[Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY JUNE 2

[Donnie Parrett]

DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY JUNE 2

WORD OF WISDOM

Faithfulness involves being available to The Lord more than any other
priority in life.

___

DAILY DEVOTION

The Little Things


Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that
which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to
hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13

There are no "secrets" to successful Christian living. Rather than
discovering some new way that unlocks previously unknown opportunities, we
must take the things that are before us day after day and respond to them
properly. Doing the basics-loving each other and being honest, patient,
hopeful, and generous-will accomplish whatever task God calls us to do. It
is easy to get focused on big assignments that will be visible to others,
but what we may consider small things are at least as important, and maybe
more so. Arthur Conan Doyle said, "It has long been an axiom of mine that
the little things are infinitely the most important."
The reality is that most days are not filled with huge milestone moments.
Most days are filled with normal, routine events. The key is that we are
faithful and diligent to take advantage of those moments. It is easy to
overlook the little things today while we focus on something major that may
come in the future. But we must instead be on guard, not allowing
opportunities for service to God and others to pass us by. Instead we must
grasp each one as it comes. Jesus said, "And he that sent me is with me: the
Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him"
(John 8:29).
Jesus did not just please the Father when preaching to large crowds or when
working great miracles. Day after day, even when there was no one around but
the disciples, Jesus did what God wanted Him to do. It should be the same
for us. God sees all, and even if our faithfulness is overlooked by others,
He will not miss it.
Every task, whether large or small, demands and deserves our very best.

Little Things


I'm just a little donkey, midst stallions tall and white; They are each a
golden talent, and I, a widow's mite.
I'm just a little pebble, and each of them, a stone; While I'm a stunted
bramble, they all are trees full grown.

I'm just an unclean raven, while they are nightingales; I am a little
minnow, and they are mighty whales.
I'm just a little sparrow, yet they as eagles fly; I tiptoe through the
treetops, while they soar through the sky.

I'm just a little ox-goad, and sharpened swords are they; While they are
giant boulders, I'm just a piece of clay.
I'm just a tiny flower, a lily of the field; I am a little slingshot, and
they are mighty shields.

Yet God once used a donkey, while stallions envied near; He tells us with
the lily, that He gives us what we wear.
He used a dirty raven, to feed His prophet bread; A little stone was chosen,
to pierce Goliath's head.

He took a little sparrow, to show us of His care, And used a mite so tiny,
to teach us how to share.
A little cactus bramble, was king of all the trees; He brought down with a
slingshot, the giant to his knees.

He made a worthy vessel, with one small piece of clay; Oh mighty God of
mercy, use me in power today.

___

DAILY BIBLE READING

Job 37-39 New King James Version
God's Works and Wisdom
37 "At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His [a]lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 For He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth';
Likewise to the [b]gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
7 He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.
8 The beasts go into dens,
And remain in their lairs.
9 From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind,
And cold from the scattering winds of the north.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
And the broad waters are frozen.
11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds;
He scatters His [c]bright clouds.
12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance,
That they may do whatever He commands them
On the face of [d]the whole earth.
13 He causes it to come,
Whether for [e]correction,
Or for His land,
Or for mercy.

14 "Listen to this, O Job;
Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know when God [f]dispatches them,
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced,
Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 Why are your garments hot,
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 With Him, have you spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?

19 "Teach us what we should say to Him,
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
20 Should He be told that I wish to speak?
If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies,
When the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 He comes from the north as golden splendor;
With God is awesome majesty.
23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him;
He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
24 Therefore men fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart."

The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

2 "Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3 Now [g]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the [h]line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;
11 When I said,
'This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves must stop!'

12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal,
And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld,
And the [i]upraised arm is broken.

16 "Have you entered the springs of the sea?
Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have the gates of death been [j]revealed to you?
Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell Me, if you know all this.

19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light?
And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then,
Or because the number of your days is great?

22 "Have you entered the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light [k]diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

25 "Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is frozen.[l]

31 "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,[m]
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out [n]Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide [o]the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?

34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, 'Here we are!'?
36 Who has put wisdom in [p]the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?

39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?

God Continues to Challenge Job
39 "Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young?
Or can you mark when the deer gives birth?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfill?
Or do you know the time when they bear young?
3 They bow down,
They bring forth their young,
They deliver their [q]offspring.
4 Their young ones are healthy,
They grow strong with grain;
They depart and do not return to them.

5 "Who set the wild donkey free?
Who loosed the bonds of the [r]onager,
6 Whose home I have made the wilderness,
And the [s]barren land his dwelling?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city;
He does not heed the shouts of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture,
And he searches after every green thing.

9 "Will the wild ox be willing to serve you?
Will he bed by your manger?
10 Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes?
Or will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Will you trust him because his strength is great?
Or will you leave your labor to him?
12 Will you trust him to bring home your [t]grain,
And gather it to your threshing floor?

13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,
But are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork's?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
And warms them in the dust;
15 She forgets that a foot may crush them,
Or that a wild beast may break them.
16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without [u]concern,
17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding.
18 When she lifts herself on high,
She scorns the horse and its rider.

19 "Have you given the horse strength?
Have you clothed his neck with [v]thunder?
20 Can you [w]frighten him like a locust?
His majestic snorting strikes terror.
21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength;
He gallops into the clash of arms.
22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened;
Nor does he turn back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattles against him,
The glittering spear and javelin.
24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage;
Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded.
25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, 'Aha!'
He smells the battle from afar,
The thunder of captains and shouting.

26 "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom,
And spread its wings toward the south?
27 Does the eagle mount up at your command,
And make its nest on high?
28 On the rock it dwells and resides,
On the crag of the rock and the stronghold.
29 From there it spies out the prey;
Its eyes observe from afar.
30 Its young ones suck up blood;
And where the slain are, there it is."

Footnotes
Job 37:3 Or light
Job 37:6 Lit. shower of rain
Job 37:11 clouds of light
Job 37:12 Lit. the world of the earth
Job 37:13 Lit. a rod
Job 37:15 places them
Job 38:3 Lit. gird up your loins like
Job 38:5 measuring line
Job 38:15 Lit. high
Job 38:17 Lit. opened
Job 38:24 Lit. divided
Job 38:30 Lit. imprisoned
Job 38:31 Or the Seven Stars
Job 38:32 Lit. Constellations
Job 38:32 Or Arcturus
Job 38:36 Lit. the inward parts
Job 39:3 Lit. pangs
Job 39:5 A species of wild donkey
Job 39:6 Lit. salt land
Job 39:12 Lit. seed
Job 39:16 Lit. fear
Job 39:19 Or a mane
Job 39:20 make him spring