Day 72

Good morning Friends,
Woo hoo the weekend is here! Have a great one!
Oh my goodness! A quote from Willie Nelson!?!? But it is beautiful!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 852-864 (Mark 9 - Luke 1)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus says, "Everything is possible for him who believes." (Mark 9:23b) What should you believe that you are NOT?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Mark 10:14b-15

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The four Gospels offer eyewitness accounts of Christ's ministry from four different perspectives, yet both the similarities and distinctions in the accounts come together to form a consistent portrait.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Family Bible, by Willie Nelson

There's a family Bible on the table
Each page is torn and hard to read
But the family Bible on the table
Will ever be my key to memories
At the end of day when work was over
And when the evening meal was done
Dad would read to us from the family Bible
And we'd count our many blessings one by one
I can see us sittin' round the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
I can hear my mother softly singing rock of ages Rock of ages cleft for me

Now this old world of ours is full of trouble
This old world would also better be
If we'd find more Bibles on the tables
And mothers singing rock of ages cleft for me
I can see us sittin' round the table
When from the family Bible dad would read
I can hear my mother softly singing rock of ages
Rock of ages rock of ages cleft for me.

Day 71

Good morning Friends,
I am a bit pressed for time this morning but wanted to get this posted. So no pearls of wisdom. Ha ha
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 840-852 (Matthew 26 - Mark 8)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pick one: condemned to death by opponents (Matthew 27:1) or abandoned by friends (Matthew 26:69-75)?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

Matthew 26:26-28

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're reading some of the most familiar passages in the Bible... within the context of the whole.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Bible among other books is a diamond among precious stones."

John Stoughton

Day 70

Good morning Friends,

30 more days. It has occured to me that on our last meeting we will not have finished our readings. Hopefully tonight I will have an answer on how to address that issue. I would love to know the context of Queen Elizabeth's quote below.
Have a blessed day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 828-840 (Matthew 16-26)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Distinguish "testing" (Matthew 16:1) from "asking" (Matthew 21:22).

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Matthew 21:22

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you come across passages you want to study, mark them and keep reading. You'll have plenty of time to dig deeper once you've experienced the whole story.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Tell your prince that this book is the secret to England's success."

Queen Elizabeth

Day 69

Good morning Friends
Brrrrrrrr!!! Loving it! Thank you Lord that I've been needing a blanket! Interesting quote by Theodore Roosevelt today - typo is not mine. And oh that his quote was true of today's "man"
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 816-828 (Matthew 5 - 15)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As your continue your reading, view the NT with new eyes. See if Christ doesn't actually "up the ante." (e.g. Matthew 5:21-22)

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

Matthew 5:21-22

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The NT is serious stuff, as illustrated above. It is NOT all about GRACE, as we sometimes come to believe from the popular verses we may encounter frequently in various venues. At the same time, we've just seen that the OT is littered with GRACE. Isn't it something to see the "whole story" come more into focus?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Almost every man who has by is lifework added to the sum of human achievement... has based his lifework largely upon the teachings of the Bible."

Theodore Roosevelt

Day 68

Good morning Friends,
Oh my gosh it is COLD this morning! Woo hoo!
Have a blessed day!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 804-816 (Zechariah 10 - Matthew 4)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malachi reminds of us rampant human failure reflected throughout the Old Testament. Why are we worthy of the gift we'll come to know in the New Testament?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One important reason for reading is so we'll know "the whole story." Occasionally people get complacent when entering the New Testament, because it is more familiar to most of us.Don't get complacent! Continue reading with vigor. If the NT is familiar to you, you'll nevertheless see it in a whole new light.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God before I go to bed."

Douglas MacArthur

Day 67

Good morning Friends,
Today we read Zephaniah - it contains my life verse which is today's key passage. I picture myself sitting in God's lap as He sings over me. Good thought for me when I'm feeling down.
Have a blessed Lord's Day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 792 - 804 (Habakkuk - Zechariah 9)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Habakkuk's central complaint to the Lord: "Why do you tolerate wrong?" (Habakkuk 1:3b) Does God tolerate wrong?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3:17

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just one more day after today in the Old Testament.Keep going. We'll soon be treated to good news.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No lawyer can afford to be ignorant of the Bible."

Rufus Choate

Day 66

Good morning Friends!
Have a blessed Saturday!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 780-792 (Amos 9 - Nahum)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most of us have at least one Jonah moment - a time when God calls & we flee in the opposite direction. Describe yours. (Jonah 1:1-3)

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish.

Jonah 1:1-3a

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As children, many of us focused on the big fish in the story of Jonah.Perhaps this is the first time you've revisited Jonah in some time.Isn't it funny what a different story the same words can tell at different times in our lives.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A single line in the Bible has consoled me more than all the books I ever read besides."

Immanuel Kant

Day 65

Good morning Friends!
Happy Friday to you! Oh my goodness - look at the point to ponder! Should make for interesting reading! Have a blessed day!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 768-780 (Hosea 13 - Amos 9)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comparing a group of women to cows (Amos 4:1) isn't politically correct by today's standards. Why did Amos do it?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ways of the LORD are right;
the righteous walk in them,
but the rebellious stumble in them.

Hosea 14:9b

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bible in 90 Days' Participants Guide has a section called "Putting the Prophets in Their Place" that begins on page 85.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible."

Ronald Reagan

Day 64

Good morning Friends,
Have a blessed day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 756-768 (Daniel 9 - Hosea 12)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Which one are you in the story of Hosea and Gomer? Why?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.

Hosea 12:6

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Humans are impatient. Right now, some of us are impatient to get to the New Testament. Often, God wants us to wait... on Him.... for His reasons.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily."

Sir Isaac Newton

Day 63

Good morning Friends
My thanks and gratitude go out to all Veterans today. Without them I would not be sitting her at my laptop posting God's Word to all of you. Without them we would not be able to have our Bible in 90 Days class. Thank you Lord for these men and women who protected and protect our country and our freedoms and rights. Amen
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 744-756 (Ezekiel 47 - Daniel 8)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We see Daniel's life as one of flawless faith. Why do you think the God never made Daniel a king?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

"For he is the living God
and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
his dominion will never end.

He rescues and he saves;
he performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."

Daniel 6:26-27

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In our reading we've seen instances where God is honored by others, sometimes more than by His own people. Something followers might consider during this journey: how can we act so that others will be drawn to our God?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If we will not be governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants."

William Penn

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Following up on the reminder above, is there someone in your community that you can attract to Christian faith through acts of kindness or charity?

Day 62

Good morning Friends,
So many distractions! I pray for all of you that as we come to the final leg of our journey and the busyness of the upcoming holidays that your quiet time for reading will be protected by the Lord.
Blessings on your day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 732-744 (Ezekiel 35-46)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imagine a pile of dry bones rattling together, clothed with tendons and then flesh (Ezekiel 37:7-8). Why this image?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Periodically we reflect that we are reading the Bible to be changed. The passage above reminds us that God intends this for us, too.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I am sorry for men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and pleasure."

Woodrow Wilson

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you considered how you might stay engaged in the Word after this journey has ended?

Day 61

Good morning Friends!

Have a blessed day!

Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 720-732 (Ezekiel 23-34)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is your flock? (Ezekiel 34:1-6) Where is your flock?

Key passage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

Ezekiel 34:1-6

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back in Genesis God made clear that He was giving humans certain responsibilities. Thus, from the very beginning of the Bible we've been charged with being good stewards.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Francis Bacon's assessment of the Bible: "The book of God's Word."

Day 60

Happy Lord's Day Everyone!
We hit another milestone today! We are 2/3 of the way through our journey! A mere 30days left. I'm so proud of all of you! You can do it! You can complete the journey.
Have a blessed day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 708-720 (Ezekiel 12-23)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reconcile Ezekiel 12:21-25 with the argument that it has already been a long time and Christ still hasn't come again.

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'? Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "

Ezekiel 12:21-25

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God gave us time. And His sense of time differs from ours.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q: "I find the Bible confusing whenever I try to read it. Am I wrong to feel this way?"

A: (from Billy Graham) "I encourage you to make the Bible part of your daily life. Don't worry about what you can't do; focus instead on what you can do-and then do it."

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By now, when you don't understand something on this journey, you have probably learned to read on anyway: either your question will be answered, or you'll move to an even bigger question. That doesn't mean you can't jot down Big Questions for Future Study. If you are using The Bible in 90 Days Participant's Guide, turn to page 138.

Day 59

Good morning Friends!
Thank you Lord for lovely cool weather! Have a great day!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 696-708 (Lamentations 2 - Ezekiel 11)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is good for man to bear the yoke..." (Lamentations 3:27a). What yoke do you currently bear?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You, O LORD, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.

Lamentations 5:19

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One yoke we all bear right now is our commitment to read all of God's Word.If you are struggling, put the burden on Him by praying for the time, patience, focus and/or anything else you need to keep this commitment. Ask and it will be given.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For almost two thousand years Christians have agreed that the Bible alone is God's Word, and that it tells us everything we need to know about Him."

Billy Graham

Day 58

Good morning Friends,
Have a great day! Woo hoo the start of the weekend!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 684-696 (Jeremiah 48 - Lamentations 1)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How does the fall of Jerusalem (Lamentations 1) compare to the original fall?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How deserted lies the city,
once so full of people!
How like a widow is she,
who once was great among the nations!
She who was queen among the provinces
has now become a slave.

Lamentations 1:1

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The phrase "there but for the grace of God go I" is a good one to remember as we read the books of the prophets and Lamentations. Viewed from God's holy perspective, our approach to life is no better than the lives depicted in these books. Notice, too, though, the grace and hope throughout.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible."

Dwight L. Moody

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we read Lamentations, these questions arise:

* Are there people you know who have suffered great loss and never fully recovered?
* Do they know God's Word?
* Should you add them to the list of people with whom you might share The Bible in 90 Days experience?

Day 57

Good Evening Readers:

Sorry for the delay in posting. I finally figured out what day I should be posting.
Blessings,
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 672-684 (Jeremiah 33-47)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go figure: even after Jeremiah's repeated warnings, people were shocked at Jerusalem's fall. Any modern day events seem similar?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our reading makes it clear that WHO we listen to is extremely important.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can take away from it."

James Bryce

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For many, Jeremiah is a particularly good book to experience using Listen While You Read.

Day 52

Good morning Friends
Woo hoo it's Friday! And the start of the weekend, the perfect opportunity to get caught up if you have fallen behind.
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 612-624 (Isaiah 41-51)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How should we view "... he will bring justice to all nations" (Isaiah 42:1b) in the context of the 21st Century?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:22

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Absorb what you can, and don't worry about the rest. If at times you feel lost in Isaiah, rest assured others do, too.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom."

Horace Greeley

Day 51

Good morning Friends
Woo hoo! It is a bit chilly this morning! Isn't it wonderful? If you don't think so, remember a few short weeks ago when it was HOT? Think on that and put on a sweater or not and enjoy! I love the key verse for today! It is a good reminder that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow He NEVER changes. The Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End.
Have a great day!
Barbara
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 600-612 (Isaiah 29-40)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God calls out hypocrites in Isaiah 29:13. Is he calling you out?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God is trustworthy. He proves this time and again. Pay attention to the different outcomes that befall those who place their trust in God versus those who trust in alliances.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"All Scripture is God-breathed and He doesn't waste His breath."

Jim McCotter

Day 50

Good morning Friends,
So excited to see all of you tonight! Can you say brisk? Do you love it?? Thank you Lord for a beautiful cool morning. Day 50 can you believe it? Forty days left of reading, stop and think of the instances in the Bible where forty days had significance and were life changing. Lord, we ask for a life changing expereince in the next 40 days.
Barbara
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 588-600 (Isaiah 14-28)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is foretold by, "Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob?" (Isaiah 14:1b)?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The LORD will have compassion on Jacob;
once again he will choose Israel
and will settle them in their own land.

Aliens will join them
and unite with the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The prophets were not just foretelling the future, but conduits through which God communicated to their audiences.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Bible is the sheet-anchor of our liberties."

Ulysses S. Grant

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We repeat: This is a good time to become re-acquainted with Listen While You Read.

More on Resources + Community

Day 49

Dear Friends,
Oh my gosh I am soooo sorry! In yesterday's busy-ness to get home I completely forgot to blog! My sincerest apologies!
Barbara
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 577-588 (Isaiah 1-13)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The prophet Isaiah was well liked at the beginning of his career, but not later. Are you willing to risk popularity for your faith?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth!
For the LORD has spoken:

"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows his master,
the donkey his owner's manger,

but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."

Isaiah 1:2-3

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some people LOVE the prophets; others struggle with them. If you are challenged during this stretch, recall the various helps we've offered over the course of our time; among them: 1) Listen While You Read and 2) breaking your reading sessions into several small chunks of time.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This book had to be written by one of three people: good men, bad men or God. It couldn't have been written by good men because they said it was inspired by the revelation of God. Good men don't lie and deceive. It couldn't have been written by bad men because bad men would not write something that would condemn themselves. It leaves only one conclusion. It was given by divine inspiration of God."

John Wesley

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a good time to become re-acquainted with Listen While You Read.

Day 48

Good morning Friends,
Hope you have a great week! I love today's quote by Daniel Webster. What would happen if the Bible was part of our education today? Would we live in a kinder gentler nation? Would there be less hate? Would people care for each other more and perhaps live by the Golden Rule? Remember when we learned that in school as well as Sunday School? Ok. . . sorry getting of my soapbox. Food for thought.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 564-576 (Ecclesiastes 3 - Song of Songs)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What does Ecclessiastes 3:1-8 suggest to you about being prepared for life?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we read through the Bible, emotions like anger or frustration may surface. That's OK. Just keep reading. As you continue through, some questions will be answered, and new questions will arise. Never forget that -- through this experience -- you are growing in many ways, some of which will NEVER be made known to you.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Education is useless without the Bible."

Daniel Webster

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider your community in light of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 above. What is it time for within your community? What can you do to encourage this? (No killing, dying or warring, please :)).

Day 47

Happy Lord's Day Friends!
Sorry it is afternoon already. I kind of lost track of time in Gramma Land. Hope you are all having a great weekend!
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 552-564 (Proverbs 20 - Ecclesiastes 2)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Name something that you know you are foolish about (Proverbs 28:26). How can you change this?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even a child is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and right.
Proverbs 20:11

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark favorite portions with a check mark for later review.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"When you have read the Bible, you know it is the word of God, because it is the key to your heart, your own happiness, and your own duty."

Woodrow Wilson

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our key verse above suggests the importance of ACTING in accordance with the Word of God. What ACTION can you take today -- in your community -- that will be "pure and right"?

Day 46

Good Morning Friends
Have a great! More pearls of wisdom today.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 540-552 (Proverbs 7-19)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Which of today's proverbs resonates with you most? What about posting it on your mirror or fridge?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. Like Psalms, Proverbs is enjoyed best in small portions, so consider breaking today's reading into several sittings.

2. We've officially crossed the halfway mark. Congratulations!

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I believe that the existence of the Bible is the greatest benefit to the human race. Any attempt to belittle it, I believe, is a crime against humanity."

Immanuel Kant

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Borrowing from Proverbs 14:12 above, is there a way that has seemed right to you that you now believe has been leading you in the wrong direction? With this new insight, who in your community might help you reset your compass?

Day 45

Good morning Friends,
Woo hoo! I'm going to see my grandbabies for the weekend today! My grandson's birthday party is tomorrow! I will still be posting here the times maybe a little irratic. We enter Proverbs today. There is a lot of wisdom in this book! Watch for the nuggets that touch you.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 528-540 (Psalms 135 - Proverbs 6)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today, why do you need to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding?" (Prov 3:5)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Above all else guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember that God is revealing Himself to us as we read.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Although we've had many bible studies looking at many books very closely, we've never before had a study that works through the whole Bible. So, we have folks who know Hebrews well, or the letter to the Romans, or maybe Ezekiel. But, to put it all together, well that's something that very few Episcopalians can do. So, this was our first offering where we read through the whole Bible. It was just dynamic for the church."

Bill Dickson, Associate Rector, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you consider Proverbs 3:5 (see above), is there someone in your community that you feel led to reach out to? Are you willing to "trust in the Lord" and reach out?

Day 44

Good morning Friends
Woo hoo! We are at the halfway point! Can you believe it? You are all awesome for sticking with this journey! I am so proud of all of you!
I'm so sorry for not being there last night but my throat was too sore and I didn't want to spread my germs. Have a great week!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 516-528 (Psalms 108-134)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At this halfway point, write your own "Ode to Scripture" such as might be found in Psalm 119.

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Bible tells us that "All Scripture is God-breathed...", that is, inspired by God. Many of the Psalms praise God lavishly. Is this a model that we are supposed to follow?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I prefer to believe those writers who get their throats cut for what they write."

Blaise Pascal

Day 43

Good morning Friends,
Another one my favorite Psalms today. Whenever I'm feeling afraid, especially at night, I read this Psalm. My memorizer doesn't work so good anymore so I have a few lines from this passage that I say to myself. I am a bit under the weather this morning with a sore throat and cough but there will be class tonight!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 504-516 (Psalms 89-107)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find your favorite concept in Psalm 103:8-18 and tell why you like it.

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 100:1-2

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Psalms runs the gamut of human emotion. If we feel a bit uncomfortable with some of the sentiments, perhaps we're learning something new.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."

St. Jerome

Day 42

Good morning Friends,
A rough night sleep wise for me so my brain is not functioning properly. LOL Have a great day.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 492-504 (Psalms 69-88)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you finding yourself singing a song based on a Psalm? Worship today by linking us to a Psalm-based song.

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read your daily Psalms quota in several sittings. Use a sticky note to keep your place.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No other book has known anything approaching this constant circulation."

The Cambridge History of the Bible

Day 41

Good morning Friends,
Today part of our reading includes Psalm 51. Psalm 51 was written after the Bathsheba incident and is a "model" prayer of asking for forgivness and showing repentance. Have a great day!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 480-492 (Psalms 45-68)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What teaching about sin in Psalm 51 do Christians need to understand better?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Too many to pick just one :))

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Psalms were actually meant to be sung, so why not pick one to at least read aloud? Or, feel free to sing it to a favorite tune! Results will vary.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I am busily engaged in the study of the Bible. I believe it is God's word because it finds me where I am."

Abraham Lincoln

Day 40

Happy Lord's Day!
Remember how we were supposed to look for patterns with the kings? Have you ever noticed numbers in the Bible? No not the book, haha, today is our 40th day; it rained for 40 days and nights during the flood of Noah's time and Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. Just a thought to share do not get distracted looking for number patterns. Have a blessed Sunday my friends.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 468-480 (Psalms 25-44)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When have you experienced one of the ways God cares for you found in Psalm 34?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
Psalms 41:1

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Psalms often reflect back on events that were reported in books previously read. For our current purposes, don't worry too much about matching up to specific events, just glean what you can without studying or referring to other parts of the Bible.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There is a book worth all other books which were ever printed."

Patrick Henry


Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reflecting on the key verse above, is there someone you could help right now?

Day 39

Good morning Friends,
We enter Psalms today, one of my favorite books to read. David's writings speak to my soul and have given me comfort at the darkest of times. There are many precious nuggets within this book. I pray that you find some just for you. Have a great day!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 456-468 (Job 42 - Psalm 24)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find a life lesson in Psalm 1 and explain it.

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(The are too too many from which to pick!)

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some people find it particularly jarring to journey through Psalms at a 12-page-a-day rate. As mentioned previously, breaking the reading into several readings throughout the day can help immensely.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face."

Ronald Reagan


Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you are reading through the psalms, consider your friends and loved ones. Why not share a psalm with someone. Pick up the phone... or walk to the next room... or (if you must :)) email.

Day 38

Happy Friday Friends!
Do you miss our cooler weather? Hopefully this will last for only a short time. Check out today's point to ponder. Don't you love the quotes by former presidents? Have a great weekend!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 444-456 (Job 25-41)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What's one thing God says of himself that you never thought of before? (Job 38-41)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Everything under heaven belongs to me." Job 41:11b

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For many of us, Job is a good time to practice reading in small chunks. Try reading just a page or a two at a time, and use a sticky note to mark your place. If you like this while reading Job, continue reading this way in Psalms and Proverbs.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My custom is to read four or five chapters of the Bible every morning immediately after rising... It seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day... It is an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of knowledge and virtue."

John Quincy Adams

Day 37

Good moring Friends!
You are all AWESOME!!! You blow me away with your enthusiasm for the Word! Keep up the good work! God bless your comittment and your time with Him.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 432-444 (Job 7-24)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are some of the worst things to say to someone who's suffering? (Job 1-23)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Surely God does not reject a blameless man
or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
and your lips with shouts of joy.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
and the tents of the wicked will be no more."
Job 8:20-22

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When reading Job in particular, it is important to remember: absorb what you can and don't worry about the rest.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Once I started reading, it was so exciting to keep going that I didn't feel like I was giving anything up. I was gaining so much more by doing the reading."

Amy Gross, graduate

Day 36

Good morning Friends!
I'm looking forward to seeing all of you tonight. Have a great day.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 420-432 (Nehemiah 13 - Job 6)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What's your favorite moment in the Esther story and why? (Esther 1-10)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Esther 4:12-16

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some portions of what we are reading appeal to certain individuals more than others. Don't expect to "enjoy" all of the Bible equally.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I must say that this was quite the challenge. First of all, I am NOT a reader. I do NOT like to read much at all.

"However, I started to read on March 4, 2007. I just finished reading the Bible in 52 days. The question that everyone asks is, 'Did you retain anything you read?' I have to say, 'Yes, I did.' This was a book I just could not put down. I would recommend this program to anyone."

Emma Geedey
Harrisburg, PA

Day 35

Good morning Friends,
Oh my goodness! I posted today's information yesterday. I apologize for that. Once again I prove that I'm not perfect and very human! Ha ha. Hope you all have a great day! So here is yesterday's post. Are you totally confused? Me too. =)
Barb
Today's reading (yesterday's)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 396-408 (2 Chronicles 35 - Ezra 10)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What difficulties did the Jews experience during rebuilding, and how does that remind you of your experiences? (Ezra 1-9)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:
"He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. Ezra 3:11

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our mission is to "read, ATTENTIVELY....".

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The best gift God has given to man..."
Abraham Lincoln said of the Bible

Day 34

Good morning Friends
Woo hoo! It's a little chilly this morning. I love it! Thank you Lord! Have a great week everyone.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 408-420 (Nehemiah 1-12)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What place does Nehemiah's prayer life play in his leadership?
(Nehemiah 1:5-11; 2: 4; 4:4)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure not to skip ahead in your reading, even if you intend to come back and "fill in" later. An important component of this experience is that we read all of the Bible from cover to cover.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I am very well read in the Bible. I've read it many times before, but NEVER in 90 days. It seemed to bring everything together in a way as never before in my reading and in my study."

Dan Baugh, Pastor, Lighthouse Baptist Church

Day 33

Happy Lord's Day Friends
Have a great Sunday!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 384-396 (2 Chronicles 23-34)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Israel looooved their false gods. What are some of the false gods in our culture today, and how do they affect you?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hezekiah... did right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.
2 Chronicles 29:1-2

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 and 2 Chronicles recount previously reported events from a somewhat different perspective, aimed at a different audience. Among other things, this sets us up for the Gospels of the New Testament, which offer four different perspectives of the sames events, written to four different audiences.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"About 5 to 7 percent of people who set out to read through the Bible on their own actually accomplish that goal, according to most studies. But in Waterville, the success rate of a just-completed "Bible in 90 Days" was well over 70 percent."

David Yonke, Religion Editor, The Toledo Blade, Toledo OH

Day 32

Good morning Friends!
Another gorgeous morning in the desert! Thank you Lord! Hope you are able to catch up on your reading this weekend, if you are behind. Sometimes in our busyness and our hectic lives we forget to stop and smell the roses. Hope you will stop and view our beautiful dessert and enjoy some time with the Lord.
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 372-384 (2 Chronicles 7-22)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God promises to heal the land if Israel will keep certain conditions. Which conditions do you think is most important today? (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. 2 Chronicles 13:10a

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read Chronicles aware of the repetition, but looking for distinctions from earlier accounts.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The English Bible - a book which, if everything else in our language should perish, would alone suffice to show the whole extent of its beauty and power."

Thomas B. Macaulay

Day 31

Good morning Friends,

Happy Friday to all of you! Looks like we are going to have a glorious weekend weather wise. Maybe I'll run into some of you on Sunday at church.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 360-372 (1 Chronicles 24 - 2 Chronicles 6)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are some things David says to Solomon that you would want to say to your son before you die? (1 Chronicles 28:8-21)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.1 Chronicles 29:25

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we said at the beginning of the reading, we may find some parts of the Bible less entertaining than others. In fact, one stretch of today's reading has been judged to be "the least favorite verses in the Bible" by one website. Can you guess which verses?

We should remember, of course, that being entertaining is NOT the foremost goal of the Author.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is something that every church in America ought to do."

Carl Hamilton, Associate Pastor
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City

Day 30

Good morning Friends,
Last night was great! You are all awesome for sticking with the program!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 349-360 (1 Chronicles 10-23)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why do you think David's census was such a bad thing in God's eyes?
(1 Chronicles 21)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:8

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are a third of the way through the Bible, or two-thirds of the way to the halfway point. Celebrate a bit with your peers, and say a prayer of thanks. If you are a little behind, focus on this milestone as encouragement to catch up.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I had no idea The Bible in 90 Days would touch so many people in so many ways."

Jim Foster, Senior Pastor
John Wesley United Methodist Church, Houston

Happy

30th Day!

You can do it!

I know you can!

Day 29

Good morning Friends,
We made it through another week! Woo hoo! I'm looking forward to seeing all your happy faces tonight!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 336-348 (1 Chronicles 1-9)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you prayed Jabez's prayer? With what results? (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Repetition plays an important role in the Bible. Distinctions do too. As you spend time in 1 & 2 Chronicles, see if you can distinguish ways in which the reporting differs from that in earlier reporting of the same events and people.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I have always said and will always say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands... the Bible makes the best people in the world."

Thomas Jefferson

Day 28

Good morning Friends!
What a beautiful cool morning the Lord created for us today! Enjoy!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 324-336 (2 Kings 15-25)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hezekiah stands out as the king who removed the high places. What qualities characterized his reign? (2 Kings 18, 20)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 2 Kings 18:5

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By reading ALL of God's Word, we are learning much more about Him than if we just read bits and pieces of the Bible. Ideally, this learning will be a springboard to a new way of relating to Him.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."

Theodore Roosevelt

Day 27

Good morning Friends,
I love this cooler weather!! Thank you Lord. I pray that you are all doing well. Have a blessed day!
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 312-324 (2 Kings 4-15)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many of Elisha's actions foreshadow Christ. List as many as you can. (2 Kings 3-7)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. 2
Kings 4:40-41

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don't have to do all of your reading in one sitting. Today, try adding at least one additional time of reading. For instance, if you normally read two times a day, read three times today. How do you like reading more frequently, but in smaller portions?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid."
Martin Luther

Day 26

This is the blog for Sunday, October 4.

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 300-312 (1 Kings 16 - 2 Kings 4)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why do you think God speaks in a whisper? (1 Kings 19:11-13)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 1 Kings 19:11-13a

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One reason we offered for reading The Bible in 90 Days is to change your life. How have you changed just in the last three+ weeks?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I think there is a great sense of accomplishment in being able to read through the Bible in a limited time period. The challenge of a great goal is more of a motivation than a small, easy task."
Marilyn McDonald, graduate

Day 25

Dear Friends
My apologies for not posting blogs the last few days. I am housesitting for my parents and they do not have internet service let alone a computer.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 288-300 (1 Kings 7-15)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever listened to the advice of your peers and been steered wrong? What happened? (1 Kings 12:1-15)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the eleventh year in the month of Bul, the eighth month, the temple was finished in all its details according to its specifications. He had spent seven years building it.It took Solomon thirteen years, however, to complete the construction of his palace.1 Kings 6:38-1 Kings 7:1

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the weekly meetings we introduce the notion of applying your reading to your daily life. What is something you encountered in your recent reading that you can apply today? Will you do it?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"God wants to spend time with you daily. He wants to communicate with you through his Word! The Word of God is not a dusty old book for generations gone by; it is relevant to everyday life. Read it everyday."
Allen Huth, founder, The Ezra Projectwww.ezraproject.net

Day 24

Good morning Friends,
Wow what a great morning! 61 degrees I love it! Thank you Jesus! Hope you all have a great weekend!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 276-288 (2 Samuel 22 - 1 Kings 7)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you could have asked God for anything, what would have been your request? (1 Kings 3:5-15)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.... 1 Kings 2:1-3

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For those doing this with the weekly meetings and curriculum, you prayed a prayer of commitment to God during the first meeting. What, specifically, did you pray to God? How are you doing versus your commitment?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Reading the entire Bible has long been a goal of mine, and your enthusiasm, encouragement and inspiration are the reasons I was finally able to reach my goal."
Paula Schlesinger, graduate

Day 23

Good morning Friends,
WOW! Class was lively last night! Hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did. We aren't too far from that 30 day mark woo hoo! Have a blessed day!
Barbara
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 264-276 (2 Samuel 12-21)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What were David's shortcomings as a father? (2 Samuel 12-19)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you-O Absalom, my son, my son!" 2 Samuel 18:33

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading the Bible this way helps us to see how CONTEMPORARY the Bible really is. Have you started applying any of the insights from your reading to your daily living?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"When I study the Bible, I prepare myself to talk to others. When I read the Bible, God talks to me."
D.L. Moody

Day 22

Good morning Friends
Yay! I get to see all of your bright shiny faces tonight! Remember that even if you haven't finished all the reading, come to class! May all of you have a blessed Wednesday.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 252-264 (1 Samuel 28 - 2 Samuel 11)


Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you know of any modern-day Mephibosheth stories? (2 Sam 9)


Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7


Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stay engaged by remembering that we are READING, not STUDYING. You won't remember many of the names, but you may recall new insights, answers and questions. You can write these down in the back of the Participant's Guide, but don't let this activity overcome your reading. There will be plenty of time for study and reflection LATER.


Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The WOW is that I read the Bible - all of it - and that other people have, too. A LOT of people."
Eric Thomas, MD, graduate

Day 21

Good evening Friends,
Sorry this is so late, I've been a bit under the weather today. But, once you finish reading today's portion you will have completed 3 weeks. Woo hoo! Hooray! See you can do it!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 240-252 (1 Samuel 16-27)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What Goliaths have you successfully slain? What was in your sling? (1 Samuel 17)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."1 Samuel 16:7

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we finish our third week of reading, remember to read ATTENTIVELY, even sections that may seem repetitive. Why is there repetition in the Bible? What does this say about us?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There has probably never been a time in human history when the Word of God has been more accessible yet more unread." We're living in a time of superficial Christianity on the part of many people, and the postmodern culture has invited persons to be on a spiritual quest of their own devising rather than to follow the path of biblical Christianity. Millions and millions of people have only some vague concept about the Bible. They know it's about God, and some know it's about Christ, but beyond that, they have no real understanding of what the Bible is and how they are to obey it and know it."
Al Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Day 20

Good Morning Friends
Have an awesome Monday! Have you found yourself singing the B-I-B-L-E? or another Sunday school song?
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 228-240 (1 Samuel 2-15)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you listen to God? (1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.1 Samuel 12:23

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ideally, you are consistently reading twelve pages a day. Or, have developed another approach that has you caught up each by each meeting. Use the upcoming meeting as encouragement to be current in your reading.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
YOU CAN DO IT! YES YOU CAN!

Day 19

Good morning Friends
Happy Lord's Day. I have a migraine today and would appreciate your prayers.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 216-228 (Judges 15 - 1 Samuel 2)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Samson confides in you that he has trouble with women but doesn't understand why. What would you tell him? (Judges 13-16)
Bonus Question: A ton of life lessons in the book of Ruth. What's yours?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."Ruth 1:16-17

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Samson made a big impression on me as a young boy. Based on children's Sunday School, I expected Samson's story to cover SEVERAL BOOKS of the Bible, not a mere four pages! What are some of your preconceptions that have been shattered by your reading?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've made several attempts to read through the Bible in a year. When reading the Bible in a year, so many things can come up and you get swayed and sidetracked."
Carl Williams, Senior Pastor, True Deliverance Bible Fellowship

Day 18

Good morning!
Have a great day! I'm off to the EWomen Conference at DC today.
Barb
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 204-216 (Judges 4-14)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have fleeces ever worked for you? (Judges 6:36-40)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you." Judges 8:23

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are 3500 names in the Bible. Don't worry about remembering the names of each of the judges. Three or four may stick with you. Mainly pay attention to the repeating cycle, and what it means about our relationship with God.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Our church is doing the program church-wide this summer. We've already seen our summer attendance double what is normal because of your program. We are all really excited."
Julia SwallowFirst Presbyterian, Midland

Day 17

Good morning Friends!
Woo hoo! The weekend is here! If you are an early morning person have you thought of having your morning coffee or tea outside while reading your Bible and watching the day unfold with the Lord? Early mornings here in the desert or so quiet and you can watch the mountains change colors and marvel at God's paintbox. Weekends are a great time to catch up if you're behind.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 192-204 (Joshua 15 - Judges 3)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you notice that caused Israel to plummet into rebellion so quickly? (Judges 2:6-15)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God gives us free will, which we exercise continuously, often in ways that don't honor God. That's ONE of the reasons that persevering through the bumpy parts of this journey are so important. We honor God by keeping our commitment to him, when we can freely choose to do otherwise.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For someone who had never read the Bible, this was the perfect class."
Karen Payne, graduate and ministry board member

Day 16

Good morning! Remember to sing a happy Sunday School song or Praise song when it is hard to get started on your reading. Be encouraged today! See today's key verse.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 180-192 (Joshua 1-14)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When, if ever, is it okay to lie? (Joshua 2:5)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are caught up in your reading, keep up the good work! If you are a little bit behind, add a page or two a day to your routine, until you have caught up.
More than a few pages behind? Set aside a block of time -- say on this Sunday -- to catch up. You'll be surprised at the impact it will have, even reading large quantities of text in one or more sittings.
Do NOT skip... for any reason. By definition, at the end you won't have read from cover to cover. Trust us, you'll want to have done this. Even if you are behind for the rest of the program and have to finish in more than 90 days, keep reading. Every word. From cover to cover. You'll be glad you did.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God does not ask about our ability or inability, rather about our availability.

Session 3

You all were awesome! I hope you all had as much fun as I did. Loved it when you all joined in with me singing The B-I-B-L-E! Three new friends! May you all have a blessed day!

Day 15

Good morning Friends
Woo hoo it's Wednesday! Looking forward to seeing you all tonight. Have a blessed day!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 168-180 (Deuteronomy 23-34)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're Moses, standing on Mount Nebo and gazing at the Promised Land. What are you thinking? (Deuteronomy 34:1-8)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it. Deuteronomy 34:4

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are participating in a group, remember it is there to give you encouragement, and to receive encouragement from you.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For years, I've been looking for a way to read the bible in its entirety without it becoming overwhelming. I love the way this book is set out with markers at the beginning and end of each day's reading; stopping, or continuing to what I feel is the logical end, is very simple. The hardcover means I will have it for a long time. Its size makes it easy to carry around, so I can read a few pages whenever I have time. My only wish is for a ribbon bookmark to make it easier to find where I left off, but hey, I need to something for myself. After all, everything else has been organised for me, including a prayer to help center me before I begin to read..."
Tracey -- Florida

Day 14

Good morning Friends!
Woo hoo! After today's reading we've completed two weeks! And look where we are at Deuteronomy! You can do it!
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 157-168 (Dt 8-22)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any fresh ideas of things you can tithe? (Deut 14:22-28)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him. Dt. 8:6

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The mission is "to read, attentively, every word of the Bible in 90 days."

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness."
Helen Keller

Amazing quote!

Day 13

Good morning Friends
What a great day the Lord has made for us.
Father I pray for my new friends and ask that YOU would help them to complete this week's reading of Your precious Word. May they find something new in today's reading. AMEN

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 144-156 (Nu 31-Dt 7)

Something t0 ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awesome parenting and leadership skills in Deut. 6:4-9. What are your best practices?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Dt 6:5

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Think of the activities your daily Bible reading has replaced. Do you really miss any of them? What does this tell you?

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If at first you don't succeed, read the directions."
Anonymous

A GREAT QUOTE FOR ALL OF US TO FOLLOW! and of course the directions would be the Bible.

Day 12

Happy Lord's Day my Friends!
Have a great Sunday! Maybe I'll see some of you at church today.
Sunday is a great day to catch up with your reading.
Barb

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 132-144 (Nu 21-31)
Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have any donkeys spoken to you lately? (Num. 22:28, 30)
Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: "This is what the LORD commands: When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said. Nu 30:1-2
Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Start each reading session with a prayer. One of your own, or this one:
Gracious Father,Thank you for the gift I hold in my hands.May your Spirit fill me and interpret your precious words for me as I read them.In your Son's name I pray. Amen
You may want to write this prayer on a post it note and use it as a versemarker as you read through the Bible.
Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I feel like this experience has filled a major gap in my life. You study and live a subject, but never read the "whole thing." Unreal."
George Elledge, graduate

Day 11

Good morning Friends!
Have a great Saturday! If you are behind perhaps today is a day you can do some catch up reading.
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 120-132 (Nu 8-20)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you learn from the story of the spies? (Num. 13-14)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Nu 11:1

Reminder~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We're not going to LIKE everything we read in the Bible. When you come across disagreeable portions, allow yourself to be AMAZED instead of APPALLED. STRUGGLE rather than DISENGAGE. This is all part of the experience. Much will become apparent as you continue your reading.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Not only can I participate in my weekly small group with confidence, but I also get more out of sermons, speakers, and out of life!"
Lisa Joyce, graduate

Day 10

Good morning Friends

Another gorgeous morning in the desert! Thank you Lord! The Priestly Blessing is a favorite passage of scripture of mine. I like writing it into cards of encouragement to family and friends. I pray you will receive for your day.
Barb



Today's reading

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pages 108-120 (Lev 26-Nu 7)


Something to ponder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What did you like about "The Priestly Blessing" (Num. 6:22-26)


Key verse

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

' "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' Nu 6:24-26




Reminder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read, pay attention, but don't try to remember everything you are reading. Knowledge is only a small portion of you are gaining from this experience. Keep at it and you'll be rewarded in ways that never occurred to you.



Encouragement

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I think there are great benefits to reading the Bible from cover to cover... in doing so you realize that the Bible is one story. And it is a story that takes place over a significant period of time. It reveals something significant about who God is, and who we are, and what God has been doing for a long time to reconcile us to Him."
James Harper,

Executive Pastor, First Presbyterian Church

Day 9

Friends and Readers
You can make it through Leviticus!

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 96-108 (Lev 15-25)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What surprised you in the list of "don'ts" in Leviticus 20?

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. Lev 19:2b

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't be tempted to skip pages in a quest to keep up. If you do, by definition, you won't be able to read from cover to cover, which is an important component of this experience. If you get behind, commit to catching up; then commit to staying current.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's going to turn out all right."
Billy Graham
(I LOVE THIS QUOTE BY BILLY GRAHAM!)

Session 2

Good morning Friends and Readers

Last night was great! So glad we had our new friends join us! Keep up the good work.

Remember:
YOU can do all things through Christ who strengthens YOU! (my paraphrase to you) Make scripture personal to you and it will take on a whole new meaning.

May the Lord bless your day.

Barb

Day 8

Good morning!
I am so excited about tonight and hope you all are too. Have a great day.

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 84-96 (Lev 1-14)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's your reaction to God when he killed Nadab and Abihu? (Lev. 10:1-3)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. Lev 1:1

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be current in your reading when you attend your weekly meeting. You'll be better prepared to share with others and gain insights from them and the teaching. Most importantly, you'll be on track in your reading.

That said, go to the meeting even if you are behind. You'll be gathering with others who are on the same journey and can help.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Daniel (age 10) on reading the Bible in 90 Days
Click here to watch

Day 7

Good evening Friends & Readers
Hope you are enjoying our slightly cooler weather.
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 72-84 (Ex 29-40)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Come up with a more lame excuse for idolatry than Aaron's. (Ex 32:24)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out - until the day it lifted. Ex 40:36-37

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spend quality time with God's Word today.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It called me to a closer walk with the Lord."

Tom O'Neil, graduate, ministry board member

Day 6

Frieds & Readers
Here's the second post for today.
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 60-72 (Ex 15-28)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Which of the 10 Commandments gets the most space and why? (Ex 20:1-17)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You shall have no other gods before me. Ex 20:3

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weekend is a good time to catch up if you've fallen behind. Make it a priority to be caught up by the end of day Sunday.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Our group has really bonded during the readings. We have about 26 in our group and all of us are really enjoying the Bible in 90 days. It is awesome!"


Carol and Larry Parks, group leaders

Day 5

Good morning Frieds & Readers,
Isn't it a GREAT morning that the Lord has made?I will be posting 2 days of encouragement so that we will be on target for Wednesday. Hope you all are doing great with your reading schedule. Can you believe we are through Genesis already? Would love to hear from you!
Barbara

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 48-60 (Ex 1-14)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The plagues were "God's Big Diss" of Egyptian gods. Anyone know which ones? (Ex. 7-12)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But I have raised you up [a] for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Ex 9:16

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rather than adding to your daily activities, consider replacing or cutting back on a current activity to make room for your reading. Pick something that is non-essential (TV watching, perhaps?).

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Reading through the Bible at a faster pace and reading it cover to cover, rather than selected scriptures each day, gives you such a wonderful perspective of God's plan for salvation through the generations, His character, and His personal love for individuals. It is a life-changing experience!"

Gretchen George, graduate

Day 4

Happy Lord's Day Friends and fellow Readers!

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 37-48 (Gen 41-50)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How is Joseph like Jesus? (Gen 37-50)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen 50:20

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are struggling with keeping up, try reading at different times or reading in smaller chunks. Also, see Resources + Community below.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one that makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that."

Harper Lee

Resources + Community
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whether you are breezing along with your reading or struggling a bit, you may benefit from the Listen While You Read section on our ministry website. Having the Scriptures read to you while you follow along in the Bible is a rich multi-sensory experience. For those of us who are slow readers -- or tend to backtrack when reading -- it also helps us maintain a steady pace.

Day 3

Good morning Friends and Readers!

Hope you are all doing well today. Remember: YOU can do this!

Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 25-36 (Gen 29-40)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What mistakes of his parents did Jacob repeat? (Gen 25-35, 37:14)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. Gen 32:24

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Try reading at different times of the day and night to see what works best for you. Some people split their reading into two or three sittings.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I was TOTALLY blown away by the enthusiasm of our small group (25 people) who have taken the challenge of reading the Bible from cover to cover in 90 days.

"Personally, I have read the Bible through several times. BUT, I find myself waking up earlier than the alarm to read. I have stopped watching the news at 10pm and read the Bible instead. I have been a Christian for over 40 years and have never been more excited to read the Bible than I am today."

Dan Tucker
San Jacinto Baptist Church

Day 2

Good morning new friends! Remember our freedom comes at a high price, especially on this rememberance day. I was going to blog last night about yesterday's reading but my internet went down. I will try to post something here tonight about today's reading. Have a great day!
Here is today's encouragement for you:
Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 13-24 (Gen 17-28)

Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What was going through Isaac's mind as he lay on that altar? (Gen 22:1-19)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. Gen 17:7

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most likely, you will have to rearrange your day somewhat to accommodate your daily reading: you will be amazed at how simple this will be once you make it a top priority.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This has been the most significant program that I ever brought to the church, or probably will ever bring to it."

Jody Harrington
Southminster Presbyterian Church

Day 1

Good morning! Have a great day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The great philosopher Yogi Berra tells us, "If you don't know where you're going, then you'll wind up someplace else." So, let's remember where we are going: straight through the Bible, from cover to cover.

Many people will tell you this can't be done. Most of these naysayers are well meaning:

· Family members
· Friends or co-workers
· A church leader or several

You see, MOST CHRISTIANS have never taken this journey, even though MOST want to. Those who have - and as we continue our mission that number is growing -- tell us things like:

I can't believe I read the whole thing!
This has led me much closer to Him.
Why haven't we always done it this way?
Now the Bible is mine.
For the first time, I have an idea of how the whole story fits together.
I see the B I G picture.
Now I'm ready for deeper study.

Enjoy this special journey. It will be a challenge, but a worthwhile one. When people ask you what you are reading this summer, you can tell them,

"Something that is changing my life."


Today's reading
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pages 1-12 (Gen 1-16)
Something to ponder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What was Eve's real sin? (Gen 3:1-13)

Key verse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. Gen 1:27

Reminder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your mission is to "read ATTENTIVELY every word of the Bible in 90 days." All of the resources are aimed at assisting you in doing this. Stay focused on this mission and expect a transforming journey.

Encouragement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"This simple God inspired plan has brought our community together and blessed our church. I am now on my third time through the Bible and it gets better ever time!"

Greg Nance
Signal Mountain Church of Christ

Awesome

It was really great to meet with all of you tonight! I can't wait to hear what you have to say about your journey. Remember: You can do it!

Lord,
Thank you for the blessing of this group of people.
Amen

Session 1 - Wednesday 09/09/09

I hope you enjoyed tonight's group and look forward to seeing you next week. I'd like to leave you with a prayer to encourage you as you embark on this incredible journey.
Father God,
Thank you for these precious new friends. Thank you for their thirst to read Your Word from cover to cover. Lord, I pray that you will give them the perseverance to read each daily portion. Father, that you would protect the time that they set aside to read daily. Protect it from interruptions and busyness. Open their hearts Father that as they read they would see how Your Word leads us to Your Son Jesus. Thank you Lord for hearing our prayers.
In Jesus Name
AMEN