This is , beautiful, inspiring, and great. -------------------------------------------------- From: "O.Addison Gethers" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:40 AM To: "Deaf-blind inspirational life groups" <[email protected]> Subject: {dbilg} Fw: Daily Bible Reading For Friday November 13
> > 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: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:13 PM > Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Friday November 13 > > >> Day 324 >> >> Romans 10 >> Israel Reduced to Religion >> 1-3Believe me, friends, all I want for Israel is what's best for Israel: >> salvation, nothing less. I >> want it with all my heart and pray to God for it all the time. I readily >> admit that the Jews are >> impressively energetic regarding God-but they are doing everything >> exactly >> backward. They don't seem >> to realize that this comprehensive setting-things-right that is salvation >> is God's business, and a >> most flourishing business it is. Right across the street they set up >> their >> own salvation shops and >> noisily hawk their wares. After all these years of refusing to really >> deal >> with God on his terms, >> insisting instead on making their own deals, they have nothing to show >> for >> it. >> 4-10The earlier revelation was intended simply to get us ready for the >> Messiah, who then puts >> everything right for those who trust him to do it. Moses wrote that >> anyone >> who insists on using the >> law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy-every >> detail of life regulated by >> fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a >> different story- no precarious >> climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell >> to rescue the Messiah. So >> what exactly was Moses saying? >> >> The word that saves is right here, >> as near as the tongue in your mouth, >> as close as the heart in your chest. >> It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things >> right for us. This is the core >> of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God-"Jesus is my >> Master"-embracing, body and soul, God's >> work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's >> it. >> You're not "doing" >> anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for >> you. >> That's salvation. With >> your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say >> it, right out loud: "God has >> set everything right between him and me!" >> >> 11-13Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this-heart and >> soul-will ever regret it." >> It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may >> be: the same God for all of >> us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for >> help. "Everyone who calls, >> 'Help, God!' gets help." >> >> 14-17But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? >> And >> how can they know who to >> trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can >> they hear if nobody tells >> them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do >> it? That's why Scripture >> exclaims, >> >> A sight to take your breath away! >> Grand processions of people >> telling all the good things of God! >> But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. >> Isaiah >> asked what we all ask at >> one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and >> believing a word of it?" The >> point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word >> is preached, there's >> nothing to listen to. >> >> 18-21But haven't there been plenty of opportunities for Israel to listen >> and understand what's >> going on? Plenty, I'd say. >> >> Preachers' voices have gone 'round the world, >> Their message to earth's seven seas. >> So the big question is, Why didn't Israel understand that she had no >> corner on this message? Moses >> had it right when he predicted, >> >> When you see God reach out to those >> you consider your inferiors-outsiders!- >> you'll become insanely jealous. >> When you see God reach out to people >> you think are religiously stupid, >> you'll throw temper tantrums. >> Isaiah dared to speak out these words of God: >> People found and welcomed me >> who never so much as looked for me. >> And I found and welcomed people >> who had never even asked about me. >> Then he capped it with a damning indictment: >> Day after day after day, >> I beckoned Israel with open arms, >> And got nothing for my trouble >> but cold shoulders and icy stares. >> >> Romans 11 >> The Loyal Minority >> 1-2Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll >> have >> nothing more to do with >> them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an >> Israelite, a descendant of >> Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic >> than >> that! So we're not >> talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, >> has >> too much invested, to >> simply wash his hands of them. >> 2-6Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel >> and cried out in prayer? >> >> God, they murdered your prophets, >> They trashed your altars; >> I'm the only one left and now they're after me! >> And do you remember God's answer? >> I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, >> Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. >> >> It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still-not many, >> perhaps, but probably more >> than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think >> they're >> going to get out of it, >> but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing >> them. >> If they were only >> thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long >> ago. >> >> 7-10And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with God >> on her own, pursuing her >> own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen ones of God were those >> who let God pursue his >> interest in them, and as a result received his stamp of legitimacy. The >> "self-interest Israel" >> became thick-skinned toward God. Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: >> >> Fed up with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, >> God blurred their eyes and dulled their ears, >> Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, >> and they're there to this day. >> David was upset about the same thing: >> I hope they get sick eating self-serving meals, >> break a leg walking their self-serving ways. >> I hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, >> get ulcers from playing at god. >> >> Pruning and Grafting Branches >> 11-12The next question is, "Are they down for the count? Are they out of >> this for good?" And the >> answer is a clear-cut No. Ironically when they walked out, they left the >> door open and the outsiders >> walked in. But the next thing you know, the Jews were starting to wonder >> if perhaps they had walked >> out on a good thing. Now, if their leaving triggered this worldwide >> coming >> of non-Jewish outsiders >> to God's kingdom, just imagine the effect of their coming back! What a >> homecoming! >> 13-15But I don't want to go on about them. It's you, the outsiders, that >> I'm concerned with now. >> Because my personal assignment is focused on the so-called outsiders, I >> make as much of this as I >> can when I'm among my Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping >> they'll realize what they're >> missing and want to get in on what God is doing. If their falling out >> initiated this worldwide >> coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even >> better: >> mass homecoming! If the >> first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out >> for your good, just think >> what's going to happen when they get it right! >> >> 16-18Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, >> God-tended root. If the primary >> root of the tree is holy, there's bound to be some holy fruit. Some of >> the >> tree's branches were >> pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you >> are now fed by that rich and >> holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, >> you aren't feeding the >> root; the root is feeding you. >> >> 19-20It's certainly possible to say, "Other branches were pruned so that >> I >> could be grafted in!" >> Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer >> connected by belief and >> commitment to the root. The only reason you're on the tree is because >> your >> graft "took" when you >> believed, and because you're connected to that belief-nurturing root. So >> don't get cocky and strut >> your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and >> green. >> >> 21-22If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural >> branches, why would he >> hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought. Make sure you >> stay alert to these qualities >> of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in >> God-ruthless with the deadwood, >> gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The >> moment you become deadwood, >> you're out of there. >> >> 23-24And don't get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on >> the ground. If they don't >> persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. >> God can do that. He can >> perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you-branches cut from a >> tree out in the wild-into an >> orchard tree, he certainly isn't going to have any trouble grafting >> branches back into the tree they >> grew from in the first place. Just be glad you're in the tree, and hope >> for the best for the others. >> >> A Complete Israel >> 25-29I want to lay all this out on the table as clearly as I can, >> friends. >> This is complicated. It >> would be easy to misinterpret what's going on and arrogantly assume that >> you're royalty and they're >> just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that's not it at all. This >> hardness on the part of >> insider Israel toward God is temporary. Its effect is to open things up >> to >> all the outsiders so that >> we end up with a full house. Before it's all over, there will be a >> complete Israel. As it is >> written, >> >> A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion; >> he'll clean house in Jacob. >> And this is my commitment to my people: >> removal of their sins. >> From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the >> Message, it looks like the Jews >> are God's enemies. But looked at from the long-range perspective of God's >> overall purpose, they >> remain God's oldest friends. God's gifts and God's call are under full >> warranty-never canceled, >> never rescinded. >> 30-32There was a time not so long ago when you were on the outs with God. >> But then the Jews slammed >> the door on him and things opened up for you. Now they are on the outs. >> But with the door held wide >> open for you, they have a way back in. In one way or another, God makes >> sure that we all experience >> what it means to be outside so that he can personally open the door and >> welcome us back in. >> >> 33-36Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant >> generosity >> of God, this deep, deep >> wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. >> >> Is there anyone around who can explain God? >> Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? >> Anyone who has done him such a huge favor >> that God has to ask his advice? >> >> Everything comes from him; >> Everything happens through him; >> Everything ends up in him. >> Always glory! Always praise! >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> >> Romans 12 >> Place Your Life Before God >> 1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, >> ordinary life-your >> sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it >> before God as an offering. >> Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. >> Don't become so well-adjusted >> to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix >> your attention on God. >> You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants >> from you, and quickly respond >> to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its >> level of immaturity, God >> brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. >> 3I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, >> and especially as I have >> responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you >> does, in pure grace, it's >> important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing >> this goodness to God. No, >> God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves >> is >> by what God is and by >> what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him. >> >> 4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part >> gets its meaning from the >> body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about >> is >> Christ's body of chosen >> people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. >> But as a chopped-off finger >> or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find >> ourselves fashioned into all >> these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's >> body, let's just go ahead and >> be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing >> ourselves with each other, or >> trying to be something we aren't. >> >> 6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, >> just help, don't take over; >> if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, >> be >> careful that you don't >> get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to >> give aid to people in >> distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with >> the disadvantaged, don't let >> yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on >> your face. >> >> 9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life >> from evil; hold on for >> dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing >> second fiddle. >> >> 11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants >> of the Master, cheerfully >> expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy >> Christians; be inventive in >> hospitality. >> >> 14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your >> happy friends when they're >> happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be >> stuck-up. Make friends >> with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. >> >> 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in >> you, >> get along with >> everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll >> do the judging," says God. >> "I'll take care of it." >> >> 20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy >> that >> person lunch, or if he's >> thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with >> goodness. >> Don't let evil get the >> best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ~~~~~ >> 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=. > > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. 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