So how was your birthday celebration? For some reason this must have gotten
by me because I didn't know you had a birthday much less when it was.
V. E. Gilkerson
-----Original Message-----
From: donniedailygems-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:donniedailygems-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Donnie Parrett
("deparrett")
Sent: Sunday, December 5, 2021 8:22 PM
To: donniedailygems@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [donniedailygems] DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 6
DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 6
WORD OF WISDOM
More than five million Americans are overweight. These, of course, are round
figures.
___
DAILY DEVOTION
The Humble Messenger
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt
go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of
salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender
mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To
give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide
our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:76-79
Six months before Jesus was born, Mary's cousin Elisabeth had a child in
her extreme old age. They named the baby John, just as the angel Gabriel had
told his father Zacharias to do. John was born with a purpose-to prepare
people for the coming Messiah. For hundreds of years prophets had looked
forward to Jesus' appearance. A key part of God's plan to prepare for that
was fulfilled by this miracle birth. John the Baptist had a brief but
powerful and effective ministry. He told people Jesus was the Lamb of God,
and when many of those who had once come to hear him preach began following
Jesus instead, John was not disheartened or discouraged. Instead he
declared, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
Of all the traits necessary to be effective in pointing people to Jesus,
humility is one of the most important. If we are focused on building our own
kingdom and promoting ourselves, we cannot show Jesus to the world as we
should. D. L. Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are
emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is
contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts.
But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is
no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."
Our purpose is not to serve and glorify ourselves, but to serve and glorify
God.
Proud people cannot effectively present the message of God to a lost and
dying world.
___
DAILY BIBLE READING
Peter
Acts 1:1-26 Easy-to-Read Version
Luke Writes Another Book
1 Dear Theophilus,
The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus did and taught from the
beginning 2 until the day he was carried up into heaven. Before he went, he
talked to the apostles he had chosen. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he
told them what they should do. 3 This was after his death, but he showed
them that he was alive, proving it to them in many ways. The apostles saw
Jesus many times during the 40 days after he was raised from death. He spoke
to them about God's kingdom. 4 One time when Jesus was eating with them, he
told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, "Wait here until you receive what
the Father promised to send. Remember, I told you about it before. 5 John
baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit."
Jesus Is Carried Up Into Heaven
6 The apostles were all together. They asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time
for you to give the people of Israel their kingdom again?"
7 Jesus said to them, "The Father is the only one who has the authority to
decide dates and times. They are not for you to know. 8 But the Holy Spirit
will come on you and give you power. You will be my witnesses. You will tell
people everywhere about me-in Jerusalem, in the rest of Judea, in Samaria,
and in every part of the world."
9 After Jesus said this, he was lifted up into the sky. While they were
watching, he went into a cloud, and they could not see him. 10 They were
staring into the sky where he had gone. Suddenly two men wearing white
clothes were standing beside them. 11 They said, "Men from Galilee, why are
you standing here looking into the sky? You saw Jesus carried away from you
into heaven. He will come back in the same way you saw him go."
A New Apostle Is Chosen
12 Then the apostles went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. This
mountain is about a half mile[a] from Jerusalem. 13 When they entered the
city, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. These are the
ones who were there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas,
Bartholomew, Matthew, James (the son of Alphaeus), Simon, the Zealot, and
Judas (the son of James).
14 The apostles were all together. They were constantly praying with the
same purpose. Some women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers were
there with the apostles.
15 After a few days there was a meeting of the believers. There were about
120 of them. Peter stood up and said, 16-17 "Brothers and sisters, in the
Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David that something must happen. He
was talking about Judas, one of our own group. Judas served together with
us. The Spirit said that Judas would lead men to arrest Jesus."
18 (Judas was paid money for doing this. His money was used to buy him a
field. But he fell on his head, his body broke open, and all his intestines
poured out. 19 And all the people of Jerusalem learned about this. That is
why they named that field Akeldama, which in their language means "field of
blood.")
20 Peter said, "In the book of Psalms, this is written about Judas:
'People should not go near his land;
no one should live there.'
And it is also written:
'Let another man have his work.'
21-22 "So now another man must join us and be a witness of Jesus'
resurrection. He must be one of those men who were part of our group during
all the time the Lord Jesus was with us. He must have been with us from the
time John was baptizing people until the day when Jesus was carried up from
us into heaven."
23 They put two men before the group. One was Joseph Barsabbas. He was also
called Justus. The other man was Matthias. 24-25 They prayed, "Lord, you
know the minds of all people. Show us which one of these two men you choose
to do this work. Judas turned away from it and went where he belongs. Lord,
show us which man should take his place as an apostle!" 26 Then they used
lots to choose one of the two men. The lots showed that Matthias was the one
the Lord wanted. So he became an apostle with the other eleven.
Footnotes
Acts 1:12 half a mile Literally, "a Sabbath day's journey."
