keeps shining through. Often, I found that the four sections focused on the same thing. And because of the way the readings are structured –-- in order, and not planned or out of context –-- it convinced me that the Bible is the literal Word of God and holy.
It wasn’t until I became a Tyndale author that I learned THE ONE YEAR BIBLE almost didn’t make it to print --- many thought it would never sell. But after being out-voted, Dr. Kenneth Taylor (the founder, primary owner and president of the company) took a stand. Since he had started the company with THE LIVING BIBLE (another Bible that no other publisher wanted --- which ended up being given away at numerous Billy Graham crusades), he over-ruled everyone and gave the order to publish THE ONE YEAR BIBLE. And I am so glad he took that stand!
Since that first year of reading THE ONE YEAR BIBLE, Rick and I have given numerous copies to others in the hope that they will experience the same life-altering miracle these readings have brought us. Even after two and a half decades of re-reading THE ONE YEAR BIBLE, we still find each day’s study new and fresh and applicable to our lives.
What better gift book is there than one that brings light and hope to the soul?
Check back with the Bookreporter.com Holiday Author Blogs tomorrow as four-time bestseller Christopher Rice makes the case for giving books this holiday season.
