Greetings, Members and Friends of Second Church,
Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote a series of books on her childhood, the best known of which was “Little House on the Prairie.” Her parents were Congregationalists (as were the children), a predecessor denomination of the United Church of Christ. Laura had a personal Bible, which was apparently well-used. These references were written by Laura in her Bible:
In facing a crisis; read 48 Psalm
When discouraged; Psalm 23 & 24
Lonely or fearful; read Psalm 27
Planning a budget; read St. Luke chapter 19
To successfully live with others; read Romans Chapter 12
Sick or in pain; read Psalm 91
When you travel, carry with you; Psalm 121
When very weary; read Matthew 11: 28-30 and Romans 8: 31-39
When things are going from bad to worse; 2 Timothy 3
When friends go back on you; hold to I Corinthians 13
For inward peace; the 14th chapter of John’s gospel
To avoid misfortune; Matthew 7: 24-27
For a record of what trust in God can do; Hebrews 11
If you have to put up a fight; the end of Ephesians
When you have sinned; read 1 John 3:1 -21
And make Psalm 51 your prayer
I appreciate these because they come not from a pastor or scholar, but from someone who found her own uplift and inspiration from these specific Bible passages. (Thanks to Rev. Quinn Caldwell, formerly of Old South UCC in Boston, presently in Syracruse, NY, for including these as a link to a daily devotional.) The Bible is more like a library than a book. Its riches will be discovered in different places and times in our lives, depending upon where we are spiritually and otherwise at that moment.
May the Holy Spirit open to God’s truth in scripture, that you might find its treasures and be fed.