O. Addison Gethers
e-mail address [email protected] [email protected] twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 8:29 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Wednesday August 12 > Day 224 > > Jeremiah 4-6 (The Message) > > Jeremiah 4 > 1-2 "If you want to come back, O Israel, you must really come back to me. > You must get rid of your stinking sin paraphernalia > and not wander away from me anymore. > Then you can say words like, 'As God lives...' > and have them mean something true and just and right. > And the godless nations will get caught up in the blessing > and find something in Israel to write home about." > 3-4Here's another Message from God > to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: > "Plow your unplowed fields, > but then don't plant weeds in the soil! > Yes, circumcise your lives for God's sake. > Plow your unplowed hearts, > all you people of Judah and Jerusalem. > Prevent fire-the fire of my anger- > for once it starts it can't be put out. > Your wicked ways > are fuel for the fire. > > God's Sledgehammer Anger > 5-8"Sound the alarm in Judah, > broadcast the news in Jerusalem. > Say, 'Blow the ram's horn trumpet through the land!' > Shout out-a bullhorn bellow!- > 'Close ranks! > Run for your lives to the shelters!' > Send up a flare warning Zion: > 'Not a minute to lose! Don't sit on your hands!' > Disaster's descending from the north. I set it off! > When it lands, it will shake the foundations. > Invaders have pounced like a lion from its cover, > ready to rip nations to shreds, > Leaving your land in wrack and ruin, > your cities in rubble, abandoned. > Dress in funereal black. > Weep and wail, > For God's sledgehammer anger > has slammed into us head-on. > 9"When this happens" > -God's Decree- > "King and princes will lose heart; > priests will be baffled and prophets stand dumbfounded." > > 10Then I said, "Alas, Master God! > You've fed lies to this people, this Jerusalem. > You assured them, 'All is well, don't worry,' > at the very moment when the sword was at their throats." > > 11-12At that time, this people, yes, this very Jerusalem, > will be told in plain words: > "The northern hordes are sweeping in > from the desert steppes- > A wind that's up to no good, a gale-force wind. > I ordered this wind. > I'm pronouncing > my hurricane judgment on my people." > > Your Evil Life Is Piercing Your Heart > 13-14Look at them! Like banks of storm clouds, > racing, tumbling, their chariots a tornado, > Their horses faster than eagles! > Woe to us! We're done for! > Jerusalem! Scrub the evil from your lives > so you'll be fit for salvation. > How much longer will you harbor > devious and malignant designs within you? > 15-17What's this? A messenger from Dan? > Bad news from Ephraim's hills! > Make the report public. > Broadcast the news to Jerusalem: > "Invaders from far off are > raising war cries against Judah's towns. > They're all over her, like a dog on a bone. > And why? Because she rebelled against me." > God's Decree. > > 18"It's the way you've lived > that's brought all this on you. > The bitter taste is from your evil life. > That's what's piercing your heart." > > 19-21I'm doubled up with cramps in my belly- > a poker burns in my gut. > My insides are tearing me up, > never a moment's peace. > The ram's horn trumpet blast rings in my ears, > the signal for all-out war. > Disaster hard on the heels of disaster, > the whole country in ruins! > In one stroke my home is destroyed, > the walls flattened in the blink of an eye. > How long do I have to look at the warning flares, > listen to the siren of danger? > > Experts at Evil > 22"What fools my people are! > They have no idea who I am. > A company of half-wits, > dopes and donkeys all! > Experts at evil > but klutzes at good." > 23-26I looked at the earth- > it was back to pre-Genesis chaos and emptiness. > I looked at the skies, > and not a star to be seen. > I looked at the mountains- > they were trembling like aspen leaves, > And all the hills > rocking back and forth in the wind. > I looked-what's this! Not a man or woman in sight, > and not a bird to be seen in the skies. > I looked-this can't be! Every garden and orchard shriveled up. > All the towns were ghost towns. > And all this because of God, > because of the blazing anger of God. > > 27-28Yes, this is God's Word on the matter: > > "The whole country will be laid waste- > still it won't be the end of the world. > The earth will mourn > and the skies lament > Because I've given my word and won't take it back. > I've decided and won't change my mind." > > You're Not Going to Seduce Anyone > 29Someone shouts, "Horsemen and archers!" > and everybody runs for cover. > They hide in ditches, > they climb into caves. > The cities are emptied, > not a person left anywhere. > 30-31And you, what do you think you're up to? > Dressing up in party clothes, > Decking yourselves out in jewelry, > putting on lipstick and rouge and mascara! > Your primping goes for nothing. > You're not going to seduce anyone. They're out to kill you! > And what's that I hear? The cry of a woman in labor, > the screams of a mother giving birth to her firstborn. > It's the cry of Daughter Zion, gasping for breath, > reaching out for help: > "Help, oh help me! I'm dying! > The killers are on me!" > > Jeremiah 5 > Sins Are Piled Sky-High > 1-2 "Patrol Jerusalem's streets. Look around. Take note. > Search the market squares. > See if you can find one man, one woman, > A single soul who does what is right > and tries to live a true life. > I want to forgive that person." > God's Decree. > "But if all they do is say, 'As sure as God lives...' > they're nothing but a bunch of liars." > 3-6But you, God, > you have an eye for truth, don't you? > You hit them hard, but it didn't faze them. > You disciplined them, but they refused correction. > Hardheaded, harder than rock, > they wouldn't change. > Then I said to myself, "Well, these are just poor people. > They don't know any better. > They were never taught anything about God. > They never went to prayer meetings. > I'll find some people from the best families. > I'll talk to them. > They'll know what's going on, the way God works. > They'll know the score." > But they were no better! Rebels all! > Off doing their own thing. > The invaders are ready to pounce and kill, > like a mountain lion, a wilderness wolf, > Panthers on the prowl. > The streets aren't safe anymore. > And why? Because the people's sins are piled sky-high; > their betrayals are past counting. > > 7-9"Why should I even bother with you any longer? > Your children wander off, leaving me, > Taking up with gods > that aren't even gods. > I satisfied their deepest needs, and then they went off with the 'sacred' > whores, > left me for orgies in sex shrines! > A bunch of well-groomed, lusty stallions, > each one pawing and snorting for his neighbor's wife. > Do you think I'm going to stand around and do nothing?" > God's Decree. > "Don't you think I'll take serious measures > against a people like this? > > Eyes That Don't Really Look, > Ears That Don't Really Listen > 10-11"Go down the rows of vineyards and rip out the vines, > but not all of them. Leave a few. > Prune back those vines! > That growth didn't come from God! > They've betrayed me over and over again, > Judah and Israel both." > God's Decree. > > 12-13"They've spread lies about God. > They've said, 'There's nothing to him. > Nothing bad will happen to us, > neither famine nor war will come our way. > The prophets are all windbags. > They speak nothing but nonsense.'" > > 14Therefore, this is what God said to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies: > > "Because they have talked this way, > they are going to eat those words. > Watch now! I'm putting my words > as fire in your mouth. > And the people are a pile of kindling > ready to go up in flames. > > 15-17"Attention! I'm bringing a far-off nation > against you, O house of Israel." > God's Decree. > "A solid nation, > an ancient nation, > A nation that speaks another language. > You won't understand a word they say. > When they aim their arrows, you're as good as dead. > They're a nation of real fighters! > They'll clean you out of house and home, > rob you of crops and children alike. > They'll feast on your sheep and cattle, > strip your vines and fig trees. > And the fortresses that made you feel so safe- > leveled with a stroke of the sword! > > 18-19"Even then, as bad as it will be"-God's Decree!-"it will not be the > end of the world for you. > And when people ask, 'Why did our God do all this to us?' you must say to > them, 'It's tit for tat. > Just as you left me and served foreign gods in your own country, so now > you must serve foreigners in > their own country.' > > 20-25"Tell the house of Jacob this, > put out this bulletin in Judah: > Listen to this, > you scatterbrains, airheads, > With eyes that see but don't really look, > and ears that hear but don't really listen. > Why don't you honor me? > Why aren't you in awe before me? > Yes, me, who made the shorelines > to contain the ocean waters. > I drew a line in the sand > that cannot be crossed. > Waves roll in but cannot get through; > breakers crash but that's the end of them. > But this people-what a people! > Uncontrollable, untameable runaways. > It never occurs to them to say, > 'How can we honor our God with our lives, > The God who gives rain in both spring and autumn > and maintains the rhythm of the seasons, > Who sets aside time each year for harvest > and keeps everything running smoothly for us?' > Of course you don't! Your bad behavior blinds you to all this. > Your sins keep my blessings at a distance. > > To Stand for Nothing and Stand Up for No One > 26-29"My people are infiltrated by wicked men, > unscrupulous men on the hunt. > They set traps for the unsuspecting. > Their victims are innocent men and women. > Their houses are stuffed with ill-gotten gain, > like a hunter's bag full of birds. > Pretentious and powerful and rich, > hugely obese, oily with rolls of fat. > Worse, they have no conscience. > Right and wrong mean nothing to them. > They stand for nothing, stand up for no one, > throw orphans to the wolves, exploit the poor. > Do you think I'll stand by and do nothing about this?" > God's Decree. > "Don't you think I'll take serious measures > against a people like this? > 30-31"Unspeakable! Sickening! > What's happened in this country? > Prophets preach lies > and priests hire on as their assistants. > And my people love it. They eat it up! > But what will you do when it's time to pick up the pieces?" > > Jeremiah 6 > A City Full of Lies > 1-5 "Run for your lives, children of Benjamin! Get out of Jerusalem, and > now! > Give a blast on the ram's horn in Blastville. > Send up smoke signals from Smoketown. > Doom pours out of the north- > massive terror! > I have likened my dear daughter Zion > to a lovely meadow. > Well, now 'shepherds' from the north have discovered her > and brought in their flocks of soldiers. > They've pitched camp all around her, > and plan where they'll 'graze.' > And then, 'Prepare to attack! The fight is on! > To arms! We'll strike at noon! > Oh, it's too late? Day is dying? > Evening shadows are upon us? > Well, up anyway! We'll attack by night > and tear apart her defenses stone by stone.'" > 6-8God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave the orders: > > "Chop down her trees. > Build a siege ramp against Jerusalem, > A city full of brutality, > bursting with violence. > Just as a well holds a good supply of water, > she supplies wickedness nonstop. > The streets echo the cries: 'Violence! Rape!' > Victims, bleeding and moaning, lie all over the place. > You're in deep trouble, Jerusalem. > You've pushed me to the limit. > You're on the brink of being wiped out, > being turned into a ghost town." > > 9More orders from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: > > "Time's up! Harvest the grapes for judgment. > Salvage what's left of Israel. > Go back over the vines. > Pick them clean, every last grape. > > Is Anybody Listening? > 10-11"I've got something to say. Is anybody listening? > I've a warning to post. Will anyone notice? > It's hopeless! Their ears are stuffed with wax- > deaf as a post, blind as a bat. > It's hopeless! They've tuned out God. > They don't want to hear from me. > But I'm bursting with the wrath of God. > I can't hold it in much longer. > 11-12"So dump it on the children in the streets. > Let it loose on the gangs of youth. > For no one's exempt: Husbands and wives will be taken, > the old and those ready to die; > Their homes will be given away- > all they own, even their loved ones- > When I give the signal > against all who live in this country." > God's Decree. > > 13-15"Everyone's after the dishonest dollar, > little people and big people alike. > Prophets and priests and everyone in between > twist words and doctor truth. > My people are broken-shattered!- > and they put on Band-Aids, > Saying, 'It's not so bad. You'll be just fine.' > But things are not 'just fine'! > Do you suppose they are embarrassed > over this outrage? > No, they have no shame. > They don't even know how to blush. > There's no hope for them. They've hit bottom > and there's no getting up. > As far as I'm concerned, > they're finished." > God has spoken. > > Death Is on the Prowl > 16-20God's Message yet again: > "Go stand at the crossroads and look around. > Ask for directions to the old road, > The tried-and-true road. Then take it. > Discover the right route for your souls. > But they said, 'Nothing doing. > We aren't going that way.' > I even provided watchmen for them > to warn them, to set off the alarm. > But the people said, 'It's a false alarm. > It doesn't concern us.' > And so I'm calling in the nations as witnesses: > 'Watch, witnesses, what happens to them!' > And, 'Pay attention, Earth! > Don't miss these bulletins.' > I'm visiting catastrophe on this people, the end result > of the games they've been playing with me. > They've ignored everything I've said, > had nothing but contempt for my teaching. > What would I want with incense brought in from Sheba, > rare spices from exotic places? > Your burnt sacrifices in worship give me no pleasure. > Your religious rituals mean nothing to me." > > 21So listen to this. Here's God's verdict on your way of life: > > "Watch out! I'm putting roadblocks and barriers > on the road you're taking. > They'll send you sprawling, > parents and children, neighbors and friends- > and that will be the end of the lot of you." > > 22-23And listen to this verdict from God: > > "Look out! An invasion from the north, > a mighty power on the move from a faraway place: > Armed to the teeth, > vicious and pitiless, > Booming like sea storm and thunder-tramp, tramp, tramp- > riding hard on war horses, > In battle formation > against you, dear Daughter Zion!" > > 24-25We've heard the news, > and we're as limp as wet dishrags. > We're paralyzed with fear. > Terror has a death grip on our throats. > Don't dare go outdoors! > Don't leave the house! > Death is on the prowl. > Danger everywhere! > > 26"Dear Daughter Zion: Dress in black. > Blacken your face with ashes. > Weep most bitterly, > as for an only child. > The countdown has begun... > six, five, four, three... > The Terror is on us!" > > 27-30God gave me this task: > > "I have made you the examiner of my people, > to examine and weigh their lives. > They're a thickheaded, hard-nosed bunch, > rotten to the core, the lot of them. > Refining fires are cranked up to white heat, > but the ore stays a lump, unchanged. > It's useless to keep trying any longer. > Nothing can refine evil out of them. > Men will give up and call them 'slag,' > thrown on the slag heap by me, their God." > > > > > > > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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