The Bible At A Thrift Store

by Jonathan Spurlock
(Holts Summit, MO)

Note: several organizations exist which collect used Bibles, Christian books, Sunday school literature, and other items and then transport these items overseas. There is a great need and greater demand in various countries.

Among these organizations are Love Packages, and Hands For Christ. There may be more but I'm not aware of them at this time. You can find more information about these two organizations on line at http://www.lovepackages.org or http://handsforchrist.org I myself have sent a number of items to both of these groups and will continue to do so as long as our Lord allows me to do this.

The following poem is based on an encounter at a Goodwill (TM) store: a "Rainbow Study Bible", easily worth 50 dollars or more, was priced as any other adult-level book. At that particular Goodwill (TM) store, an adult-level book, compared to a child-level book, was priced at one dollar. I was stunned to see something of that quality at such a low price.

This goes to show that our Lord can use items that some people just don't consider worth keeping. Hence, this poem. Try to do some "Bible-shopping" next time you visit a thrift store, a Goodwill (TM) store, or a similar store.

The Bible At A Thrift Store

Today I saw a Bible, but it must be sad to say
That the one who had the Bible, also gave the Book away.
On a shelf with other items, books both new and years of age,
Stood a Bible, left unwanted, words of hope on every page.

I sometimes wonder what they’re thinking, when the Bible they don’t keep,
Had they taken time to read it, would it help them better sleep?
Oh what peace they left behind them, and the blessings never known
All because they didn’t want this Bible in their home.

So I quickly took the Bible, paid for it (a bargain price)
Looked it over, saw the pages, and condition, very nice
But not for me I bought this Bible, no, not destined for my home,
It’s soon going on a journey to a place I’ll never roam.

For there are many, many places, where a Bible can’t be found,
New believers have so little for their faith in Christ to ground.
The pastor may have just a little, just a paragraph or page
And oh, so hard to find a Bible, costing so much of his wage.

I had heard about a place whose purpose, was to get God’s Holy Word
From the gifts and items offered out to where the need was heard
Love Packages, the place for sending books and Bibles, other things
They can even use a hymnal, where the new believer sings

So pray for them and send them, what you can to meet the need
There are many, many Christians, who for Bibles they do plead.
One day in Heaven one may see you and give you thanks for what you sent
“The Bible you gave came to my village-I’m in Heaven, thank you, friend!”