New52-Bible 90 Days Complete

I did it! I actually read the Bible in 90 Days! I completed it on the 1st of April, Day 89 of the reading plan. I found Chronicles and Psalms hard going but surprisingly enjoyed the prophets. I also found the Gospels hard going, I think I just don’t enjoy so much repitition in a short space of time. But I love John, it just seems so much more specific with the little things that Jesus said in a more natural way, well that’s how it seems to me. I also noted all the bickering amongst the Disciples, well I guess they were only human!

Reading the Bible in it’s entirity in such a short period of time really helped me follow get more of the historical facts in order and also made me realise that the New Testament is a lot shorter than the Old Testament. I mean, I knew it was, but it just became even clearer that a few thousand years versus less than 100 years of writing is a big difference.

 

I am still enjoying the New 52 challenge too, what has amaze me as I’ve done this challenge is that I actually do so many new things I just don’t have time to blog them all! What new things have you done lately?

Melissa

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Bible in 90 Day–Back on track

I’ve really struggled in the last 3 weeks to keep up with this challenge, I’ve been reading every day, just not enough. Psalms and Isaiah I found really tough going. Maybe next time I'll grab the official Bible to help me with staying focussed. But this week I’ve been reading 2 days at a time, and reading the minor prophets has been really interesting, and all going well I’ll be up to date over the weekend.
I’m starting to think about my next devotional, perhaps Cover to Cover or God's People? I'd love to read the prophets, Kings and Chronicles interspersed. Or perhaps something like Denise Glenn’s Restore my Heart– I enjoyed that one immensely. Do you have a study or reading plan you’d recommend?
Melissa

*affliliate links where possible –thanks for supporting my blog*

Related articles

• Tips for Reading the Bible in a Year (or so) (momdegg.wordpress.com)

Bible in 90 Days–Memories

Dad and Emily in September 2009

Image by mshanhun via Flickr

Today (16th of Feb) I was reading Psalm 119 and it brought back some memories. I am blessed to have been encouraged to memorise scripture since I could talk.

My first memory verse came from a bookmark I got when I joined the Cradle Roll at Morley Baptist Church… Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord,O my soul and forget not all His benefits. Mum and Dad even have a tape of me saying it as a little girl – my version was

Bless the Lord

and do not forget (geget)

how kind He is

Mum had us learning verses at home, in particular I remember the ones we learnt while at Grandma and Grandad’s house in 1990. 1 Peter 3:4, Phillipians 4:5

At school we had memory verses which we’d write out with our spelling test on Friday. In year six in particular I can remember my fellow students asking me to recite it for them the morning of the test, as the teacher would take down the poster with the verse on them the night before, and I would often already know the verse from home or church.

For (home) school each month we’d memorise 10 or so verses in a passage, I found that very challenging! Plus each workbook in each subject had a character trait and memory verse together, these were all in King James version, so I learnt new (old) words all the time. “Ensample” (meaning example) is one of my favourites!

Dad worked hard to memorise scripture, with many little cards and what I called the “Graham Okely Handwritten Version” (sheets of notepaper with scriptures written out on them). His method for memorising Psalm 119 was to photocopy it, and paste each stanza onto a small piece of card. On the way to evening church services he would quote from it and I would read along – prompting him where necessary. He’d do 8 or so stanzas at a time. WOW!

Another memory was reading and speaking scriptures in the first person from Peter Tan’s God’s Meditation Food Book – you can actually download it now in PDF form if you are interested.

I’m thankful that I have much scripture to draw on in hard times, and I hope that Emily too will grow up in a home covered in the word of God.

I’m amazed that I’m keeping up with this challenge and hoping that after 90 Day the habit of reading the word each day will be part of my makeup.

Melissa

Bible in 90 days–Week 3

With a sick baby and housesitting (with a few pets), I am excited to report that have kept up with the challenge. Since I last posted I’ve read the rest of the Pentateuch, Joshua and Judges. I’m so looking forward to the next few books as Ruth and Esther are my childhood favourites!

I am so thankful to live under grace and go through my life without having to perform all the rituals. Though in some ways we need to work harder to remember God in our everyday lives,as we don’t have so much physical symbolism and ritual in Christianity.

I am again reminded of how God cared for the Israelites giving them divine wisdom in everyday things – such as ridding their house of mildew all the way through to providing them a land for their inheritance.

Want to know more about the challenge?

Melissa

Bible in 90 Days–Exodus

After reading through Exodus it is amazing to see God’s provision for the Israelites. Last night I was finishing up reading about the offering for the Tabernacle and the fine artisans who worked on it.
Once again I am reminded that God give creative and artistic skills to us for us to actually use them! Often I forget that my skills are just as valuable as those of farmers, accountants and other more ’essential-to-life’ skillsets. God no longer requires an earthly tabernacle, rather His Spirit dwells in me. I hope I can honour Him with the work of my hands
Want to know more about the challenge?
Melissa

The Bible in 90 days–Day 4

After hearing about Kelleigh reading through the Bible in 90 days, I decided to take up the challenge to kick off the new year. Obviously a challenge like this is mostly about reading rather than studying, but my aim is to take time to reflect on my reading and make notes for further in-depth study throughout the year. I hope that this challenge will also help me make time for Bible reading and establish it as a habit in 2011. I’ve joined Kelleigh’s group and we will all be helping each other through the program.

We started reading on January 3, and after finishing the first 4 days of reading, I’ve got through I’m struck by how many problems in Genesis came from family infighting and dishonesty. I want to build positive relationships in our family and reading Genesis was real food for thought as I’m now a mother (and also as a daughter, sister and cousin too!)

Read more about this challenge here at Mom’s toolbox.

Are you working towards a good habit this year? I’d love to hear about your self-improvement goals!

Melissa