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Monday, January 2, 2012
Streaming in
{one of my favorite still life photos I have ever taken}

Last year, when I completed my reading of the Bible in a year...a lot of you were inspired to give it a try.  A few of you have recently commented or e-mailed me that you did not make it through last year. That is okay.  I get it.  I did not read much myself last year. It is HARD to read the whole Bible in a year.  I recently read that the hardest thing to do is crack open your Bible.  So maybe we should leave them open on the kitchen counter or the bedside table?  Anyway, while I know I need a plan (I had no plan last year), I also know that I am not ready to tackle the Old Testament again this year. Numbers about did me in.

So, I found some Bible reading plans that are much more do-able.  I am doing a combination of Project 3:45 and Heartlight's plan which is The NT, Psalms and Proverbs.  In Project 3:45 you read the entire New Testament in a year.  Its name (Project 3:45) comes from the fact that most of the readings take about 3 minutes and 45 seconds to complete.  This time varies a little but basically you read one New Testament chapter a day for five days a week.  I like that.  I think I can better contemplate the readings this way.

I also found the Bible Reading plan for shirkers and slackers.  This is a great program for people who want to get through the whole Bible but who get stressed out if they fall behind.  I printed that one out for Will and Harry to try.  It gives you a suggested reading for various days of the week but there are not dates to feel pressured.  You can download a PDF here.

I just wanted to pop in and encourage those of you considering a Bible reading plan to look out there for the one for you.  I don't think there is a contest to see how much volume one can consume. Slow and steady wins the race. I think that just letting God's words wash over our hearts on a consistent basis is good.  Even if it is only a few words a day.  But pick a plan and print it out.  Keep it on your bedside table or your kitchen counter.  I promise it will change you in a really good way.  And let me know how it does:)

16 comments:

  1. I simply LOVE your heart - that you are encouraging others to read the Bible. Some great ideas here. If anyone has a smartphone then I would also recommend the YouVersion app - it has some great reading plans! I have been using the "acts and epistles" plan. And if you fall behind it has a great "catch up" feature. I love having it on my phone - it means I always have my Bible with me. Thanks for such an encouraging post Kim

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  2. I simply LOVE your heart - that you are encouraging others to read the Bible. Some great ideas here. If anyone has a smartphone then I would also recommend the YouVersion app - it has some great reading plans! I have been using the "acts and epistles" plan. And if you fall behind it has a great "catch up" feature. I love having it on my phone - it means I always have my Bible with me. Thanks for such an encouraging post Kim

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  3. I was just thinking about you this morning and how your post last year encouraged me to jump in. I will finish TONIGHT, just a few days late. I am so thankful you inspired me to do this, this past year was a year I really needed to be in the bible. I really don't want to get out of the habit, night time worked for me as well, so I think I will give Project 3:35 a try:) I too just cannot do Numbers or Ezekiel so soon. Those were tough to get through. I finally came away from those books realizing that God pays attention to details, good thing for us he does:)
    Thanks for the encouragement!!!

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  4. Thanks for sharing the information!

    Have a wonderful week!

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  5. One idea is to read according to your church's lectionary--daily and weekly--and supplement with the appropriate prayers.

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  6. thanks for this...I started the "year" plan in February, and I'd say I am about half way through. I have take a Loooonnnnggg break recently, but I am anxious to get back to reading.

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  7. We just began reading one chapter a day in Proverbs for the month of January with our church; next month will be another chapter! You are right; it's now a matter of how much we read verses allowing ourselves to absorb what God's word says and be able to apply it to our daily lives:)

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  8. My son and I read the bible in one using the you version app - it was a wonderful goal he and I set together and were able to stay on track even with travel which sometimes set us back --- we just doubled up our days of reading. We looked forward to our reading time together and are now figuring out what plans we will do this year.

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  9. So thankful I read this tonight! I started your plan last year and failed! I went shopping today and felt guilty all the way home cause I hadn't read today. I check these out and try again!

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  10. I am a new reader of your blog and I really look forward to your posts! You have so much energy and are full of life and I admire how you live your life with passion. What a great role-model for your children! -Stephanie (Tokyo)

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  11. Thanks Kim!! I totally failed last year on my bible reading..so I am going to try again and use the Heartlight's plan and try again!

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  12. Love these ideas... I'm going to print out the pdf version for my boys, love the format! And you are so right, it's not about winning a prize for reading the most, it's about getting into the habit of getting into the Word!

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  13. Our pastor told us about signing up via email for a daily BIble reading. So I signed up to get a daily reading in my inbox, and the passage is right in the body of the email. I don't even have to go get my Bible. There's even an option to have someone read it to you, I tried it, but decided I liked reading it myself better! LOL Here's the link I used: http://about.esvbible.org/resources/reading/ I chose the Chronological Daily Bible reading. So far, I am on track with it. I pray I keep it up!

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  14. Kim, You inspired me last year to read through the bible and I'm happy to say I accomplished my goal. I started December 27th and finished around the first of December. I wrote the dates I read each reading next to the assigned passages so looking back I can see where I took long breaks. I didn't read every day, but I just kept at it and I was so glad to finish it. Thank you for your inspiration on that. Like you mentioned, though, I haven't picked my bible up since I finished and need to do so. I did a lot of highlighting while reading and I think I'll go back through and look at all those things I highlighted as a start to continued reading.

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  15. That is also my most favorite photo I have ever seen from you (or anyway, for that matter!). Simply gorgeous.
    I was just reading other blogs also about picking a word of the year...comtemplating that myself. I think it's a great idea...and that you picked five! Hey, go with what works!.
    Laura (who read the Bible through a few years ago and needs to find a new reading plan herself...thanks for the suggestions!)

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  16. Thanks Girl! I'm trying... again. :)

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Thank you for your kindness.