Perhaps one of the simplest ways in which to commune with God is through study of the Bible. Bible study provides every one of us the opportunity to have an intimate relationship with God by better understanding His word. God has provided His children with the answers they need; they just need to look for them. That is what Bible Study is about.

As with any relationship-strengthening tool, Bible study takes commitment. Making time to read the Bible daily, to absorb its lessons and to better comprehend the expectations of God for each of us can be difficult. Bible software can help by combining the word of God with modern technology. Even if there are TV programs that are dedicated in spreading the words of God but Bible software is more manageable.

Bible software is available for PC and Mac as well as iPad, iPhone and soon, Android-powered devices. There are so many bible software packages that you can find and purchase. There are packages that are sold under a user license. This lets you load the software on multiple computers instead of having to buy a separate package for every device. Because you don’t have to have separate licenses for your devices, you can sync them all, which allows you to leave off on one and pick up on another. Some even have a mobile web version that lets you access much of your library even if none of your devices are available.

Bible software is more than just Biblical text; it is a digital library. In addition to several translations of the Bible – and the original texts – users have access to hundreds of scholarly texts. These additional resources can help students, pastors, and scholars by putting resources at their fingertips with a single software package. You can start with a basic package and then add to it if and when you see the need.

Because this is a digital library, storage is not an issue. Users have access to between 30 and 1700 books, depending on the package, without needing a single inch of shelf-space. Access to such a library has not been available before on such a large-scale. Many works were previously only available to scholars who were able to travel to the location of the text. Now, anyone can deepen their understanding of the Bible with these works, and they can take them anywhere.

Developing and deepening one’s personal relationship with God can be as simple as studying the Bible. The simple act of reading the verses and reflecting on their meaning can have a profound effect on those who believe. Whether you are merely looking to read multiple versions of the Bible, have access to the Bible in different languages, or are ready to delve into scholarly discussions and interpretations of the Bible, Bible software can help you on your journey.

iPhone Bible App : Good News Bible

New International Version NIV Bible PDF

Author: Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at led tv

Jesus Walking On Water (Matthew 14:22-36)

After the crowds have eaten their fill, Jesus obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while He sent the crowd away. And having sent the people away, He went up the mountain by himself to pray. At nightfall, He was there alone.

Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves for the wind was against it. At daybreak, Jesus came to them walking on the lake. When they saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once Jesus said to them, “Courage! Don’t be afraid. It’s me!”.

Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water”. Jesus said to him, “Come”. And Peter got out of the boat, walking on the water to go to Jesus. But, in face of the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink. So he cried out, “Lord, save me!”. Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?”. As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God!”.

They came ashore at Gennesareth. The local people recognized Jesus and spread the news throughout the region. So they brought all the sick to him, begging him to let them touch just the fringe of his cloak. All who touched it became perfectly well.

Reflection:-

Now we shall not look at Jesus sleeping on the boat while it sinks, nor rebuking the winds and the waves with a single word, so his disciples may be amazed (Mt 8:23-27). But, today’s action is no less disconcerting, whether for his first disciples or for us.

Jesus had obliged his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side; and after the crowds have eaten their fill, He had sent the crowd away. And, then, He went up the mountain by himself to pray. And He remained there alone. (Mt 14:22-23). Without his Master, the disciples were having troubles to face the wind. It was then when Jesus came to them walking on the water.

As plain and simple people would, the disciples were terrified to see him: men do not usually walk over water, so they thought they were seeing a ghost. But they were wrong: it was not an illusion what they were looking at, but the very Lord, who was inviting them – as He did quite often – not to be afraid and trust him to awake their faith in them.

This faith was first demanded to Peter, who said: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you walking on the water” (Mt 14:28). With these words, Peter showed that faith consists of abiding by the word of Christ: he did not say “let me walk on the water” but he just wanted to follow what the very and only Lord could command him to do, to believe the truthfulness of the Master’s words.

His doubts, however, made him reel, but they led the other disciples to bow down and confess before their Master: “Truly, you are the Son of God!” (Mt 14:33).

The group of those that already were apostles, but did not yet fully believe, when they saw the waters waving below the Lord’s feet and appreciated his steps were firm through the stormy waves (…) they believed Jesus was the true Son of God, and accepted him as such. – St. Ambrose.

- – – reflection by Fr. Lluc TORCAL Monk of Santa Maria de Poblet

Jesus Feeds 5000 With Fish And Bread (Matthew 14:13-21)

On hearing about the death of John the Baptist, Jesus set out secretly by boat for a secluded place. But the people heard of it, and they followed him on foot from their towns. When Jesus went ashore, He saw the crowd gathered there and He had compassion on them. And He healed their sick.

Late in the afternoon, his disciples came to him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat”. But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat”. They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes”. Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to me”.

Then He made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised his eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets. About five thousand men had eaten there besides women and children.

Reflection:-

Jesus shows us just how much He wants to involve us in his saving work. He who had created the heavens and the earth out of nothing, could have easily created a rich banquet from nothing to satiate the multitudes. But He preferred to work the miracle starting with the best his disciples could give him.

“We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish” (Mt 14:17), they said. “Bring them here to me” (Mt 14:18), Jesus replied. The Lord was able to multiply that meager donation — not enough even to feed a typical family — to nourish about 5000 families.

The Lord showed the same protocol at the wedding feast of Cana. He who created all the seas could easily have filled the six 30-gallon containers with choice wine from scratch. But He again wanted to involve his creatures in the miracle, by having them fill the containers with water first.

We see the same principle in the celebration of the Eucharist. Jesus begins not from nothing, nor from grain and grapes, but from bread and wine, which already contain within the work of human hands.

The late Cardinal François Xavier Nguyen van Thuan, imprisoned from 1975-1988 by the Vietnamese communists, wondered how he could further Christ’s kingdom and care for his flock while undergoing the brutal suffering of solitary confinement. He realized he might not be able to do much from a prison cell, but at least each day he could offer to the Lord his “five loaves and two fish,” and let God do the rest. The Lord multiplied those little efforts into a witness that has inspired not only the Vietnamese but the whole Church.

Today the Lord is asking us, his modern disciples, to give the crowds something to eat (Mt 14:16). No matter how much or how little we have, let us give it to the Lord and let him take it from there.

- – - reflection by Fr. Roger J. LANDRY