DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR TUESDAY JUNE 7:
WORD OF WISDOM
I passed a heart stress test today when I noticed a spider crawling up my
shoulder.
___
DAILY DEVOTION
GOD'S BEAUTY TIPS
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others.
To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, discontentment, and the
need to control others.
To improve your ears, listen to the Word of God.
For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.
To strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day; touch someone with
your love.
To strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others.
For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire, put on the robe of
Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth.
Best of all, it never goes out of style and is appropriate for any occasion.
Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful
person.
___
DAILY BIBLE READING
Psalm 16-20Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
A miktam of David.
16 Protect me, God, because I depend on you.
2
Some of you[a] have said to the Lord,
"You are my Lord.
Every good thing I have comes from you."
3
But you have also said about the gods[b] of this land,
"They are my powerful gods.
They are the ones who make me happy."
4
But those who worship other gods will have many troubles.
I will not share in the gifts of blood they offer to their idols.
I will not even say their names.
5
Lord, you give me all that I need.
You support me.
You give me my share.
6
My share[c] is wonderful.
My inheritance[d] is very beautiful.
7
I praise the Lord because he taught me well.
Even at night he put his instructions deep inside my mind.[e]
8
I always remember that the Lord is with me.[f]
He is here, close by my side,
so nothing can defeat me.
9
So my heart and soul will be very happy.
Even my body will live in safety,
10
because you will not leave me in the place of death.
You will not let your faithful one rot in the grave.
11
You will teach me the right way to live.
Just being with you will bring complete happiness.
Being at your right side will make me happy forever.
A prayer of David.[g]
17 Lord, hear my prayer for justice.
I am calling loudly to you.
I am being honest in what I say,
so please listen to my prayer.
2
You will make the right decision,
because you can see the truth.
3
You were with me all night
and looked deep into my heart.
You questioned me and found that
I did not say or do anything wrong.
4
Unlike most people, I have obeyed your commands,
so I have never been like those who are cruel and evil.
5
I have followed your way.
My feet never left your path.
6
Every time I call to you, God, you answer me.
So listen to me now, and hear what I say.
7
Show your amazing kindness
and rescue those who depend on you.
Use your great power
and protect them from their enemies.
8
Protect me like the pupil[h] of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
9
Save me from the wicked people who are trying to destroy me.
Protect me from those who come to hurt me.
10
They think only of themselves
and brag about what they will do.
11
They have been following me,
and now they are all around me.
They watch me, waiting to throw me to the ground.
12
Like hungry lions, they want to kill and eat.
Like young lions, they hide, ready to attack.
13
Lord, get up[i] and face the enemy.
Make them surrender.
Use your sword and save me from these wicked people.
14
Use your power, Lord,
and remove them from this life.
But as for the people you treasure,
fill them with food.
Give them plenty for their children and their grandchildren.
15
I have done only what is right, so I will see your face.
And seeing you,[j] I will be fully satisfied.
[k] To the director: A song of David, the Lord's servant. He sang this song
to the Lord when the Lord saved him from Saul and all his other enemies.
18 I love you, Lord!
You are my strength.
2
The Lord is my Rock, my fortress, my place of safety.
He is my God, the Rock I run to for protection.
He is my shield; by his power I am saved.[l]
He is my hiding place high in the hills.
3
I called to the Lord for help,
and he saved me from my enemies!
He is worthy of my praise!
4
Death had its ropes wrapped around me.
A deadly flood was carrying me away.
5
The ropes of the grave wrapped around me.
Death set its trap right there in front of me.
6
In my trouble I called to the Lord.
Yes, I cried out to my God for help.
There in his temple he heard my voice.
He heard my cry for help.
7
The earth shook and shivered.
The foundations of the mountains trembled.
They shook because he was angry.
8
Smoke came from his nose.
Burning flames came from his mouth.
Red-hot coals fell from him.
9
He tore open the sky and came down!
He stood on a thick, dark cloud.
10
He flew across the sky, riding on a Cherub angel
racing on the wings of the wind.
11
He wrapped himself in darkness that covered him like a tent.
He was hidden by dark clouds heavy with water.
12
Out of the brightness before him,
hail broke through the clouds with flashes of lightning.
13
The Lord thundered from the sky;
God Most High let his voice be heard.[m]
14
He scattered his enemies with his arrows-
the lightning bolts that threw them into confusion.
15
Lord, you shouted your command,
and a powerful wind began to blow.[n]
Then the bottom of the sea could be seen,
and the earth's foundations were uncovered.
16
He reached down from above and grabbed me.
He pulled me from the deep water.
17
He saved me from my powerful enemies, who hated me.
They were too strong for me, so he saved me.
18
They attacked me in my time of trouble,
but the Lord was there to support me.
19
He was pleased with me, so he rescued me.
He took me to a safe place.
20
The Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
He was good to me because I am innocent.
21
The Lord did this because I have obeyed him.
I have not turned against my God.
22
I always remembered his laws.
I never rejected his rules.
23
He knows I did nothing that was wrong.
I have kept myself from sinning.
24
So the Lord rewarded me for doing what is right.
He could see that I am innocent.
25
Lord, you are faithful to those who are faithful.
You are good to those who are good.
26
You never do wrong to those who have done no wrong.
But you outsmart the wicked, no matter how clever they are.
27
You help those who are humble,
but you humiliate the proud.
28
Lord, you provide the flame for my lamp.
You, God, turn the darkness around me into light.
29
With your help I can defeat an army.
If my God is with me, I can climb over enemy walls.
30
God's way is perfect.
The Lord's promise always proves to be true.
He protects those who trust in him.
31
There is no God except the Lord.
There is no Rock except our God.
32
God is the one who gives me strength.
He clears the path I need to take.
33
He makes my feet as steady as those of a deer.
Even on steep mountains he keeps me from falling.
34
He trains me for war
so that my arms can bend the most powerful bow.
35
Lord, you have given me your shield to protect me.
You support me with your right hand.
It is your help that has made me great.
36
You cleared a path for my feet
so that I could walk without stumbling.
37
I chased my enemies and caught them.
I did not stop until they were destroyed.
38
I struck them down, and they could not get up again.
They fell under my feet.
39
God, you made me strong in battle.
You made my enemies fall before me.
40
You made my enemies turn and run away.
I destroyed those who hated me.
41
They cried out for help,
but there was no one to save them.
They cried out to the Lord,
but he did not answer them.
42
I beat them to pieces like dust blown by the wind.
I smashed them like mud in the streets.
43
You saved me from those who fought against me.
You made me the ruler over nations.
People I never knew now serve me.
44
As soon as they heard about me, they were ready to obey.
Those foreigners fall helpless before me!
45
They lose all their courage
and come out of their hiding places shaking with fear.
46
The Lord lives!
I praise my Rock, the God who saves me.
How great he is!
47
He is the God who punishes my enemies for me,
the one who puts people under my control.
48
He saves me from my enemies!
You, Lord, help me defeat those who attack me.
You save me from cruel people.
49
Lord, that is why I praise you among the nations.
That is why I sing songs of praise to your name.
50
The Lord helps his king win battle after battle.
He shows his faithful love to his chosen one,[o]
to David and his descendants forever.
To the director: A song of David.
19 The heavens tell about the glory of God.
The skies announce what his hands have made.
2
Each new day tells more of the story,
and each night reveals more and more about God's power.[p]
3
You cannot hear them say anything.
They don't make any sound we can hear.
4
But their message goes throughout the world.
Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.
The sun's tent is set up in the heavens.
5
It comes out like a happy bridegroom from his bedroom.
It begins its path across the sky
like an athlete eager to run a race.
6
It starts at one end of the sky
and runs all the way to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
7
The Lord's teachings are perfect.
They give strength to his people.
The Lord's rules can be trusted.
They help even the foolish become wise.
8
The Lord's laws are right.
They make people happy.
The Lord's commands are good.
They show people the right way to live.
9
Learning respect for the Lord is good.
It will last forever.
The Lord's judgments are right.
They are completely fair.
10
His teachings are worth more than pure gold.
They are sweeter than the best honey dripping from the honeycomb.
11
His teachings warn his servants,
and good things come to those who obey them.
12
People cannot see their own mistakes,
so don't let me commit secret sins.
13
Don't let me do what I know is wrong.
Don't let sin control me.
If you help me, I can be pure
and free from sin.
14
May my words and thoughts please you.
Lord, you are my Rock-the one who rescues me.
To the director: A song of David.
20 May the Lord answer you in times of trouble.
May the God of Jacob protect you.
2
May he send you help from his Holy Place.
May he support you from Zion.
3
May he remember all the gifts you have offered.
May he accept all your sacrifices. Selah
4
May he give you what you really want.
May he make all your plans successful.
5
We will celebrate when he helps you.
We will praise the name of God.
May the Lord give you everything you ask for.
6
Now I know the Lord helps his chosen king.
From his holy heaven he answered.
With his great power he saved him.
7
Some give the credit for victory to their chariots and soldiers,
but we honor the Lord our God.
8
They fall in battle, totally defeated,
but we survive and stand strong!
9
Lord, save the king!
Answer us when we call to you for help.
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 16:2 Some of you Literally, "you" (singular). Most translations
assume it should be "I," giving a different meaning to verses 2 and 3, which
are very difficult in the Hebrew text.
b.Psalm 16:3 gods Literally, "holy ones."
c.Psalm 16:6 share Or "section of land."
d.Psalm 16:6 inheritance Here, this probably means the land each Israelite
received.
e.Psalm 16:7 mind Literally, "my kidneys."
f.Psalm 16:8 Literally, "I set the Lord before me always."
g.Psalm 17:1 Psalm 17 A prayer of David Or "A prayer dedicated to David."
h.Psalm 17:8 pupil The center of the eye, which everyone wants to protect.
i.Psalm 17:13 Lord, get up The people said this when they lifted the Box of
the Agreement and took it into battle, showing that God was with them. See
Num. 10:35-36.
j.Psalm 17:15 you Literally, "your likeness."
k.Psalm 18:1 Psalm 18 This song is also found in 2 Sam. 22.
l.Psalm 18:2 by his power I am saved Literally, "He is the horn of my
salvation."
m.Psalm 18:13 The ancient Greek version and some Hebrew copies add "with
hailstones and bolts of lightning."
n.Psalm 18:15 and . blow Or "and a blast of breath came from your nose."
o.Psalm 18:50 his chosen one Literally, "his anointed one."
p.Psalm 19:2 Or "Like the changing of the guards, each day passes the news
to the next day and each night passes information to the next night."
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Copyright C 2006 by Bible League International
