Challenge within a challenge: The bible

One of my 30 day challenges for this month is to read the bible everyday. I have never read the bible before, or at least I can’t remember doing so. I don’t think I read it in R.E. at school, and I went to Quaker meeting with my dad and we didn’t read it there.

I saw this idea on a great challenge pin on Pinterest which someone had collected a lot of 30 day challenge ideas and put them in one long list. I thought this would be great challenge as I really am starting from scratch.

In terms of what I believe in I don’t really know. I know that sounds naïve in approach and by the age of 30 I should have an idea of what I believe in. I'm opening minded and non-judgemental, and I think that’s thanks to going to Quaker meeting growing up. Maybe this challenge will help me start to think of different beliefs or at least give me an insight into Christianity.

I didn't know where to begin with this challenge though; I didn't know whether I’d need to borrow the bible from the library, I didn't even know how the bible was set up apart from there being the old testament and new testament. However I did know quite a few people who knew these answers…..my relatives.

I contacted my Auntie Jean and Uncle Tony who I usually only see or hear from at Christmas and got a reply the same day with recommendations of what to read from the bible. They even said they would email me daily notes on the challenge, and I’ll take up that kind offer. My cousins Janet, Simon and their children (well my second cousins and aren't children anymore) Anna, James and his wife Katy all gave me recommendations of what to read as well.

My old housemates Lizi and Ro from uni also gave me some suggestions of what to read, as did Ro’s friend Mark who gave me a great list of readings and resources to go to.

I was amazed at how quick the responses came, and although I didn't know where to begin on what to read from the bible, I now have a structure for the month ahead. I'm simply going to work through the recommendations.

So far I've read the following:
Luke 7:24 KJV
Mark 1:14 KJV
The 3 day Loop for Women: New beginnings reading plan, which had the following passages;
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 3:5
Psalms 139:13

And I’m 2 days into the 7 day plan- Love Does Experience a Life of Love in Action, which has the following passages so far:
Deuteronomy 7:9
Matthew 28:20
I John 4:21
Psalms 89:33
Lamentations 3:22-33

I think with reading the bible some passages won’t necessarily sink in straight away and they may take a few reads before they have an effect. None of the passages have had an impact on me so far, but it’s still early days, so I’ll be interested to see how the challenge progresses.