It's the 1st of April and, besides being April Fool's Day, it's the first day of our challenge!

I got up this morning and I usually do not open up my Bible first thing. In fact, I usually don't even get dressed or eat breakfast first thing. What I usually do when I get up, is check my email! And if it's a particularly boring email day I'll go check up on my favorite blogs and pop around the internet for awhile. Before I know it, those few minutes have turned into a whole hour wasted on the computer. Time flies when you are having fun! This morning I made sure I did not fall into my normal routine. Time for a new pattern!

Everyone has 24 hours in a day, no more no less, and God has given each of us enough time in a day to get done what He wants us to do. When I do not get my Bible reading done in a day it is not because I don't have enough time but that I've wasted my time on other things that were less important. Here is sort of an ideal schedule from my pastor's wife, for her.

DAILY SCHEDULE
1 Prayer
1 Study
½ Discipleship class (3 hrs. @ wk.)
1 Travel
1 ½ Eating
1 ½ Conversation with husband
1 ½ Conversation with child(ren)
1 ½ Conversation with friend(s)
½ Cleaning (including reading mail), ironing, mending
½ Cooking
1 Family devotions
½ Shopping/errands/finances
1 Household projects/organizing
½ Hygiene (hair, makeup, showers, bathroom)
½ Exercise
1 Rest/Nap
8 Sleep
1 Margin (for unexpected delays)
24 hours

Where is the time for TV, magazines, movies, books, Internet surfing? What about the woman who is going to school or work? Or homeschooling her children? Where do doing craft projects fit in? Playing with, caring for a pet? Caring for and talking with aging parents? Gardening, yardwork? God has given us 24 hours in a day to do only what He asks us to do. We continuously need to be in communion with Him, asking Him to guide us to the task He wants us to accomplish or just work a little bit on during a particular day. John 8:28b,29 says, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.

Looking at my schedule I realized I most definitely spend more than 2 hours a day on the computer and sometimes more than 2 hours a day on the phone. Add that together and I've already used up half of an eight hour day! I Cor 6:12 says, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." In looking at this verse I realized I had some things that needed to be weeded back. All things are lawful can mean things like talking on the phone and blogging on the computer. They are certainly allowable for me as a Christian. No one would say they are bad things morally. In fact, lawful things can be good things. But just because they are good things does not mean they are helpful or spiritually beneficial. If I am feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit about these things, then I must weed them out. And like my pastor's wife says, if we do not weed them out, God will. But if God weeds them out, it's going to hurt a lot more than if we take care of it ourselves. Ephesians 5:15 says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

-----------------------------------

This morning I read from Philippians. I'm almost to the end of it, though, so I'll probably be in Colossians the rest of the week. I'd love to hear what book of the Bible you are reading from this week or this month!

Share Your Heart!

April 1, 2008 - Hi

Posted by JADsmama3

Hi!

I will be reading in the book of 1, 2 & 3 John and Job.
I am positive there is something in Job's life that I can learn from and apply to my life today. And as always, the 3 Johns are great!

Blessings,
Vania

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - hi

Posted by byourlove1

I'm reading in 1Chronicles, if I really do good I will finish 2nd Chronicles as well, however don't know if that will happen but I'm excited about the challenge. Thanks for convicting us all in this area!

Angela

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - Great post, Leah...

Posted by trustingdaily

I'm reading 1 John and will probably go on from there and read 2nd & 3rd, too. Our pastor started 1 John, Sunday so I plan to do a deep study as it personally pertains to things close to my heart. We also read a Proverb a Day (I know you know this already..) Like today, we'll read Proverbs 1, tomorrow Proverbs 2 and so on.

((hugs))
Angela

ps. Oh! I think I remember how to get in your other blog - I'll go over and check out what makes you smile.

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by lcourtneymom

I am reading from my Women's devotional Bible in the mornings. Right now I am reading a sixty day overview of the Bible in the mornings. I read as soon as I get up and going BEFORE I come out of the room and anybody can get a hold of me. :-)

Then, by e-mail I am reading through the Bible in a year chronologically. I am in Exodus right now.

One thing I did to help me be faithful this month is to actually write down Bible reading on my to do list for the day.

I definitely think you are right about making the most of the time God gives us. I am constantly trying to evaluate my schedule to see where I am wasting time.

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

That's so funny that you start your day out just like I do. Sometimes I stop in the bathroom first but then I head straight to the computer. I guess I'm afraid I might have missed something overnight!

I think I still stopped at the computer for a few minutes this morning, but I woke up almost half an hour before I needed to get up. I went to the bathroom, started back to bed, and thought, "Nope, I'm gonna DO this challenge!" And I did.

I had already started back....sorta....with a Bible reading plan, so I just picked up in Genesis, chapter 5, I think, and started from there.

Thanks so much for the challenge! I really, really need to do better with daily devotions and quiet time and I'm hoping this will be the encouragement I need.

Ginnie

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by DanielleW

I have been very slowly making my way through Romans, but I had kind of stalled when I reached chapter 8. This was a great pick me up. I have a study Bible and I wanted to read all the notes for a book so I had been breaking up my reading/studying into the different headings in my Bible. BUT Romans 8 , which is a longer chapter, didn't have small sections.

So, I did get my reading in today! Thanks for the boost. I don't ever get the full 15 minutes in one sitting but actually had 4 or 5 smaller sessions through out the day.

Hopefully, with the help of this challenge, I can finish with Romans and chose another book to concentrate on. I read through the entire Bible last year, but this year I wanted to focus on digging deeper.

Thanks again

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>

Posted by lahbluebonnet

Wow, how do you wrap your mind around running two absolutely gorgeous blogs! I love how they are Christ centered! Whew, I think time flew by reading your blog entry! LOL I'm in the book of Acts!
Oh, btw, after my quiet time, I usually pop on the pc to check out a few yahoo groups I help to moderate. Being Christian groups, it's become a ministry. Thankfully we have other moderators so I can delete a lot on the weeks that I'm off! ;)
Blessings,
Laurie

Edited by lahbluebonnet on April 1, 2008 at 9:41 PM

Permanent Link

April 1, 2008 - One down, 29 to go...

Posted by Jazzymom

Hopefully, by the end of April I won't stop!

I am the same way with the computer! Today my computer wasn't even turned on until around 4 p.m.! That's unheard of in this house!

I couldn't decide where to start reading this morning since I've been in a slump lately. So I decided to just read in Psalms. (Aren't the Psalms just SO EASY to read & understand?) God led me to Psalm 42 which is just what I needed.

Last month I was on a roll and read from Galatians--Colossians. I can't remember where I left off for some reason. It was I Thessalonians...something. I need to pick it up from there and continue reading. Don't know how I got off track!

Like others, I read the Proverb of the day. I read this at night with my kids. It's not technically "quiet time", but it counts!

Permanent Link

April 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by BChsMamaof3

Hi :) What a great entry! You know I start my mornings the same way. Out of bed, straight to my email and a quick blog browse. It's a bad habit that I personally need to stop. I find that it can slow my morning down considerably if I get caught up there and don't get right to my morning duties!

I am going to be starting with the book of Ruth :) From there I don't know yet, we'll see how I do *grin*. I've chosen the evening as my reading time, since everyone is in bed and I can sit peacefully for more than 5 minutes at a time :)
Blessings,
Rosina

Permanent Link

April 2, 2008 - The Challenge

Posted by ilovemy3angelbabies

Good morning! This is such a great challenge. Kiddo and I do devotions together in the morning before we start our school work. However, I need more time on my own to read the word of God, but something always seems to get in the way. This challenge came just at the right time for me.....it is the "nudge" i truly needed to get myself motivated to MAKE time for the Gospel!

I will be reading from Revelations. My DH being the jokester that he is said, "Would you like me to tell you how the book ends?" ha ha

Anyway, after his comedy routine, he got out of bed and grabbed an envelope he had on the dresser. When I asked him what it was, he told me that a little while ago, he had downloaded off the internet a bible study on the book of Revelations. How cool is that? Hmmm.....I think this was planned!!! lol

I pray that we all have the strength and determination to continue reading the word of God, not only throughout the month of April, but that it becomes part of our everyday happenings!

As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7

Blessings~
Laura

Permanent Link

April 2, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by genamayo

Hi Leah,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I'm reading through the Bible chronologically this year and just started the book of Numbers! It's exciting to be reading books that are not read very often (at least not by me).
I love the title of your blog.

Permanent Link

April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaof3

Good Morning, Leah - I'm off to a good start - I'm going to read --- Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon --- this is what my ds is studying this year for Bible Quizzing at church. --- Thanks for putting up this challenge. - Blessings, Charity

Permanent Link

April 3, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by FruitfulFamily

All I can say is...Boy was my face red. Well, not literally. My face is brown, but you get the picture. I was soooooooooooo convicted!

Permanent Link

April 4, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by JoyfulMomma

Hi Leah,

Once again, thank you so much for challenging us. I am reading in James (finished) and working through the Gospel of John now. I do my reading at night, after the children are in bed and instead of turning on the tv (such a bad habit for me).

God bless,
Belynda

Permanent Link

April 6, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by hugs4Him

I have been reading, but never first thing in the morning, & never uninterrupted. But at least I've been keeping up daily again. Right now I'm just continuing my read the Bible in 1yr schedule, which I was waaaaaaay behind in for last year so I'm just a tad "ahead" this year LOL. I chose a chronological reading schedule, so I'm in 2 Samuel & 1 Chronicles, along with Psalms.

I have lots more work to do...

Permanent Link