The start of a new year is a great time to start making the Bible a part of your daily life, if it’s not already. Thanks to the YouVersion.com Team at LifeChurch.tv who have made an extensive list (50+) of reading plans available.  With both web-based and mobile apps available you can also do your reading wherever and whenever it is most convenient for you. You will also stay synchronized with your progress across each device.

God’s Word brings power, healing, direction, and freedom.

Most people who have a great relationship with God read the Bible consistently. Spending time in Scripture each day gives you the opportunity to hear from Him in a unique way.

Following a reading plan helps you stay on track with your Bible reading goals. Pick one (or several) and then fine tune it to match your schedule.

Last year I read through Chronological Bible using the Message version. It was my second time through the entire Bible and I did it all online, either on the computer or on my phone. It is actually very doable, just 15-20 minutes a day is all it takes!

If you’d like to try a different Bible reading app besides the one YouVersion offers, they have a great list of those too!  Which app you use isn’t the point. Finding one you like and getting engaged with God’s message is!

If you’d like a good overview plan without committing to the entire Bible, try The Essential 100 Challenge.  I’d love to hear in the comments which plan you try!

At Fellowship Church, we are in the middle of a 3-part series called “There’s An App For That“.   Naturally, that theme appeals to me.   Whether you are an Apple fan, or more recently Android and Blackberry, the face of technology has been forever changed by the clever concept of mini-apps (applications) for your your smart phone or other mobile devices.   The marketing is brilliant, whatever your need, there’s an app for that.  It appeals to us, it’s easy to get and it’s at a very low cost or even free.

In this series we are looking at how there is also an app (solution) for many of life’s tougher problems.  Everyone has trails, struggles, and pain at times in there life. Have you ever been ashamed of past mistakes?   Have you ever doubted God’s fairness?  Do you ever wonder how you are going to make it financially? How do you deal with it?  Where do you go?  Ignoring them or pretending they don’t exist is not a good solution.  During this series we will be discovering the different apps that God has given to us to deal with life’s dilemmas.

I’m also excited about a new app that we are rolling out in church during this series – the Bible app by YouVersion.com.  Using the Live Events feature, attendees can follow along with the message outline, take part in survey polls, take notes, and submit prayer requests.  I’m excited to see how we can continue to make the experience interactive and engaging as we continue to redefine church.

Giveaway Details

Over the next four weeks we’ll be giving away a few highly coveted YouVersion T-shirts, a bunch of nifty YouVersion stickers, and the big grand prize…an unlocked Nexus One phone engraved with “www.YouVersion.com”.

Drawing Dates:

• February 24 – T-Shirt giveaway
• March 3 – T-Shirt giveaway
• March 10 – T-Shirt giveaway
• March 17 – Nexus One giveaway

Wow – yet another reason to check out YouVersion if you haven’t already! Just click on the link above and follow the steps!

Here is a great tip from Scott Magdalein on how to use the YouVersion reading plan widget right from the main YouVersion page.

Have you tried a reading plan yet? There are many to choose from and you can start any time!

(email subscribers: click on title link to view video)

How to Download

The easiest way to download the YouVersion Bible app for Java is to visit http://youversion.com/download from your Java-enabled mobile phone. From there you’ll be taken to the Java application store where you’ll be able to download the right version for your phone.

Now you don’t need a “smart phone” to have the YouVersion Bible app! You could always access the mobile website with any phone that has a mobile web data plan, but now you can have a native app that is installed right on your phone! Read the full post (click on link above) and try the download.

That’s 19 centuries, 16.7 Million Hours

One by one, drawing closer
to God,reading his word…
Seeking answers, gaining hope,
absorbing wisdom…finding peace.

To our YouVersion users, thank you for making this milestone happen. You’ve read the Bible in airports, the tube, coffee shops, church services, and countless points between.

Your passion for God’s word is inspiring!

Congratulations to the Digerati Team at LifeChurch.tv! Have you tried it yet? http://YouVersion.com