I don’t recall where I read the advice, but I was impressed and decided to take it.
It would be my 2015 New Year’s Resolution.
The writer advised reading through the entire Bible in a year using the New Living Translation- in Chronological Order. Since I love to read, the commitment seemed easy. After all, I’ve read through the Bible six times already, and once in another version of a chronological Bible. Piece of cake!
The New Living Translation of the Holy Bible
(Tyndale House Publishers)
Well, yes, it is as easy as a piece of cake (I’ve never really understood that phrase!); it’s easy to read the prescribed amount for each day…but it’s not easy to read what the Lord is saying in the part of His Holy word I’ve read so far…..Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Job, and Deuteronomy. (Remember, this is in chronological order. Insert Job here!)
It’s as if this is the first time I’ve ever read the first five books of the Bible, which is not the case. Is it the translation that has made it so vivid; is it my age; is it my spiritual level (???) at this time. What has made the difference? Maybe I’m not supposed to ask, know or care.
Parts of these glorious books of the Bible are truly heavy. The Lord God does not like sin and He makes it abundantly clear in His Word.
Therefore, I decided last month to temper this reading by reading from the New Testament each day, also. Praise the Lord, for His Grace which we are under and not the Law. Glory! I’m reading a chapter per day in the Gospel of Matthew to lead right up to Easter. I’ refreshed and encouraged.
This has helped me rejoice in what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us……
“For God [The Father] was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him [Christ Jesus] and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.”
Colossians 1:19-20
We are reconciled (accepted) to God by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Okay, I think I can continue reading now…..while humming
“Amazing Grace…How Sweet The Sound”.
Letters From Adele 
I find something new or something that I didn’t notice before every time I read the Bible. The passages just speak to me differently at different stages in my life. And, yes, I’ve read it straight through several times. In my Bible study Sunday school class, we are now mostly reading one Old Testament book followed by one New Testament book now. It is so wonderful to see how the NT relies on the OT knowledge for fulfillment. Praise God for His deliverance with the gift of His Son!
Donna, Yes, there is always something new in the Bible…it seems. Knowledge of the Old Testament is very important to the understanding of the New Testament, as you say.
Good for you, Adele! The NLT is my favorite!
Gloria
Gloria, I’ve been studying the New International Version for years now, but the NLT is wonderful. I’m so glad I “discovered” it.
Yay, Jesus our Saviour.
Yes, Karen….YAY, Jesus.