Don't Subtract; Add Something For LENT This Year.

I have never really been a big proponent of celebrating Lent. I understand that it is the 40-days before Easter, but it carries with it so many Catholic overtones that I have often just let it be. It seems to me that giving up something because you are told to do so seems disingenuous. I am sure there are thousands of people that take it as a serious time, but it just seems odd to give up chocolate because you are told you have to give up something during this time of the year (or as my friends would do, watermelon, since it was out of season). 

Maybe the solution is not to give something up this year. Maybe, starting tomorrow, you can add something. What about adding strategic Bible reading to your daily schedule. I hope you already read the Bible, but what if you were to take the next 40 days and strategically purpose to read the Bible. Each day.

The last couple of days, I have read of many different plans for reading the Bible over the coming weeks. After some consideration, I am going to take the days leading up to Easter to read the New Testament. Would you consider joining me? The plan I will be using is posted below (download it HERE). I am hoping that some of my online friends will join with me and interact with me as we read the Scriptures together.

Every Sunday leading up to Easter, I will take the opportunity to share some of my thoughts from the previous weeks reading. If you are so moved, I hope you would comment as well. I would love to know what God is doing in your heart as you read His word. 

It starts tomorrow. Happy reading! And may the Lord shape us as we engage His Word in a purposeful way! 

Date	Scripture Reading
Wednesday, February 13th	Matthew 1–7
Thursday, February 14th	Matthew 8–12
Friday, February 15th	Matthew 13–18
Saturday, February 16th	Matthew 19–24
Monday, February 18th	Matthew 25–28
Tuesday, February 19th	Mark 1–6
Wednesday, February 20th	Mark 7–11
Thursday, February 21st	Mark 12–16
Friday, February 22nd	Luke 1–4
Saturday, February 23rd	Luke 5–9
Monday, February 25th	Luke 10–13
Tuesday, February 26th	Luke 14–19
Wednesday, February 27th	Luke 20–24
Thursday, February 28th	John 1–5
Friday, March 1st	John 6–9
Saturday, March 2nd	John 10–14
Monday, March 4th	John 15–19
Tuesday, March 5th	John 20—Acts 4
Wednesday, March 6th	Acts 5–9
Thursday, March 7th	Acts 10–15
Friday, March 8th	Acts 16–20
Saturday, March 9th	Acts 21–26
Monday, March 11th	Acts 27—Romans 4
Tuesday, March 12th	Romans 5–10
Wednesday, March 13th	Romans 11–16
Thursday, March 14th	1 Corinthians 1–8
Friday, March 15th	1 Corinthians 9–16
Saturday, March 16th	2 Corinthians 1–9
Monday, March 18th	2 Corinthians 10—Galatians
Tuesday, March 19th	Ephesians—Philippians 2
Wednesday, March 20th	Philippians 3—1 Thessalonians 2
Thursday, March 21st	1 Thessalonians 3—1 Timothy 5
Friday, March 22nd	1 Timothy 6—Hebrews 1
Saturday, March 23rd	Hebrews 2–10
Monday, March 25th	Hebrews 11—James 5
Tuesday, March 26th	1 Peter 1—2 Peter 3
Wednesday, March 27th	1 John—Jude
Thursday, March 28th	Revelation 1–7
Friday, March 29th	Revelation 8–15
Saturday, March 30th	Revelation 16–22