Read with Me Confessions
Some of you probably think I’m doing splendidly since I host these check-ins every week.
I’m not. I’m behind. WAY behind.
At this point I would like to reiterate the fact that this was not my idea. I simply tweeted a link which Kellie jumped on and before I knew it the whole thing had snowballed into a giant group resolution. Not that I’m complaining! I’m glad we’re doing it! And I’m very glad that Kellie nixed my once-a-month weigh-in for a once-a-week blog post, because if we only checked in once a month, I would still be reading about Noah.
This week I debated whether or not checking off corporately read portions is cheating.
Our church is going through the book of John on Sunday mornings. We (the Read With Me group) won’t get to John until October. Can I check it off now and be closer to our goal? Is the goal just to read the Bible in a year or to read it by myself in a year? Is that cheating? It feels a little like adding things I’ve already done to a to-do list just so I have more crossed off.
Wake up.
Shower.
Take kids to school.
Yup. Crossing things off, but neglecting the real purpose.
Read your Bible.
Spend time with God.
Create a healthy habit.
So here I am. By today I should be through ten chapters of Leviticus. (I’m on Exodus 15.) I should be on Psalm 40. (I’m on 31.) I should be in Matthew 18. (I’m in Matthew 15; that’s not too far off – right?) And I don’t even want to talk about Acts. Let’s just say I wish it were still January.
Your turn. Tell me I’m not the only one who is behind. Tell me I can catch up. Tell me we’re making progress. Tell me spring is coming!
Posted on February 19, 2010, in Read with Me and tagged Bible Reading Challenge. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
I’m not behind right now (just give me time…it’s inevitable) but I’m convinced it’s because I sit in two different carpool lines each afternoon and have 20-30 minutes each afternoon to read. BTW, Leviticus is kicking my tail. Not because it’s convicting, but because it it T-E-D-I-O-U-S.
Hang in there, Tanya. You can catch up. Are you reading from The Message? I find that it’s a little less tedious when reading from that translation.
I am reading through The Message. While I wouldn’t use it for solid study, I figure a paraphrase is better suited to a read-through challenge like this. Thanks, Mer.
You are not the only one behind! Me too! Crazy how we let life interfere…I am determined to see this through, with some divine help! Hang in there~I am in the middle of Leviticus and am slowly pressing onward. Be encouraged!
I am very behind, Tanya. I don’t think February has enough grace days for me to catch up. I’m just going to keep on plugging along…
I’m pretty behind in the OT. Just a couple of days behind in everything else. I’m telling myself I’m going to catch up this weekend. The tabernacle instructions are so detailed (why isn’t God that detailed with me?!), and it’s hard reading early in the morning.
I think you can find any plan that works for you. I like this plan, because I see how everything weaves together. But, I do believe our goal is to just read through in a year, right? So, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll get there!
I’m behind and my hubby is even further behind. I started reading 2 days at once and I figure eventually I’ll catch back up. I’m still in Exodus too (and honestly dreading Leviticus) *sigh*
And yes, spring is right around the corner. The sun was still shining last night at 5:50 pm! And….our snow is starting to melt (we’re supposed to get more but that’s beside the point).
We can catch up!
Sweet friend,
I have read the “Bible in a Year” two times already….and both times it took me 15+ months.
We need not be held captive to the schedule, but set free by the truth of God’s word! Throw off the burden of “read the Bible in a year” and ENJOY God’s Word! Even if that means skimming parts that are tedious and involve lots of details about tabernaclely things.
Are they important? Absolutely. But they are not things that are going to change the way I look at my day, unless I have the time to STUDY them. I don’t really look at reading the Bible in a year as a means of “study” as much as a time to set apart from the world; to be focused, and ready to listen to what God tells me….somedays my pencil is running full of thoughts as I read…others, not so much. And that’s OK, as long as I keep coming back!
I was ahead last week, before I had company this week…so I don’t even know where I’m at…but I’m enjoying the daily discipline of meeting the Lord.
You are a fantastic and faithful leader on this Bible trip, and I appreciate you transparency….hang in there!
Well, I’m generally only caught up one day a week. I need to read about 11 chapters of Leviticus to be caught up with today, but then I’ll be a little more behind in everything tomorrow. But it’s okay because I’m reading the Bible and loving that. It’s forcing me to stay focused on the goal.
I too appreciate your transparency and willingness to be our “fearless leader.” I’m not on schedule. This is the point where I’d normally say, “Just forget it. I’ll never catch back up.” But Kellie’s right…everything she said in that comment had me “amen”ing over here. Just the pep talk I needed for today. Maybe I’ll catch up with the schedule, maybe I won’t. But I’m so glad I joined this accountability group even though I was a big chicken about making a commitment. I appreciate all of you who are doing this. I love knowing I’m not alone.
Yes, I’m behind, too. I get really bogged down in the Old Testament books. I’m still working though, so that’s good for me. I tend to give up too easily. Being part of the group really has helped my stick-with -it resolve.
I like to remember that I will never really catch up. Which frees me to just begin anywhere, again.
Lord love a duck, I’m so far behind it’s not even funny. I was going to catch up while I was in Jamaica, but I read from an on-line source on my iPhone and didn’t stop to think that I would have data charges for being out of the country.
At $20/mb of download, I told the Lord we’d catch up next week.
Well, I’LL (pronounced “ALLLL” southern style) BE!! I didn’t even know I was supposed to be checking in! That’s how on top of things I am.
Now, I’d like to say that I’m MORE on top of things as far as my reading is going, but it.just.ain’t.so.
But I agree w/ Kellie, that for me it’s not about legalism and checking it off, but about that I’m simply IN.THE.WORD. each day (ok…most days). And if it take me 1 year or 2, so be it. I just appreciate the encouragment and accountability this group provides.