This will be a rather calm celebration as there hasn’t been a lot of progress here. At least, not in the memory department.

I did get the first stanza of Psalm 103 memorized, and now I have something to continue working on (unlike those projects where you finish and then you are all sad because it’s over and you have this big empty hole in your life). [That's called positive spin, folks]

Here is Psalm 103, first stanza (v 1-5) (with corrections)

Bless the Lord, O My Soul,

and all that is within me,

bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good,

so that your youth is may be renewed like the eagle’s.

I had started this personal challenge over the Christmas holidays, but I found the blog today and I’m excited about it. One of the features is a weekly question about our Bible reading or related topics.

I will do a little catch up here.

Question 1: Are you a goal setter? Do you set goals for yourself? How often? Yearly? Monthly? Weekly? Daily? If you don’t meet your goals, do you beat yourself up about it? How do you stay motivated and on task? Do you have goals about your Bible reading? Why or why not?

I am a definite goal setter. I have learned to be flexible and evaluate how I react when I don’t meet a goal. I try to avoid being too flexible, though, and rendering the goal useless. I like lists and the usually work as a motivator for some goals, if I keep them visible.

My goal for my Bible reading this year is to do something every day, no matter how small. I prefer to read an entire book at a time, so I read a group of chapters at a time when possible and do that each day until I am finished.

Question 2: Last week it was all about goals. This week is slightly related to that. It’s about plans–Bible reading plans to be exact. Do you need a plan to stay on track? Do you find reading plans helpful? Or are they more of a hindrance to you? Do you have a plan B? In other words, do you have it worked out what you’re going to do when you fall behind, forget, get frustrated, get bored, etc.? (There are a dozen excuses why it might happen.) Do you see this as an all or nothing proposition?

I believe  Bible Reading plan is a good thing and I encourage their use. I usually advise people not to use one to do the entire Bible in a year, maybe 2 or 3 or even 4 years. Personally, I lose interest in the typical Bible reading plan and that doesn’t end well. I have learned that I do better to read one book in its entirety and then move on. This year, we are studying the Old Testament in our Wednesday night services so I will read those books along with the church.

Question 3: Which Bible character do you identify with most? Is there one that you can really relate to and understand? What is it about the story or character that gets to you?

It’s funny, as I read this question, Hannah came to mind. Then I read Becky’s answer and she started with Hannah. I love Hannah’s song and that usually leads me to Mary’s song – the implicit trust and faith is something I admire and strive for.

Question 4: Do you prefer reading Bibles in paperback, hardback, or leather? Do you prefer red letter or black letter? Do you have a favorite translation of the Bible? Why? What is it that you love? Do you prefer reading text-only Bibles? Or do you prefer reading study Bibles? Do you have a favorite study Bible?

I have used all of the above and I think they all have a good purpose and a time and a place. Currently I am reading a hardback ESV Reformation Study Bible. I have gotten better at ignoring the notes when I need to or want to just read the Bible. But the notes are there if something comes up. I am very comfortable with the NIV. I turn to the NASB and the Amplified at times because I like hearing the different ways things are put. The 23rd Psalm is memorized in KJV.

I have one red-letter but I tend not to read it often. I agree with Becky, that the red text can pull my eyes away from the other text. Sometimes I think that is a good way to approach the words, to realize that the whole Bible is inspired, but these are the Words of The Word.

Happy Reading!

Here’s one more challenge that fits within all the others. This one has to be finished by April 30.

I’ll list some I’ve already done, some I’m currently reading, and the ones I plan to read by end of April.

• Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God by David McCasland – currently listening to in the mornings
• George Muller of Bristol: His Life of Prayer and Faith by A. T. Pierson – on the Kindle waiting for free time
• The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton – on the desk right now, will start it this week
• Mere Christianity – just finished it this week
• The 7 Hardest Things God Asks a Woman To Do by Kathie Reimer & Lisa Whittle – started, need to get back to it

I March we are going to the Ligonier National Conference and I expect to come back with a stack of books by Sproul, Lawson, Carson and others.

With the 999 Challenge and the Chunkster Challenge, this one fits right in as a sure thing.

I’ll list 4 just to have them on here:

• To Kill a Mockingbird (because I don’t remember anything except Boo behind the door from when I read it and watched it in junior high)
• Jane Eyre (because again, I can’t remember what I read years ago)
• Heart of Darkness (I just finished this last week, but certainly a classic)
• The Trial by Franz Kafka

What am I reading now?

I have checked out Les Miserables for the Classics Bookclub in March. I also have Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton.

Maybe another LM Montgomery book for something fun. I am listening to Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God by David McCasland

What have I read?

I completed the books on my nightstand list from Dec. Here are some of the reviews.

I’ve also read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, Plain Secrets by Joe Mackall, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Never Say Diet by Chantal Hobbes,

Then I read  Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe along with his online essay about Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. My review and thoughts on both works can be found here.