Bible reading update- There's an app for that!

Okay, so I have started in on my second week of reading through the Bible in 40 days. The first week was kinda stressful, to tell you the truth. I was falling behind. Friday night I realized I have the Bible on CD, so I could listen in the car. Saturday morning I realized I could move those to my iPhone and listen even more. Later that day, my friend Becky told me about this great app with an audio Bible. (Lo, and behold, I had that app!)

So now I listen to the Bible, and if I can sit and read, I read along with the author on the iPad. Jeff asked me last night if I'm truly listening, and I said that yes, most of the time I am. There are times where I realize I have just zoned out and didn't "get" it, but I do that when I am reading anyway. Last night I was at the grocery store listening and the narrator said something that sparked my attention. I had to rewind a chapter and listen again. Yesterday something else stood out to me, so I paused the reading and grabbed my physical Bible to highlight the verse and write a note. I am getting so much more out of listening than I would be getting from reading right now, because sitting down to read is not always practical. Yesterday I got laundry done, lunch made, and the kitchen cleaned while listening to the Bible being read to me. Having a 13 and 12 year old is great for that because they can let me know if I'm needed, since I can't hear everything going on with earbuds in! Last night I actually "read" ahead by 6 chapters. It helps that I've read it all before, so much of this is familiar. When I get past Isaiah I wonder how it will go.

The kids have been great through it all. Spring has truly sprung here, and all they want to do is play outside. That's not all I let them do, but since summers are so miserable here, I think it's best to let them play while it's still nice out. I haven't let them in on the secret yet, but as of tomorrow, we are going down to just math and our literature so they can have more time to play. I was planning to teach through summer anyway, so we will do more work when it's hotter. In the car they haven't had problems with me listening to the Bible reading. (The phone plugs into the car radio.) But I don't do it the whole time.

In case you're slightly curious and aren't familiar with Eastertide (the time between the resurrection and Pentecost) here is my timeline:
Mon Apr 1 - Sat Apr 6 -- Genesis 1 - Numbers (Sunday rest)
Mon Apr 8 - Sat Apr 13 -- Deuteronomy - 2 Kings 5 (Sunday rest)
Mon Apr 15 - Sat Apr 20 -- 2 Kings 6 - Psalm 50 (Sunday rest)
Mon Apr 22 - Sat Apr 27 -- Psalm 51- Jeremiah 18 (Sunday rest)
Mon Apr 29 - Sat May 4 -- Jeremiah 19 - Malachi
Mon May 6 - Sat May 11 -- Matthew - 1 Corinthians
Mon May 13 - Wed May 15 -- 2 Corinthians - Revelation

That gives me 3 days at the end. I would like to finish on time, but maybe I'll need those days to finish, maybe not.

OH! and in case you're curious- the app is YouVersion Bible app.

Finally reading the whole thing!

I haven't really mentioned that I was doing this, I suppose, as a way of getting out of it if it proved too difficult for me. I'm still not convinced it's possible for me in the "season" I'm in. However, my heart has been hungry for the Word for so long and if I can read as many books as I do, what is my real excuse? I have started reading through the bible a couple of times. Beginning in Genesis I have gone as far as Isaiah. Starting in the New Testament I usually fizzle out in Romans or Galatians. Now, I think some of my problem is a lack of goal-setting. Sure, I want to read the whole Bible, but when will I finish it? Whenever. But that doesn't work for me. For someone who procrastinates, time unfolds into years with no progress. For someone who works well under pressure, then pressure must be good. (Sometimes, anyway.) And what better thing to pressure myself to do?

So here's the plan. Out in the open. Not to be judged if I don't make it, but maybe to make it a real goal for me. I am reading the Bible in 40 days. Insane? Yes. Unattainable? We'll see. Not very convenient at the end of a school year where I'm homeschooling 4 kids among other things. But I will try.

I heard about such craziness through our Deaconess at HopePointe. She follows this blog: http://margaretfeinberg.com/our-gift-to-you-free-reading-plan-for-the-40-day-bible-reading-challenge/#more-13905
Margaret followed this plan for Lent. During Lent I was reading through the Proverbs and thought maybe next Lent for the Bible. But somewhere along he line I felt like now is better. So during Eastertide, which is actually 50 days, I decided to take on this challenge. I rewrote the dates on a checklist for myself but kept the readings the same.

So far I have had difficulty at night finishing between 2-4 of the final chapters, so I start the morning catching up and then some. My regular reading time is bedtime, so I am adjusting to reading at other times. That is improving day by day. I am not getting to spend much time "soaking in the Word;" it's more like "breathing" it in. You'd be surprised what a fresh breath it is! There is even fresh breath to be had in Leviticus. (That's today.) So I must be on my way. I won't promise to blog about my progress, but maybe some Fb status updates. As of this moment I'm slightly surrounded by little people vying for my attention. And maybe a little breakfast. So I should go. :)