“A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong; which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.” (anonymous)
  
   We all make mistakes—maybe it’s saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, letting the supper burn, sewing without thread, etc.! However, we can learn from those mistakes. For example, if you forget to set the timer and supper burns, you will learn from your mistake to set the timer next time!

Recently, our family was reading through Luke 9, and verse 41 was particularly striking: “And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.” In the beginning of the chapter, Jesus had given His disciples power and authority over all devils and power to cure diseases. He then sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Not long after their return (at least 10 days), a man brought his son to Jesus—a son who was possessed by a devil that the disciples were unable to cast out. This father cried to Jesus for help. Jesus’ answer (above) indicates a rebuke for the lack of faith the disciples exhibited. These were His own disciples: they had seen Him perform so many miracles, had been given power, and had healed people on this recent trip. And yet they were termed “faithless” and thus lacked power to do the work of God.

​May I tell you about some of the ways we choose our reading material? The criteria may be different for different families, but the first rule should be the same for everyone: if you aren’t sure about something, ask your parents! If there is a question as to the content of a particular book, let your mom (or dad) look at it first, to decide if it is something they want you to read. They know what decision will be best for you. Maybe they will tell you they feel a particular book is not appropriate for you at this point in your life. Be willing to abide by their decision, even if the book is one that all your friends tell you is the greatest. Our parents have good reasons for the decisions they make!

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”—Hebrews 5:14

Like most girls, I love to read! In my spare time, I can often be found cuddled up under a blanket in my bed reading a book. Reading is a wonderful skill and pastime. But more so, it is an opportunity. To read a book is to gain knowledge, perhaps wisdom, and encouragement. For me, reading has also served as a writing tool. From different books, I am able to borrow phrases and writing styles I like. For centuries people have loved to read. The more I’ve studied history, the more I realize that some of our wisest and most influential leaders were those who did a lot of reading.
 
But what kinds of books make a person great? The Bible, of course, is the best. However, not all books are godly or edifying reading material. Even in the Christian bookstores we are surrounded by worldly sources. What sort of books are we to be reading? What about in the realm of Christian books or classic literature?
 
I believe that everything we do should be done in Jesus’ name, and to His glory and honor. Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”  Does this include reading? Definitely. Our reading material should be something that we would without hesitance hand to Jesus Himself. We must use discernment. Let me share with you how God has taught me this.