Reading through the Bible

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I had tried a million times before, but I just couldn't get past Leviticus. I would stall in the layers of law unable to pull myself out from under them. Finally, in 2010, I came across a plan. Crazier than the ones before, but sometimes crazy is just what you need. I would try to read through the Bible in 90 days! This time it worked. Yes, Leviticus was still a challenge, but the speed at which I needed to go to finish on time meant that the reading of the law wouldn't last forever! It was the plan I needed to make to Revelation.

So why would a person read through the whole Bible? Wouldn't it be more effective to focus on a few verses or a book and really dive deep? Here is why the one reason you should give it and try and the many reasons you shouldn't...

Don't read through the Bible...

To get deeper understanding of all its details. That's what Bible studies that focus on a certain topic or book are for. 

To go on bunny trails. The goal is to read it to the end and not to stop along the way and branch off onto other topics. 

To get all your questions answered. I can assure you that after reading through the Bible several times (mostly with the 90 day program), I have more questions than answers.

Read through the Bible...

Because it is a complete story of God's love for you. Plain and simple...to really know the story you have to read it in its entirety. You can't get halfway through and then go to the end to see what happens (Haven't we all done this once or twice with a novel?), because you will miss along the way the ways He loves us. You read it to get the big picture...not the minute details. You read to see its Author as He paints a picture of who He really is. It isn't about depth of understanding, bunny trails, or answered questions. It's about a big picture.

Want to give it a try? Let's take a look at some resources you can use to read through all sixty-six books.

The Bible in 90 Days- This is my personal favorite way to read through God's Word. It gives you a great overview. I am a fast reader and get bored easily if a task is too long. So ninety days works for me. It is a commitment of about 45 minutes to an hour each day. So if you are wanting to do this plan make sure you are in a season in life that works for you. For example, as a teacher, I try not to do a read through during the school year.

The Daily Bible- I loved doing this chronological Bible one time when I read through. The passages are divided into 365 days and are laid out chronologically. When you get to the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes they are grouped together according to topic. A very thought-provoking way to read! As a warning through this Bible is small and has small print. It might be good to download it if that is an issue for you.

Every Day with Jesus Bible- The next time I read through I am going to do this Bible. Every day you get a passage from...

• The Old Testament
• The New Testament
• Psalms
• Proverbs

There is also a short devotional after each day's reading.

Here are a few more resources on my blog about reading through God's Word:

26 Themes of the Bible

The God of Each Book of the Bible

Jealousy and Forgiveness

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As I grow in my relationship with Christ I have become more convinced that Bible study is all about relationships. Our relationship to God. Our relationships to others. Those two facets of life is what God is most concerned about when He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." {Matthew 22:36-39} 

I really loved Shawn Lantz's studies when I did them in 2012. One of them is on jealousy and the other on forgiveness. Both of these issues have been major "actors" in the drama of my life. I have battled to forgive some hard events in life for years and can attest to how freeing it is to let go of the offender and hand them over to Christ. Jealousy also has played a part in my saga. Yes, I have been jealous before, but it isn't a major struggle of mine. {I have other struggles.}  Jealousy has been the whole reason why I have needed to forgive. It destroyed some of my relationships. I feel that in understanding what jealousy really is and how it hurts people will give me compassion for those that struggle with it. When jealousy reigns there is a huge need for forgiveness.

So this July after I finish reading The Bible in 90 Days I am planning on revisiting these Bible studies: Encountering the Healing Power of Forgiveness and Exposing the Many Faces of Jealousy. Shawn's forgiveness study focuses on Joseph and his brothers. Joseph is my all-time favorite example of how to do forgiveness. If there was anyone that had the "right" to not forgive it would be Joseph...sold into slavery by his brothers, wrongly accused by his employer's wife, and forgotten in prison were just a few of the offenses he had to deal with. Shawn talks about what forgiveness is and what it is not. She also spends time on what reconciliation requires. The jealousy study revolves around Saul's life. Saul was known for his extreme dislike of David. Shawn spends time in this study discussing the core issues of jealousy and the antidotes for it.

In the past couple of years, God has allowed tremendous healing in my life from the jealousy that destroyed several of my relationships. He has helped me work through the anger and bitterness to reach forgiveness. Now, after having these experiences, I feel this is a great time to go back and look at these two issues all over again with very different eyes. Your perspective changes as you live through heartache. You gain a deeper understanding of God, others and yourself. I went through both of these studies a year before I had to deal with the concepts of jealousy and forgiveness in depth. This time I will be looking at them with a different heart.

Do you struggle with jealousy? Or maybe you are struggling with being able to forgive? I can't recommend these studies enough. They are deep and rich with insight and will help you navigate those hard emotions and concepts. It is my prayer that you won't allow jealousy or unforgiveness to eat away at your heart.

You can visit Shawn's site here.

Healing as You Read Through God's Word

He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.  Psalm 107:20

It's been a few years since I have read through the Bible. Back in 2010, I did a rapid read of God's Word for the first time. Again in 2011. And then one more time in 2012. In 2013, a big portion of my life fell apart for me. I was in for a long journey. One that I have not completed yet. One that I am not even sure I will totally complete this side of heaven. It's a journey of healing as I fight my way back to trust God, others, and to trust myself again. Since the beginning of 2013, everything has had to slow down for me. I couldn't race through God's Word. I could barely get to a verse and when I did I had to stay there. Sometimes when your heart is so broken it takes time to pick up the pieces and start life again. So in 2013 and 2014, there was no way I could do a rapid read {something that I absolutely love doing}. I needed time to stand still.

Now I am ready though. Ready to get the big picture of God's love for me. This time I am reading with eyes wide open and from a very different perspective in life. You see what happened in 2013 changed how I look at God, others, and myself. God is no longer just my Savior. He is my Healer. He is my Defender. He is the One that "brought me out so that He could bring me in." People are no longer my savior. I have found that my bondage to people-pleasing went out the window when the hurt walked in. I just can't fulfill everyone's expectations of me. I can only do well what God calls me to do and even that is with His help. And finally, I am no longer myself. As a friend has told me over and over again, "You are not the person I once knew." So needless to say, I go into reading God's Word this time with a different background. A different perspective.

I am seeing Genesis through very different eyes. I am seeing a God who is in charge. A God who protects those trampled on. A God who gives grace to the lonely, the broken, the outcast. He is the one that takes the shunned and secures them in a safe place...a place of honor no less. {Think Joseph.} He is the one that even protects the murderer. {Think Cain.} He is the One that spreads grace and truth over all our dysfunction. Yes, we have messed up {the truth}, and yes, He is here to clean up the mess {grace}. He is the One that walks with us through our broken relationships and broken hearts.

Are you hurting? Heartbroken? Maybe it's time to dive into His Word {whether you camp at one verse or travel through all the Scriptures}. Maybe it's time to see how His Story can heal and restore. 

Need other resources to heal?

Hope and Healing {A book list}

My Story @ His Mercy is New

Dealing with Relational Angst

Forgiveness

26 Themes in the Bible

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Five years ago I was blessed when a friend of mine encouraged me to do a "rapid read" through the Bible. I took the challenge and read the Bible from cover to cover in 2010 for the first time in a little under three months. Doing a rapid read of the Bible allows you to see overarching themes. Back then, my friend gave me 26 themes that I could look for as I did The Bible in 90 Days. Since those days of encouragement I have done a rapid read three times total. This week I started my fourth round. I have to admit that the best way to use this list is only to pick one or two themes as I read. Trying to look for all of them is mind-boggling! This time around I am thinking I will focus on the "forgive your enemies" and the "fear not" theme.

Here are the themes that my dear friend shared with me (I share them with her permission). As you read God's Word (whether it be a rapid read or not), look for them. It is amazing to see how the pieces all fit together!

1. Look for the noun/verb combinations of God + verb.......God sees...God hears....God knows....God blessed...God preserves.....These will soooooo bless you!

2. The "I AM" themes

3. The "only God can deliver from this impossible situation" theme.

4. The "salvation offered to a Gentile" theme.

5. The "intercessory prayer" theme....where one single person intercedes for a group and moves the heart of God to do an amazing intervention.

6. The "out of Egypt--- into the promised land----forget God---end up in Babylonian-bondage-----repent again" theme.

7. The theme of "praise in the midst of your absolute worst trials"

8. The "forgive your enemies theme"

9. The don't you dare 'lord it over others' or 'mistreat others' theme.

10. The "covenant" theme.

11. The "names of God" theme.

12. The "God will test you to see what is in your heart" theme.

13.The "live by faith in the darkest hour" theme.

14. The Israel theme....totally amazing....you will see this first in Gen 32:28....the word Israel occurs 2,336 times throughout the Word.

15. Watch for the theophany themes....a theophany is when the 2nd member of the Trinity...the Son...made a bodily appearance to someone prior to His incarnation as the person Jesus.....hint: Often called "The angel of the Lord," the people He appeared to fell down in worship of Him....if it had been merely an angel...the angel would not accept worship but say....."do not worship me!!!"

16..The "FEAR NOT!" or "DO NOT BE AFRAID!" theme

17. The "God is LOVE/ God is a Holy Father" theme....as opposed to the tyrannical, unpredictable, self serving foreign/false gods.

18.The "grace and patience" of God theme.....

19. The "salvation by belief/faith theme......beginning in the O.T....not the New Testament.

20. The patterns and orders of prayers that move God.....praise, confession, thanksgiving in advance of His mighty work, pleading in intercessions or pleas to act/protect/provide.

21. Watch for what the world thinks are merely figures of speech....you will find they are scriptures.

22. Watch for how God talks to people.....He usually begins with a question...."Where are you?" Gen 3:9 or "Do you have a right to be angry?" Jonah 4:9....and the best are... the 70 questions God asks Job in the last chapters of that book.

23. Watch for the "creation/Creator" themes

24. Watch for "began well....but fell into sin before the end" themes.

25.Watch for the patterns that lead straight to the bondage-land.....fear....grumbling...unbelief....ingratitude...

26...(I promise this is the last one!)....The "bond-servant" theme. This is sooo beautiful. A bond-servant was a person who voluntarily entered into servitude to another. The servant's will was totally consumed in the will of the master. Every man of God in the Bible in some way made the statement that they were willing and eager "bond-slaves"/"servants" of the Lord. In this we see the godly men as very humble servants...not demigods/ demagogues....lording it over any others, like the Gentile nations did. It is, therefore, not at all ghastly to ask the women to also become "bond-slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ."

Bible in 90 Days {Starting soon!}

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About five years ago I did something I had never done before...I read the Bible {cover to cover} in under 90 days. At first I thought there was no way I could even do it. Way too much ready, and I was sure that Leviticus would be the end of me! However, a "rapid read" through the Bible is far easier than the Bible in a year. I KNOW that sounds crazy, but it is so true. You get through the hard reads {think Leviticus} faster and you don't lose your focus like you can with reading in a year. Also, one of the big benefits is that you get to see a wonderful overview of God's Word and how it all fits together on the surface. It's a view of epic proportions. 

When Amy from Mom's Toolbox sent out an e-mail this week asking for mentors I knew the timing would be right for me to not only mentor, but to read along with those that I would be mentoring. I absolutely love being able to encourage others to get into God's Word!

So are you game? Want to take the challenge? Hop on over to this page and sign up! And then get ready for April 27th. What do you need to get ready? Just a Bible in whatever version you like. Amy will provide the reading schedule. However, there is a The NIV Bible in 90 Days that you can purchase that already splits up the readings within the Bible. It is the one I have used for two of the times I have done B90 {I used a chronological version the last time I read through in 90 days}. So as you can see you can get the B90 Bible or not. Either way works. 

So pray about it. If you feel led please go sign up! It's a life-changing experience!

Bible in 90 Days Website

 

Have you ever wanted to read the Bible all the way through?  Did you ever want to get an overview of what is really in God's Word?  The Bible in 90 Days is an excellent way to go about seeing God's Word in its entirety. 

There is a new website if you are interested in more information.  The site provides information on the program and tips to get your started and to see it through.

I have read through the Bible in 90 days a few times.  It is quite a different experience from doing a Bible study or a devotional. You get to see all the themes that run through God's Word, and you get the big picture of what is going on in His redemptive story.  I have several posts on my blog with my experiences if you want to check them out.

Reading through the Bible at least once is a great experience for any Christian.  I highly recommend reading it through quickly as it will keep you motivated and you will get a bird's eye view of His Word.

Reading God's Story

 

I love God's Word.  It has pulled me out of the pits of anxiety, depression, sin, etc. too many times to count.  I have read through the Bible a few times (maybe three???).  Two of those times I have used the

The Bible in 90 Days: Cover to Cover in 12 Pages a Day (New International Version).  I have been more successful in reading quickly through God's Word instead of doing a year long plan.  Within six months of the yearlong plan I get bored and stop doing it.  While ninety days is fast it is so worth it.  You get to see the big picture of God's love and view the reoccurring themes.  This year I am doing something a bit different.  Instead of 90 days...it will be 120.  Instead of reading the New International Version, I am reading the Holman Christian Standard Bible chronologically using Reading God's Story: A Chronological Daily Bible.  And instead of reading with an online group, I am reading with two friends from church.

I am gleaning so much from reading a different translation.  It is making me stop and think instead of reading without thinking it through because the wording is so familiar. I am also loving reading chronologically.  For example, at the beginning I read the creation story and then a few Psalms related to creation.  After Genesis, you read Job (since many scholars believe that Job lived during the time of Genesis).  I am getting to see a whole new perspective!

More than anything in life I want to encourage others to read God's Word.  It isn't as hard as I used to think.  It can be done with a little perseverance and a desire to know God better.  There are so many reading plans out there that you can find something that will work for you.  Check out You Version online for a great Bible app and different reading plans.

In the Beginning...God

Today is the start of another online session of the Bible in 90 Days! I am so excited! This is the third session that I will be participating in.  However, this time I won't be reading.  I read through the Bible in 90 days last summer and back at the beginning of this year.  This time around I am a mentor for about 10 readers and a team leader (will give support to a group of mentors).  Being a team leader is a new position for me.  I am looking forward to helping out those mentoring in anyway that I can.

So to the readers that I am mentoring and to those mentors I will be serving, I just want to let you know that it is a privilege to help you along in your journey.  I will be praying for you along the way that God will give you the stamina and will power to start what you complete!  I am praying that God will bless you through this experience!

And while I won't be reading along with you, I am doing a challenge of my own right now.  I am currently trying to memorize the entire book of James!  This is such a feat for me because memorizing is not my forte.  Please pray for me as I renew my mind with God's Word.

Praying that the "good work" that we begin today will come to completion!

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 

Reading through the Bible with Success

Last time this year I was starting a journey that I will never regret.  I read through the Bible using the Bible in 90 days program.  What a blessing to get a bird's eye view of God's Word! Since then I have read the Bible in 90 Days twice and become a mentor for those that want to read through also.

There is a new session starting July 11th at Mom's Toolbox.  There is still time to sign up and become a part of an online group that will include a mentor and others that are reading with you.  Doing this challenge in this way helps you stay focused and motivated. Accountability really has been the key for me completing the Bible.  If you are interested in signing up, click here.  I pray you will be blessed as much as I have been!

Bible in 90 Days-starting July 11th

Have you ever wanted to read through the entire Bible?  Last year I started an amazing journey trying to read the Bible in 90 days.  What an awesome experience!  Since then, I have become a mentor for those that want to take on this challenge.  If you are interested in signing up please click here.  You can request a certain mentor if you like.  I would be honored to mentor you through this process.  Just mention who you would like as a mentor in the last question on the sign-up. 

Bible in 90 days- New Session

Have you ever read through the entire Bible?  Has it been your goal to do so and you have never made it? Last summer I was able to read through the entire Bible by participating in the Bible in 90 Days program.  It was a life-changing experience for me in which I was able to delve into God's Word and learn more about Him.

You may be asking yourself...."Why in the world would a person try to read the Bible that quickly?" Actually, there are several advantages to doing it this way.  First of all, I found it it easier to read the Bible through fast as opposed to say, in a year.  I constantly tell people that I did the Bible in a year plan in 18 months.  I just couldn't keep to the schedule, because I lost interest.  With the Bible in 90 days my interest level stayed high and I was able to finish in 66 days!  One of the benefits of reading like this is that you get a great overview of God's Word.  You start to make connections with different parts of the Bible that you would have never done otherwise.  And finally, you get through the tough books faster (think, Leviticus).

Amy over at Mom's Toolbox will be starting a reading session in July.  If you sign up at her site (sign-ups will start sometime in June), she will place you with a mentor who will check in with you each week to keep you motivated.  I am planning on being a mentor this time around and would love to mentor any of my blog readers.  To request me just ask for Debbie at The Architect and the Artist.

To find out more about the Bible in 90 Days please check out my Bible in 90 days page at the top of my blog.

What to do after the Bible in 90 Days?

I recently finished reading the Bible and am now looking for some other ways to study the Bible.  I have done all the Beth Moore studies (my personal favorites). So I needed to come up with some new ideas.  There are three studies that I recently ordered online:

Life Principles from the Prophets of the Old Testament (Following God Character Series)

To Run and Not Grow Tired: Restoring Your Faith in Times of Trauma, Hurt, or Depression (Fran Sciacca Series)

To Stand and Not Be Moved: Strengthening Your Faith to Face Life's Challenges (Fran Sciacca Series)

I picked the prophets one simply because after reading through the prophets twice now with the Bible in 90 Days program, I am realizing that my understanding of them is woefully lacking.

The other two Bible studies are by Fran Sciacca.  I chose these two because Fran was actually my Bible teacher in high school!!!!  I went to a private Christian school in Colorado Springs where Mr. Sciacca (pronounced "Shock-a") taught.  He was an awesome teacher...I actually remember some of the Bible truths he taught us. And that is saying something considering that I sometimes can't remember what I did yesterday! LOL

I am looking forward to diving into God's Word again!  What great Bible studies or Bible reading plans have you done?

It is Finished (The Second Time Around)

This morning I just finished reading the last words of Revelation.  This is my second time going through the Bible in 90 days.  Last summer I finished it in 61 days.  This time around I was slower (which was totally fine with me) because of trying to homeschool and work part time.  It took me 79 days.

I can't encourage you enough to try to read through the Bible like this.  It has totally changed the way I look at God's Word.  I have made so many connections and gained a deeper understanding of why God does the things He does.  Reading through the Bible in this way is actually easier than a year long plan.  With the year long plan, I lost interest and couldn't really connnect what was going on in different parts of the Bible. I have found that moving quickly through the Scriptures keeps my interest up, helps me sail through the tough books (think, Leviticus), and make the goal of reading the whole Bible doable.

Prayfully consider doing this at least once in your life...God will bless you for it!

Almost There---Bible in 90 Days

I am nearing the end!  Today I will start Hebrews and have about four more days of reading if that.  When I did this challenge last summer I had no idea how it would change my life!  I thought reading through the Bible this quickly once was enough.  I was wrong.  The second time around has been even better...more connections...more revelations that I never saw before. I urge you to seriously consider reading the Bible in 90 Days at least once in your life.  It will change how you look at God's Word!

I will update you as soon as I am done!

The New Testament

This week I started reading the New Testament.  The stories are familiar.  The reading is easy. Two things struck me that I have never seen in before in Matthew and Mark.  In Matthew 23:35, I read...

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

I recently fell in love with the book of Zechariah and am now shocked to find out that he was murdered.  I will definitely be going back to study him more after I finish the Bible.

I was also struck by this small passage in Mark 16:7.  The angel is announcing that Jesus has risen and says,

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

How precious that God names Peter specifically even after he denied Jesus.  God is in the process of restoring him by letting him know that Christ is risen.  He had a heart for Peter even though Peter had sinned against Him!

God's love is without end!

A New Love for Zechariah

I recently read through Zechariah as a part of the Bible in 90 Days program.  I have to admit that reading through the prophets, both major and minor, leaves me confused and bewildered sometimes.  This reading session was different though.There were so many verses that I could relate to and knew what they were referring to.  Zechariah chapter ten really hit me...what a picture of Jesus!!!

So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, particulary the oppressed of the flock.  Then I took two staffs and called one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock---The flock detested me and I grew weary of them and said, "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish."---I told them, "If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it." So they paid me thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said to me, "Throw it to the potter" the handsome price at which they priced me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter.

What hit me about these verses is that I can see the prophecies clearly unlike so many other times. Jesus is our shepherd. He was "paid for" with thirty pieces of silver.  If you go to the book of Matthew you will see that Judas eventually wants the priests to take the money back so he throws it into the Lord's house and eventually it is used to buy the potter's field.  I love when I can see that God's Word fits together so neatly!

Bible in 90 Days: The Minor Prophets

This past week I started the minor prophets.  I am so glad to get to this point in my reading! This is my second time around doing the Bible in 90 days, and I have noticed that once I get out of the major prophets the reading gets easier for me. Since the minor prophets tend to fly by I thought I would look up each of their themes or messages just to keep myself focused.  This is what I came up with when I looked online...

 Hosea  -Spiritual Adultery

 Joel  -The Day of the LORD

 Amos  -National Accountability

 Obadiah  -The Destruction of Edom

 Jonah  -Obedience

 Micah -Purest Religion

 Nahum  -The Destruction of Nineveh

 Habakkuk -The Mystery of Providence

 Zephaniah  -God’s Searching Judgment

 Haggai  -Working for God First

 Zechariah  -The Hope of the Future

 Malachi  -Ignorant Opposition

One theme that I have come across in all the prophets (major and minor) is the fact that God talks over and over again about restoring His people.  The prophets mainly talk about God's punishment in the form of exile, but God restoring His people is of equal importance.

At that time I will gather you; at that time I wil bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among al the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the Lord.  {Zephaniah 3:20}

What a comfort to know that he will not leave us in a dark place forever...that our fortunes will be restored.

Bible in 90 Days-Isaiah and Jeremiah

This past week I spent all my time in Isaiah and in Jeremiah.  While there are so many wonderful, encouraging verses in both these books, I have to admit that I really struggling understanding all the prophecies contained in these books. It is probably due to the fact that I am not familiar with all the history.

But there are gems that I did glean. One of the main concepts that I got out of Isaiah was that the Israelites were being punished for their sins and having to face enemies as a consequence.  Yet, God offers them encouragement even through their suffering for their sins.  Here are a few.

All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. {Isaiah 41:11-13}

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.  {Isaiah 44:22}

Alaskan Bible Verses

I recently came across these verses while trying to read through the Bible in 90 days.  Reading them makes me think of this great state that I live in...

He spreads the snow like wool

and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.  {Psalms 147:16-18}