Read with Me: Week 1
We survived our first week, ladies! Way to go!! I am thrilled to announce we are now up to a full 25 members. (A few others still whisper in the shadows debating whether or not they’ll join.) This is way bigger than I expected it to be. Very cool.
Now if you’ve joined this week, please make sure you’re listed in the Ground Rules post. Also, take a moment to follow our group on twitter or join the facebook group. (I still haven’t totally figured out the facebook thing, but it’s started and I’m working on it. Anyone want to take the reigns on that?)
A few items of business first. The links I original used for the reading schedule have been moved or … I don’t know exactly, but they no longer work. If you still need to print the schedule, go HERE instead. While we’ve unoffically called this “the Piper schedule”, it was actually created Discipleship Journal (published through NavPress).
Also, if you’re looking for ways to be more mobile with your reading, check out these sites.
- Mbible.com: Rick really likes this site for his iPhone. It’s great for just reading through. There’s not much searching; rather you just pick a book and chapter and go, but it doesn’t have any of the adds, framing and other junk that can hog tiny screens.
- Mobile Bible Gateway: I use Bible Gateway all the time, but always from my laptop. However, they also have a mobile version. You get all the same search features, study aids and more, just without the annoying ads and frames.
- Olive Tree: This site offers bible software for your phones. It’s actually the parent site of MBible.com and can provide all sorts of resources for your iPhones, blackberries, Droids, even Nokias and Samsungs. Their products include reading Bibles, but also study Bibles, Greek and Hebrew tools, devotionals, commentaries and ebooks.
So, howya-doin? (I think that’s what we’ve decided to call this — you know, instead of the ever-intimidating “weigh-in.”)
I admit I’ve struggled this week. The kids started school, Rick went back to work and I’ve had difficulty finding my groove again. I’ve also struggled with the program itself. Some books (Psalms and Matthew) I start reading and then forget to stop. I’m way ahead on those! Then, when I go to the others, I’m way behind and not quite sure what’s going on. We are, after all, reading about Jesus choosing His disciples the same week as they replace Judas after Jesus’ ascension. It’s not exactly chronological.
It’s been a great week, though. I’ve had some great discussions with my husband about the texts we read. I’ve been intrigued by a few little details and unanswered questions. I posted about Psalm 1 the other day, and may post about some of these questions next week. I want to hash them through a little more before attempting to regurgitate any of the ramblings in my mind.
So, how about you? Comment or link up to let us know!
Posted on January 8, 2010, in Bible Reading and tagged Bible Reading Challenge. Bookmark the permalink. 16 Comments.
So far I’m still on track with my reading plan (actually, one day ahead so I’m trying to keep up the momentum).
I’m just reading thru one book at a time in bigger chunks … I use the Olive Tree reader on my phone and that has definitely helped me get my reading in this week. When I haven’t had time (or forgot) to sit and read, and I can be reading while I’m watching dinner cook or as I’m supervising bath time. I think that’s going to come in very handy in the next several months! 
I’m on track, having only used 1 “grace day” so far. Like you, Tanya, I wish we were reading more chronologically. I feel like I’m skipping around so much. But I’m thankful for a program that doesn’t have me reading 5 OT chapters at once.
So glad for the accountability!
I’m way off track now. I need a miracle (or one hour of quiet time!) to get back on track. I couldn’t get the reading list until the other day and by then my oldest decided to start vomiting and running a fever, my youngest decided to stop sleeping well at night, and my husband decided it was a good time to go to California. Hopefully this weekend I can catch up!
I’m behind one day but that’s what grace is for, right?
So far I’m liking this. It feels a little fractured with the stops and gos, but I’m grooving to it. And like others…I might be enjoying a day of grace here and there.
I am off track, lost my print out of the reading schedule, printer stopped working so I haven’t been able to print out a new one, started in one Bible then decided to use another………hoping next week will be much smoother!
I have lots of thoughts this week!
I am enjoying reading, the accountability and knowing there are grace days.
At first, I found myself reading and thinking “what did I just read” and having to go BACK and read again. I prayed that the Lord would help me be thoughtful and aware of every word. Then, I struggled with “should I be writing more thoughts down?” “keeping a journal” “reading study notes” and I had to remind myself that although I am gleaning some great thoughts, ponderings and cultivating a desire to dig deeper, THIS part is a read-through. So, I try my best to read it just as I would a book. Whenever I can grab and get some reading time in, I do it.
I’m being very inductive (ever done Kay Arthur?) in my reading..circling similar words, underlining others, notes in the margins, etc..and that works for me b/c I do it as I’m reading and keep going.
I will make a list of topics for further study that I come upon and go from there.
Not to say I’m flying through this adventure without a further thought about what I just read…I hope that makes sense!!
I also am praying for protection b/c I think as we read about biblical heroes we can feel inadequate, when we read about persecution/hatred/prophecy we can feel fear, or feel like we’re not smart enough to understand what we’re reading (all lies from the enemy)….and I think that’s what could easily cause me to jump ship.
I don’t mind so much the hopping around from the books b/c it keeps it interesting…I think one of the reasons I got bogged down in other reading plans is just starting at the beginning and going feels treacherous!
Again, I think this week and maybe even the next couple will be laying the ground work to pick up that Bible like Stephanie said and read while I’m waiting on dinner to finish or when the kids are quietly working on their school work and I have even 5 minutes. Because if I wait until I have a “block” of time, it may never happen!
Looking forward to hearing from others! Maybe I won’t leave such a novel next time! Sorry!
I am really enjoying this reading plan. I’m on day 8 I think. What will be hard for me is to not get behind on weekends. I don’t kee the same schedule on weekends, so working those in might be tough.
Love reading what others are thinking! This is fun!
I’m on track except for yesterday but there was puking involved, so let’s just say “Grace” and move on.
Reading about Joseph -Loving the phrase from this week that jumped out at me “While Joseph was in prison, THE LORD WAS WITH HIM”…
He’s always there, no matter where we find ourselves.
Powerful stuff.
I’ve used more grace days than I’d intended at this point but I’m going to do some reading this afternoon and this weekend and we’ll see where that gets me.
I’m still trying to find my rhythm with this particular plan, but the thing I’m most unsure about (the jumping around) is also the thing I like best. Please don’t ask me to explain that.
I’ve done better this week than I thought! Yesterday was the only day I missed. I’m glad it’s not chronological because I’ve done that before and I never get past Deuteronomy! Blah!
Also, since I’ve read Genesis like 10 million times already in all the times I’ve tried this before, I’ve made it a point to look for new tidbits that I’ve never noticed before. And I’m finding them!
Like when he talks about the inventor of the harp and the worlds first blacksmith. How cool is that! Also, I never realized that it wasn’t until Seth’s generation that people started worshiping God! I never realized that generations before that didn’t do so.
Thank you Tanya for getting this started! I’ve taken your lead and started another accountability group (of about 14) with friends of mine. What a super idea!
The week of reading went well. I was able to keep on track with the shedule. At first I found that I was trying to get the reading done in one seating, but doing the book chapters at differnt times works better since I can focus and reflect on chapters at a time instead of jumping into another book immediately. Looking forward to more reading in the weeks to come! Praise the Lord!
What a great idea! You go, ladies!
I got bogged down in Genesis this week, but got caught up this afternoon and am back on track!
You can count me in. I’ll be catching up with you all this week.
I’m current on Mathew, Psalms and Acts, but behind in Genesis. I’ve always found the old testament difficult to keep reading. Any helpful hints?