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: Monday, October 12, 2009 10:15 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Tuesday October 13 > Day 286 > > Matthew 10 > The Twelve Harvest Hands > 1-4 The prayer was no sooner prayed than it was answered. Jesus called > twelve of his followers and > sent them into the ripe fields. He gave them power to kick out the evil > spirits and to tenderly care > for the bruised and hurt lives. This is the list of the twelve he sent: > > Simon (they called him Peter, or "Rock"), > Andrew, his brother, > James, Zebedee's son, > John, his brother, > Philip, > Bartholomew, > Thomas, > Matthew, the tax man, > James, son of Alphaeus, > Thaddaeus, > Simon, the Canaanite, > Judas Iscariot (who later turned on him). > 5-8Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: > > "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. > And don't try to be > dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people > right here in the > neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the > sick. Raise the dead. Touch > the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, > so live generously. > > 9-10"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you > start. You don't need a lot > of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going > is three meals a day. > Travel light. > > 11"When you enter a town or village, don't insist on staying in a luxury > inn. Get a modest place > with some modest people, and be content there until you leave. > > 12-15"When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they > welcome you, be gentle in > your conversation. If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make > a scene. Shrug your > shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they'll > be mighty sorry-but it's > no concern of yours now. > > 16"Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to > be like sheep running > through a wolf pack, so don't call attention to yourselves. Be as cunning > as a snake, inoffensive as > a dove. > > 17-20"Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will > smear your reputation-just > because you believe in me. Don't be upset when they haul you before the > civil authorities. Without > knowing it, they've done you-and me-a favor, given you a platform for > preaching the kingdom news! > And don't worry about what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right > words will be there; the > Spirit of your Father will supply the words. > > 21-23"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not > some idol that makes them > feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. > There is a great irony > here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. > Don't cave in. It is all > well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times > but survival. Be survivors! > Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. > > 24-25"A student doesn't get a better desk than her teacher. A laborer > doesn't make more money than > his boss. Be content-pleased, even-when you, my students, my harvest > hands, get the same treatment I > get. If they call me, the Master, 'Dungface,' what can the workers expect? > > 26-27"Don't be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in > the open, and everyone will > know how things really are. So don't hesitate to go public now. > > 28"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's > nothing they can do to your > soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire > life-body and soul-in his > hands. > > Forget About Yourself > 29-31"What's the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God > cares what happens to it > even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the > last detail-even numbering > the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. > You're worth more than a > million canaries. > 32-33"Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you > before my Father in heaven. > If you turn tail and run, do you think I'll cover for you? > > 34-37"Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut-make a > sharp knife-cut between son > and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law-cut through these > cozy domestic > arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your > worst enemies. If you > prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son > or daughter over me, you > don't deserve me. > > 38-39"If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you > don't deserve me. If your > first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But > if you forget about > yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. > > 40-42"We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts > what you do, accepts me, > the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who > sent me. Accepting a > messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's > help is as good as giving > someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be > overwhelmed by it. It's best > to start small. Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty, for > instance. The smallest act > of giving or receiving makes you a true apprentice. You won't lose out on > a thing." > > Matthew 11 > John the Baptizer > 1When Jesus finished placing this charge before his twelve disciples, he > went on to teach and > preach in their villages. > 2-3John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what > Jesus was doing, he sent > his own disciples to ask, "Are you the One we've been expecting, or are we > still waiting?" 4-6Jesus > told them, "Go back and tell John what's going on: > > The blind see, > The lame walk, > Lepers are cleansed, > The deaf hear, > The dead are raised, > The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. > "Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!" > > 7-10When John's disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the > crowd about John. "What did > you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? > Hardly. What then? A sheik in > silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A > prophet? That's right, a > prophet! Probably the best prophet you'll ever hear. He is the prophet > that Malachi announced when > he wrote, 'I'm sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth > for you.' > > 11-14"Let me tell you what's going on here: No one in history surpasses > John the Baptizer; but in > the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For > a long time now people > have tried to force themselves into God's kingdom. But if you read the > books of the Prophets and > God's Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with > him in preparing the way for > the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the 'Elijah' > you've all been expecting to > arrive and introduce the Messiah. > > 15"Are you listening to me? Really listening? > > 16-19"How can I account for this generation? The people have been like > spoiled children whining to > their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we > wanted to talk, but you > were always too busy.' John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came > feasting and they called > me a lush, a friend of the riffraff. Opinion polls don't count for much, > do they? The proof of the > pudding is in the eating." > > The Unforced Rhythms of Grace > 20Next Jesus let fly on the cities where he had worked the hardest but > whose people had responded > the least, shrugging their shoulders and going their own way. > 21-24"Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen > half of the powerful > miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. > At Judgment Day they'll get > off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, > you are going to end up in > the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would > still be around. At Judgment > Day they'll get off easy compared to you." > > 25-26Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven > and earth. You've > concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them > out clearly to ordinary > people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work." > > 27Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has > given me all these things > to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father > and Son intimacies and > knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father > the way the Son does. But > I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with > anyone willing to listen. > > 28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get > away with me and you'll > recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and > work with me-watch how I > do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or > ill-fitting on you. Keep > company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." > > Matthew 12 > In Charge of the Sabbath > 1-2 One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of > ripe grain. Hungry, the > disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them. Some > Pharisees reported them to > Jesus: "Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!" > 3-5Jesus said, "Really? Didn't you ever read what David and his companions > did when they were > hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, > bread that no one but > priests were allowed to eat? And didn't you ever read in God's Law that > priests carrying out their > Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against > them? > > 6-8"There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea > what this Scripture meant-'I > prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'-you wouldn't be > nitpicking like this. The Son of > Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge." > > 9-10When Jesus left the field, he entered their meeting place. There was a > man there with a > crippled hand. They said to Jesus, "Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath?" > They were baiting him. > > 11-14He replied, "Is there a person here who, finding one of your lambs > fallen into a ravine, > wouldn't, even though it was a Sabbath, pull it out? Surely kindness to > people is as legal as > kindness to animals!" Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He > held it out and it was > healed. The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were > going to ruin Jesus. > > In Charge of Everything > 15-21Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on. A lot of people > followed him, and he healed > them all. He also cautioned them to keep it quiet, following guidelines > set down by Isaiah: > > Look well at my handpicked servant; > I love him so much, take such delight in him. > I've placed my Spirit on him; > he'll decree justice to the nations. > But he won't yell, won't raise his voice; > there'll be no commotion in the streets. > He won't walk over anyone's feelings, > won't push you into a corner. > Before you know it, his justice will triumph; > the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even > among far-off unbelievers. > No Neutral Ground > 22-23Next a poor demon-afflicted wretch, both blind and deaf, was set down > before him. Jesus healed > him, gave him his sight and hearing. The people who saw it were > impressed-"This has to be the Son of > David!" > 24But the Pharisees, when they heard the report, were cynical. "Black > magic," they said. "Some > devil trick he's pulled from his sleeve." > > 25-27Jesus confronted their slander. "A judge who gives opposite verdicts > on the same person > cancels himself out; a family that's in a constant squabble disintegrates; > if Satan banishes Satan, > is there any Satan left? If you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a > devil kicking out devils, > doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists? > > 28-29"But if it's by God's power that I am sending the evil spirits > packing, then God's kingdom is > here for sure. How in the world do you think it's possible in broad > daylight to enter the house of > an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie > him up first? Tie him up, > though, and you can clean him out. > > 30"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, > you're the enemy; if > you're not helping, you're making things worse. > > 31-32"There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you > deliberately persist in your > slanders against God's Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who > forgives. If you reject the Son > of Man out of some misunderstanding, the Holy Spirit can forgive you, but > when you reject the Holy > Spirit, you're sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by > your own perversity all > connection with the One who forgives. > > 33"If you grow a healthy tree, you'll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a > diseased tree, you'll pick > worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree. > > 34-37"You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is > worth anything when you > are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives > meaning to your words. A good > person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person > is a blight on the orchard. > Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to > come back to haunt you. > There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them > seriously. Words can be your > salvation. Words can also be your damnation." > > Jonah-Evidence > 38Later a few religion scholars and Pharisees got on him. "Teacher, we > want to see your > credentials. Give us some hard evidence that God is in this. How about a > miracle?" > 39-40Jesus said, "You're looking for proof, but you're looking for the > wrong kind. All you want is > something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. The > only proof you're going > to get is what looks like the absence of proof: Jonah-evidence. Like > Jonah, three days and nights in > the fish's belly, the Son of Man will be gone three days and nights in a > deep grave. > > 41-42"On Judgment Day, the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that > will condemn this > generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. > A far greater preacher > than Jonah is here, and you squabble about 'proofs.' On Judgment Day, the > Queen of Sheba will come > forward and bring evidence that will condemn this generation, because she > traveled from a far corner > of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon's > is right in front of you, > and you quibble over 'evidence.' > > 43-45"When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts > along through the desert > looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it > doesn't find anyone, it says, > 'I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly > clean, but vacant. It then > runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they > all move in, whooping it > up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up > in the first place. > > "That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out > the junk from your lives > and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom > message, and now all the devils > are moving back in." > > Obedience Is Thicker than Blood > 46-47While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers > showed up. They were outside > trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, "Your mother and > brothers are out here, wanting > to speak with you." > 48-50Jesus didn't respond directly, but said, "Who do you think my mother > and brothers are?" He > then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. "Look closely. These are > my mother and brothers. > Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father's > will is my brother and > sister and mother." > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > 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. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
