Do you have a reading plan?

art by: Lee Lufkin Kaula

I can hear you already... and, do I see eyes rolling? "Reading plan? Like, sit down and read? Have you met my family? Do you think I have extra time on my hands?"

No worries- these are all things I have thought, myself {some days still do}. A few years ago when we first moved to Iowa I remember hearing a gal share her "book a month" plan and I got dizzy just thinking about it - and, I only had one child at that point. :) All this to say...I understand the eye rolls, dizziness and gasping at the idea of reading a book a month. I do. 

To be honest and personal with you - I don't do well with "down" time. I usually end up wasting it away watching TV {seriously...Food network and HGTV could be my demise}, snacking or reading blogs. Not that any of those are horrible things - but, for me, they can be life suckers if not done in moderation. I know this about myself and I'm working on it. The idea of sitting down to read during "free" time used to appall me. Especially in college when I felt like all I was ever doing is reading, reading, reading...but nothing I really wanted to be reading. So for years I quit. Not one good book read {sans Scripture!}. I married a man who was equally as disinterested in reading and we lived happily ever after... until he graduated school a year later and all of the sudden was devouring books by the week. I watched before my very eyes as he transformed. The Lord was using good, solid, truth in these books to change and mold my guy. He was learning NEW and EXCITING things and was making quiet, down, reading time a priority. And I watched him... for years. Now, I would pick up a book now and again - usually something historical romantic, or, a brush up on something important, but - never to the extent to which my dear one read. I was even a little jealous as children came along that he could still manage to make time for this, enjoy it, and... was he even highlighting his book?! The last few years I have slowly climbed onto this reading train... and, I'm loving it more then ever lately. Even if sometimes I do create more chaos for myself when I try to read too many books at once. :)

Long story short - one of my goals for 2013 is to read a book a month. They can be long or short, on topic or totally fictional. I may even throw in a cookbook as reading. Hey, I'm new at this! I'm starting to understand and see the value in learning something new... or, at least - using time to work my brain in stead of snacking my life away or staring discontentedly at the TV screen. I'm realizing already that a book a month is a GREAT goal - but may not always happen. Case in point - it's January 31st and I still have 5 chapters left in my current theology-heavy book! And, not so much quiet time planned this day. So, I'll still hope for a book a month - but, my months may look a little different then everyone else's {wink}. 

I don't have a complete list yet of what I'll be reading, but here is what is happening NOW and what's up next:

January - "The Hole in our Holiness" by Kevin DeYoung. 

Seriously. Good. Like the bottom line on the cover says, "Filling the gap between Gospel passion and the pursuit of Godliness". I have been so challenged this month at rethinking godliness and holiness. Rethinking obedience and Christian virtue...ah, so good. 

February - Double whammy month! I'm reading TWO... but, one is tiny. 

"Where is your pineapple?" by Raelene Phillips

This little nugget was a Christmas gift from my mother... who knows how much I enjoy hosting people in my home. I have so much to learn, though. SO MUCH. This is just a tiny little 68 page book about the history of hospitality and some biblical aspects of it. I'm eager to read it! 

And,

"I used to be so organized" by Glynnis Whitwer

Glynnis writes and works with Proverbs 31 ministries and I have so enjoyed reading some of her blog posts and daily emails about organization. She's a believer and all her wisdom comes pointed towards magnifying the Lord. And let's be honest... I need the tips on organization in my home. 

March - "Why Pro-life?" by Randy Alcorn

This just touches a spot on my heart... especially as we watch the events happening in our country. Lord, wake these women up! I want to be educated and ready for conversations. 

So, there you have it. First three months planned out. 

Are you on a reading plan?