“I thought you finished the Bible. Why are you reading it again?” he asks. I’m sprawled the length of the couch, my head propped on a pillow, reading glasses on my nose, the black New Living Translation in my hands. “Oh honey,” I say, craning to look at my son, Noah, “I’ll never be finished with the Bible. Just because I read it all the way through one time doesn’t mean I’m done. Every single time I read the Bible I find something new.”
I completed my first cover-to-cover read-through of the Bible, including all the begets and the endless lists of laws, just a few days before Christmas. I was definitely not on the “Bible-in-90-days” plan. More like the Bible in 690 days. It took me far longer than a year to read the Old and New Testaments, and truth be told, Revelation nearly did me in. About halfway through I said to my husband, “I may not finish. I don’t think I’m going to make it through Revelation.” But I did. I don’t claim to have understood a word of that last book, but I read it. I may need to take a class.
…Will you hop over to the Lincoln Journal Star to read about why I’m not nearly finished with the Bible…I’ll see you over there…
I so agree Michelle, I am starting to read it over again too, and Genesis with all the begets is driving me crazy but I am realizing that I can get something out of every Chapter. I have to believe that there is a very important reason they are all listed by name, I guess God is saying that they all matter, and WE all matter too. Every life is part of the big story. I have a wonderful recording of the book of Revelation. The gal that reads it literally lifts you out of your seat and makes it come alive
Always enjoy your posts! Lori
I had to write a devotion for my church’s Lenten devotional booklet about a section of Luke that is ONLY begets – I had NO idea what in the world I was going to say. But I think I concluded something similar to what you say here: that we are all related as children of God and yes, that we all matter in his heart.
What a great article. I find this to be true as well. Just this weekend, I read a passage (in Exodus!) I thought I knew, and multiple new points surfaced. The way I keep learning from the “same old” words, never ceases to amaze me. It keeps the Bible in the #1 spot on my favorite books list
I’ve embarked on that same project of reading through the Bible with the help of 66 Love Letters by Larry Crabb. I think it will probably take me as long as it took you, and I’ll never be “done” reading it.
Blessings, Michelle!
I read through the Bible for the first time after I turned 50. I was surprised by the many *new* things that I learned. Mostly things about Jesus – He was no wimp!! Yes, the Bible is truly the LIVING Word of God – and it continues to work its way into my heart and into my life.
It is God’s love story – and I am privileged to be part of it!
GOD BLESS!
I went from being Mrs. Bible Encyclopedia to Nothin’ But Psalms to the daily lectionary. And it feels just right for right now.
The important thing is to keep reading, even when you get lost in the tall weeds of Revelation and such. Heck, I’m reading “Great Expectations” right now, and if it weren’t for Karen Swallow Prior’s “Booked,” I wouldn’t have a clue what I’m reading.
Such a good point, Megan: just keep reading it, even when you get mired. The Bible is hard — tough stuff in there.
Pretty amazing that you were reading nothing but the Psalms for a while — I find the Psalms pretty challenging. I once told my pastor they could all be boiled down into about 10 – I guess I don’t appreciate them as much as I should.
I think the readers of that Lincoln newspaper are so blessed to read your words with each column. Well done, good friend!
Jean, you are the sweetest. Thank you.
Ever heard the children’s song: I’m a miner, diggin’ in the word of God? Finding gems and precious jewels, digging in the word of God? Etc. There’s sure a lot of treasures, but you got to dig!