Just a warning: There will be some tough love in this post. But it’s really in here for your own good. Or for your fellow readers’ good.
And I do love you just the same whether you finish with us in October or not.
Okay, here goes:
I feel compelled to ask the question: How is your reading coming along?
I just care too much about this and don’t want anyone to get left behind.
For some of you, you are cruising along, having the time of your life, feeling inspired at every turn.
Others of you are plowing through, making changes in your schedule and staying on track.
A few of you are also plowing along, loving it, but feeling a little behind here and there.
And then there are some of you who feel as though you are so behind that there may not be any hope in finishing with the rest of us October 2.
If you are in the last group, you may start to wonder if you should even try to catch up. (Although I hope Kari’s post last week on a mega almost-30-day catch up cleared that up for a bunch of you.)
You might start justifying stopping by saying “I’m reading more of the Bible than I have, so I’ll just switch to the one-year plan,” Or, ” I’ll pick back up in a few days and finish in 110. Nothing lost if I do that. I’m spending more time in the Word, so that’s okay, right?”
To this I say “No, it is not okay. ” (I warned you about the tough love.)
When you decided that you wanted to jump in and join us in this challenge, you did it for a reason. And that was because you wanted to commit yourself to read, attentively, every word of the Bible in 90 days with the rest of us. You likely also had a reason why you wanted that.
I’d like for you to think back on why you wanted to read every word of the Bible in 90 days. Write it down. And let’s make that happen. Together.
We don’t have face-to-face meetings as most 90-day reading groups have, so it’s a bit of a challenge for me and our team of mentors to encourage every single one of you individually. But every single one of you is important to us. And as a group we can encourage each other to get it done.
If you fall out of the group, you will lose the rest of your team praying for you and cheering for you. And you’ll lost the accountability factor which definitely leads to success in this program.
If you stop now, it is quite likely you will not pick back up again. And it is very likely you will not finish. Ever.
I want you to finish. For you.
So what can I do to help? And what can the rest of our team of readers do to help? Leave a comment with why you are struggling or how we can pray for you. And I’ll do whatever I can to help you succeed. Also, send your mentor a note directly and let her know you are struggling. She wants to encourage and help you, too. If you signed up using the B90 Days form a few weeks back and you don’t know who your mentor is, please send me a note and I’ll let you know. Or if you didn’t sign up that way and would like a mentor, I would be happy to set you up with one.
For those that aren’t behind, or aren’t in danger of slipping too far back, I have a few questions for you:
1. Why did you decide to read the Bible in 90 days and why are you sticking to it?
2. Have you seen any change in your life as a result of this commitment? If so, what?
Please, whether you are behind, on schedule or ahead, consider leaving a comment that might help someone else who needs it as your check in comment this week. Also let us know where you are in the reading. I promise no judgment no matter where you are, just lots of love.
And, as always, please feel free to email me anytime using the green button on my sidebar.
I really love each of you and want to celebrate in October with all of you after having read the entire Bible together. You CAN do it!
So… how’s it coming? Please leave a comment at the end of this post as this week’s check in and, if you are blogger, you know the linky drill: Be sure to link up directly to your blog post and also mention and link to this post on the post on your own blog.
You will be able to leave a comment on this post until I close the comments right after I wake up Tuesday morning. You will be able to join the linky until Tuesday at 2 a.m. CST. To view the comments once they are closed, click on the title of this post. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the post and click where it says “127 Comments.” This will open the comments up for viewing. There are some very encouraging ones, so I would encourage you to take a look if you have time.
I’m excited for each of you for having the courage to commit to this challenge. And I know your life will be changed by Him after reading the whole Bible, cover to cover, in 90 days.
Hope to catch ya tonight on Twitter from 8-9 CST using the #B90Days hashtag! Bring your questions and get ready to chat!
Comments
127 responses to “B 90 Days Week 5/ Day 29 Check In”
I am behind, but still reading. This week our summer work schedule ends and we are back to a normal schedule. This should help since I have more time in the mornings before leaving the house. I am still loving it! Before beginning when others would talk about taking in chunks of the word and seeing a larger picture, that was hard for me to believe. But I have found it to be true. Even if I’m behind (for now) I am so glad to have joined, and do plan to finish in 90 days.
I’m about a day behind, but hopeful that I can catch up today. Really blessed by being in the Word so much throughout the day.
I’m here and I’m moving right along. Life is crazy right now and some days I am right on target and others I end up a day or more behind and end up playing catch up.
I’m still here. And I’m still behind in my reading. I need to refocus my efforts. One problem is that I haven’t been getting up early enough, and I know it would make a huge difference if I did more of my reading before everyone else in my family was up. But I *will* keep going.
Still behind, but still pluggin’ along. Determined to finish on time!!
I am 3days behind but am really enjoying reading the word of God. I have learned so much and feel like I will understand the New Testament so much more by reading the Bible from cover to cover. I had been 5 days behind but beganreasing just a little bit moreeach day.
First and foremost, I sincerely apologize for not posting last week. I was winding down after just returning from a much needed family trip and, although it is not by any means an excuse, posting my comment slipped my mind. I am still a bit behind, but I am making fantastic strides in catching up. Almost there! To answer your question, there was a time not too long ago that I almost abandoned ship. I was so discouraged and felt that I could not catch up and finish this task in 90 days. Turns out all I needed to do was take a look around me and notice all of the small changes in my life that had come about since I began reading the Bible to put me back on track. For the first time in my life, I’m starting to appreciate everything that I have been blessed with that I tended to overlook much too often in the past. I’m feeling better about myself and I’m beginning to live each and everyday with a deeper appreciation for life itself. I’m growing more spiritually than I ever thought possible. I’m even feeling better medically. For the last three years I have been battling folliculitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Both conditions have made, and continue to make, my daily life an increasing struggle. Since embarking on this Bible-reading adventure, I am noticing relief from my folliculitis symptoms and my daily arthritis pain for the first time ever. I am so thankful for the deeper relationship with God that I am creating and for everything that He continues to bless me with. There is no way I could possible allow myself to give up now!
I’m just starting today’s reading…seem to be perpetually one day behind!! It’s important for me not to beat myself up over this (while still trying to get caught right up!) – I’m such a perfectionist and my tendency would be to say ‘oh well, see, I can’t do it, I might as well quit.’ I have a pretty quiet week and WILL catch up that pesky one day behind!
I signed up for B90Days because although I’ve read all of the Bible at various times in my life, I’ve never read it straight through (started the yearly/3 year plans tons of times…). I really felt that it would be beneficial for me to get the ‘big picture’ in a short period of time to complement the intense, detailed studies I’m doing in my Precepts study group.
As a result of the reading I’ve done so far, it’s just really deepened my awe and love for the Lord – it’s all His story and there is so much good stuff there to learn!!
I’m behind. 4 days. i know I’ll get caught up, but it didn’t happen last weekend. I’m still pumped to be doing this again! Work is more plentiful in the summer and I’m grateful for every hour, whether it’s work from home or at the stores I’m at here in Mn vacationland. The other day at work I came in with a finished store project (one job is at a quilt store). My co-worker asked if I stayed up all night to get it done in one day. I said no, I had to stop at 11 to get my hour reading in. She knew I did Bible in 90days Jan-Mar and asked why I was doing it again. I said I was reading it again because it is a very GOOD BOOK!!! she laughed and said well, it is a best seller. GOD IS GOING TO USE EVERY CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO GET GLORY FOR HIS NAME. I need to be faithful, even if I did get behind I know I can catch up. This is not about me, it is about honoring God in my everyday.
Finally caught up over the weekend. Even though it’s a challenge some days to find time to read a large chunk I am learning so much and really enjoying my time in the Word. This challenge has been so good in motivating me to read the Bible daily and not put it off until tomorrow. What a wonderful blessing this has been in my life.
I got a little behind in the reading last week. I was waiting in the airport Wed night kind of mad that my work blackberry wasn’t working and that I left my cell phone charger at home. I got out my Bible and started reading. I had no other distractions to take me away from my reading. my lack of technology was a true blessing! I caught up with the reading and even got a little ahead of schedule.
I added my link this morning but forgot to check in so here I am LOL I would like to encourage each one to keep reading & take notes along the way, you never know what you say may encourage & uplift someone as well as you as you visit each other’s post
Helen
I’m still right on schedule! Hoping not to use the 2 grace days either!
I’m almost two days behind! *lament* But today was a crazy day, and I hope to at least mostly catch up tomorrow. Hope the Twitter party was awesome! Oh, and thanks for the prayers; my Little Girl’s lip is doing great!
Still behind. Still reading. Still committed to catching up and finishing by Oct 2. It’s been rough during the summer with all day activities with the children. I am going on a trip and plan to read on the flights, and then school will start soon and I will have pockets of time there.
I would appreciate prayers, as there are several attacks lately on my family.
Laura
A few days behind. Going to start waking up early to read more and catch up
I am still behind. have not got to read any in a few days. going to start again tomorrow to catch up.
I am thankful that I managed to stay on track this week, even though it was a busy week. I know I must sound like a broken record but what is really helping me is carrying my Bible with me and taking advantage of minutes here and there throughout the day. For example, I was waiting for something to boil on the stove the other day so I propped my Bible up beside the stove so I could stir the pot once in a while and I read while I waited. Another day I was BBQing and I took my Bible out with me and read in between checking on the food on the BBQ. Every little bit like this helps.
Thanks so much for the reminder to think back to why we decided to join this program in the first place. I am still a ways behind (on day 19) and certainly had to fight thoughts of giving up after the first week. Then I remembered that I knew from the outset this would be a difficult stretch for me, timewise, until the end of August (due to my husband’s job). I vividly remember being very aware of that and then feeling the need to do this NOW anyway because I always let something come before my time with God. And you know what? Even though I have been behind almost from the beginning, I am still reading everyday and loving being in God’s word. I also know He will continue to provide the opportunities for me to catch up!
I’m behind. But, I’m still hanging in there.
still going well! thanks for the accountability check up! I am doing this to reach out to my lord, to hear his story and love letter to me and to try? to understand Him. Every time I read I have to remind myself to not to study just read!! Weird to think how addicted/dependant I have been on studying instead of seeing the whole big picture of God’s plan and love for his creation!! thanks, k
I am about halfway through yesterday’s reading. I plan on working on it tonight and being totally caught up by tomorrow night!!
Checking in… I am caught up- still have to read today’s tonight (I’m on PST, so I still have a few hours). I absolutely love reading the Bible like this. Until a few months ago, it had never occurred to me to do this, which leads me to the first question…
1. I heard Charles Morris on the radio show, Haven Today, talking about B90 at the beginning of this year. I was intrigued, but didn’t think much about it. I then heard Amy’s interview on his show and was really intrigued. I loved all the great benefits she talked about and was really interested. Knowing my tendency to overcommit, I didn’t sign up until I PRAYED about it and made sure it was God wanting me to do this, not just me. He said “Yes,” and I signed up. I am sticking to it, because 1) God wants me to, 2)I’ve discovered that finishing what I start (being faithful to my commitments, even if they are personal) builds on itself increases the chances of me finishing my next commitment, and 3) People my age (41) tend to take on the challenge of a marathon, and since I have a commitment to never do marathon, I thought B90 would be a great challenge.
2)I am having a lot of clarity about God’s overall message in the Bible, and my “screen time” is down to the bare minimum (no time for TV and movies), which is a great thing.
Thanks for heading this up. Sorry for the overabundance of words.
Rachel
Well, I was caught up for several days, but am now about two days behind again. Today and the last couple of days have been hectic, so I’m feeling okay with being behind a tiny bit. I don’t see any problems with getting caught up tomorrow and staying on track after that hopefully :)
Even though I am overwhelmed with trying to catch up, I reuse to give-up or say that I’ll just finish late. God has not once failed me and I made a promise to Him to do this challenge. So I will finish and finish on time. I am loving what I’m learning about God. I must say that I am amazed on the amour of death and destruction and how easily the people went right back to their wrong way of life so quickly each and everytime God delivered people from harm or to a better life. This experience all 29 days of it has greatly changed me life. I am beginning to enjoy craving His word more than I ever imagined. Thanks Amy!!
I’m behind, and I got further behind this past week while we were out of town on a very busy mini-vacation. I’m going to work on getting caught up, though, so don’t count me out!!
I’m a little behind, currently on day 25. I fell behind last week while my husband was out of town, work was crazy, and the kid’s daycare was closed. Thankfully things are a little closer to “normal” this week and I really believe I will catch up.
I also want to say that one way I feel this challenge is changing me is that I actually find myself praying without even thinking about it. I’ve always struggled with my prayer life and now I just find myself talking to God. I don’t think I’d be doing that if it weren’t for this challenge.