Tuesday, June 16, 2009

In the Spirit of Honesty...

Sometimes I come clean on my blog. Other times, I suppose I figure if I leave it unsaid, it's ok. However, I have felt God's call for me to come clean on this one -- hopefully in the spirit of motivating others to examine their hearts as I have mine.

As many of you know, I am a Christian. I have been a Christian since I was in my early teens. It will not shock anyone who knows me well to know that I don't have a clue what age I was or the date I was baptized. My mother could tell you. It's probably on that calendar that hangs in her bathroom where she records all kinds of fascinating information.

As I wrote in my last post, I have always been a voracious reader (well, until the children came along and took a large part of my free time). I still try to read when I can and if I get my teeth in a good book I can finish it very quickly.

So, my heart is sad to report that I have never read the entire Bible all the way through. There. I've said it. It is out in the open. Feeling convicted about this, and knowing that when I stand in front of God on Judgement Day, I do not want to have to answer the question of why I read hundreds (possibly thousands) of books and yet never managed to fully read HIS WORD, after claiming to be a Christian. Now, mind you, I've read large chunks of the Bible and have studied many parts of the Bible, but I've never read it all. I've started the task many times in early January, only to fall by the wayside by March.

So, by posting on the blog, I'm hopeful that I will have some accountability to finish this time. I'm hopeful that in three months, someone will leave a comment saying, "Hey, how's the Bible reading coming?"; that in nine months someone will tap me and remind me, "You remember you wanted accountability" and that finally in about a year from now (or sooner would be great too), I can report that I am one of ONLY 10% of CHRISTIANS WHO CAN REPORT THEY'VE READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE. That statistic was staggering to me. I got that statistic here. I'm sure it's an estimate, but sadly, probably true.

So far, every night, I have been excited to read my sections. The Bible I'm reading has a passage from the Old Testament; one from the New Testament; one from Psalms and one from Proverbs. In all honesty, I've been most fascinated by the Old Testament. God has spoken to me every night, and I can't wait to hear His voice as I study Him through His letters to me.

So, have you read the Bible all the way through? Will you keep me in your prayers as I endeavor to complete this journey? Will you be my accountability partner as I work through this process? I hope you will join me if you haven't already.

7 comments:

Kimberly said...

HI Maria - that is awesome that God has been speaking to you during your time of reading His word. I love the Old Testament too - so many amazing stories that inspire, challenge and convict.
Blessings to you on the journey
Kimberly

Mary said...

Good for you Maria. I have to admit I'm one of those 90% that hasn't read it all the way through either. I think some of it seems a little over my head. I get bored easy. So what's your secret? Where do you start...and how much do you read? Keep us posted.
Mary

Mary from TN said...

I was actually challenged to read the Bible all the way through when I was teaching a tween girls' discipleship class at church. It was a requirement for their class, so I did it with them. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!!!! I'll be praying for you.
Mary from TN

Pamela said...

True confessions...me neither. Have definitely tried, but always got stuck about 1/3 of the way through the old testment. Have almost made my way through the new, but not completely.

Though, the one thing I can boast is having read Revelations more times than I can count. Need that blessing, ya know?

multimom said...

You inspire me, Maria. I have to admit that I have dabbled here and there but never actually completed it either, never really read the Bible from cover to cover. I think it's time to put together the pieces that I have read and try to go from start to finish. Hopefully I can make it! Thanks for the inspiration!

Ellen

imagine honesty said...

My favorite bible verses are the murderous and hateful ones! They really put Christianity in perspective for me. Then I dont feel so bad for being scorned, condemned and discriminated against by them.
Matthew 10: 34-39 Jesus admits the divisiveness of having faith that others are damned & don’t know what theyr talking
Luke 14:26 Jesus blatantly calls for hatred
Luke 19:27 Jesus calls for the death of those who would not have him be king!
Exodus 31:15 God contradicts thou shall not kill for working on the Sabbath
Exodus 19:21 God says Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye
2 Kings 18:27 talks about those who ”eat their own dung and drink their own piss”, lovely

Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

May God be praised as you love Him through studying and meditating upon His Word. And I am going to be re-baptized (my first baptism was not legitimate as I was not born again) in a few weeks myself.

http://healtheland.wordpress.com