Bible Reading

One of the things on my "to do" list
for this year is to read the Standard Works.

I hate to admit that I have never read
the Bible cover to cover.
I have read the entire New Testament
and I have tried to read the Old Testament
on numerous occasions,
but I quickly get bogged down in the begats
and the begetting
and the begots.

There are some kind of
iffy things that go on in the Old Testament
in those areas
and I am easily distracted by them.

However,
I believe the Bible to be the Word of God
As far as it is translated correctly
and I am determined to read it
even if it seems like,
in my opinion,
it could have been condensed,
a lot,
and not lost much.

Recently I read the Bible Cliff Notes,
an extremely condensed version of the Bible.

The Bible in Fifty Words

God made
Adam bit
Noah arked
Abraham split
Joseph ruled
Jacob fooled
Bush talked
Moses balked
Pharaoh plagued
People walked
Sea divided
Tablets guided
Promise landed
Saul freaked
David peeked
Prophets warned
Jesus born
God walked
Love talked
Anger crucified
Hope died
Love rose
Spirit flamed
Word spread
God remained.

- Unknown

Although I think that might
hit on most of the highlights of the Bible,
and I've already read about the first 6
in the book of Genesis,
I will continue to plug along
and read the entire King James version.

I recently heard that the Old Testament
was written to testify of the Messiah—Jesus Christ—
who was known to the ancients as Jehovah.
I am trying to focus on this idea
as I do my reading
and looking for references to Jesus Christ
or symbolism that alludes to him.

I really don't want to just read the Bible
to be able to say that I have done it.

I want to read the Bible
to learn what it contains,
from my Heavenly Father
that he wants me,
personally,
to know
and to increase my testimony of Jesus Christ.

That thought makes me almost excited
to start Exodus tomorrow.