Guest post by Janet, Bible in 90 Days grad and mentor.
True Confession #1: Before this challenge, I had never read the Bible before. I take that back. I had never read the ENTIRE Bible before.
I know many of you are in this same boat, unless you’re a seminary student or a pastor or something. In which case, I hope you’ve read the whole Bible.
True Confession #2: I didn’t go to church regularly as a child. I believed in God and I went to church occasionally and I considered myself a Christian and all, but I didn’t “get” what it was all about. When I did go to church, I found it kind of boring. (I’m trying to be honest here. I bet a lot of you can relate at some point or another in your life.)
I always WANTED to belong to a church and go regularly, but I never found the right “fit.”
A few years ago, soon after I had my daughter, that all changed. I decided I wanted to go to church regularly and become “a part of it all.” My husband and I, along with our daughter, became members at the church we had been married in, where she had been baptized, and where we had occasionally attended.
Soon after, I started attending a weekly Bible study. I found one where I thought I belonged, a young adult Bible study. I enjoyed it immensely.
True Confession #3: The only Bible story I could ever seem to recall off the top of my head was the Christmas story surrounding Jesus’ birth. The problem with Bible study was when I began to realize how LITTLE I knew about the Bible. I didn’t know if I even should be there. I longed to learn more and this was my whole reason for attending church and Bible study in the first place.
Fast forward a few months. I followed numerous blogs and somehow stumbled upon Mom’s Toolbox. They had recently completed a round of B90Days with Mom’s Toolbox and were about to start up another online session. I was intrigued. I didn’t really know how it would all work out but I made up my mind I would sign up. When sign ups rolled around, I did. I knew no one. I knew people who had participated in other B90Days challenges, but no one who had done one online. I knew it was right for me for various reasons. We all have our own reasons ;)
I began reading (my trick was reading on my Kindle as I worked out each day) and completed the Winter program in LESS than 90 days. I participated in the Twitter meetups weekly and loved the camaraderie, support, and love I found in others there. (Prior to this challenge, I didn’t even know how to use Twitter. I’m halfway techy and all, but I just hadn’t ventured into the world of tweeting).
It wasn’t easy. I won’t lie. I work full time outside of the home and am a Mommy. I read every day, sometimes getting up early and other times enjoying the peace of my daughter’s naptime to stay caught up. I got behind a few times but always managed to catch up… and I TRIED to stay slightly ahead at all times to give myself a safety net.
True Confession #4: I snuck in some reading while I was manning the church nursery on a few Sunday mornings!
I didn’t understand every word or every passage, but I understood the overall meaning.
True Confession #5: I still don’t know the books in order but I’m getting better.
True Confession #6: I am a proud wearer (is that a word) of my B90Days t-shirt. I have it on right now in fact. (Coincidence? I think not…)
The summer session lies ahead and I am anxiously awaiting its beginning. I am signed up as a mentor this round and am thrilled to have the opportunity. This coming from a girl who FIRST read the whole Bible this year! I don’t claim myself as an expert BY ANY MEANS, but I know I have the love and passion (and prayers) to support anyone else who desires this experience.
With that, I challenge YOU to join me in taking on the Bible in 90 Days.
I did it… and YOU can too!
Janet is wife to a pilot husband and mommy to a toddler daughter living in Ohio. She first read the Bible in 90 Days in Winter 2011 and is honored to have the opportunity to mentor this round. Janet is a pediatric nurse practitioner who enjoys scrapbooking, sports, reading, and traveling. She can be found on Twitter at @janet28rn.
Leave a Reply