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: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 11:17 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Saturday August 29 > Day 241 > > Lamentations 4-5 (The Message) > > Lamentations 4 > Waking Up with Nothing > 1 Oh, oh, oh... > How gold is treated like dirt, > the finest gold thrown out with the garbage, > Priceless jewels scattered all over, > jewels loose in the gutters. > 2And the people of Zion, once prized, > far surpassing their weight in gold, > Are now treated like cheap pottery, > like everyday pots and bowls mass-produced by a potter. > > 3Even wild jackals nurture their babies, > give them their breasts to suckle. > But my people have turned cruel to their babies, > like an ostrich in the wilderness. > > 4Babies have nothing to drink. > Their tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths. > Little children ask for bread > but no one gives them so much as a crust. > > 5People used to the finest cuisine > forage for food in the streets. > People used to the latest in fashions > pick through the trash for something to wear. > > 6The evil guilt of my dear people > was worse than the sin of Sodom- > The city was destroyed in a flash, > and no one around to help. > > 7The splendid and sacred nobles > once glowed with health. > Their bodies were robust and ruddy, > their beards like carved stone. > > 8But now they are smeared with soot, > unrecognizable in the street, > Their bones sticking out, > their skin dried out like old leather. > > 9Better to have been killed in battle > than killed by starvation. > Better to have died of battle wounds > than to slowly starve to death. > > 10Nice and kindly women > boiled their own children for supper. > This was the only food in town > when my dear people were broken. > > 11God let all his anger loose, held nothing back. > He poured out his raging wrath. > He set a fire in Zion > that burned it to the ground. > > 12The kings of the earth couldn't believe it. > World rulers were in shock, > Watching old enemies march in big as you please, > right through Jerusalem's gates. > > 13Because of the sins of her prophets > and the evil of her priests, > Who exploited good and trusting people, > robbing them of their lives, > > 14These prophets and priests blindly grope their way through the streets, > grimy and stained from their dirty lives, > Wasted by their wasted lives, > shuffling from fatigue, dressed in rags. > > 15People yell at them, "Get out of here, dirty old men! > Get lost, don't touch us, don't infect us!" > They have to leave town. They wander off. > Nobody wants them to stay here. > Everyone knows, wherever they wander, > that they've been kicked out of their own hometown. > > 16God himself scattered them. > No longer does he look out for them. > He has nothing to do with the priests; > he cares nothing for the elders. > > 17We watched and watched, > wore our eyes out looking for help. And nothing. > We mounted our lookouts and looked > for the help that never showed up. > > 18They tracked us down, those hunters. > It wasn't safe to go out in the street. > Our end was near, our days numbered. > We were doomed. > > 19They came after us faster than eagles in flight, > pressed us hard in the mountains, ambushed us in the desert. > > 20Our king, our life's breath, the anointed of God, > was caught in their traps- > Our king under whose protection > we always said we'd live. > > 21Celebrate while you can, O Edom! > Live it up in Uz! > For it won't be long before you drink this cup, too. > You'll find out what it's like to drink God's wrath, > Get drunk on God's wrath > and wake up with nothing, stripped naked. > > 22And that's it for you, Zion. The punishment's complete. > You won't have to go through this exile again. > But Edom, your time is coming: > He'll punish your evil life, put all your sins on display. > > Lamentations 5 > Give Us a Fresh Start > 1-22 "Remember, God, all we've been through. Study our plight, the black > mark we've made in > history. > Our precious land has been given to outsiders, > our homes to strangers. > Orphans we are, not a father in sight, > and our mothers no better than widows. > We have to pay to drink our own water. > Even our firewood comes at a price. > We're nothing but slaves, bullied and bowed, > worn out and without any rest. > We sold ourselves to Assyria and Egypt > just to get something to eat. > Our parents sinned and are no more, > and now we're paying for the wrongs they did. > Slaves rule over us; > there's no escape from their grip. > We risk our lives to gather food > in the bandit-infested desert. > Our skin has turned black as an oven, > dried out like old leather from the famine. > Our wives were raped in the streets in Zion, > and our virgins in the cities of Judah. > They hanged our princes by their hands, > dishonored our elders. > Strapping young men were put to women's work, > mere boys forced to do men's work. > The city gate is empty of wise elders. > Music from the young is heard no more. > All the joy is gone from our hearts. > Our dances have turned into dirges. > The crown of glory has toppled from our head. > Woe! Woe! Would that we'd never sinned! > Because of all this we're heartsick; > we can't see through the tears. > On Mount Zion, wrecked and ruined, > jackals pace and prowl. > And yet, God, you're sovereign still, > your throne intact and eternal. > So why do you keep forgetting us? > Why dump us and leave us like this? > Bring us back to you, God-we're ready to come back. > Give us a fresh start. > As it is, you've cruelly disowned us. > You've been so very angry with us." > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > 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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