DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 14:
WORD OF WISDOM
All I want for Christmas is to be removed from the car warranty call list!
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DAILY DEVOTION
Don't Be Double Minded
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn,
and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to
heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you
up.
James 4:7-10
Christmas is a time of feasting! From family meals to church functions to
cookie exchanges-the season offers many opportunities to eat! Commentator
Andy Rooney once observed that the fastest moving items in bookstores were
cookbooks and diet books. "The cookbooks tell you how to prepare the food,
and the diet books tell you how not to eat any of it," he wryly remarked.
Christmas is not usually a time for dieting because, when we are not fully
committed to a course of action, it is highly unlikely that we will achieve
success. This principle is just as true in the spiritual realm as it is in
the physical.
There will always be things to distract us from the path God wants us to
walk. We cannot allow anything-even good things-to draw our attention away
from God.
Rather, we must walk with a firmness of purpose and a singleness of heart.
One of Aesop's fables tells of a donkey that starved to death because he
could never decide which of the two bales of hay that were set before him he
should eat first. Once you have determined what God would have you do, fix
your mind and focus your efforts toward that end. If you allow yourself to
be double minded, your chance of success is small indeed. Instead, be like
Jesus and walk with a firm and determined purpose in the path which God lays
before you.
Do not allow the busyness of the season to distract you from living out
God's daily purposes for your life.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Acts 27-28 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Voyage to Rome Begins
27 And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul
and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan
Regiment. 2 So, entering a ship of Adramyttium, we put to sea, meaning to
sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica,
was with us. 3 And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul
kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 4 When we
had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because
the winds were contrary. 5 And when we had sailed over the sea which is off
Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia. 6 There the
centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on
board.
7 When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off
Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter
of Crete off Salmone. 8 Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place
called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.
Paul's Warning Ignored
9 Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because
[a]the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, "Men, I perceive
that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo
and ship, but also our lives." 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more
persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things
spoken by Paul. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the
majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could
reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest,
and winter there.
In the Tempest
13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their
desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14 But not long
after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called [b]Euroclydon. 15 So when the
ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her [c]drive. 16
And running under the shelter of an island called [d]Clauda, we secured the
skiff with difficulty. 17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables
to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the
[e]Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18 And because we were
exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19 On the
third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 20 Now
when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat
on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them
and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from
Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22 And now I urge you to take
[f]heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and
whom I serve, 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before
Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' 25
Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was
told me. 26 However, we must run aground on a certain island."
27 Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in
the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing
near some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty
fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again
and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Then, fearing lest we should run
aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and
[g]prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from
the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of
putting out anchors from the prow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the
soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 Then
the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
33 And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food,
saying, "Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without
food, and eaten nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for
this is for your survival, since not a hair will fall from the head of any
of you." 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks
to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to
eat. 36 Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. 37 And
in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. 38 So when
they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into
the sea.
Shipwrecked on Malta
39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay
with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And
they [h]let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the
rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore.
41 But striking [i]a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground;
and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being
broken up by the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should
swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them
from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump
overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on
parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Paul's Ministry on Malta
28 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called
Malta. 2 And the natives[j] showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a
fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and
because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and
laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on
his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they
said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has
escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." 5 But he shook off the
creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting
that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked
for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and
said that he was a god.
7 In that region there was an estate of the [k]leading citizen of the
island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us
courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay
sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid
his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those
on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also
honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as
were necessary.
Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was
the [l]Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island. 12 And landing at
Syracuse, we stayed three days. 13 From there we circled round and reached
Rhegium. And after one day the south wind blew; and the next day we came to
Puteoli, 14 where we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them
seven days. And so we went toward Rome. 15 And from there, when the brethren
heard about us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns.
When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the
captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the
soldier who guarded him.
Paul's Ministry at Rome
17 And it came to pass after three days that Paul called the leaders of the
Jews together. So when they had come together, he said to them: "Men and
brethren, though I have done nothing against our people or the customs of
our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands
of the Romans, 18 who, when they had examined me, wanted to let me go,
because there was no cause for putting me to death. 19 But when the [m]Jews
spoke against it, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar, not that I had
anything of which to accuse my nation. 20 For this reason therefore I have
called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of
Israel I am bound with this chain."
21 Then they said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea concerning
you, nor have any of the brethren who came reported or spoken any evil of
you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this
sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to
whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading
them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from
morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were
spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among
themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: "The Holy Spirit
spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to [n]our fathers, 26 saying,
'Go to this people and say:
"Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them." '
28 "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent
to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" 29 [o]And when he had said these
words, the Jews departed and had a great dispute among themselves.
30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all
who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things
which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding
him.
