DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY JUNE 13:
WORD OF WISDOM
Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion.
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MEMORY SCRIPTURE FOR WEEK OF JUNE 13/
Jeremiah 8:20/
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Carrying the Load
"Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying
thou reproachest us also. And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye
lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the
burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres
of the prophets, and your fathers killed them."
Luke 11:45-47
Christopher Wren was the premiere English architect of the seventeenth
century, but even he sometimes faced clients who thought they knew more
about construction than he did. In 1688 he was commissioned to design a
building in Windsor, England. Wren devoted his considerable skill to the
task, and created a stunning design for a building held up by a series of
columns that left an open space on the first floor where business and trade
could be conducted. The city leaders feared the columns would not be
sufficient to support the structure of the upper floors, so they insisted
Wren add additional columns. So, in the interior of the open area, Wren
designed four more pillars. However, he intentionally had them constructed
too short, so that they did not reach the ceiling above-they looked like the
other columns, but bore no actual weight.
There are many people who have the outward traits of Christians, but are
doing nothing to carry the load of doing the work of God's kingdom. They are
perfectly content to tell others how they should manage and carry their
loads, but they do not take on any responsibility or burden themselves.
God's design for the church does not include any decorative columns. Each
one of us is called to not only carry our own weight, but to be helpful and
an encouragement to others as well. Paul wrote, "Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).
Each one of us has a responsibility to do our part to further the work of
God and encourage other Christians.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Psalm 46-50Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
To the director: A song from the Korah family. Use the alamoth.[a] A song.
46 God is our protection and source of strength.
He is always ready to help us in times of trouble.
2
So we are not afraid when the earth quakes
and the mountains fall into the sea.
3
We are not afraid when the seas become rough and dark
and the mountains tremble. Selah
4
There is a river whose streams bring happiness to God's city,
to the holy city of God Most High.
5
God is in that city, so it will never be destroyed.
He is there to help even before sunrise.
6
Nations will shake with fear and kingdoms will fall
when God shouts and makes the earth move.
7
The Lord All-Powerful is with us.
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
8
Look at the powerful things the Lord has done.
See the awesome things he has done on earth.
9
He stops wars all over the world.
He breaks the soldiers' bows, shatters their spears, and burns their
shields.[b]
10
God says, "Stop fighting and know that I am God!
I am the one who defeats the nations;
I am the one who controls the world."
11
The Lord All-Powerful is with us.
The God of Jacob is our place of safety. Selah
To the director: A song from the Korah family.
47 Everyone, clap your hands.
Shout with joy to God!
2
The Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King over all the earth.
3
He helped us defeat other nations.
He put those people under our control.
4
He chose our land for us.
He chose that wonderful land for Jacob, the one he loved. Selah
5
The Lord God goes up to his throne
at the sound of the trumpet and horn.
6
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7
God is the King of the whole world.
Sing songs of praise![c]
8
God sits on his holy throne;
he rules all the nations.
9
The leaders of the nations have come together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
All the rulers of the world belong to God.
He is over them all!
A song of praise from the Korah family.
48 The Lord is great!
He is praised throughout the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2
His city is such a pleasant place.
It brings joy to people from around the world.
Mount Zion is the true mountain of God.[d]
It is the city of the great King.
3
In the palaces of that city,
God is known as the fortress.
4
Once some kings met together
and planned an attack against this city.
They marched toward the city,
5
but when they saw it, they were amazed.
They all panicked and ran away.
6
Fear grabbed them;
they trembled like a woman giving birth.
7
God, with a strong east wind,
you wrecked their big ships.
8
Yes, we heard the stories about your power.
But we also saw it in the city of our God, the city of the Lord
All-Powerful.
God makes that city strong forever. Selah
9
God, in your Temple we remember your loving kindness.
10
Your name is known everywhere, God,
and people throughout the earth praise you.
You have shown that you do what is right.
11
Mount Zion is happy,
and the towns of Judah rejoice, because your decisions are fair.
12
Walk around Jerusalem,
and count its towers.
13
Look at the tall walls,
and see the palaces.
Then you can tell the next generation about them.
14
This God is our God forever and ever.
He will lead us from now to the end of time!
To the director: A song from the Korah family.
49 Listen to this, all you nations.
Pay attention, all you people on earth.
2
Everyone, rich and poor, listen to me.
3
I have some very wise words for you.
My thoughts will give you understanding.
4
I listened to these sayings.
And now, with my harp, I will sing and make the hidden meaning clear.
5
Why should I be afraid when trouble comes?
There is no need to fear when evil enemies surround me.
6
They think their wealth will protect them.
They brag about how rich they are.
7
But no one has enough to buy back a life,
and you cannot bribe[e] God.
8
You will never get enough money
to pay for your own life.
9
You will never have enough
to buy the right to live forever
and keep your body out of the grave.
10
Look, the wise die the same as fools and stupid people.[f]
They die and leave their wealth to others.
11
The grave will be their new home forever.
And how much land they owned will not make any difference.
12
People might be wealthy, but they cannot stay here forever.
They will die like the animals.
13
That is what happens to all who trust in themselves
and to anyone who accepts their way of life. Selah
14
They are just like sheep, but the grave will be their pen.
Death will be their shepherd.
When morning comes, the good people will enjoy victory,
as the bodies of the proud slowly rot in the grave,
far away from their fancy houses.
15
But God will pay the price to save me from the grave.
He will take me to be with him. Selah
16
Don't be afraid of people just because they are rich.
Don't be afraid of people just because they have big, fancy houses.
17
They will not take anything with them when they die.
They will not take their wealth with them.
18
A wealthy man might tell himself how well he has done in life.
And other people might praise him.
19
But the time will come for him to die and go to his ancestors.
And he will never again see the light of day.
20
Wealthy people don't seem to understand
that they will die like the animals.
One of Asaph's songs.
50 The Lord God Most Powerful has spoken.
He calls to everyone on earth, from where the sun rises to where it
sets.
2
God appeared from Zion, the city of perfect beauty.[g]
3
Our God is coming and will not keep quiet.
Fire burns in front of him.
There is a great storm around him.
4
He tells the sky and the earth to be witnesses
as he judges his people.
5
He says, "My followers, gather around me.
Come, my worshipers, who made an agreement with me."
6
God is the judge,
and the skies tell how fair he is. Selah
7
God says, "My people, listen to me!
People of Israel, I will show my evidence against you.
I am God, your God.
8
The problem I have with you is not your sacrifices
or the burnt offerings you bring to me everyday.
9
Why would I want more bulls from your barns
or goats from your pens?
10
I already own all the animals in the forest.
I own all the animals on a thousand hills.
11
I know every bird in the mountains.
Everything that moves in the fields is mine.
12
If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food.
I already own the world and everything in it.
13
I don't eat the meat of bulls or drink the blood of goats."
14
You made promises to God Most High, so give him what you promised.
Bring your sacrifices and thank offerings.
15
God says, "Call me when trouble comes.
I will help you, and you will honor me."
16
But God says to the wicked,
"Stop quoting my laws!
Stop talking about my agreement!
17
You hate for me to tell you what to do.
You ignore what I say.
18
You see a thief and run to join him.
You jump into bed with those who commit adultery.
19
You say evil things and tell lies.
20
You sit around talking about people,
finding fault with your own brothers.
21
When you did these things, I said nothing.
So you thought that I[h] was just like you.
But I will not be quiet any longer.
I will correct you and make clear what I have against you.
22
You people who have forgotten God,
understand what I am telling you,
or I will tear you apart,
and no one will be able to save you!
23
Whoever gives a thank offering shows me honor.
And whoever decides to live right will see my power to save."
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 46:1 Psalm 46 alamoth This might be a musical instrument, a special
way of tuning an instrument, a music style, or one of the groups that played
harps in the Temple orchestra. See 1 Chron. 15:21.
b.Psalm 46:9 shields Or "chariots."
c.Psalm 47:7 songs of praise Literally, " maskil." See "maskil" in the Word
List.
d.Psalm 48:2 true mountain of God Literally, "the summit of Zaphon." In
Canaanite stories, Mt. Zaphon was where the gods lived.
e.Psalm 49:7 bribe Here, this means offering a gift or sacrifice so that God
will not punish a guilty person.
f.Psalm 49:10 stupid people Or "animals."
g.Psalm 50:2 God . beauty Or "God shining from Zion is absolutely
beautiful."
h.Psalm 50:21 that I Or "that the 'I Am.'"
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright C 2006 by Bible League International
