This is really good. -------------------------------------------------- From: "O.Addison Gethers" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 7:32 AM To: "Deaf-blind inspirational life groups" <[email protected]> Subject: {dbilg} Fw: Daily Bible Reading For Monday December 7
> > 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, December 06, 2009 11:13 PM > Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Monday December 7 > > >> Day 341 >> >> 1 Thessalonians 1 >> 1I, Paul, together here with Silas and Timothy, send greetings to the >> church at Thessalonica, >> Christians assembled by God the Father and by the Master, Jesus Christ. >> God's amazing grace be with >> you! God's robust peace! >> Convictions of Steel >> 2-5Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you're >> in our prayers as we call >> to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope >> in following our Master, >> Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God >> not only loves you very >> much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the >> Message we preached came to >> you, it wasn't just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put >> steel in your convictions. >> 5-6You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and >> determined to live that way >> yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great >> trouble accompanied the Word, >> you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!-taking the trouble >> with the joy, the joy with >> the trouble. >> >> 7-10Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia >> believers look up to you? >> The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not >> only in the provinces but >> all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even >> have to say anything >> anymore-you're the message! People come up and tell us how you received >> us >> with open arms, how you >> deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve >> God, the true God. They >> marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he >> raised >> from the dead-Jesus, who >> rescued us from certain doom. >> >> 1 Thessalonians 2 >> 1-2So, friends, it's obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. >> We had just been given >> rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn't slow us down. >> We >> were sure of ourselves in >> God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God's Message to >> you, defiant of the >> opposition. >> No Hidden Agendas >> 3-5God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted >> with this Message. Be >> assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval-only God >> approval. Since we've been >> put through that battery of tests, you're guaranteed that both we and the >> Message are free of error, >> mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. >> No >> one knows that better >> than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take >> advantage of you. >> 6-8Even though we had some standing as Christ's apostles, we never threw >> our weight around or tried >> to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren't aloof >> with you. We took you just as >> you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared >> for >> you the way a mother >> cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on >> the Message, we wanted to >> give you our hearts. And we did. >> >> 9-12You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the >> bone, up half the night, >> moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we >> proclaimed God's Message to >> you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among >> you, with keen sensitivity >> to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! You >> experienced it all firsthand. >> With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, >> whispering encouragement, >> showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into >> his own kingdom, into this >> delightful life. >> >> 13And now we look back on all this and thank God, an artesian well of >> thanks! When you got the >> Message of God we preached, you didn't pass it off as just one more human >> opinion, but you took it >> to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in >> you believers! >> >> 14-16Friends, do you realize that you followed in the exact footsteps of >> the churches of God in >> Judea, those who were the first to follow in the footsteps of Jesus >> Christ? You got the same bad >> treatment from your countrymen as they did from theirs, the Jews who >> killed the Master Jesus (to say >> nothing of the prophets) and followed it up by running us out of town. >> They make themselves >> offensive to God and everyone else by trying to keep us from telling >> people who've never heard of >> our God how to be saved. They've made a career of opposing God, and have >> gotten mighty good at it. >> But God is fed up, ready to put an end to it. >> >> 17-20Do you have any idea how very homesick we became for you, dear >> friends? Even though it hadn't >> been that long and it was only our bodies that were separated from you, >> not our hearts, we tried our >> very best to get back to see you. You can't imagine how much we missed >> you! I, Paul, tried over and >> over to get back, but Satan stymied us each time. Who do you think we're >> going to be proud of when >> our Master Jesus appears if it's not you? You're our pride and joy! >> >> 1 Thessalonians 3 >> 1-2So when we couldn't stand being separated from you any longer and >> could >> find no way to visit you >> ourselves, we stayed in Athens and sent Timothy to get you up and about, >> cheering you on so you >> wouldn't be discouraged by these hard times. He's a brother and companion >> in the faith, God's man in >> spreading the Message, preaching Christ. >> 3-5Not that the troubles should come as any surprise to you. You've >> always >> known that we're in for >> this kind of thing. It's part of our calling. When we were with you, we >> made it quite clear that >> there was trouble ahead. And now that it's happened, you know what it's >> like. That's why I couldn't >> quit worrying; I had to know for myself how you were doing in the faith. >> I >> didn't want the Tempter >> getting to you and tearing down everything we had built up together. >> >> 6-8But now that Timothy is back, bringing this terrific report on your >> faith and love, we feel a >> lot better. It's especially gratifying to know that you continue to think >> well of us, and that you >> want to see us as much as we want to see you! In the middle of our >> trouble >> and hard times here, just >> knowing how you're doing keeps us going. Knowing that your faith is alive >> keeps us alive. >> >> 9-10What would be an adequate thanksgiving to offer God for all the joy >> we >> experience before him >> because of you? We do what we can, praying away, night and day, asking >> for >> the bonus of seeing your >> faces again and doing what we can to help when your faith falters. >> >> 11-13May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to >> you! And may the Master pour >> on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around >> you, just as it does from us >> to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with >> confidence in the presence of God >> our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers. >> >> 1 Thessalonians 4 >> You're God-Taught >> 1-3 One final word, friends. We ask you-urge is more like it-that you >> keep >> on doing what we told >> you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, >> spirited dance. You know >> the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you >> to >> live a pure life. >> Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity. >> >> 4-5Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as >> is so common among those >> who know nothing of God. >> >> 6-7Don't run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. >> Their concerns are God's >> concerns, and he will take care of them. We've warned you about this >> before. God hasn't invited us >> into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful-as >> beautiful on the inside as >> the outside. >> >> 8If you disregard this advice, you're not offending your neighbors; >> you're >> rejecting God, who is >> making you a gift of his Holy Spirit. >> >> 9-10Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don't >> need me to tell you what >> to do. You're God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You're >> already good at it; your >> friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; >> get better and better at >> it. >> >> 11-12Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all >> this from us before, but >> a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the >> respect of outsiders, not >> lying around sponging off your friends. >> >> The Master's Coming >> 13-14And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what >> happens to those already dead >> and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must >> not carry on over them >> like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the >> last word. Since Jesus >> died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back >> to >> life those who died in >> Jesus. >> 15-18And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence-we have the >> Master's word on it-that >> when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive >> will not get a jump on the >> dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. The >> Master himself will give the >> command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from >> heaven and the dead in Christ >> will rise-they'll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at >> the >> time will be caught up >> with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we'll be walking on >> air! >> And then there will be >> one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with >> these words. >> >> 1 Thessalonians 5 >> 1-3I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when >> all this is going to >> happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't >> be >> posted on our calendars. >> He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar >> would. >> About the time >> everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other-"We've >> sure got it made! Now we >> can take it easy!"-suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to >> come >> as suddenly and >> inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman. >> 4-8But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off >> guard by any of this? You're >> sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know >> where we stand. So let's not >> sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be >> smart. People sleep at >> night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, >> let's act like it. Walk out >> into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of >> salvation. >> >> 9-11God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our >> Master, Jesus Christ. He >> died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the >> living or asleep with the >> dead, we're alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. >> Build up hope so you'll all >> be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're >> already doing this; just >> keep on doing it. >> >> The Way He Wants You to Live >> 12-13And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard >> for you, who have been >> given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your >> obedience. Overwhelm them with >> appreciation and love! >> 13-15Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel >> is that you warn the >> freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach >> out for the exhausted, >> pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to >> individual needs. And be >> careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each >> other. Look for the best in >> each other, and always do your best to bring it out. >> >> 16-18Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter >> what happens. This is the >> way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. >> >> 19-22Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word >> from the Master. On the >> other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's >> good. Throw out anything >> tainted with evil. >> >> 23-24May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make >> you holy and whole, put you >> together-spirit, soul, and body-and keep you fit for the coming of our >> Master, Jesus Christ. The One >> who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it! >> >> 25-27Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of >> Jesus there with a holy >> embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and >> sisters. Don't leave anyone >> out. >> >> 28The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ~~~~~ >> 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. > > > -- 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.
