Bible in 90 Days - Encouraging Post

Good morning, I am over here today sharing about my experience with the Bible in 90 Days this last year.

I specifically asked for a link back to my blog not to be included because I blog anonymously but have been telling lots of friends and family about reading the Bible in 90 days! So please keep my secret!

Bible in 90 Days...

...starts tomorrow!

And I honestly cannot recommend this enough. Last year I did it, and I can often be heard telling my friends that I did not read the Bible in 90 days because I am super-spiritual but because I know exactly how much I suck...plus I was desperate! (Miss Pear had her heart surgery last year on January 11)

At the end of the day, I knew I needed more of God, and the only way that was going to happen was to give Him more of me, more of my time, more of my attention to His Word.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days is one of those things that has changed me and helped me grow so much I cannot help but strongly recommend it to everyone I know and everyone I know wants more of God in their life or wants to go deeper in their relationship with God. It is not always easy, but God is always faithful.

January Bible in 90 Days!

All the info for the Bible in 90 Days beginning January 3 is available here! I just cannot recommend it enough!

Done - Now What?

This is the point that is hard. I am done reading the Bible in 90 Days. Now what do I do? I think it is complicated by the fact that this is the second time I have finished reading the Bible this year.

My plan for the rest of the year is not necessarily my plan, it feels like a plan God started to write through what He taught me as we read. One thing that came up again and again in my reading was the importance of being faithful in the everyday. I am great at being faithful in times of crisis, but sometimes in the everyday I get off track. I miss a day of reading, which sometimes becomes 2 or more. I forget to stop and pray for that list I keep by my sink. My kitchen Bible gets put away during a cleaning and not pulled out again. It is little things, but these serve to pull me off course. I have a Bible study I have wanted to do for a while....actually I am pretty sure the book has been in our home longer than Miss Pear, who is 5. This study is about walking faithfully with God, walking worthy, and I will begin that on Monday.

That still leaves the question of my Bible reading because as much as I enjoy a Bible study based in a workbook they have never replaced actual Bible reading for me. So between now and the end of the year I will be reading the New Testament chronologically. Technically in my The One Year Chronological Bible NLT the NT started September 24, but after reading at 4 times the pace I don't anticipate it being a problem to catch up.

Although that is a concern for me...not having to catch up, reading at a slower pace. Another thing I learned while reading the Bible in 90 days is that while we are all wired differently, God has wired me to need large portions of scripture daily for my soul to feel nourished, to feel plugged into Him, to hear His voice. That is just me. I am not sure this is enough Bible daily for me, even with the study guide, so if it is not, I will just read 2 days of reading instead of 1, and see how that works.

So that is the plan...I think. I will let you know how it goes...but for now, I have some reading to do.

Bible in 90 Days

...I finished!

In 87 Days.

I read all of Revelation in 1 sitting, and by the grace of God my eyes did not cross and brain did not scramble (I struggle with Revelation).

More later....

Bible in 90 Days - Day 87

Today is Day 87 of the Bible in 90 Days reading. While it is a 90 day reading program, it includes 2 grace days. This means that because I am on day 87 of the reading I am on track to finish tomorrowish. I say tomorrowish because the last book is Revelation and I always find that a challenging read that requires me to read slower than usual!

So I thought that this was a perfect time to write about why I chose to read the Bible in 90 days.

First let me assure you that it is not because I am super-spiritual. It is more a case of "I suck and I know it!" I read through this plan at the beginning of the year because I felt that desperate for MORE of God. With all our family was facing I need Him so much, needed His wisdom, His guidance, His strength, His encouragement. It took me more like 120 days to finish due to our family moving, but it was great.

I decided to do it a second time for 2 reasons. I had committed to the Lord to read in 90 days and failed, so I felt like I needed a do-over. Plus, once we had moved there was a lot I was praying for, a lot on the horizon that was uncertain, and I was still needing God lots. Once again, I was desperate for God and knew it. Hence it was time for the do-over.

This time through the reading has been excellent. The main lessons I have been learning about during this time is being faithful when life is ordinary, seeking whole heartedly for God when circumstances were not dire and desperate, realizing that my soul requires large chunks of scripture and time with God to feel nourished. It was also a time of learning to cast my cares on the Lord being confident and knowing bone deep that He cares for me.

It has been a time of great blessing for me.

As for where I go from here, I think I have a plan, but I will share that with you after I finish this plan!

One thing I have told many friends is that reading the Bible in 90 days is actually in many ways easier than reading in a year. And that I highly recommend that every believer does it at least once. Amy at Mom's Toolbox will be leading a group through the Bible in 90 days again starting in January - and I cannot recommend it enough!

P.S. This is the last blog post until I finish, and considering I do my reading after the girls go to bed at night it might be Friday before you hear from me.

Bible in 90 Days Week 13/Day 85 Check in

It is Monday, check in day, and I am amazed to say that I am on track!

Amazed because here is our last week, and if you remember I started 2 days behind.

Monday - Baby got sick with a cold
Tuesday - Classical Conversations in the morning, Baby still runny nose
Wednesday - Company for supper, I have a sore throat starting but we forge ahead. As a great visit is winding down there is a mishap in which Miss Pear (5) falls and has hurt her arm. A trip to urgent care reveals a broken elbow but they cannot find the break, so they put it in a sling. (Long story).
Thursday - Miss Pear wakes up not sure about this sling, I wake up very sick with a cold so Daddy takes Baby for her 2 year check up. Doc asks were we are, finds out what happens, pulls up results and says to call the Children's hospital for an appointment that day, and gives a copy of the x-rays on disc. Lovely orthopedist finds the break and gives Miss Pear a bright pink cast.
Friday - Mommy sick, Miss Pear not sure about cast, Baby on the mend.
Saturday - Miss Pear getting good with cast, mommy thinking she may be on the mend, Daddy gets sick.
Sunday - let's just say it was bad enough we did not make it to church because no way were we sharing this!

Which brings us to today and the report parents are on the mend, and children are napping.

Woo hoo!

So I am really not sure how it is that I am caught up, but I am thankful because I am sure it was nothing I did!

Of course, the reading plan ends on Friday... any suggestions for a reading plan after that? What do you do?

Bible in 90 Days Week 8, Day 50 Check In

It is Monday, and that means it is time to check in with Amy to report how things are going in my reading. I am pleased to report that I am one day behind.

Pleased to be behind?

Yup.

Exactly 2 weeks ago I hurt my knee, but caught up that weekend in time to report in.

This past week we went away for a couple days, but baby woke up sick after one night and we came home early, and she was quite sick until yesterday after nap time, now she is on the mend.

And despite all that I am only 1 day behind which I am fairly confident I can catch up on in the next couple days. I am amazed I am not more behind to be honest!

I have a quote written in my Bible for Ecclesiastes it says, "Enjoy the gifts God has given you every day. Eat, drink, and enjoy your work." That definitely sums up much of the book for me.

If I were to mix in what stood out to me in Proverbs it would be to speak carefully and work hard.

What is God showing you in His word this week?

It's Monday, I'm Melting

I know I said I was working on a better attitude about no air conditioning, and I am, on Saturday when we set record breaking heat I was stoic and creative and even optimistically cheerful. On Sunday we again set records and I looked on the bright side and said that after a month of trying to get to Sunday night service with 2 little girls we were finally going to make it! And we did! It was great! It was also a good thing we got the girls into the air conditioning because Baby was starting to get sick from the heat and Miss Pear was not far behind if her pink cheeks and resting her head on my lap were any indication.

But last night it was still 80 in the house at 10PM, and my good attitude fizzled.

Actually I think what annoyed me the most next to the girls getting sick in the heat (always a concern in our family) and effectively killed my good mood and attitude was that I was almost 3/4 of a day ahead in my Bible in 90Days reading in anticipation of a family 3 day trip this week and am now only on track.

Sigh.

In other news, I am sure our neighbors were laughing at us when it was at least 90F out side and we were all heading out in sweats carrying jackets after supper! It was Miss Pear's last day of formal skating lessons for this session so we all went to watch and then had an ice cream celebration afterwards.

It is a complete mystery how it can be record breaking heat and Dairy Queen is not packed. But the drive through has a line up around the parking lot. Very interesting.

Now that I think about it, signing Miss Pear up for skating lessons during the summer was genius on my husband's part. People look at us funny when we say we are doing skating, but when it is blazing hot out it feels so refreshing to be in the cool ice rink!

Okay, I just read what I wrote, and am tempted to delete it, but in the interest of trying to be authentic I am going to leave it because it lets me say one thing.

Each day, just as the heat was becoming a concern for the girls there was something that made it okay. Either it was having ice cream on Saturday, church Sunday night, or skating on tonight, such perfect provision! So often we just look at things and say that it was great it worked out, and don't go beyond that. I don't believe in things "just working out" or in coincidences, but I do believe in God, and He is the Almighty, able to do more than we can even comprehend, and provide perfectly for us.

And before I forget, a sweet commenter noted that a lot of people have the window air conditioning units up here - that made me feel better after thinking that all these people were superhuman and could handle this heat with no problem. Such a comforting perspective!

Okay, that's it, I am done, I need to read my Bible in 90 days, and that means I need to get reading. Good night!

Bible in 90 Days Day 29/Week 5 Check in

It has been an interesting week since last Monday. Our oldest daughter at age 5 had skating lessons Monday night (her little sister alternately cheered, laughed with delight and tried to join her), a cardiologist appointment on Wednesday, and our whole family had a Classical Conversations homeschooling co-op meeting Friday morning where our oldest would be in class one morning a week learning in the classical method while our youngest and I sit at the back and learn too.

That kept us busy. But I did keep up with my reading.

I am writing this Sunday afternoon, and this evening at our Church picnic we will be sharing how God cared for our family these past 2 years, especially the health of our girls. As I have thought about that I have been overwhelmed by God love, care, healing and provision. We felt compelled at the end to take a time to stop and say thank you, and when we mentioned this in casual passing it morphed into sharing our story at one of the summer picnics.

When I read the Bible in 90 days starting in January I read because I was overwhelmed, and I found great comfort.

This time through I am reading because I did finish last time, but not in 90 days, and I felt compelled to try again. This time as I read I am finding great perspective on the past 2 years and great joy.

So while I do fall behind a chapter or 2 here or there, I always do manage to catch up the next day, and I am finding it be a source of great delight and encouragement.

For more information on reading the Bible in 90 Days check here, and to see how others are doing check here....

Bible in 90 Days Day 22/Week 4 Check in

My reading is going along nicely. I did fall behind a bit last week with having friends over on Thursday for supper, with it being my birthday on Friday and taking a tour of the farm that does our CSA box on Saturday, but I am ALMOST caught up. (As in just a chapter or 2 behind).

What I have been seeing most this past week is the contrast between obedience and disobedience.

Going back a bit I was struck by how Pharoh was willing to be obedient until there was relief, and then his heart was hardened. The call to me was to be obedient in the every day, especially in times of relief.

But this week I was struck by Moses disobedience, which was kind of shocking as I always think of him being this glowing example. Yet his wife had to circumcise their sons when he neglected to do it, and then Joshua had to circumcise the Israelites before they could enter the promised land. Moses had to flee Egypt when he struck and egyptian and killed him, and he was forbidden from entering the promised land because he struck the rock to get water when that was clearly not what Jesus said.

I was again struck by Caleb's obedience, which was certainly not easy, but yet he persisted and became the proud owner of Hebron, a city that has been and continues to be very significant.

Now I am in 1 Samuel, and reading about Samuel, Saul, Jonathan and David, and again the contrast between obedience and disobedience is so clear and stark. Even though this is my 9 or 10th time reading the Bible cover to cover, which does not count all the sporadic, random, curious reading I did on my own, or structured reading I did as part of my seminary studies or Bible studies, the Bible always is new and fresh. If it is not to you, please ask God to teach you, to show you new things, to make His Word new and fresh for you!

Mostly though, I am reading a long and enjoying time in God's Word with Him. It is a joy.

What is God teaching you this week?

Bible in 90 Days Day 15/ Week 3 Check-in

It is Monday - check in day - and I have a confession to make....

...this is not hard!

A friend of mine is impressed that I am doing this. I laughed and said it was not a sacrifice or because I am super-spiritual, it is because when I read the Bible in this volume I just do so much better in all areas of life.

And it is true.

Already I am finding that reading each day is automatic. We are at a point where the best time for me to read is in the evening, and once the girls are in bed I automatically reach for my Bible.

As I read I find myself being encouraged, strengthened and gaining perspective.

Such a blessing!

If you are curious about reading the Bible in 90 days or how the others are doing, check over at Amy's.

How is your Bible reading going? Even if you are not reading a long in the 90 Days I would love to hear and know where you are reading.

How often do you read your Bible? Do you follow a plan or just wing it?

Bible in 90 Days: Day 8/Week 2 Check In

It has been one of those weeks where the divine is clear - many obstacles were thrown in my path and yet I don't feel beaten down, frustrated or overwhelmed, and I am on track in my reading. I am not fully done today's reading, but will finish it once the girls are in bed.

It has been a big day, my husband's birthday, and our 5 year old's very first skating lesson.

I learned something very important about reading the Bible while watching her skate.

She fell a fair bit, as was expected, she has lived all but these past couple months in Southern California, she has never seen ice outside of the freezer or a drink. But each time she fell, she got up, dusted herself off, and often waved to us. But she got up and she tried again! How often do we fall of schedule and fail to do what she did, get up and try again?

It was hard work for her, the girl who can figure out most things easily. But she did not give up. get frustrated or cry. Her smile was only ever erased by a look of determination and of concentration. Bible reading is not always easy, and this plan is ambitious, but doable! Hang in there, try hard!

When she went slowly she did better and fell less. When we try to cram in our study and race through it we are often left wondering what we read and rather than being efficient it is more like wasted time. Go slow, do a good job.

And lastly, she is learning to fight falling, not just to let herself go. We need to do the same thing, fight falling off our schedule and keep on going.

And she is eagerly looking forward to her next lesson. Are you eagerly looking forward to your next time with God? I am learning to follow my daughter's example.

That said, my reading time has been rich, and the Lord has been teaching me much, mostly that He is faithful, always.

Bible in 90 Days Day 1 Check-In

I am very excited to be reading the Bible cover to cover in 90 days again. I read as part of the group that started in January too. Our then 4 year old was scheduled for open heart surgery January 11, and I knew I needed that much Bible reading - it was not that I am that spiritual, it was that I was that desperate! Our daughter did great in her surgery, and we joke she is all but bionic now, you would never know anything happened. The reading helped me tremendously! I loved how the Bible was so alive and I felt like I was meeting God each morning in my reading. Then it became clear we were moving and in the last 3 weeks of the scheduled reading I completely fell apart.

So here we are, the move is done, we are mostly settled, and it is time to get my quiet time back on track. And I know this is the way I am to do it. So here we go, day 1.

Day 1 is not off to a good start. My plan is to get up early and ready before my family is awake. My programmable coffee maker is all set! But with yesterday being July 4, and fireworks being completely legal where we are, well, it was a loud night with fireworks still going off at 1AM. But there are still many hours in this day to complete my reading, and it is a priority, so it will get done.

I am very happy to be reading along again, and look forward to hearing what God has to teach me. Once again I plan to read with no agenda, just read attentively and listen for what God has to say with me. I guess that is an agenda, read and listen carefully, or to quote a past professor, simply waste time with God.

Head over to Amy's for the links of more first day reports!

Bible in 90 Days Starts Monday Morning!

It takes something pretty big to get me to post on the weekend, unless it is set to autopost like this morning's holiday greeting. But I wanted to remind you that reading through the Bible in 90 Days starts tomorrow morning. For more information check out Amy's site as she is hosting!

It is really worth it, and I found last time that the reading took me any where from 45 minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes depending if I got confused or not! So it is not a huge commitment of time with God each day, but the benefits are huge.

Please consider reading along with us.

Amy does an excellent job encouraging us along, and I will be posting my Monday update each week talking about how it is going and what I am learning.

Bible in 90 Days FAQ

Are you reading along? Still thinking about it?

Here are a answers to a few frequently asked questions.

My favorite? Yes, we really are going to read the whole Bible cover to cover, not the abridged version!!

Bible in 90 Days

...is starting next week...

go here for details and you can sign up on the sidebar!

I am totally in and looking forward to it - I even have my programmable coffee maker ready to go...we signed up together....

Would you like to join us?

Bible in about 120 Days

I missed the end of March completion date to finish reading through the Bible - a quick move kind of took the wind out of my sails! BUT I did finish while on my moving bloggy break.

Reading the Bible in 120 days was incredible. There is something to be said for devouring large quantities of the Bible with no agenda other than to simply meet with God and see what He has to say. It will be offered again starting July 5, and with my 35 birthday being mid-July I am thinking a do over is in order.

Will you consider joining us?

90 Day Challenge

If you did the Read the Bible in 90 Day Challenge and did not miss a single day, you would be done today. If you used the 2 day graced period, which a week ago I had already used, you would finish on Wednesday.

The way things are looking I will finish on Sunday.

Somehow I just completely fell apart this past week with hubby gone for a business trip and 2 girls sick with colds (and sharing with Mommy) and an unexpected Tuesday evening appt that took the whole evening and kept the girls up late. And honestly, somehow my family has just not recovered from the time change with all that has been happening.

This challenge has been great for me, and I will finish it, but in about 94 days instead. Not a complete failure, but not the rousing success I had hoped for.

The good news is that a do-over starts in July....

A New Week

There is something to be said for the start of a new week, especially when it comes after a long weekend!

We had a wonderful long weekend relaxing and enjoying the Olympics. It has been wonderful to see the winter sports we rarely, if ever, see in Southern CA! While we occasionally get hockey games, it has been wonderful to also see things like curling, moguls, snow boarding and ski jumping! We are enjoying it all.

After the long weekend the weekend wreckage was a little more overwhelming today with a little one feeling under the weather. I cannot figure out of she is coming down with a cold or is teething more molars. She is teething, but I just am not sure that explains it all.

We are having unseasonable heat here and with a little one feeling rough I ended up turning the air conditioning on for about an hour today. Hard to believe that was necessary in February, but it most certainly helped!

It seems weird to say this, but it seems like I am still struggling to get back on track after the craziness of the past few months. Things are settling down, but it seems like I am struggling to get back on track. I am working on a new homeschooling plan now that Baby is not napping in the morning and am hoping that will help. If it does I will let you know!

We are planning a quiet week with just a cardiology appointment on Thursday. I love a quiet week.

I did not do the Bible in 90 Days update yesterday because we were out shopping for new shoes and jeans for Miss Pear who is outgrowing everything...again. But I did want to report in that I am still caught up, and have had no more "catch up" days. It is really going well, and even though it is a lot of reading each day, it is wonderful.