Help YouVersion Hit 100 Million Installs

I started using the YouVersion app well over a year ago. I use it for looking up passages while in large group gatherings and also utilize the reading plans that are available. A couple of weeks ago I received an email asking for help in reaching 100 million installs.

The email shared this info about the app: We launched the YouVersion Bible App on July 10, 2008 with one simple mission: to help people make the Bible a daily part of their life. God has brought about some pretty amazing growth in those five years, and now a very exciting milestone is on the horizon. That’s where we’d love to get your help.

It looks like the Bible App could hit its 100-million install milestone on or near the 5-year anniversary of the App Store on July 10. It’s going to be a stretch, and it will take extraordinary measures from the capital “C” Church to make it happen.

If you don’t use YouVersion, go check it out. If you do, share this info with friends. It’s a great tool to spend time in the Bible.

I Am Doing a Good Work

My YouVersion reading this past week took me through the story of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem.  Think it is interesting that nothing miraculous happened in that event.  God just used people who were committed to do what He laid on their heart to do.

I was catching up on listening to some podcasts and I listened to a message from Andy Stanley, who used the story of Nehemiah to launch into the new year.  He emphasized a verse I had read and it further cemented that principle in my mind.

Nehemiah, who lead the rebuilding, faced many different obstacles.  Two of those obstacles were named Sanballat and Geshem.  They wanted to distract Nehemiah by pulling him off the wall.

Read their invitation and note Nehemiah’s response from Nehemiah 6:2-4

“Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”  Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.”

Nehemiah didn’t allow their words distract him from the good work God had given him.  Andy Stanley made the point that while each of us has a different work we are doing, we cannot allow distractions to cause us to stop and leave that good work.

While we may not be rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, what good work has God given each one of us to do that we shouldn’t leave for other distractions?

Overcome Unbelief

There’s been a couple of things I have been praying about and have been trying to determine God’s direction. As I was reading in my YouVersion reading plan a few days ago, I came across an interesting passage in Mark 9.

A man brought his son to Jesus. The problem – the boy was possessed by an evil spirit. A bigger problem – the disciples tried to get rid of the spirit, but couldn’t.

The father is brought to Jesus and He asks the father how long the spirit has tormented the boy. The father answers the question and then says, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

Jesus responds, “If you can? Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Then the father makes a great request of Jesus: “I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”

I think all of us have those “if” moments. In our head we know that God is bigger than whatever it is we are facing. He sees more, He knows more, He can look beyond the current situation and can see what is yet to come. We know it in our head; but we don’t always feel it.  Our current circumstances and the emotions they stir up can over shadow the truth we know in our head.  It is in those moments we may need to repeat the words of this distraught dad – “help me overcome my unbelief.”

After Jesus heals the boy, the disciples come to Him privately and ask why they couldn’t get rid of the spirit.  Jesus said, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Perhaps we need to recognize our continued need to keep our struggles before God in prayer so that He can do what only He can do and we can get the help we need to overcome unbelief.

YouVersion

I know I am behind the curve on this one as there are many people already taking advantage of this tool, but Lifechurch.tv offers an online Bible tool called YouVersion.

I started using it this week to help me read through the Bible in a year. You can access several different reading plans and versions of the Bible. It will track your progress and will even send each day’s reading through as RSS feed or to your phone.

Craig Groeschel is the lead pastor of lifechurch.tv that provides the tool. I have been listening to some of his podcasts and he encourages those in attendance to read the scriptures from the Bible they brought or access it on their phone. Good way to keep people connected to scripture.

If you are looking for a reading plan to help keep you on track, YouVersion might be for you.