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I recently asked a friend if she enjoyed reading the “famous” stories from God's Word, the ones everyone remembers hearing in Sunday School. I then realized that I had not placed them here yet. So I decided to place the famous stories here, the favorites. So you will find some partial books here, because God's Word is a LARGE book, over 1,000 pages, and will take a while to complete.
So what can I read here? What are the favorite stories, and where are they? Well, you remember David and Goliath: David, the young shepherd boy, and the huge, mighty Philistine warrior Goliath, who terrified the Hebrew army. They did not even dare to face him, but a shepherd boy armed only with a sling and the mighty hand of the living God did. Read about this in the book of 1 Samuel. What about Samson and Delilah? The mighty Judge of Israel, a leader against the Philistines, (again the Philistines!) a man with power beyond understanding, brought down by a woman. Read what happens to him, and how he and God rise up again. He is found in Judges. Here's a famous one: the Walls of Jericho. You've heard about them, the city that stands between God and his chosen plan, and the Hebrew army that brought down the walls (actually, God brought them down) without laying a finger on them. Read this exciting account of Hebrew history from the book of the man who wrote it down for you, his name is Joshua. Of course, none of THESE stories would have ever even happened if it were not for the most famous one of all: THE APPLE. You all know that one, the first story, found in Genesis.
What about the flood, and Noah, the world's very first shipbuilder. You will find him also in Genesis. Joseph, and his famous coat-of-many-colors, the boy who was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery by them. He found himself in an Egyptian prison, but not for long. God had a plan, and because of it, and Joseph's love for Him, he ended up the second-in-command, virtually the Ruler, of ALL EGYPT. His insight to the coming famine, as told to him by God, saved the entire nation of Israel, and all of Egypt, as well as countless other lives. He's in Genesis...Moses and the Pharaoh, the plagues of Egypt, the mass-migration (or Exodus) of the Hebrews who 400 years earlier had come to Joseph to buy grain to stay alive...Who could forget Daniel in the lion's den, or his three friends thrown into the fiery furnace by the evil king, who saw FOUR MEN WALKING AROUND in the flames. This account was recorded by Daniel himself, and is found in his book. Then there's the prophet Elijah. Most of his recorded life is an interesting, sometimes exciting, “Man I WISH I could have seen THAT!!!” adventure! He is found in 1 Kings.
Women aren't getting a great review here so far, are they? Well, try Ruth. This is a small, beautiful account of a wonderful woman who does some very sweet things for her mother-in-law, and as a result becomes a very important part of the lineage of the “Tribe of Judah”, the bloodline of the Messiah. Try Esther, another marvelous woman, who does some incredible things, and as a result saves countless people, and becomes an important part of history.
Of course the very best, and most beautiful story of all time, of all creation, is found in John...the astonishing, mind-boggling true account of a God who loves you so much that He chose to come to you, to save you. We always remember the end of the story, but often forget the LENGTH of the story. He lived about 33 years. He chose to be in horrible, sinful flesh (although he chose to NEVER sin Himself) for over 30 years! Can you imagine choosing a thirty year jail sentence? He had to suffer temptation: He was tempted by lust, He was weak with hunger, He was cold, He was tired, He was sad and lonely, and then He did something that you now NEVER need to do; He died alone, completely alone. He was savagely beaten into the ground because He loves you so much, brutally whipped and beaten half to death, and then crucified, dying horribly, slowly, on a Roman cross. He was taken down from that cross, dead, and He was put in a tomb, but He was seen three days later by over 500 people, ALIVE! HE is alive today, and He offers you a gift, a free gift. All you need to do is say “Yes”...all you need to do to receive it is to ‘open the door’.
Some of these aren't here yet, but very soon will be. I am going to place the stories first, and then go back to completing full books. Almost all of the New Testament is here now, only a few books remain to be done. I started working in Psalms, and this is a book that will grow slowly, until it is done. If you are new to God's Word and you wonder what to read first, (after the stories) I suggest the New Testament book of John, my favorite book. This is one of the most powerful, the most beautiful, easy to read and to understand books of all of God's Word. One of the four gospels, it is an eye-witness account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as seen by a dear and beloved friend of His, who physically walked with Him for three years.
That's about all the guidance I can offer. I'm sure you will find your way around quite well. I hope you find the Word of God to be a beautiful, refreshing and very educational walk through the past, as well as an insightful glimpse into the future.