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: Saturday, December 05, 2009 1:06 AM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Saturday December 5 > Day 339 > > Philippians 1 > 1-2Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write > this letter to all the > followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet > you with the grace and > peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. > A Love That Will Grow > 3-6Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to > God. Each exclamation is > a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am > so pleased that you have > continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, > from the day you heard it > right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my > mind that the God who > started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a > flourishing finish on the very day > Christ Jesus appears. > 7-8It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers > and hopes have deep > roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the > time I was thrown in jail, > put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have > experienced with me the most > generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. > Sometimes I think I feel > as strongly about you as Christ does! > > 9-11So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will > not only love much but > well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your > feelings so that your > love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's > life, circumspect and > exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the > soul, making Jesus Christ > attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of > God. > > They Can't Imprison the Message > 12-14I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had > the opposite of its > intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually > prospered. All the soldiers > here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this > Messiah. That piqued their > curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most > of the followers of Jesus > here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, > speaking out fearlessly about > God, about the Messiah. > 15-17It's true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the > way, they think they'll step > right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the > world. One group is > motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, > wanting to help. The others, > now that I'm out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get > something out of it for > themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and > so the worse it goes for > me, the better-they think-for them. > > 18-21So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about > their motives, whether > mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ > is proclaimed, so I just > cheer them on! > > And I'm going to keep that celebration going because I know how it's > going to turn out. Through > your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus > Christ, everything he wants > to do in and through me will be done. I can hardly wait to continue on my > course. I don't expect to > be embarrassed in the least. On the contrary, everything happening to me > in this jail only serves to > make Christ more accurately known, regardless of whether I live or die. > They didn't shut me up; they > gave me a pulpit! Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. > Life versus even more life! I > can't lose. > > 22-26As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. > If I had to choose right > now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp > here and be with Christ > is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, > because of what you are going > through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan > to be around awhile, > companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God > continues. You can start > looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We'll be > praising Christ, enjoying > each other. > > 27-30Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of > Christ. Let nothing in > your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same > whether I show up to see > things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in > vision, contending for > people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in > the slightest before the > opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: > defeat for them, victory > for you-and both because of God. There's far more to this life than > trusting in Christ. There's also > suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. > You're involved in the same > kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an > updated report in this > letter. > > Philippians 2 > He Took on the Status of a Slave > 1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love > has made any difference in > your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if > you have a heart, if you > care- then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be > deep-spirited friends. Don't > push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put > yourself aside, and help > others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. > Forget yourselves long enough > to lend a helping hand. > 5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had > equal status with God but > didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of > that status no matter > what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity > and took on the status of > a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an > incredibly humbling process. > He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient > life and then died a > selfless, obedient death-and the worst kind of death at that-a > crucifixion. > > 9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far > beyond anyone or anything, > ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth-even those long > ago dead and buried-will bow > in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the > Master of all, to the > glorious honor of God the Father. > > Rejoicing Together > 12-13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing > what you've done from > the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive > obedience. Now that I'm > separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be > energetic in your life of > salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, > an energy deep within > you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most > pleasure. > 14-16Do everything readily and cheerfully-no bickering, no second-guessing > allowed! Go out into the > world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted > society. Provide people with a > glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving > Message into the night so I'll > have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll > be living proof that I > didn't go to all this work for nothing. > > 17-18Even if I am executed here and now, I'll rejoice in being an element > in the offering of your > faith that you make on Christ's altar, a part of your rejoicing. But > turnabout's fair play-you must > join me in my rejoicing. Whatever you do, don't feel sorry for me. > > 19-24I plan (according to Jesus' plan) to send Timothy to you very soon so > he can bring back all > the news of you he can gather. Oh, how that will do my heart good! I have > no one quite like Timothy. > He is loyal, and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are > looking out for > themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus. But you know > yourselves that Timothy's the > real thing. He's been a devoted son to me as together we've delivered the > Message. As soon as I see > how things are going to fall out for me here, I plan to send him off. And > then I'm hoping and > praying to be right on his heels. > > 25-27But for right now, I'm dispatching Epaphroditus, my good friend and > companion in my work. You > sent him to help me out; now I'm sending him to help you out. He has been > wanting in the worst way > to get back with you. Especially since recovering from the illness you > heard about, he's been > wanting to get back and reassure you that he is just fine. He nearly died, > as you know, but God had > mercy on him. And not only on him-he had mercy on me, too. His death would > have been one huge grief > piled on top of all the others. > > 28-30So you can see why I'm so delighted to send him on to you. When you > see him again, hale and > hearty, how you'll rejoice and how relieved I'll be. Give him a grand > welcome, a joyful embrace! > People like him deserve the best you can give. Remember the ministry to me > that you started but > weren't able to complete? Well, in the process of finishing up that work, > he put his life on the > line and nearly died doing it. > > Philippians 3 > To Know Him Personally > 1 And that's about it, friends. Be glad in God! I don't mind repeating > what I have written in > earlier letters, and I hope you don't mind hearing it again. Better safe > than sorry-so here goes. > 2-6Steer clear of the barking dogs, those religious busybodies, all bark > and no bite. All they're > interested in is appearances-knife-happy circumcisers, I call them. The > real believers are the ones > the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air > with Christ's praise as we do > it. We couldn't carry this off by our own efforts, and we know it-even > though we can list what many > might think are impressive credentials. You know my pedigree: a legitimate > birth, circumcised on the > eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and > devout adherent to God's > law; a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of > persecuting the church; a > meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book. > > 7-9The very credentials these people are waving around as something > special, I'm tearing up and > throwing out with the trash-along with everything else I used to take > credit for. And why? Because > of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone > from my life. Compared to > the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, > everything I once thought I had > going for me is insignificant-dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so > that I could embrace > Christ and be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of > righteousness that comes > from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes > from trusting Christ-God's > righteousness. > > 10-11I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, > experience his > resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with > him to death itself. If > there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to > do it. > > Focused on the Goal > 12-14I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. > But I am well on my way, > reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. > Friends, don't get me wrong: By > no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye > on the goal, where God is > beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning > back. > 15-16So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything > God has for us. If any of > you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God > will clear your blurred > vision-you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on > it. > > 17-19Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same > course, headed for this > same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other > goals, and trying to get you > to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm > having to do it again. All > they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a > dead-end street. Those who > live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all > they can think of is their > appetites. > > 20-21But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! > We're waiting the arrival > of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy > bodies into glorious bodies > like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful > skill by which he is putting > everything as it should be, under and around him. > > Philippians 4 > 1 My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for > you. You make me feel such > joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God. > Pray About Everything > 2I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God > doesn't want his > children holding grudges. > 3And, oh, yes, Syzygus, since you're right there to help them work things > out, do your best with > them. These women worked for the Message hand in hand with Clement and me, > and with the other > veterans-worked as hard as any of us. Remember, their names are also in > the Book of Life. > > 4-5Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as > clear as you can to all you > meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. > Help them see that the > Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! > > 6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and > praises shape your worries > into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense > of God's wholeness, > everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's > wonderful what happens when > Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. > > 8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your > minds and meditating on > things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, > not the worst; the > beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into > practice what you learned > from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes > everything work together, > will work you into his most excellent harmonies. > > Content Whatever the Circumstances > 10-14I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess-happy that > you're again showing such > strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about > me. You just had no chance > to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. > I've learned by now to be > quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as > with much, with much as > with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, > hands full or hands > empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in > the One who makes me who I > am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me-it did. It was a > beautiful thing that you > came alongside me in my troubles. > 15-17You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I'll never forget it, > that when I first left > Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped > out in the give-and-take > of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in > Thessalonica, you helped out-and > not only once, but twice. Not that I'm looking for handouts, but I do want > you to experience the > blessing that issues from generosity. > > 18-20And now I have it all-and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with > Epaphroditus were more > than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, > filling the air with fragrance, > pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything > you need, his generosity > exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and > Father abounds in glory that > just pours out into eternity. Yes. > > 21-22Give our regards to every follower of Jesus you meet. Our friends > here say hello. All the > Christians here, especially the believers who work in the palace of > Caesar, want to be remembered to > you. > > 23Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, > deep, deep within > yourselves. > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > 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]. 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