DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR WEDNESDAY JULY 3:
WORD OF WISDOM
All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Transparency
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto
me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out
of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
2 Timothy 3:10-12
Most of us have had the experience of being disappointed by people we
thought were one thing, but who turned out to be something very different.
Paul was able to say to Timothy, knowing that the younger man had traveled
with him, heard him preach, seen him persecuted, and been with him in
private as well as public, that his life had been marked by consistent godly
characteristics and conduct. He was not bragging, but rather telling Timothy
that what he had seen in Paul's life needed to be in his life as well.
While none of us are perfect, we should strive to live in such a way that we
would not be ashamed if our deeds were brought to light. If we must put on a
front to keep people from seeing what we really are, what we are is in
desperate need of a change. It is possible for someone to play a role, even
over an extended period of time, without anyone else suspecting what is
really inside. For instance, Judas was trusted by the disciples to the
extent that they placed him in charge of their money, not realizing he was a
thief.
We are called to consistent holy living, not just in public but in private.
There should be no distinction between the way we act in church and the way
we live at home. We should not be ashamed or afraid to be truly transparent.
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John
3:19).
Do those who know you best know that your private life matches your public
image?
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DAILY BIBLE READING
Psalm 146-150 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Happiness of Those Whose Help Is the Lord
146 Praise[a] the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2
While I live I will praise the Lord;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3
Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in [b]a son of man, in whom there is no [c]help.
4
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.
5
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
7
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
8
The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.
9
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He [d]turns upside down.
10
The Lord shall reign forever-
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Praise to God for His Word and Providence
147 Praise[e] the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
2
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their [f]wounds.
4
He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
5
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
6
The Lord lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
7
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Sing praises on the harp to our God,
8
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
9
He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens that cry.
10
He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
11
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
12
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13
For He has strengthened the bars of your gates;
He has blessed your children within you.
14
He makes peace in your borders,
And fills you with [g]the finest wheat.
15
He sends out His command to the earth;
His word runs very swiftly.
16
He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes;
17
He casts out His hail like [h]morsels;
Who can stand before His cold?
18
He sends out His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19
He declares His word to Jacob,
His statutes and His judgments to Israel.
20
He has not dealt thus with any nation;
And as for His judgments, they have not known them.
[i]Praise the Lord!
Praise to the Lord from Creation
148 Praise[j] the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2
Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3
Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
4
Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!
5
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.
6
He also established them forever and ever;
He made a decree which shall not pass away.
7
Praise the Lord from the earth,
You great sea creatures and all the depths;
8
Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
9
Mountains and all hills;
Fruitful trees and all cedars;
10
Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and flying fowl;
11
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
12
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
13
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
14
And He has exalted the [k]horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints-
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.
[l]Praise the Lord!
Praise to God for His Salvation and Judgment
149 Praise[m] the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
2
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
4
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the [n]humble with salvation.
5
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
6
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
7
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
8
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
9
To execute on them the written judgment-
This honor have all His saints.
[o]Praise the Lord!
Let All Things Praise the Lord
150 Praise[p] the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty [q]firmament!
2
Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3
Praise Him with the sound of the [r]trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
[s]Praise the Lord!
Footnotes:
a.Psalm 146:1 Heb. Hallelujah
b.Psalm 146:3 A human being
c.Psalm 146:3 salvation
d.Psalm 146:9 Lit. makes crooked
e.Psalm 147:1 Heb. Hallelujah
f.Psalm 147:3 Lit. sorrows
g.Psalm 147:14 Lit. fat of wheat
h.Psalm 147:17 fragments of food
i.Psalm 147:20 Heb. Hallelujah
j.Psalm 148:1 Heb. Hallelujah
k.Psalm 148:14 Strength or dominion
l.Psalm 148:14 Heb. Hallelujah
m.Psalm 149:1 Heb. Hallelujah
n.Psalm 149:4 meek
o.Psalm 149:9 Heb. Hallelujah
p.Psalm 150:1 Heb. Hallelujah
q.Psalm 150:1 expanse of heaven
r.Psalm 150:3 cornet
s.Psalm 150:6 Heb. Hallelujah
