4 Month Bible Reading Plan (Jan 1st- end of April 2005)

Yes, I will be starting this tonight. Thanks, Aaron

yes - I am starting today and look forward to april so that I can start again - unless He comes first !

Count me in...

I will be joining you today in this Bible reading plan. I was discouraged to start a "Read the Bible in a year" plan because I always seem to fall off after a few months. But when I saw it said "Read it in 4 months" I felt encouraged of the Lord to do it. I hope to be posting encouraging thoughts as the Lord speaks to my heart. Please pray for me.

I'm in, but may need a few kicks in the pants if I fall behind.Stephen

:-) Wow Greg! This is so amazing! Didn't know you'd post this for the whole world! [laughs] This is so cool because I have these awesome notes to share and was going to start a post today, not knowing until now that Greg started this topic. I will warn you, it's quite a bit! After all, they are thoughts that cover 10 chapters. But I hope you guys will be blessed. Maybe just print these notes out and read it later. This is so awesome that you guys are doing this. God will definitely bless us as we abide in Him, and He abides in us!Genesis 1-101/1/05Purpose: To show how the word and everything in it came about and to show God's desire to have a people set apart to worship Him.It's amazing to me how God can make something out of nothing. In verse two of chapter one it says, "The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness..." From this nothingness and darkness God creates light. The same is true I believe of our lives. He takes a formless dark life and turns it into light. He is a God of order and of purpose.Light is always more powerful. It governs over the darkness; "For God made two great lights, the sun and the moon, to shine down upon the earth. The greater one, the sun, presides during the day; the lesser one, the moon, presides through the night. He also made the stars. God set these lights in the heavens to light the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good" (1:16-18). So our lives should shine as a light to the world. We have the power through the Holy Spirit to live as an example to others. We need to be signs in the sky, pointing the way to a close relationship with Jesus.I love verse twenty seven of chapter one because it simply and clearly states God's purpose for our lives - to reflect His image; to leave a pattern that portrays Him; "So God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself; male and female He created them."God created life and produced fruit on this earth. May we allow God to create life and produce fruit in and through us."And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from His work of creation" (2:3). When God rested from His work, it was holy. When we take a rest from our work, can we say we use our time for holy things? Are we like Jesus, helping those in need on the Sabbath? Are we like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, enjoying His presence? Or when we rest, do we take a break from serving others and being in the presence of God to seek our own selfish indulgences? May our day of rest be holy."And the LORD God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him'" (2:18). Though it is important to have a close walk with God, it doesn't mean that we leave others out of our lives. We need God and we need fellowship and encouragement from others. On the other hand, we shouldn't be so dependent on people that we start to forget our need for God. He always should be number one in our lives and people should only serve as a help towards becoming the person God wants us to be.We must be careful that we don't let the lust of the eyes convince us to partake in sin and disobeying the Lord; "The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too" (3:6-7). We must also remember that when we choose to sin, we will bring others down with us. It's been said that compromise creates casualties. One of the consequences to willful sinning, willful disobedience, is the loss of innocence. Adam and Eve felt no shame in chapter two, verse twenty five, but they lost their innocence in chapter three, verse seven after sinning.God is an unconditional God. If we ever find that we are no longer in the presence of God, it's because we left Him; "Toward evening they heard the LORD God walking about in the garden, so they hid themselves among the trees" (3:8). It was not He who left us. It is us who put the conditions on our relationship with God. For example, if we fail the Lord in any way, it is us who feel we need to run and hide from Him, covering up our shame. We let things separate us from God, but He is always there.It is a very important thing to keep a watchful eye on the attitude of our hearts; "'Why are you so angry?' the LORD asked him. 'Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you respond in the right way. But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it'" (4:6-7). God gave very good advice to Cain, that sin is sure to follow a heart and response that is not made right before the Lord.When we choose to live in consistent sin, day after day, it breaks the Lord's heart; "Now the LORD observed the extent of the people's wickedness, and He saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry He had ever made them. It broke His heart" (6:5-6)."Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the LORD" (Proverbs 16:6). Shem and Japheth covered their father's shame with love and avoided looking at his embarrasing state. Ham however gossiped about his father's drunkness and nakedness to his brothers (9:20-25). "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends" (Proverbs 16:28).In closing, the whole point of our existence is to experience what the Word says Enoch in chapter five, verses twenty two through twenty four, and Noah in chapter six, verses eight through nine, did - they enjoyed a close relationship with God all the days of their life.

If you are participating in this plan let us know in this thread so we can encourage each other to finish it and continue through.. Also this thread would be a good place to share insights and scriptures that blessed you. Hi, Sermon Index Family! I printed out this reading plan, and am going to trust the Lord to give me grace to see it through. I desire to know him, to share his heart. And the more I long to know what is in my Father's heart, the more he is leading me to learn about the cross and what it means to serve others, with the focus off of myself. Holy and Reverend is his name! (Ps. 111:9) I finished the first ten chapters of Genesis last night, and it struck me that from the very beginning, God always gave us a choice between obedience which leads to life and disobedience which leads to death. The devil tricked Adam and Eve into settling for less than God had for them, and lured them into the wrong choice which destroyed what he envied most of all, their relationship with the Father. I can just see it in my mind as the Lord formed Adam out of the ground, and surely he paused a moment, before breathing life into him, looking down through time, knowing before he ever did it, that he'd have to come into this world as a man and die. Yet he still breathed life into Adam. He still loved and cared for him, knowing he would fail God. And when they sinned, God did not rant and rave at them, or abuse them. He chastened them, he punished them, but he dealt with them in love. Too often when we make a mistake, (especially one we've already made) we let the enemy shame us into condemnation and guilt and avoiding prayer, rather than running to the Lord for cleansing and forgiveness.) Sin is a weight we were not made to carry. It's too heavy. That is why the Son of God bore it for us all. To liberate us from the works and power of the enemy. Thank you Lord, for your unspeakable gift!Kathleen Maples

That's awesome! Great insight!(side note) I may be visiting a friend in Tennessee in a couple weeks. I believe she lives in Columbia.Okay, back to meditating on God's Word! :-)

I printed it out as well. I am praying I stay on track. Thanks Greg.

Genesis 11-201/2/05Remember, worship, believe and be sanctified!"And Abram built an altar there to commemorate the LORD's visit... There he built an altar and worshiped the LORD." (12:7b, 8b)"This was the place where Abram had built the altar, and there he again worshiped the LORD." (13:4)"And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith." (15:6)"I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the LORD and do what is right and just." (18:19a)

Genesis 21-271/3/05Again we see Abraham setting up a reminder that would cause him to worship the LORD; "Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and he worshiped the LORD, the Eternal God, at the place" (21:33).In chapter twenty two and twenty four, we see God's faithfulness to provide when we obey. Abraham was tested and asked to sacrifice his long promised son. He obeyed, God stopped him and a ram was provided for the sacrifice instead. Later on Abraham told his oldest servant to go get a wife for his son amoung his relatives. The servant obeyed, and God provided Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac. Where God guides, God truly does provide!

Genesis 28-351/4/05Again we see the people of the Old Testament remembering what the Lord has done by setting up a memorial and then worshiping God."Then Jacob woke up and said, 'Surely the LORD is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it.' He was afraid and said, 'What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God - the gateway to heaven!' The next morning he got up very early. He took the stone he had used as a pillow and set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named the place Bethel - 'house of God' - though the name of the nearby village was Luz... This memorial pillar will become a place for worshiping God, and I will give God a tenth of everything He gives me." (Genesis 28:16-19, 22)"And there he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel." (Genesis 33:20)

Abraham shows us that everything is of God; we cannot do anything by ourselves. Isaac shows us that everything comes from God, and our place is to receive. But if we only receive and do not have the discipline of the Holy Spirit, something will go wrong. This is what Jacob shows us. One day the Lord will come to us, touch us, and twist the hollow of our thigh; He will deal with our natural life. Then we will become humble and follow the Lord in fear and trembling. Then we will not be careless and make proposals rashly. How easy it is for us to make proposals, and how easy it is for us to act without prayer. How easy it is for us to develop a confidence apart from God. God has to touch our natural life in a drastic way; He has to break apart our natural life and show us that we can do nothing by ourselves. From that day on, we will be lame men. Being lame does not mean that we cannot walk; rather, it means that every time we walk, we realize our weakness and our lameness. This is the common trait of all those who know God. Before God brings a man to such a point, he does not have the experience of Peniel. All those who are still resourceful, confident, and powerful have not experienced the discipline of the Holy Spirit.May God open our eyes to see the relationship between these three kinds of experiences. All three experiences are particular experiences, and yet all three are interrelated in their accomplishment. We cannot have just one or two of the three. We have to be clear about all three experiences before we can advance in the way of God.~ Watchman Nee

I know it's late, but I plan on jumping in and reading with you and trying to catch up. I need more discipline to read God's Word. Thanks for the fellowship in the Word.Kendal

Is there a group still reading?How many people are reading on the Bible plan? Is there a count?

Thanks Greg for the invitation. I'll update y'all on my progress catching up.Kendal

...follow the Lord in fear and trembling. Then we will not be careless and make proposals rashly. How easy it is for us to make proposals, and how easy it is for us to act without prayer. How easy it is for us to develop a confidence apart from God.Great insight... well, [laughs] shared insight. I am definitely beginning to feel that I need to have the fear of the Lord back in my life. I tend to swing on opposite ends of the pendulum. I used to fear making any mistakes before the Lord. So recently I have been learning more about the grace of God. But I think the love of Christ needs to constrain me a bit more in my actions and thoughts. So if you guys feel led to, pray for me in the area or fearing the Lord more. The Holy Spirit has definitely been moving greatly in my life as of recent... but I would like to see a consistent, serious and honest commitment to the Lord. I just get so lazy in the flesh somedays. I would love for the Spirit to truly rein supreme in my my life each and every day!Exodus 2-111/7/05It was comforting to read these following passages and to know that God is aware of our sufferings. And He doesn't forget His promises. It is true, God had a special covenant with the people of Israel, but I think today He is willing to help anyone who would surrender their lives to Him. He knows of the suffering of the starving in Africa and India, the mistreatment of people under the rule of corrupt governments, those living in countries who suffer bloodshed due to civil war, the persecuted Christians in places like China, the abortions of innocent babies in the United States, and so many more different kinds of suffering. He is a gracious, good and fair God. He is merciful and gracious and nothing happens anywhere in this world without Him knowing. He is there for the orphan, widow, poor and the oppressed. Human relief efforts can do so little with the world wide, overwhelming needs. But God can touch the world like no one and nothing else!"Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites still groaned beneath their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their pleas for deliverance rose up to God. God heard their cries and remembered His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare." (2:23-25)"... You can be sure I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries for deliverance from their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come to rescue them from the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own good and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey... The cries of the people of Israel have reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians have oppressed them with heavy tasks." (3:7-9)"... And when they realized that the LORD had seen their misery and was deeply concerned for them, they all bowed their heads and worshiped." (4:31b)"You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. I have remembered my covenant with them. Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will free you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment. I will make you my own special people, and I will be your God who has rescued you from your slavery in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It will be your very own property. I am the LORD!" (6:5-8)

Hello my brothers and sisters. Greg said that 10 people signed up for the bible reading plan. I was just curious to know how many people are still following the bible reading plan. I made 3 new years resolution. Of that 3, this is the only one I have kept so far. The reason for this is mainly because I did not want to let you guys down. This is a good motivation for me. Thanks, AaronP.S One thing that helped me to take free time I get during the day and read few chapters at a time. This gives me time to meditate on what I am reading rather than reading all 10 chapters at one time.

Hey AaronI haven't been online in a while but, I am with you :-)James

It has been very encouraging to meet together with friends who are doing this with me and talk about what we're learning from the Word! It's so crazy to me how Christians can get together, but not fellowship. This is a great way to actually get together and talk about God's Word which it seems to me Christians should be naturally doing anyway when they meet. As Solomon instructed his son, I believe, we're to write God's Word on the tablet of our hearts. It should be the subject of a lot of our conversations, and the very thing that should be on our hearts and minds.Exodus 29-361/10/05"You must worship no other gods, but only the LORD, for He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you." (34:14)Isn't that crazy how God is passionate about His relationship with us?! Are we passionate about our relationship with Him?

It's so crazy to me how Christians can get together, but not fellowship.Yodi That comment speaks expressly to my heart; it is not only crazy it is very depressing :-( I never thought what a difference it would make if everyone were on one accord and read programs similar to this one everyday. I feel it (bible study) has to be everyday for it to mean anything in anyone’s life. There is such a carnality (which I can bear witness to myself) that comes from not knowing the word of God. Mr. Ravenhill would say, “It is more important it is more important to know the God of Word.”James

You called for those still reading - I started late, but at least I'm through Genesis now. So I'm behind, but still hanging in there.

Greg,Is it too late to join the reading plan?Grace,Doug

dougkristen,[laughs] I know you asked Greg this question, but I can answer it for you. No, it's not too late to join. If it's too overwhelming to start at the beginning, then join us where we're at, which is in Numbers. The point of this is to encourage each other in the things God shows us as we read the same thing. We can bless each other by getting different things out of the same Scripture. Or we can be encouraged and give an "amen" when God shows us similar things.earnestlycontend,Don't worry about being behind. I'm a bit behind myself. I'm still in Leviticus and am supposed to be in Numbers. But I'm trying to catch up because I meet with a couple friends once a week so we can share what we've been getting out of the reading. And... I guess I'm supposed to be an example.When I started reading Leviticus, my bible gave this description of the book:"Our entire lives should glorify God - from our religious worship to our daily tasks."And today I read, "You are to distinguish between what is holy and what is ordinary, what is cermonially unclean and what is clean." (Leviticus 10:10) Simple sentences to chew on, I think.

Numbers 33I was moved by these verses:Numbers33: 50 The Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan [across from] Jericho, 51 "Tell the Israelites: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and DEMOLISH ALL THEIR HIGH PLACES. 53 You are to take possession of the land and settle in it because I have given you the land to possess. 54 You are to receive the land as an inheritance by lot according to your clans. Increase the inheritance for a large clan and decrease it for a small one. Whatever place the lot indicates for someone will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to your ancestral tribes. 55 But if you don't drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, those you allow to remain will become thorns in your eyes and in your sides; they will harass you in the land where you will live. 56 And what I had planned to do to them, I will do to you."The Church is to have no fellowship with the things of the world and we have been given authority and power to pull down the Devils high places, not only authority but instruction. Disobedience and failure to follow this instruction has left the Church of Jesus Christ handicapped with many thorns in the eyes and side. By now we have all noticed that we are in a full out, no pulling-of-punches war. The Church has inherited all things in Jesus Christ but if we do not utterly destroy any appearance of evil in ourselves and in the Church we cannot stand and we will be harassed by evil even in the Church. Theses things ought not so to be.2 Corinthians10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.James

Jimm,Sort of along those lines, reading in Leviticus (I have major catching up to do!) about not offering your children to be sacrificed to Molech or not allowing psychics and withces in the land... not copying the people in the land by having ungodly sexual relations with family members, other people's spouses, those of the same gender, and animals... that if you allow or practice these things, the land will vomit you out... man... that's like America all over! And that's a scary thought. Why America hasn't crumbled under it's sin yet is something that just blows me away. How long will God tarry with us?But you were talking about the Church. Obviously every day citizens can't run out psychics, homosexuals, abortionists, tear down churches of false religions and things of that nature. The government is kind of in control of all that and I guess the best we can do is pray and vote, and then try our best to live peaceablly in the land, without compromising and partaking in sinful behavior. But yes, as the Church, we do have control over that, whether we allow sin to reign or not. And then just on an individual basis, not letting sin house itself and reign in our heart. Great point!

YodiThat is a wonderful parallel you have there. Just to clarify though, I was not suggesting that the church should go out and start “lashing out” at “the world” but rather, that these things (of the world) should not be allowed in the church. The church of our generation is far to slack and carnal… we look and sound like the world. If we do not destroy these strongholds in ourselves then we are beating the air in our warfare. We cannot effectively enforce our inheritance that is in Jesus Christ and put to an end the works of an already defeated foe (Satan). As long as these things remain in us, our God-given light of holiness in Jesus Christ in under a bushel. My friend always says to me, you cannot defeat your foe if he is in you. I think this is the principle at play hear.I suppose it is a good thing that you are running behind ;-) . This has been a good study for me, and your input has given it some more substance. Thank you.James

The word of GodThese two passages are, I suppose, some of the most familiar in the bible. The epitome of these statements, to me is Psalm 119. The importance of the word of God, his commandments and statutes is unparallel by any other passage (Psalm 119). Keith Daniel often say, “if you go out into the world without soaking yourself in the word of God, you will backslide, don’t doubt this”. Deuteronomy 6:4 "Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 8:1 "You must carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, and may enter and take possession of the land the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

YodiThat is a wonderful parallel you have there. Just to clarify though, I was not suggesting that the church should go out and start “lashing out” at “the world” but rather, that these things (of the world) should not be allowed in the church.JimmYeah, I didn't think you were saying the Church should "lash out" at the world. It just does seem overwhelming when the world you live in gets darker and darker. It almost brings some comfort to be able to find refuge in the Church, a body of believers that are supposed to be set apart as holy to the Lord.Can't wait to check out that verse in Deuteronomy. Made it to Numbers this morning!

It just does seem overwhelming when the world you live in gets darker and darker. YodiIt’s funny you should say that because it connects well with the passages I read and also the way I have feel. I actually considered posting the following passage because of the response God gives to his Children when they are about to face the giants of the world. Deuteronomy 9:1-6 1 Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, 2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak! 3 Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee. 4 Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. 5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Can't wait to check out that verse in Deuteronomy. Made it to Numbers this morning! This is far more ambitious than I anticipated! It helps to have a fixed schedule but family and friend are the big time-eaters for me. I cannot really schedule them…James

By God's grace I have been keeping up with the reading plan. I have been popping in throughout the month and reading some of the posts. I figured I would wait until the Lord impressed upon me to write down any thoughts he may be giving me. When I read this particular post it reminded me of what I read last night in Joshua 7:1" 1\tBut the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel."Achan took of the accursed thing, but the Lord's anger was kingled against the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. then on to verse 11"11\tIsrael hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, andthey have put it even among their own stuff."Is this not what we Christians do in church.... we allow the things of the world and sin (the accursed thing) in our lives and we "put it even among (our) own stuff." Does this not affect our fellowship with eachother and with God just as one man's sin troubled ALL the children of Israel? When they went into the battle, the enemy killed 36 men. Josh 6:18"18\tAnd ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it."I know that God will never leave nor forsake his children, but we hinder our fellowship with him, trouble the church and hamper our fellowship with eachother when we "take of the accursed thing". Let us all realize that when we sin or when we bring the world into the church, we trouble not only ourselves but our brothers and sisters in Christ, our families and our homes.Josh 7:24 "...they took Achan and his sons, and his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and his tent and all that he had... and they stoned him with stones and burned them with fire..."So what happend with Achan when he was questioned and CONFESSED? He was then killed (the wages of sin is death); however, afterwards the Bible says in verse 26, "So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger." And parralleled in the New Testament, 1 John 1:9 "But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." There are consequences to worldliness and sin, but PRAISE GOD there is also forgiveness and restoration when we confess!

Greg,Wanted to let you know my wife and I have since January 1 joined in this Bible Reading Plan. It has been a great blessing to us personally. We have challenged others to join us as well, and have received positive feedback. We generally will read seperately in the mornings, and then come together in the evening as a couple and read the final four chapters together. I certainly encourage every couple to follow this plan, and then reap the bountiful harvest that will follow. In Christ,tony

Yes, this is a good plan. I used to believe "I did something" because I read the Bible through in year.Not only did I have to repent of my obvious pride, but He is requiring to spend most of my free time in the Word. It's something the Lord is calling us all to do in these last days.I believe there will likely be a day when you won't be able to own a Bible in America (I'm including Canada here Greg). It's so important to do that soaking.

I enjoyed your post. Just this past Thursday evening at one of our outreach services in a mental health facility I strayed from my notes and said nearly identical what you have said here. I asked the question "what if", what if armed soldiers were to come through the front door of the facility and confiscate all the Bibles? My point being we had better hide His word in our hearts. We had better attend to His words, allowing them on our lips, inclining our ears to His words. And then just tonight, our youth group put on a play with this very occurence. Youth dressed as soldiers did indeed confiscate all the Bibles from those in the sanctuary. It was an awesome visual, and as well a sobering realization of what could be ahead in this United States of America.Blessings,tony sexton

This is far more ambitious than I anticipated! It helps to have a fixed schedule but family and friend are the big time-eaters for me. I cannot really schedule them…JimmI hear you there! This past week I spent in Tennessee with some family friends. I thought I'd have all this free, quite time to catch up on my reading (I was about 8 days behind!), but was I wrong! I got a little glimpse of what it's like to have a family and the extra measures you have to take just to have a quite time in the Word. If I wanted to be able to read my Word, I had to get up before the kids, which was about 6:00 am. Otherwise I was stuck reading the same paragraph over and over again while I was distracted by wild kids [laughs].But since I did go to Tennessee to fellowship and visit with people, there were times I had to put my Bible down too. I think investing your time in people and relationships is more important than having your nose in a book all day. There's a time and place for everything.Thank God He gave me the endurance, discipline and attention to catch up on my reading during my flight back from Tennessee. I know I couldn't have done that on my own. Now I'm on the same page as my friends that I meet with during the week to discuss what we've read. Phew!Tony SThat's great that you and your wife are being blessed doing this Bible reading plan together. My friend has been doing this with her husband as well and has been getting blessed. That's so awesome!

Wow, ok, be patient with me this is going to be long, but I believe it is very relevant to the last couple of posts. One morning, about 10 days ago, I was laying in bed after my alarm went off, just dreading getting out of bed, when the Lord very clearly reminded me of an illustration I heard a preacher give on the radio; however, I could not remember what the application was. I was very troubled by it because I knew the Lord was trying to get my attention. Anyway, I got out of bed and started getting ready for work. I was rushing all over the house trying to get out in time. While brushing my teeth, the Lord spoke to me again, "You are rushing around trying to get ready. If you had only gotten up when there was yet time... but you wasted that precious time I gave you and you can't get it back. So shall it be when I come back." Let me tell you, that the Lord doesn't speak to me like that everyday and with such a simple message. It stopped me dead in my tracks. When I went in to work, lo and behold, if I didn't hear that preacher on the radio giving that same illustration I was thinking about in bed that very morning. Again, I stopped dead in my tracks! I thought, "Ok, Lord you have got my attention!" The whole point of the illustration was 1 Thes 5:2-8:2\tFor yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.3\tFor when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.4\tBut ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5\tYe are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6\tTherefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7\tFor they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.8\tBut let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.Now, this may not seem like much, but it got my attention! Rise up, while there is yet time. Wipe the sleep from your eyes. Get in the Word. There may be a time when we won't be able to read 10 chapters a day. That's what I know he's telling me. It sounds like he's telling you guys the same thing. It's sobering.

nadineHeh, heh... sounds like me getting ready in the morning. It's so true... you can't get back the time you lost. Only God can help us set our priorities right and make the most of everyday!Thanks for sharing with us the things God is teaching you through the Scriptures.

Hello all. I can't believe it. In one month, we are almost a 1/3 of the way through the bible. The amazing thing is, the first few weeks, it took some effort to get through the daily 10 chapters. It seemed like, I was reading for the sake of just getting through. And I was having a hard time understanding it, but now, things have changed. I prayed that the Holy Spirit will give me the desire and help me to understand as I am reading. Now, I don't even realize it but I end up reading beyond the assigned section and I am finally starting to understand much differently. I even have time to meditate as I am reading. Phil 2.13 "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."If anyone is struggling or is having a hard time reading the assigned section, Ask Lord Jesus to give you the desire and power to read His word.Aaron

Aaron,Your testimony as it regards this four month Bible Reading Plan was a great blessing to me personally and an encouragement.Possibly I have referred to this passage in Philippians more than any other in the past ten years of messages. Much has been written, spoken and referred to as of late concerning revival, repentance and holliness. And I look for and anticipate the fruits of this message being an incurable appetite for Scripture and prayer in the lives of the recipients. Which brings us directly back to this Philippians passage.thanks for sharing,tony

If anyone is struggling or is having a hard time reading the assigned section, Ask Lord Jesus to give you the desire and power to read His word.AaronI know what you mean when you said at times you felt like you were reading for the sake of just reading. I've had to pray as well that I'm not just striving to stick to this plan, but that each time I read, I am praying that the Holy Spirit would speak to me through God's living Word.General Address[laughs] I had caught up about a week ago, but once again I am a few days behind. That would be why I haven't posted anything. But... I'm going to post anyway now.Yesterday I was totally amazed (and reminded) by the awesome miracles God performed through His prophet Elisha (about 2 Kings 2-6). I just found this deep yearning in me for God to do anything He would like in and through me. Miracles aren't a thing of old. I don't just want to read about them in a book, or hear them from the mouth of someone else. I want to personally experience God doing awesome things through His Holy Spirit. I don't want to doubt Him anymore, I don't want to be skeptical of the things I don't fully comprehend, I don't want to hinder or quench the Holy Spirit... I want to be an empty vessel, ready to be used by God for His glory!

"I want to be an empty vessel, ready to be used by God for His glory!"All I can say to that is Amen!!!!Aaron

For those interested, I am working on a 6 month Bible Reading Plan that will go from March to August 2005. A sister emailed me and asked if I could send her a 6 month plan since a 4 month plan was too much.Once I complete it, I will send it to this sister and to Greg. I'm sure from there Greg will make it available to all of you who want to get involved like he did the 4 Month Bible Reading Plan.Plan or no plan... be encouraged to be in God's Word daily. It's the best way to know the heart, mind and character of the Lover of your soul. Through His Word and through daily prayer with Him, we find our purpose, our path... HIS will! He has a plan people, and He wants us ALL involved. What a blessing for God to invite us to be a part of His plans for the whole world, for each individual person, and for eternity! Seek Him with ALL your heart, mind, soul and strength!

YodiI lost a “few” days but I’m almost caught up now…a little too late I know…James

A little secret... I'm supposed to have started 2 Chronicles 34 today but I'm only in chapter 6. Again, it's not about keeping up with a plan, it's about being encouraged to daily be in the Word of God and being blessed by what God shows you and others. I think it helps produce true, deep fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Keep plugging away everyone. It's critical to be in the Word. I've spent more time in the Word in the last six months than I have my whole life (or pretty close to that).That's not a testimony to me but a testimony to how Jesus has given me a hunger for Him. Thank you Jesus.

Seek the LordThis is the craziest thing to me, but "Seek the Lord" seems to be the phrase that God keeps bringing up in my Bible reading and just in various other places. Last night I was reading through 2 Chronicles and kept coming across phrases like"honestly sought to obey the LORD" (11:17), "seek the LORD" (15:12), "Eagerly they sought after God" (15:15), "sought the LORD" (20:3), "seek the LORD" (20:4)... and then this morning I found this quote on my calendar, "But if... you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29, NIV). Isn't that a sweet promise?! That if we seek the Lord sincerely, eagerly, wholeheartedly, we'll find Him?! It's wonderful that He wants to be found by us. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. Will you let Him in?GideonsThat is so awesome and encouraging! Thanks for sharing the testimony of what God is doing in you!

Phew! I had fallen behind again by 4 or 5 days, but by the grace of God I was able to finish Job last night.In my New Living Translation, it gives a brief description of each book of the Bible. I liked what my Bible had to say about the book of Job:"The problem of human suffering is pondered by most everyone at some time or another. The book of Job addresses this ancient and difficult problem. It tells the story of Job, a godly man who endured an enormous amount of suffering while remaining faithful to God... Job realizes that ultimately God is in charge and knows what He is doing. So Job remained silent and stood in awe of God's sovereignty. In the end, God restored Job's health, possessions, and family."My favorite verses from the book of Job:"There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil." - Job 1:1JOB"I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!""In all this, Job did not sin by blaming God." - Job 1:21-22JOB"You talk like a godless woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?""So in all this, Job said nothing wrong." - Job 2:10ELIPHAZ"In the past you have encouraged many a troubled soul to trust in God; you have supported those who were weak. Your words have strengthened the fallen; you steadied those who wavered. But now when trouble strikes, you faint and are broken. Does your reverence for God give you no confidence? Shouldn't you believe that God will care for those who are upright?" - Job 4:3-6

The Psalms have been so encouraging to me! Do you realize how many times the Psalms mention the words "trust", "joy", "happy", "thanks", "praise", "worship", "forgive"?What's touched me the most are the verses that mention the joy that's found in being in the presence of the Lord."Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live. There I will go to the altar of God, to God - the source of all my joy."- Psalm 43:3-4That's what I want my life's focus to be on; the Lord. I want to focus on His goodness, His faithfulness, His justice, His forgiveness, His restoration, His righteousness, His unfailing love. That's where we're going to find our hope, joy and peace.Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Savior and my God!"- Psalm 43:5Whether we're struggling with doubts, fears, unbelief, or overcome by the sinfulness of man, or longing for revival in the church... we can trust in the goodness of God to take care of all the things that matter to us."I am overcome with joy because of Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul."- Psalm 31:7

I just wanted to post that I am currently following this plan and I enjoy the daily structure I am aquiring. The Proverbs seem to be enlightening and being an alcohlic in recovery for thirteen years I found Prov 23:29-35 to be a very accurate depiction of the alcoholic.I hope to remain accountable and I am looking forward to Isaiah and particularly Jeremiah, one of my favorites. Thank you very much for this plan and also for this website which I have found to be very enriching and enlightening.God Bless, Rich

Yay! I'm very glad to hear that you've been blessed by both the Bible reading plan and this site.[laughs] Yeah... reading through Song of Solomon last night was... a bit difficult. I feel like it's a forbidden book for me. Afterall, the "Young Woman" encourages to not "awaken or stir love until it pleases." But, it's good to be reminded that God does smile down upon marriage and a good godly relationship. So, something to look forward to if it's indeed God's will for my life.Yes, I am very excited about reading Isaiah as well! I'm encouraged to know that people are still doing this too.

I love to read well written poetry and to express my feelings in words so the 'Song' book is like music to me. If I could look at someone and see so much deeper than the skin I think I would be starting down the right path. I must confess to having used the gift of poetry to sway a few young ladies in my day but all for nought unless I put Christ first. In the word is power not to be trifled with and many times over this is something I need to be taught. I've had to read this portion of Isaiah several times to begin to grasp it's effect but again the language itself is so very impressive, it leaves me in awe of the Holy Spirit.Rich

Hello all.Hope you are enjoying this bible reading plan as much as I am. I have a question. Does anyone know of any good website which gives you a historical setting and other info (almost like a bible handbook). I have a "Holman Pocket Bible Handbook" but it is not detailed enough. Thanks, Aaron

gtenigma wrote:I have a question. Does anyone know of any good website which gives you a historical setting and other info (almost like a bible handbook). I have a "Holman Pocket Bible Handbook" but it is not detailed enough. Here are a few suggestions:"Mosaic" is a textbook-support website that has some interesting information.Bible Research Tools gives you extracts from the HarperCollins Bible dictionary.There are some great pictorial resources at the Holy Land Photos site.Hope that helps! David.

Thank You brother Greg and David.Aaron

Hope you are enjoying this bible reading plan as much as I am.Yes, I am enjoying this Bible plan very much. God is giving me such an understanding, not just personal application. It's so important to know what the Word of God says, in context, not just verses people quote here and there repetatively. God's going to be faithful to make Himself known to us as we seek Him.I know we're supposed to be in Jeremiah (I'm gettin' there), but just wanted to share overall concerning Isaiah... God just opened up my eyes to His heart for the children of Israel. I always personally applied the verses He spoke to Israel, taking it as His heart for me. Yes, it is true, but in context He was talking to the children of Isreal, calling them back to Himself. Reminding them that He chose them; that they are His special possession. God wills for all men to be saved, but it's a special thing when God places a certain group of people on your heart. It started with Ukraine. But now I think God is opening up my heart for Israel. It was precious to read about God's heart for the lost... whether Jew or Gentile. He wants everyone to know that He alone is God.

I just finished Zeph 2 so I guess that makes me up-to-date. Some fav verses... Mic 7:19 He will again have compassion on us, He will sudue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. Zeph 1:12 "And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish men who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart,'The LORD will not do good Nor will He do evil.'" I find it very fascinating that the prophets confront the same sins over and over and the word of God Almighty doesn't change, not even one jot or tittle :-o I really don't have some thrilling insights or brilliant thoughts to share but I am very comforted in the fact that the LORD God never changes, seems strange... ;-) Rich.. just plodding along

Hey brothers, When is the next 4 month plan going ot be posted?

I think Greg is planning on posting up a year plan. The 4 Month Bible Plan ends this month, on April 30th. I forgot the guy's name... but he really wants to post up... I think, Robert McChain's 1 year Bible Plan. If I messed up the name, sorry. Supposidely it will be the combination of the Old Testament, Psalms, and New Testament in each day's reading, if I'm not mistaken.I'm looking forward to it... [laughs] if I can finish this plan in enough time. I just started Matthew and I think I'm supposed to be in Luke. But I'm getting blessed and I don't want to overload myself. We read the Word for God to speak to us and teach us and mold us... not to say that we read the Bible in such and such amount of time. Knowledge is just knowledge if we don't allow God to apply it to ourlives.

I appreciate you letting me know...I went ahead and followed the same design and format and put together my own. I'll send it to him and see if its helpful...either way, I'll look for it when it comes up.Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you brother.- Josh

Yodi:I'm looking forward to it... [laughs] if I can finish this plan in enough time. I just started Matthew and I think I'm supposed to be in Luke. But I'm getting blessed and I don't want to overload myself. We read the Word for God to speak to us and teach us and mold us... not to say that we read the Bible in such and such amount of time. Knowledge is just knowledge if we don't allow God to apply it to ourlives.Amen brother.....I'm only on Mark 6 right now, but it has been so refreshing. Systematic reading and study is necessary if we are to learn as we should, but you are so right in that we need to stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit as to what He is saying to us (meditating the word). We should judge what we know by what we practice...we would be much more humble that way. Knowledge just *puffs* up, but love builds up. Hearing and not doing is just another deceptive trap we fall into when we get all caught up in "what we can learn". Anyways...need to get back to work. The L_ord truly bless each of you.- Josh

Hello brothers and sisters who started the bible reading plan with me way back in Genesis and also in Matthew. Today is the last day in our plan. Congratulations to all who finished and are going to finish. By the way, are we going to start another Bible reading plan starting tomorrow?I would love to do this same thing again.Aaron

I see Aaron completed the plan...wonderful!!just curious if anyone else finished the 4 month reading plan?It was a rather rigorous schedule but no doubt worth it. One positive for me personally, was being weaned off the daily newspaper. Was not possible for me to keep up with both. Much scripture will equal much revival, little scripture will equal little revival.God Bless,tony

have a blessed new year