Bible Reading Plan

I have a pretty neat Bible reading plan that my sister and mom introduced to me to a while ago. You read 10 chapters a day, and you go through different sections of the Bible a different number of times through the year. Larger chunks you only read once a year, and some sections, like Proverbs, you read 11.7 times per year.

I didn't like repeating certain books so many times, and hitting others so few times, so I have written my own reading plan that will take you through the Bible in 140 days or 2.6 times per year.

You are welcome to copy or print it so that you can use it yourself, (although I do not give permission to have it published or sold.) The way I have separated scriptures allows you to read 8-9 chapters of the Bible everyday (only one day during the plan will you read 10 chapters). The reading is separated into seven sections, so you can keep your seven bookmarks continuously moving forward and not jumping around.

If you would like an easier-to-read format, please send me an email if you know me, and leave a comment below if you don't.

Please scroll down to find the plan. I had to add empty space so that the wording on the right side of the screen would not interfere with the chart.
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Day 1	Genesis 1	Deuteronomy 1	1 Kings 1	Psalm 1	Job 1-2	Jeremiah 1	Micah 1	Romans 1
Day 2	Genesis 2-3		1 Kings 2	Psalm 2	Job 3	Jeremiah 2	Micah 2	Romans 2
Day 3	Genesis 4	Deuteronomy 2	1 Kings 3	Psalm 3	Job 4	Jeremiah 3	Micah 3-4	Romans 3
Day 4	Genesis 5	Deuteronomy 3	1 Kings 4	Psalm 4	Job 5	Jeremiah 4	Micah 5	Romans 4
Day 5	Genesis 6	Deuteronomy 4	1 Kings 5	Psalm 5	Job 6	Jeremiah 5	Micah 6	Romans 5
Day 6	Genesis 7-9	Deuteronomy 5	1 Kings 6	Psalm 6	Job 7	Jeremiah 6	Micah 7	Romans 6
Day 7	Genesis 10	Deuteronomy 6	1 Kings 7	Psalm 7	Job 8	Jeremiah 7	Nahum 1	Romans 7
Day 8	Genesis 11	Deuteronomy 7	1 Kings 8	Psalm 8-9	Job 9	Jeremiah 8	Nahum 2	Romans 8
Day 9	Genesis 12	Deuteronomy 8	1 Kings 9	Psalm 10	Job 10	Jeremiah 9	Nahum 3	Romans 9
Day 10	Genesis 13	Deuteronomy 9	1 Kings 10	Psalm 11	Job 11	Jeremiah 10	Habakkuk 1	Romans 10
Day 11	Genesis 14	Deuteronomy 10	1 Kings 11	Psalm 12	Job 12	Jeremiah 11	Habakkuk 2	Romans 11
Day 12	Genesis 15	Deuteronomy 11	1 Kings 12	Psalm 13-14	Job 13	Jeremiah 12	Habakkuk 3	Romans 12
Day 13	Genesis 16	Deuteronomy 12	1 Kings 13	Psalm 15	Job 14	Jeremiah 13	Zephaniah 1	Romans 13
Day 14	Genesis 17	Deuteronomy 13	1 Kings 14	Psalm 16	Job 15	Jeremiah 14	Zephaniah 2	Romans 14
Day 15	Genesis 18	Deuteronomy 14	1 Kings 15	Psalm 17	Job 16	Jeremiah 15	Zephaniah 3	Romans 15
Day 16	Genesis 19	Deuteronomy 15	1 Kings 16	Psalm 18	Job 17	Jeremiah 16	Haggai 1-2	Romans 16
Day 17	Genesis 20	Deuteronomy 16	1 Kings 17	Psalm 19	Job 18	Jeremiah 17	Zechariah 1	1 Corinthians 1
Day 18	Genesis 21	Deuteronomy 17	1 Kings 18-19	Psalm 20	Job 19	Jeremiah 18	Zechariah 2	1 Corinthians 2
Day 19	Genesis 22	Deuteronomy 18	1 Kings 20	Psalm 21	Job 20	Jeremiah 19	Zechariah 3	1 Corinthains 3
Day 20	Genesis 23	Deuteronomy 19	1 Kings 21	Psalm 22	Job 21	Jeremiah 20	Zechariah 4	1 Corinthians 4
Day 21	Genesis 24	Deuteronomy 20	1 Kings 22	Psalm 23-24	Job 22	Jeremiah 21	Zechariah 5	1 Corinthians 5
Day 22	Genesis 25	Deuteronomy 21	2 Kings 1	Psalm 25	Job 23	Jeremiah 22	Zechariah 6	1 Corinthians 6
Day 23	Genesis 26	Deuteronomy 22	2 Kings 2	Psalm 26	Job 24	Jeremiah 23	Zechariah 7	1 Corinthians 7
Day 24	Genesis 27	Deuteronomy 23	2 Kings 3	Psalm 27	Job 25-26	Jeremiah 24	Zechariah 8	1 Corinthians 8
Day 25	Genesis 28	Deuteronomy 24	2 Kings 4-5	Psalm 28	Job 27	Jeremiah 25	Zechariah 9	1 Corinthians 9
Day 26	Genesis 29	Deuteronomy 25	2 Kings 6	Psalm 29	Job 28	Jeremiah 26	Zechariah 10	1 Corinthians 10
Day 27	Genesis 30	Deuteronomy 26	2 Kings 7	Psalm 30	Job 29-30	Jeremiah 27	Zechariah 11	1 Corinthians 11
Day 28	Genesis 31	Deuteronomy 27	2 Kings 8	Psalm 31	Job 31	Jeremiah 28	Zechariah 12	1 Corinthians 12
Day 29	Genesis 32-33	Deuteronomy 28	2 Kings 9	Psalm 32	Job 32	Jeremiah 29	Zechariah 13	1 Cornithians 13
Day 30	Genesis 34	Deuteronomy 29	2 Kings 10	Psalm 33	Job 33	Jeremiah 30	Zechariah 14	1 Corinthians 14
Day 31	Genesis 35	Deuteronomy 30	2 Kings 11	Psalm 34	Job 34	Jeremiah 31	Malachi 1	1 Corinthians 15
Day 32	Genesis 36	Deuteronomy 31	2 Kings 12	Psalm 35	Job 35	Jeremiah 32	Malachi 2	1 Corinthians 16
Day 33	Genesis 37	Deuteronomy 32	2 Kings 13	Psalm 36	Job 36	Jeremiah 33	Malachi 3	2 Corinthians 1
Day 34	Genesis 38	Deuteronomy 33	2 Kings 14	Psalm 37	Job 37	Jeremiah 34	Malachi 4	2 Corinthians 2
Day 35	Genesis 39	Deuteronomy 34	2 Kings 15	Psalm 38	Job 38-39	Jeremiah 35	Matthew 1	2 Corinthians 3
Day 36	Genesis 40	Joshua 1	2 Kings 16	Psalm 39	Job 40	Jeremiah 36	Matthew 2	2 Corinthians 4
Day 37	Genesis 41	Joshua 2	2 Kings 17	Psalm 40	Job 41	Jeremiah 37	Matthew 3	2 Corinthians 5
Day 38	Genesis 42-43	Joshua 3	2 Kings 18	Psalm 41	Job 42	Jeremiah 38	Matthew 4	2 Corinthians 6
Day 39	Genesis 44	Joshua 4	2 Kings 19	Psalm 42	Proverbs 1	Jeremiah 39	Matthew 5-6	2 Corinthians 7
Day 40	Genesis 45	Joshua 5	2 Kings 20	Psalm 43	Proverbs 2-3	Jeremiah 40	Matthew 7	2 Corinthians 8
Day 41	Genesis 46	Joshua 6	2 Kings 21	Psalm 44	Proverbs 4	Jeremiah 41	Matthew 8	2 Corinthians 9
Day 42	Genesis 47	Joshua 7	2 Kings 22-23	Psalm 45	Proverbs 5	Jeremiah 42	Matthew 9	2 Corinthinas 10
Day 43	Genesis 48	Joshua 8	2 Kings 24	Psalm 46	Proverbs 6	Jeremiah 43	Matthew 10-11	2 Corinthians 11
Day 44	Genesis 49	Joshua 9	2 Kings 25	Psalm 47	Proverbs 7	Jeremiah 44	Matthew 12	2 Corinthians 12
Day 45	Genesis 50	Joshua 10	1 Chronicles 1	Psalm 48	Proverbs 8	Jeremiah 45	Matthew 13	2 Corinthains 13
Day 46	Exodus 1	Joshua 11	1 Chronicles 2	Psalm 49	Proverbs 9	Jeremiah 46	Matthew 14	Galatians 1
Day 47	Exodus 2	Joshua 12	1 Chronicles 3	Psalm 50	Proverbs 10	Jeremiah 47	Matthew 15	Galatians 2
Day 48	Exodus 3-4	Joshua 13	1 Chronicles 4	Psalm 51	Proverbs 11	Jeremiah 48	Matthew 16	Galatians 3
Day 49	Exodus 5	Joshua 14	1 Chronicles 5	Psalm 52-53	Proverbs 12	Jeremiah 49	Matthew 17	Galatians 4
Day 50	Exodus 6	Joshua 15	1 Chronicles 6	Psalm 54	Proverbs 13	Jeremiah 50	Matthew 18	Galatians 5
Day 51	Exodus 7-8	Joshua 16	1 Chronicles 7	Psalm 55	Proverbs 14	Jeremiah 51	Matthew 19	Galatians 6
Day 52	Exodus 9-10	Joshua 17	1 Chronicles 8	Psalm 56	Proverbs 15	Jeremiah 52	Matthew 20	Ephesians 1-2
Day 53	Exodus 11	Joshua 18	1 Chronicles 9	Psalm 57	Proverbs 16	Lamentations 1	Matthew 21	Ephesians 3-4
Day 54	Exodus 12	Joshua 19	1 Chronicles 10	Psalm 58	Proverbs 17	Lamentations 2	Matthew 22	Ephesians 5-6
Day 55	Exodus 13	Joshua 20	1 Chronicles 11	Psalm 59	Proverbs 18	Lamentations 3	Matthew 23	Philippians 1
Day 56	Exodus 14	Joshua 21	1 Chronicles 12	Psalm 60	Proverbs 19	Lamentations 4	Matthew 24	Philippians 2
Day 57	Exodus 15	Joshua 22	1 Chronicles 13	Psalm 61	Proverbs 20	Lamentations 5	Matthew 25	Philippians 3
Day 58	Exodus 16	Joshua 23	1 Chronicles 14	Psalm 62	Proverbs 21	Ezekiel 1	Matthew 26	Philippians 4
Day 59	Exodus 17	Joshua 24	1 Chronicles 15	Psalm 63	Proverbs 22	Ezekiel 2-3	Matthew 27	Colossians 1
Day 60	Exodus 18	Judges 1	1 Chronicles 16	Psalm 64	Proverbs 23	Ezekiel 4	Matthew 28	Colossians 2
Day 61	Exodus 19	Judges 2	1 Chronicles 17	Psalm 65	Proverbs 24	Ezekiel 5	Mark 1	Colossians 3
Day 62	Exodus 20	Judges 3	1 Chronicles 18	Psalm 66	Proverbs 25-26	Ezekiel 6	Mark 2	Colossians 4
Day 63	Exodus 21	Judges 4	1 Chronicles 19	Psalm 67	Proverbs 27	Ezekiel 7	Mark 3	1 Thessalonians 1
Day 64	Exodus 22	Judges 5	1 Chronicles 20	Psalm 68	Proverbs 28	Ezekiel 8	Mark 4	1 Thessalonians 2
Day 65	Exodus 23	Judges 6	1 Chronicles 21	Psalm 69	Proverbs 29	Ezekiel 9	Mark 5	1 Thessalonians 3
Day 66	Exodus 24	Judges 7	1 Chronicles 22	Psalm 70	Proverbs 30	Ezekiel 10	Mark 6	1 Thessalonians 4
Day 67	Exodus 25	Judges 8	1 Chronicles 23	Psalm 71	Proverbs 31	Ezekiel 11	Mark 7	1 Thessalonians 5
Day 68	Exodus 26	Judges 9	1 Chronicles 24	Psalm 72	Ecclesiastes 1-2	Ezekiel 12	Mark 8	2 Thessalonians 1
Day 69	Exodus 27	Judges 10	1 Chronicles 25	Psalm 73	Ecclesiastes 3	Ezekiel 13	Mark 9	2 Thessalonians 2
Day 70	Exodus 28	Judges 11	1 Chronicles 26	Psalm 74	Ecclesiastes 4-5	Ezekiel 14	Mark 10	2 Thessaloninas 3
Day 71	Exodus 29	Judges 12	1 Chronicles 27	Psalm 75-76	Ecclesiastes 6	Ezekiel 15	Mark 11	1 Timothy 1
Day 72	Exodus 30	Judges 13	1 Chronicles 28	Psalm 77	Eccleseastes 7	Ezekiel 16	Mark 12	1 Timothy 2
Day 73	Exodus 31	Judges 14	1 Chronicles 29	Psalm 78	Ecclesiastes 8-9	Ezekiel 17	Mark 13	1 Timothy 3
Day 74	Exodus 32	Judges 15	2 Chronicles 1	Psalm 79	Ecclesiastes 10-11	Ezekiel 18	Mark 14	1 Timothy 4
Day 75	Exodus 33	Judges 16	2 Chronicles 2	Psalm 80	Ecclesiastes 12	Ezekiel 19	Mark 15-16	1 Timothy 5
Day 76	Exodus 34	Judges 17	2 Chronicles 3	Psalm 81	Song of Solomon 1-2	Ezekiel 20	Luke 1	1 Timothy 6
Day 77	Exodus 35	Judges 18	2 Chronicles 4	Psalm 82	Song of Solomon 3-4	Ezekiel 21	Luke 2	2 Timothy 1
Day 78	Exodus 36	Judges 19	2 Chronicles 5	Psalm 83	Song of Solomon 5-6	Ezekiel 22	Luke 3	2 Timothy 2
Day 79	Exodus 37-38	Judges 20	2 Chronicles 6	Psalm 84	Song of Solomon 7-8	Ezekiel 23	Luke 4	2 Timothy 3
Day 80	Exodus 39	Judges 21	2 Chronicles 7	Psalm 85	Isaiah 1	Ezekiel 24	Luke 5-6	2 Timothy 4
Day 81	Exodus 40	Ruth 1	2 Chronicles 8	Psalm 86	Isaiah 2	Ezekiel 25-26	Luke 7	Titus 1
Day 82	Leviticus 1	Ruth 2	2 Chronicles 9	Psalm 87	Isaiah 3-4	Ezekiel 27	Luke 8	Titus 2
Day 83	Leviticus 2-3	Ruth 3	2 Chronicles 10	Psalm 88	Isaiah 5	Ezekiel 28	Luke 9	Titus 3
Day 84	Leviticus 4	Ruth 4	2 Chronicles 11	Psalm 89	Isaiah 6	Ezekiel 29-30	Luke 10	Philemon
Day 85	Leviticus 5	1 Samuel 1	2 Chronicles 12	Psalm 90	Isaiah 7	Ezekiel 31	Luke 11	Hebrews 1
Day 86	Leviticus 6	1 Samuel 2	2 Chronicles 13	Psalm 91	Isaiah 8	Ezekiel 32	Luke 12	Hebrews 2
Day 87	Leviticus 7	1 Samuel 3	2 Chronicles 14	Psalm 92	Isaiah 9	Ezekiel 33	Luke 13-14	Hebrews 3
Day 88	Leviticus 8	1 Samuel 4	2 Chronicles 15	Psalm 93	Isaiah 10	Ezekiel 34	Luke 15-16	Hebrews 4
Day 89	Leviticus 9	1 Samuel 5	2 Chronicles 16	Psalm 94	Isaiah 11	Ezekiel 35	Luke 17-18	Hebrews 5
Day 90	Leviticus 10	1 Samuel 6	2 Chronicles 17	Psalm 95	Isaiah 12	Ezekiel 36	Luke 19-20	Hebrews 6
Day 91	Leviticus 11	1 Samuel 7	2 Chronicles 18	Psalm 96	Isaiah 13	Ezekiel 37	Luke 21-22	Hebrews 7
Day 92	Leviticus 12	1 Samuel 8	2 Chronicles 19	Psalm 97	Isaiah 14	Ezekiel 38-39	Luke 23	Hebrews 8
Day 93	Leviticus 13	1 Samuel 9	2 Chronicles 20	Psalm 98	Isaiah 15	Ezekiel 40	Luke 24	Hebrews 9
Day 94	Leviticus 14	1 Samuel 10	2 Chronicles 21	Psalm 99	Isaiah 16	Ezekiel 41	John 1	Hebrews 10
Day 95	Leviticus 15	1 Samuel 11	2 Chronicles 22	Psalm 100	Isaiah 17	Ezekiel 42	John 2	Hebrews 11
Day 96	Leviticus 16	1 Samuel 12	2 Chronicles 23	Psalm 101	Isaiah 18	Ezekiel 43	John 3	Hebrews 12
Day 97	Leviticus 17	1 Samuel 13	2 Chronicles 24	Psalm 102	Isaiah 19	Ezekiel 44	John 4	Hebrews 13
Day 98	Leviticus 18	1 Samuel 14	2 Chronicles 25	Psalm 103	Isaiah 20	Ezekiel 45	John 5	James 1
Day 99	Leviticus 19	1 Samuel 15	2 Chronicles 26	Psalm 104	Isaiah 21	Ezekiel 46	John 6	James 2
Day 100	Leviticus 20	1 Samuel 16	2 Chronicles 27	Psalm 105	Isaiah 22	Ezekiel 47	John 7	James 3
Day 101	Leviticus 21-22	1 Samuel 17	2 Chronicles 28	Psalm 106	Isaiah 23	Ezekiel 48	John 8	James 4
Day 102	Leviticus 23	1 Samuel 18	2 Chronicles 29	Psalm 107	Isaiah 24	Daniel 1	John 9	James 5
Day 103	Leviticus 24	1 Samuel 19	2 Chronicles 30	Psalm 108	Isaiah 25-26	Daniel 2	John 10	1 Peter 1
Day 104	Leviticus 25	1 Samuel 20	2 Chronicles 31	Psalm 109	Isaiah 27	Daniel 3	John 11	1 Peter 2
Day 105	Leviticus 26	1 Samuel 21	2 Chronicles 32	Psalm 110-111	Isaiah 28	Daniel 4	John 12	1 Peter 3
Day 106	Leviticus 27	1 Samuel 22	2 Chronicles 33	Psalm 112	Isaiah 29	Daniel 5	John 13	1 Peter 4
Day 107	Numbers 1	1 Samuel 23	2 Chronicles 34	Psalm 113	Isaiah 30	Daniel 6	John 14	1 Peter 5
Day 108	Numbers 2	1 Samuel 24	2 Chronicles 35	Psalm 114	Isaiah 31	Daniel 7-8	John 15	2 Peter 1
Day 109	Numbers 3	1 Samuel 25	2 Chronicles 36	Psalm 115	Isaiah 32	Daniel 9	John 16	2 Peter 2
Day 110	Numbers 4	1 Samuel 26	Ezra 1	Psalm 116-117	Isaiah 33	Daniel 10	John 17	2 Peter 3
Day 111	Numbers 5	1 Samuel 27	Ezra 2	Psalm 118	Isaiah  34	Daniel 11	John 18-19	1 John 1
Day 112	Numbers 6	1 Samuel 28	Ezra 3	Psalm 119	Isaiah 35	Daniel 12	John 20-21	1 John 2
Day 113	Numbers 7	1 Samuel 29	Ezra 4	Psalm 120	Isaiah 36	Hosea 1	Acts 1	1 John 3
Day 114	Numbers 8	1 Samuel 30	Ezra 5-6	Psalm 121	Isaiah 37	Hosea 2	Acts 2	1 John 4
Day 115	Numbers 9	1 Samuel 31	Ezra 7	Psalm 122	Isaiah 38-39	Hosea 3	Acts 3	1 John 5
Day 116	Numbers 10	2 Samuel 1	Ezra 8	Psalm 123-124	Isaiah  40	Hosea 4	Acts 4	2 John
Day 117	Numbers 11-12		Ezra 9	Psalm 125	Isaiah 41	Hosea 5	Acts 5	3 John
Day 118	Numbers 13	2 Samuel 2	Ezra 10	Psalm 126	Isaiah 42	Hosea 6	Acts 6	Jude
Day 119	Numbers 14	2 Samuel 3	Nehemiah 1	Psalm 127	Isaiah 43	Hosea 7	Acts 7	Revelation 1
Day 120	Numbers 15	2 Samuel 4	Nehemiah 2	Psalm 128	Isaiah 44	Hosea 8	Acts 8	Revelation 2
Day 121	Numbers 16	2 Samuel 5	Nehemiah 3	Psalm 129	Isaiah 45	Hosea 9	Acts 9	Revelation 3
Day 122	Numbers 17	2 Samuel 6	Nehemiah 4	Psalm 130-131	Isaiah 46	Hosea 10	Acts 10	Revelation 4
Day 123	Numbers 18	2 Samuel 7	Nehemiah 5	Psalm 132	Isaiah 47	Hosea 11	Acts 11	Revelation 5
Day 124	Numbers 19	2 Samuel 8	Nehemiah 6	Psalm 133	Isaiah 48	Hosea 12-13	Acts 12	Revelation 6
Day 125	Numbers 20	2 Samuel 9	Nehemiah 7	Psalm 134	Isaiah 49	Hosea 14	Acts 13	Revelation 7
Day 126	Numbers 21	2 Samuel 10	Nehemiah 8	Psalm 135	Isaiah 50	Joel 1-2	Acts 14	Revelation 8
Day 127	Numbers 22-23	2 Samuel 11	Nehemiah 9	Psalm 136	Isaiah 51	Joel 3	Acts 15	Revelation 9
Day 128	Numbers 24	2 Samuel 12	Nehemiah 10	Psalm 137	Isaiah 52	Amos 1	Acts 16	Revelation 10
Day 129	Numbers 25	2 Samuel 13	Nehemiah 11	Psalm 138	Isaiah 53	Amos 2	Acts 17	Revelation 11
Day 130	Numbers 26	2 Samuel 14	Nehemiah 12	Psalm 139	Isaiah 54-55	Amos 3	Acts 18	Revelation 12
Day 131	Numbers 27	2 Samuel 15	Nehemiah 13	Psalm 140	Isaiah 56-57	Amos 4	Acts 19	Revelation 13
Day 132	Numbers 28	2 Samuel 16	Esther 1	Psalm 141	Isaiah 58	Amos 5	Acts 20	Revelation 14
Day 133	Numbers 29	2 Samuel 17	Esther 2	Psalm 142	Isaiah 59	Amos 6	Acts 21	Revelation 15
Day 134	Numbers 30	2 Samuel 18	Esther 3-4	Psalm 143	Isaiah 60	Amos 7	Acts 22	Revelation 16
Day 135	Numbers 31	2 Samuel 19	Esther 5	Psalm 144	Isaiah 61	Amos 8	Acts 23	Revelation 17
Day 136	Numbers 32	2 Samuel 20	Esther 6	Psalm 145	Isaiah 62	Amos 9	Acts 24	Revelation 18
Day 137	Numbers 33	2 Samuel 21	Esther 7	Psalm 146	Isaiah 63	Obadiah	Acts 25	Revelation 19
Day 138	Numbers 34	2 Samuel 22	Esther 8	Psalm 147	Isaiah 64	Jonah 1	Acts 26	Revelation 20
Day 139	Numbers 35	2 Samuel 23	Esther 9	Psalm 148	Isaiah 65	Jonah 2-3	Acts 27	Revelation 21
Day 140	Numbers 36	2 Samuel 24	Esther 10	Psalm 149-150	Isaiah 66	Jonah 4	Acts 28	Revelation 22

Burn the Ships

Burn the Ships

God Answers Prayer

Today several good things happened, and in this world, good things just don't happen very often, nor do so many happen in one day. So I am writing this as a memory. Too easily we forget the good while we hold on to the bad.

This morning started in pain. I have been suffering the last couple of weeks from a back injury that made walking impossible for several days. I crawled across the floor or collapsed over a walker to get to the bathroom. One night I took 8 pills- four types of medicine which had ZERO affect on the pain. That night I screamed out, "I want to die! All while asking God, WHY!?" But in all the pain, I never hated God. I never blamed him for my pain.

Last week I went to a new chiropractor who took at least half of the pain away during the first visit. She recommended a massage to loosen things up, which I had, and that ended up crippling me for two more days. Total regression.

Today I left the chiropractor able to walk, with even an old knee injury 100 percent pain free. I had pain when I bent over and when I lifted things, but when taking it easy, I was able to be alive in relative comfort. One good thing!

On my way home I received a message from my friend who told me to head over to her house and pick out some meat. The timing didn't work out for me to order a hog, so I shopped from her retail freezer at wholesale prices. She was far too generous, and I was sent home with hundreds of pounds of pork. Two good things!

When I got home I told Josh that we were going to need another freezer, which we had talked about getting for years, but could not agree on weather to purchase a chest or an upright. He wanted a chest for efficiency. I wanted an upright for functionality. He told me to get the largest upright we could find in stock, which just happened to be approximately 50 percent off its original price. Three and Four Good Things! (I can't believe I got the freezer I wanted, and wonder if a bummed back didn't help Josh make this decision...)

Josh worked from home this week because the pain had been so debilitating. While I was enjoying freedom from the kids and driving around, I prayed to God and finally asked him to heal my back. (We cannot pray for healing ourselves when we are in immense pain. This is when we rely on the prayers of others, but don't you dare ask someone to pray for you if you aren't willing to pray for yourself!)

This is how it happened: I was praising God because he ANSWERS PRAYER- awe and wonder came over me, and then he reminded me, "You have not because you ask not." So then I asked him to heal my back. I didn't want a chiropractor to fix it or have to go to physical therapy- then my praise would be misplaced. He is able. For crying out loud, my study in Acts this week was about how the name of Jesus healed the lame man. I had been pretty lame!

Later this evening, my children and wonderful husband helped me organize our new freezer in a slightly OCD manner with every label showing, and I did not have to bend over to do it. (Doctor's orders.)

Josh had about an hour's worth of work left to do in the basement since we had to go out of town to get a freezer that was available today, so I hung out with him.

Literally. I hung out on our inversion table. The last two times I used it, I had been temporarily unable to stand up straight (this is an OLD injury, re-aggravated).

When I got off it I was able to stand up, completely straight without ANY pain. In one week my pain had gone from a level 14 on a scale of 1-10 down to a 4 or so to a 0, even when I bent! God answers prayer! Five Good Things.

But now I have to share the most wonderful part of this entire good day- the most wonderful part of being hurt: God answers prayer.

I hopped into bed and checked my email. I had received a reply from a man who is working in Uganda on a five-year project translating the Old and New Testaments into the Ma'di language. I had found their project and offered him my digital files of the New Testament which he was excited to receive.

In the email he asked if there would be any way for me to find a printable copy of the Bible in the Lugbara language. I looked, and I was able to find a digital copy that had been translated in 1966, but was not formatted for print. (Probably the same copy he had been able to find, but not able to use.) To offer a printable format, I will need to do the same sort of transcribing that I did with the Ma'di language, and I can't wait. Six Good Things.

I could not be more excited to partner with his team preparing the Good News in this language.

The Lugbara language is spoken in the same region of Uganda and South Sudan that Ma'di is spoken (think Africa, think Bible translation, think LRA survivors-, God answers prayer, and he answered them in the same order I prayed them). Ma'di is spoken by approximately 320,000 people worldwide. Lugbara is spoken by approximately 2,400,000.

So what did God do here today? For two weeks I suffered through some pretty tough pain, but I never blamed God for it. Today, he took away my pain and opened an opportunity for me to take part in a Bible translation project that will affect a population 7.5 times greater than my first project was able to reach. Seven (point five) Good Things.

Does God test us before He will use us?

I don't know, but this is the only verse that comes to mind as my pain and this day draw to a close:

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)

I haven't dreamed most of my life, but after my visit to the chiropractor on Tuesday this week, I had dreams two nights in a row. Last night I had a dream that my face was on fire. I did not hardly remember this dream, and certainly did not take any meaning from it until now. I have been dealing with ongoing pain that finally reached an intolerable peak, strained and stressful family relationships, and the last days of one of my dog's life, and I have tried to reflect Jesus Christ through it all. Often we wonder if we are doing the right things at all.

"You will recognize them by their fruits."

Matthew 7:16

I am grateful for this next chapter in my life, and for the fruit that God has allowed me to share. I praise God for what He has done for the Ma'di people, and for what He will do for the Lugbara people. I give Him all the glory and honor, and all the thanks and praise for making this possible. This praise will result in New Testaments being printed that will give the revelation of Jesus Christ to many. Hallelujah. Phil, who asked for a Lugbara Bible says, "I never cease to marvel how our dear Lord finds a place in His garden for all of us to do some work!" I could not agree more.

Danger from False Brothers

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 Paul lists a series of trials which he considers "great labors." Among the following abbreviated list of beatings, ship wrecks, and danger from robbers, Paul includes "danger from false brothers." (ESV)

Now, Zechariah 13:6 prophesies of our Lord Jesus answering the following question: "What are these wounds on your back?" with the unexpected answer: "The wounds I received in the house of my friends."

Christians are counseled to be prepared for battle. Ephesians 6 gives a well-known list of the protective garb each warrior is supposed to arm himself with as well as instruction on what weapon he is supposed to carry. Ephesians 6:12 clarifies that our struggle is not merely against flesh and blood alone, but against the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers over the present darkness we find ourselves living in.

The diligent Christian is not only prepared and expectant to battle in war, but he also anticipates persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12 promises, "... all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

But what happens when a Christian is blindsided by an assaulting false brother? What happens when the persecution arises out of his own church? Surely wounds received in the house of our friends are the most difficult to forgive and overcome.

David was acquainted with being wounded in the house of his friends. He said, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God..." (Psalm 55:12-14 NIV)

Job lamented more than once, "My relatives stay far away, and my friends have turned against me... my close friends detest me..." (Job 19:13&19 NIV)

Even Jesus himself was betrayed by Judas and Peter, so why are Christians unsuspecting when their experiences follow the unhappy patterns exemplified in the Bible? And an even bigger question: what is a Christian supposed to do after they do receive an injury in the house of their friends?

1 Peter 2:23 exemplifies Jesus when it says, "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." (NIV)


Paul tells us in Romans 12:17-19, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath..."

"Good" Christians: Do We Give What We Take?

"Good" Christians give until it hurts. They give when they can't afford to. They give when they don't want to. They give when they aren't rewarded, when they aren't thanked, and when their efforts aren't reciprocated.

"Good" Christians give as a way to express the love of the Lord. It's not because it's fun or easy, and it's not because they don't have anything else better to do.

When I consider the Lord, I notice how He consistently gives to his children who don't even ask for the gifts he gives. He provides every basic need and every luxury. He provides people and pets in our lives who can comfort us when we need it. He provides every aspect of the perfectly balanced world we live in.

And all this we take from the Lord.

Usually without gratitude.

And this evening, the question hit me: "Do we give what we take?" Do we even begin to give to others as much as we ourselves take from our Lord?

Too often, even Christians, are too selfish with their love, time, and money to extend it to other believers.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2

Can the Ten Commandments be summed up any more concisely than this?

"So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."

Galatians 6:10

We will not always have an opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. Everyday life does not normally require outside help. But when a need arises in the body of Christ, it is a Christian's privilege to deny self and be the hands and feet of the Lord during that time of need.

"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

1 Corinthians 12:26

And yet here is the harsh reality: Too often Christians do not show up during any hour of crisis. Bar buddies show up and sports teams comes together. Strangers will completely fund a GoFundMe account... But the church maintains her distance and ruins her witness in the process.

During a crisis, the church masquerades righteousness with unfulfilled promises that they'll pray while the person in distress is tempted to quit religion all together. A promise to pray is not a tangible act of love that the person in need can see, hear, and touch.

The American church today rarely goes much deeper than offering a word of compassion during a crisis. A word of compassion makes the self-centered Christian feel good without having to sacrifice any of their time, energy, or money.

"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him,

"Go and do likewise."

Luke 10:30-37

Count the tangible ways that the Samaritan helped the man in distress.

Now consider the self-centered lies the priest told himself that excused his behavior of passing his neighbor by without offering assistance, and let me remind you that his excuses did not matter to the Lord.

I ask myself the same question our Lord asked himself,

"When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Luke 18:8

How is one supposed to have faith in a loving God when His love is never expressed in tangible acts of kindness? I don't know how it's possible.

The Runaway Slave

I had a dream last night that woke me up with a startling call to join the ranks of the Lord's Army.

In the dream I saw a very large black man (think John Coffee in the Green Mile). In my spirit I knew he was a slave. It was the middle of the night and the middle of a severe storm. The runaway slave ran with all of his might. Cold rain beat down on him. Lightening pierced the sky to light his way, and the thunder seemed almost constant.  As he ran he got hit in the face by branches, his arms and legs became bloody from the cuts they received, and the unstable mud caused him to fall several times. The burden to pick himself back up was so great that I often wondered if he would be able to rise again, but the fight to freedom within him grew with every fall, and he continued.

He ran in this condition for what I understood to be 100 miles before he finally reached a land of freedom. When he finally stopped he was beyond exhausted, wet, and weak, but he was free... and he had carried his two children with him to freedom.

"For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first."

2 Peter 2:19b-20

As Christians I think we often accept that Jesus willingly took our punishment for us, and then we become passive with a belief that the battle has already been won, so there is no longer any fighting that needs to be done. God loves us so much that he died for us and now he fights our fights for us. Our only job is to show up in Heaven and receive our reward...

Our reward for WHAT??

After we accept The Way that Jesus provides for us to be saved, it is then up to us to fight the good fight and run the race set before us. In my dream, the race was to freedom, and the race was against time. The enslavement was the sin and bondage of our old life. The captors were the rulers, authorities, cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil who desire to keep us in our sin. They were represented by all of the elements (darkness, rain, trees, thorns, mud, etc) trying to stop the slave from reaching freedom. (Ephesians 6:12).

There are many evil things in this world who are on mission to kill, steal, and destroy the freedom that we have in Christ. They desire to place us back in the bondage of our sin so that our new state of defeated Christian will be worse than our original state of mere sinner.

We must persevere through the spiritual war. As Satan and his followers beat us down to get us discouraged, and whisper condemning lies into our ear we must use the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) to fight our way back to freedom, (and in order to use the full armor of God, it is implied that we have already put it on...)

In the dream I was not able to perceive that the man running carried two children (one boy and one girl).. He seemed to be running his race to freedom alone. It was only after he reached freedom that the freedom of his children was also revealed.

And this is our promise from the Lord. If we do accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and if we do fight to free ourselves from our sinful nature and choose to allow the Spirit to guide and change us, then our children will inherit freedom with us.

"They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them."

Isaiah 65:23