I am using the reading plan in the rear of The Literary Study Bible. As I go, though, I am writing down everything I can know about God the Father. Noel Piper mentions doing that in one of her books, but I can't remember which. I remember thinking when I read that that it would be beneficial for me to read with some purpose other than just reading. Since I started, I have noticed that I am paying better attention. And rather than taking in a whole story, I am seeing more details and God's specific activity. It's only Jan. 4. Lord willing, I'll keep it up!

I've been searching for a plan, and I love your idea of starting with Psalm 119. I think I'll try that! Glad to see that The Purple Cellar is back up and running.

Leslie,
What a super idea! And the Literary Study Bible is a great new resource.

I usually go plan one study at a time, so January through March I'm working on a 90-day read-through-the-Bible schedule. So far I'm really enjoying it for the big picture, but the Lord has blessed with little detail nuggets along the way, too. :) Just finished Genesis this morning.

Lizzykristine,

God does indeed bless our Bible reading, doesn't he? When it comes right down to it, how we do it matters not nearly so much as the fact that we just do it. Whether reading much or little at a time, it is still his living and active Word and is applied to our hearts by the Spirit. I admire those of you who can read through the Bible in a year and really commune with God in the process!

Leslie/Lydia,

Noel Piper's suggestion for reading through the bible can be found here http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/2003/1535_Never_in_January/

I mentioned this in my post last January if you care to check it out.

http://titus2talk.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

I started to use her method, but I remember failing miserably by February. I think I needed more structure. I have found using Don Carson's "For the Love of God" really helpful. He uses the McCheyne system and comments helpfully on one of the texts for the day. There are 2 volumes and so I find it more managable to read through the bible over 2 years, that way I can maintain the depth of reading as you mentioned in your post.

Also, since I'm rambling (!), I also have started using commentaries in my reading, nothing too heavy, but something along the lines of The Reformed Expository Commentaries. Iain Duguid's commentary on Esther and Ruth has been my best read over the last year.

Nicki,
I really like that idea of reading through the Bible in two years, allowing the all-important big-picture grasp as well as the more reflective and personal devotions. I'll check out Noel's suggestion too.

I don't try to read through the Bible in a year... I have four kids under five years old. What I am doing this year is to read one chapter each day, and I've made myself a promise: I won't post on my everyday blog or read anything on the internet until I've done this. Because there's a reward (other than the obvious getting to know God and His will better), I've kept up so far. In order to make sure I really pay attention to the passage, I ask myself three questions:
What is this passage all about?
What can I learn from it?
How can I apply this to my own life?
These three questions keep me meditating on God's word long after I've shut my Bible for the day. I've really been impressed at how God has spoken to me through His word so far this year.
And to give myself added incentive, I've started a second blog to record my answers to these questions. My husband is free to check out what I've been musing on whenever he wants to, and I am really enjoying seeing my list of labels grow (I label each post with the Book it correlates to). So far I've read through the 3 pastoral epistles and Jonah. I'm on to Nahum next.
~ Sharon