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: Sunday, October 25, 2009 9:23 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Monday October 26 > Day 299 > > Luke 7-9 (The Message) > > Luke 7 > A Place of Holy Mystery > 1-5When he finished speaking to the people, he entered Capernaum. A Roman > captain there had a > servant who was on his deathbed. He prized him highly and didn't want to > lose him. When he heard > Jesus was back, he sent leaders from the Jewish community asking him to > come and heal his servant. > They came to Jesus and urged him to do it, saying, "He deserves this. He > loves our people. He even > built our meeting place." > 6-8Jesus went with them. When he was still quite far from the house, the > captain sent friends to > tell him, "Master, you don't have to go to all this trouble. I'm not that > good a person, you know. > I'd be embarrassed for you to come to my house, even embarrassed to come > to you in person. Just give > the order and my servant will get well. I'm a man under orders; I also > give orders. I tell one > soldier, 'Go,' and he goes; another, 'Come,' and he comes; my slave, 'Do > this,' and he does it." > > 9-10Taken aback, Jesus addressed the accompanying crowd: "I've yet to come > across this kind of > simple trust anywhere in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know > about God and how he > works." When the messengers got back home, they found the servant up and > well. > > 11-15Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples > were with him, along with > quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a > funeral procession-a woman's > only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. > When Jesus saw her, his heart > broke. He said to her, "Don't cry." Then he went over and touched the > coffin. The pallbearers > stopped. He said, "Young man, I tell you: Get up." The dead son sat up and > began talking. Jesus > presented him to his mother. > > 16-17They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was > at work among them. They > were quietly worshipful-and then noisily grateful, calling out among > themselves, "God is back, > looking to the needs of his people!" The news of Jesus spread all through > the country. > > Is This What You Were Expecting? > 18-19John's disciples reported back to him the news of all these events > taking place. He sent two > of them to the Master to ask the question, "Are you the One we've been > expecting, or are we still > waiting?" > 20The men showed up before Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to > ask you, 'Are you the One > we've been expecting, or are we still waiting?'" > > 21-23In the next two or three hours Jesus healed many from diseases, > distress, and evil spirits. To > many of the blind he gave the gift of sight. Then he gave his answer: "Go > back and tell John what > you have just seen and heard: > > The blind see, > The lame walk, > Lepers are cleansed, > The deaf hear, > The dead are raised, > The wretched of the earth > have God's salvation hospitality extended to them. > "Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves fortunate!" > > 24-27After John's messengers left to make their report, Jesus said more > about John to the crowd of > people. "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 > messenger from God? That's right, a messenger! Probably the greatest > messenger you'll ever hear. He > is the messenger Malachi announced when he wrote, > > I'm sending my messenger on ahead > To make the road smooth for you. > > 28-30"Let me lay it out for you as plainly as I can: No one in history > surpasses John the Baptizer, > but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of > him. The ordinary and > disreputable people who heard John, by being baptized by him into the > kingdom, are the clearest > evidence; the Pharisees and religious officials would have nothing to do > with such a baptism, > wouldn't think of giving up their place in line to their inferiors. > > 31-35"How can I account for the people of this generation? They're like > spoiled children > complaining 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 the Baptizer came fasting and you > called him crazy. The Son > of Man came feasting and you called him a lush. Opinion polls don't count > for much, do they? The > proof of the pudding is in the eating." > > Anointing His Feet > 36-39One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the > Pharisee's house and sat down > at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, > having learned that Jesus > was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very > expensive perfume and stood at > his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she > dried his feet, kissed > them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had > invited him saw this, he said to > himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have > known what kind of woman this > is who is falling all over him." > 40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." > > "Oh? Tell me." > > 41-42"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver > pieces, the other fifty. > Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which > of the two would be more > grateful?" > > 43-47Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most." > > "That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to > Simon, he said, "Do you > see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, > but she rained tears on my > feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the > time I arrived she hasn't > quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has > soothed my feet with > perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so > she is very, very grateful. > If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." > > 48Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins." > > 49That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think > he is, forgiving sins!" > > 50He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in > peace." > > Luke 8 > 1-3He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village > after village, preaching > God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were > also some women in their > company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: > Mary, the one called > Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, > Herod's manager; and > Susanna-along with many others who used their considerable means to > provide for the company. > The Story of the Seeds > 4-8As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled > along. He addressed them, > using this story: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on > the road; it was tramped > down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but > withered because it > didn't have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with > it and strangled it. Other > seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. > "Are you listening to this? Really listening?" > > 9His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?" > > 10He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom-you know how it > works. There are others > who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren't going to get > it: > > Their eyes are open but don't see a thing, > Their ears are open but don't hear a thing. > > 11-12"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of > God. The seeds on the road > are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil > snatches it from them so > they won't believe and be saved. > > 13"The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the > enthusiasm doesn't go very > deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone. > > 14"And the seed that fell in the weeds-well, these are the ones who hear, > but then the seed is > crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying > about tomorrow, making > money, and having fun. > > 15"But the seed in the good earth-these are the good-hearts who seize the > Word and hold on no > matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest. > > Misers of What You Hear > 16-18"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it > under the bed. No, you set > it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We're > not keeping secrets; > we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out > into the open. So be > careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets > generosity. Stinginess > impoverishes." > 19-20His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him > because of the crowd. He was > given the message, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting > to see you." > > 21He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's > Word. Obedience is thicker > than blood." > > 22-24One day he and his disciples got in a boat. "Let's cross the lake," > he said. And off they > went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up > suddenly on the lake. > Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: "Master, > Master, we're going to > drown!" > > Getting to his feet, he told the wind, "Silence!" and the waves, "Quiet > down!" They did it. The > lake became smooth as glass. > > 25Then he said to his disciples, "Why can't you trust me?" > > They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, "Who is this, > anyway? He calls out to the > winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!" > > The Madman and the Pigs > 26-29They sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, directly opposite > Galilee. As he stepped out > onto land, a madman from town met him; he was a victim of demons. He > hadn't worn clothes for a long > time, nor lived at home; he lived in the cemetery. When he saw Jesus he > screamed, fell before him, > and bellowed, "What business do you have messing with me? You're Jesus, > Son of the High God, but > don't give me a hard time!" (The man said this because Jesus had started > to order the unclean spirit > out of him.) Time after time the demon threw the man into convulsions. He > had been placed under > constant guard and tied with chains and shackles, but crazed and driven > wild by the demon, he would > shatter the bonds. > 30-31Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" > > "Mob. My name is Mob," he said, because many demons afflicted him. And > they begged Jesus > desperately not to order them to the bottomless pit. > > 32-33A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The > demons begged Jesus to > order them into the pigs. He gave the order. It was even worse for the > pigs than for the man. > Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the lake and drowned. > > 34-36Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story > in town and country. > People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the > man from whom the demons > had been sent, sitting there at Jesus' feet, wearing decent clothes and > making sense. It was a holy > moment, and for a short time they were more reverent than curious. Then > those who had seen it happen > told how the demoniac had been saved. > > 37-39Later, a great many people from the Gerasene countryside got together > and asked Jesus to > leave-too much change, too fast, and they were scared. So Jesus got back > in the boat and set off. > The man whom he had delivered from the demons asked to go with him, but he > sent him back, saying, > "Go home and tell everything God did in you." So he went back and preached > all over town everything > Jesus had done in him. > > His Touch > 40-42On his return, Jesus was welcomed by a crowd. They were all there > expecting him. A man came > up, Jairus by name. He was president of the meeting place. He fell at > Jesus' feet and begged him to > come to his home because his twelve-year-old daughter, his only child, was > dying. Jesus went with > him, making his way through the pushing, jostling crowd. > 43-45In the crowd that day there was a woman who for twelve years had been > afflicted with > hemorrhages. She had spent every penny she had on doctors but not one had > been able to help her. She > slipped in from behind and touched the edge of Jesus' robe. At that very > moment her hemorrhaging > stopped. Jesus said, "Who touched me?" > > When no one stepped forward, Peter said, "But Master, we've got crowds > of people on our hands. > Dozens have touched you." > > 46Jesus insisted, "Someone touched me. I felt power discharging from me." > > 47When the woman realized that she couldn't remain hidden, she knelt > trembling before him. In front > of all the people, she blurted out her story-why she touched him and how > at that same moment she was > healed. > > 48Jesus said, "Daughter, you took a risk trusting me, and now you're > healed and whole. Live well, > live blessed!" > > 49While he was still talking, someone from the leader's house came up and > told him, "Your daughter > died. No need now to bother the Teacher." > > 50-51Jesus overheard and said, "Don't be upset. Just trust me and > everything will be all right." > Going into the house, he wouldn't let anyone enter with him except Peter, > John, James, and the > child's parents. > > 52-53Everyone was crying and carrying on over her. Jesus said, "Don't cry. > She didn't die; she's > sleeping." They laughed at him. They knew she was dead. > > 54-56Then Jesus, gripping her hand, called, "My dear child, get up." She > was up in an instant, up > and breathing again! He told them to give her something to eat. Her > parents were ecstatic, but Jesus > warned them to keep quiet. "Don't tell a soul what happened in this room." > > Luke 9 > Keep It Simple > 1-5Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal > with all the demons and > cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom > and heal the sick. He said, > "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the > equipment. And no luxury > inns-get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're > not welcomed, leave town. > Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on." > 6Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the > latest news of God, the > Message, and curing people everywhere they went. > > 7-9Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn't know what to > think. There were people > saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, > still others that some > prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, "But I killed John-took off > his head. So who is this > that I keep hearing about?" Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in > action. > > 10-11The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took > them away, off by > themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it > and followed. Jesus > graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. > Those who needed healing, he > healed. > > Bread and Fish for Five Thousand > 12As the day declined, the Twelve said, "Dismiss the crowd so they can go > to the farms or villages > around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. We're out in > the middle of nowhere." > 13-14"You feed them," Jesus said. > > They said, "We couldn't scrape up more than five loaves of bread and a > couple of fish-unless, of > course, you want us to go to town ourselves and buy food for everybody." > (There were more than five > thousand people in the crowd.) > > 14-17But he went ahead and directed his disciples, "Sit them down in > groups of about fifty." They > did what he said, and soon had everyone seated. He took the five loaves > and two fish, lifted his > face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread and fish to > the disciples to hand out > to the crowd. After the people had all eaten their fill, twelve baskets of > leftovers were gathered > up. > > Don't Run from Suffering > 18One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he > asked them, "What are > the crowds saying about me, about who I am?" > 19They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that > one of the prophets from > long ago has come back." > > 20-21He then asked, "And you-what are you saying about me? Who am I?" > > Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Jesus then warned them to keep it > quiet. They were to tell > no one what Peter had said. > > 22He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of > suffering, be tried and > found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion > scholars, be killed, and on the > third day be raised up alive." > > 23-27Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who > intends to come with me > has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat-I am. Don't run from > suffering; embrace it. > Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. > Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to > finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything > you want and lose you, the > real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading > you, know that the Son of Man > will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor > in company with the Father > and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. > Some who have taken their > stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the > kingdom of God." > > Jesus in His Glory > 28-31About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, > taking Peter, John, and > James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed > and his clothes became > blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned > out to be Moses and > Elijah-and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his > exodus, the one Jesus was > about to complete in Jerusalem. > 32-33Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When > they came to, rubbing > their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. > When Moses and Elijah had > left, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, this is a great moment! Let's build > three memorials: one for > you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He blurted this out without > thinking. > > 34-35While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped > them. As they found > themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then > there was a voice out of the > cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him." > > 36When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They > were speechless. And they > continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of > what they had seen. > > 37-40When they came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was > there to meet them. A man > called from out of the crowd, "Please, please, Teacher, take a look at my > son. He's my only child. > Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly he's screaming, thrown into > convulsions, his mouth foaming. And > then it beats him black-and-blue before it leaves. I asked your disciples > to deliver him but they > couldn't." > > 41Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! > How many times do I have > to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? > Bring your son here." > > 42-43While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw > him into convulsions. Jesus > stepped in, ordered the vile spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him > back to his father. They > all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God's greatness, God's > majestic greatness. > > Your Business Is Life > 43-44While they continued to stand around exclaiming over all the things > he was doing, Jesus said > to his disciples, "Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son > of Man is about to be > betrayed into human hands." > 45They didn't get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a > foreign language and they > couldn't make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him > what he meant. > > 46-48They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When > Jesus realized how much > this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. "Whoever accepts > this child as if the child > were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One > who sent me. You become > great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the > difference." > > 49John spoke up, "Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and > we stopped him because > he wasn't of our group." > > 50Jesus said, "Don't stop him. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally." > > 51-54When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his > courage and steeled > himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They > came to a Samaritan village > to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned > that his destination was > Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John > learned of it, they said, > "Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky > and incinerate them?" > > 55-56Jesus turned on them: "Of course not!" And they traveled on to > another village. > > 57On the road someone asked if he could go along. "I'll go with you, > wherever," he said. > > 58Jesus was curt: "Are you ready to rough it? We're not staying in the > best inns, you know." > > Jesus said to another, "Follow me." > > 59He said, "Certainly, but first excuse me for a couple of days, please. I > have to make > arrangements for my father's funeral." > > 60Jesus refused. "First things first. Your business is life, not death. > And life is urgent: > Announce God's kingdom!" > > 61Then another said, "I'm ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me > while I get things > straightened out at home." > > 62Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's > kingdom off till > tomorrow. Seize the day." > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
