Read the Bible in a Year

Each day, we'll post passages so that you can read the Bible in one year. This is part of The Colossians 13:16 Project, sponsored by Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia. You're invited to worship with us Sundays, at 11:00 a.m. or Saturdays, at 6:30 p.m. You may also want to consider joining one our adult Bible Studies: Thursdays at 12:00 noon and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We also have a full range of programs for children. If you want more information about the church, check out the other blogs. And please feel free to leave any comments.

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Thursday, October 10, 2019

Bible Readings for October 10, 2019

Today our passages are Jeremiah 14:11–16:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:10–3:13; Psalm 80:1-19; and Proverbs 25:1-5. The readings are from the Contemporary English VersionIf you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.
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Jeremiah 14:11-16:15 (Contemporary English Version)

Lying Prophets
 11The LORD said, "Jeremiah, don't ask me to help these people. 12They may even go without eating [a] and offer sacrifices to please me [b] and to give thanks. [c] But when they cry out for my help, I won't listen, and I won't accept their sacrifices. Instead, I'll send war, starvation, and disease to wipe them out." 13I replied, "The other prophets keep telling everyone that you won't send starvation or war, and that you're going to give us peace."     14The LORD answered:
   They claim to speak for me, but they're lying! I didn't even speak to them, much less choose them to be my prophets. Their messages come from worthless dreams, useless fortunetelling, and their own imaginations.
    15Those lying prophets say there will be peace and plenty of food. But I say that those same prophets will die from war and hunger. 16And everyone who listens to them will be killed, just as they deserve. Their dead bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, because their families will also be dead, and no one will be left to bury them. [d] 17Jeremiah, go and tell the people how you feel about all this.
   So I told them:
   "Tears will flood my eyes
   both day and night,
   because my nation suffers
   from a deadly wound.
    18In the fields I see the bodies
   of those killed in battle.
   And in the towns I see crowds
   dying of hunger.
   But the prophets and priests
   go about their business,
   without understanding
   what has happened." [e]
Jeremiah Prays to the LORD
 19Have you rejected Judah, LORD?    Do you hate Jerusalem?
   Why did you strike down Judah
   with a fatal wound?
   We had hoped for peace
   and a time of healing,
   but all we got was terror.
    20We and our ancestors are guilty
   of rebelling against you.
    21If you save us, it will show
   how great you are.
   Don't let our enemies
   disgrace your temple,
   your beautiful throne.
   Don't forget that you promised
   to rescue us.
    22Idols can't send rain,
   and showers don't fall
   by themselves.
   Only you control the rain,
   so we put our trust in you,
   the LORD our God.
   

Jeremiah 15

The People of Judah Will Die
 1The LORD said to me:    Even if Moses and Samuel were here, praying with you, I wouldn't change my mind. So send the people of Judah away. 2And when they ask where they are going, tell them that I, the LORD, have said:
   Some of you are going to die
   of horrible diseases.
   Others are going to die in war
   or from starvation.
   The rest will be led away
   to a foreign country.
    3I will punish you
   in four different ways:
   You will be killed in war
   and your bodies dragged off
   by dogs,
   your flesh will be eaten by birds,
   and your bones will be chewed on
   by wild animals.
    4This punishment will happen
   because of the horrible things [f] your King Manasseh [g] did. And you will be disgusting
   to all nations on earth.
    5People of Jerusalem,
   who will feel sorry for you?
   Will anyone bother
   to ask if you are well?
    6My people, you abandoned me
   and walked away.
   I am tired of showing mercy;
   that's why I'll destroy you
    7by scattering you like straw
   blown by the wind.
   I will punish you with sorrow
   and death,
   because you refuse
   to change your ways.
    8There will be more widows
   in Judah
   than grains of sand on a beach.
   A surprise attack at noon!
   And the mothers in Jerusalem
   mourn for their children.
    9A mother is in deep despair
   and struggles for breath.
   Her daylight has turned
   to darkness--
   she has suffered the loss
   of her seven sons.
   I will kill anyone who survives.
   I, the LORD, have spoken.   
Jeremiah Complains
 10I wish I had never been born!    I'm always in trouble
   with everyone in Judah.
   I never lend or borrow money,
   but everyone curses me
   just the same.
    11Then the LORD replied,
   "I promise to protect you,
   and when disaster comes,
   even your enemies
   will beg you for help." [h] 
The Enemy Cannot Be Defeated
The LORD told me to say:
 12People of Judah,    just as you can't break iron
   mixed with bronze,
   you can't defeat the enemies
   that will attack
   from the north.
    13I will give them
   everything you own,
   because you have sinned
   everywhere in your country.
    14My anger is a fire
   that cannot be put out, [i] so I will make you slaves
   of your enemies
   in a foreign land. [j]
Jeremiah Complains Again
 15You can see how I suffer    insult after insult,
   all because of you, LORD.
   Don't be so patient
   with my enemies;
   take revenge on them
   before they kill me.
    16When you spoke to me,
   I was glad to obey,
   because I belong to you,
   the LORD All-Powerful.
    17I don't go to parties
   and have a good time.
   Instead, I keep to myself,
   because you have filled me
   with your anger.
    18I am badly injured
   and in constant pain.
   Are you going to disappoint me,
   like a stream that goes dry
   in the heat of summer?   
The LORD Replies
 19Then the LORD told me:    Stop talking like a fool!
   If you turn back to me
   and speak my message,
   I will let you be my prophet
   once again.
   I hope the people of Judah
   will accept what you say.
   But you can ignore their threats,
    20because I am making you strong,
   like a bronze wall.
   They are evil and violent,
   but when they attack,
    21I will be there to rescue you.
   I, the LORD, have spoken.
   

Jeremiah 16

Jeremiah Must Live His Message
 1The LORD said to me:     2Jeremiah, don't get married and have children--Judah is no place to raise a family. 3I'll tell you what's going to happen to children and their parents here. 4They will die of horrible diseases and of war and starvation. No one will give them a funeral or bury them, and their bodies will be food for the birds and wild animals. And what's left will lie on the ground like manure.
    5When someone dies, don't visit the family or show any sorrow. I will no longer love or bless or have any pity on the people of Judah. 6Rich and poor alike will die and be left unburied. No one will mourn and show their sorrow by cutting themselves or shaving their heads. [k] 7No one will bring food and wine to help comfort those who are mourning the death of their father or mother. 8Don't even set foot in a house where there is eating and drinking and celebrating. 9Warn the people of Judah that I, the LORD All-Powerful, will put an end to all their parties and wedding celebrations. 10They will ask, "Why has the LORD our God threatened us with so many disasters? Have we done something wrong or sinned against him?"
    11Then tell them I have said:
   People of Judah, your ancestors turned away from me; they rejected my laws and teachings and started worshiping other gods. 12And you have done even worse! You are stubborn, and instead of obeying me, you do whatever evil comes to your mind. 13So I will throw you into a land that you and your ancestors know nothing about, a place where you will have to worship other gods both day and night. And I won't feel the least bit sorry for you.
    14A time will come when you will again worship me. But you will no longer call me the Living God who rescued Israel from Egypt. 15Instead, you will call me the Living God who rescued you from that country in the north and from the other countries where I had forced you to go.
   Someday I will bring you back to this land that I gave your ancestors.

Footnotes:
  1. Jeremiah 14:12 go without eating: The people of Israel sometimes went without eating to show sorrow for their sins.
  2. Jeremiah 14:12 sacrifices to please me: These sacrifices have traditionally been called "whole burnt offerings" because the whole animal was burned on the altar. A main purpose of such sacrifices was to please the LORD with the smell of the sacrifice, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called "sacrifices to please the LORD."
  3. Jeremiah 14:12 sacrifices. . . to give thanks: These sacrifices have traditionally been called "grain offerings." A main purpose of such sacrifices was to thank the LORD with a gift of grain, and so in the CEV they are sometimes called "sacrifices to give thanks to the LORD."
  4. Jeremiah 14:16 dead bodies. . . bury them: A proper burial was considered very important.
  5. Jeremiah 14:18 go about. . . has happened: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  6. Jeremiah 15:4 the horrible things: See 2 Kings 21.1-16.
  7. Jeremiah 15:4 Manasseh: Hebrew "Manasseh son of Hezekiah"; he ruled 687-642 B.C.
  8. Jeremiah 15:11 help: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 11.
  9. Jeremiah 15:14 that cannot be put out: Some Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts "against you."
  10. Jeremiah 15:14 I will make. . . land: Many Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts "I will make your enemies go through to a land you don't know about."
  11. Jeremiah 16:6 mourn and show their sorrow by cutting themselves or shaving their heads: A custom in some Canaanite religions.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-3:13 (Contemporary English Version)


10Both you and God are witnesses that we were pure and honest and innocent in our dealings with you followers of the Lord. 11You also know we did everything for you that parents would do for their own children. 12We begged, encouraged, and urged each of you to live in a way that would honor God. He is the one who chose you to share in his own kingdom and glory.
    13We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn't something made up by humans. You accepted it as God's message, and now he is working in you. 14My friends, you did just like God's churches in Judea and like the other followers of Christ Jesus there. And so, you were mistreated by your own people, in the same way they were mistreated by their people.
    15Those Jews killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and they even chased us away. God doesn't like what they do and neither does anyone else. 16They keep us from speaking his message to the Gentiles and from leading them to be saved. The Jews have always gone too far with their sins. Now God has finally become angry and will punish them.   
Paul Wants To Visit the Church Again
 17My friends, we were kept from coming to you for a while, but we never stopped thinking about you. We were eager to see you and tried our best to visit you in person. 18We really wanted to come. I myself tried several times, but Satan always stopped us. 19After all, when the Lord Jesus appears, who else but you will give us hope and joy and be like a glorious crown for us? 20You alone are our glory and joy!    

1 Thessalonians 3


 1Finally, we couldn't stand it any longer. We decided to stay in Athens by ourselves 2and send our friend Timothy to you. He works with us as God's servant and preaches the good news about Christ. We wanted him to make you strong in your faith and to encourage you. 3We didn't want any of you to be discouraged by all these troubles. You knew we would have to suffer, 4because when we were with you, we told you this would happen. And we did suffer, as you well know. 5At last, when I could not wait any longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I hoped that Satan had not tempted you and made all our work useless.     6Timothy has come back from his visit with you and has told us about your faith and love. He also said that you always have happy memories of us and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.
    7My friends, even though we have a lot of trouble and suffering, your faith makes us feel better about you. 8Your strong faith in the Lord is like a breath of new life. 9How can we possibly thank God enough for all the happiness you have brought us? 10Day and night we sincerely pray that we will see you again and help you to have an even stronger faith.
    11We pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus will let us visit you. 12May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds. That's how our love for you has grown. 13And when our Lord comes with all of his people, I pray that he will make your hearts pure and innocent in the sight of God the Father.


Psalm 80:1-19 (Contemporary English Version)


Psalm 80

(A psalm by Asaph for the music leader. To the tune "Lilies of the Agreement.")
Help Our Nation
 1Shepherd of Israel, you lead    the descendants of Joseph,
   and you sit on your throne
   above the winged creatures. [a] Listen to our prayer
   and let your light shine
    2for the tribes of Ephraim,
   Benjamin, and Manasseh.
   Save us by your power.
    3Our God, make us strong again!
   Smile on us and save us.
    4LORD God All-Powerful,
   how much longer
   will the prayers of your people
   make you angry?
    5You gave us tears for food,
   and you made us drink them
   by the bowlful.
    6Because of you,
   our enemies who live nearby
   laugh and joke about us.
    7But if you smile on us,
   we will be saved.
    8We were like a grapevine
   you brought out of Egypt.
   You chased other nations away
   and planted us here.
    9Then you cleared the ground,
   and we put our roots deep,
   spreading over the land.
    10Shade from this vine covered
   the mountains.
   Its branches
   climbed
   the mighty cedars
    11and stretched to the sea;
   its new growth reached
   to the river. [b] 12Our Lord, why have you
   torn down the wall
   from around the vineyard?
   You let everyone who walks by
   pick the grapes.
    13Now the vine is gobbled down
   by pigs from the forest
   and other wild animals.
    14God All-Powerful,
   please do something!
   Look down from heaven
   and see what's happening
   to this vine.
    15With your own hands
   you planted its roots,
   and you raised it
   as your very own.
    16Enemies chopped the vine down
   and set it on fire.
   Now show your anger
   and destroy them.
    17But help the one who sits
   at your right side, [c] the one you raised
   to be your own.
    18Then we will never turn away.
   Put new life into us,
   and we will worship you.
    19LORD God All-Powerful,
   make us strong again!
   Smile on us and save us.
   
Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 80:1 winged creatures: Two winged creatures made of gold were on the top of the sacred chest and were symbols of the LORD's throne on earth (see Exodus 25.18).
  2. Psalm 80:11 the sea. . . the river: The Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River were part of the ideal boundaries for Israel.
  3. Psalm 80:17 right side: See the note at 16.11.

Proverbs 25:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)


Proverbs 25

More of Solomon's Wise Sayings
 1Here are more    of Solomon's proverbs.
   They were copied by the officials
   of King Hezekiah of Judah.
    2God is praised
   for being mysterious;
   rulers are praised
   for explaining mysteries.
    3Who can fully understand
   the thoughts of a ruler?
   They reach beyond the sky
   and go deep in the earth.
    4Silver must be purified
   before it can be used
   to make something of value.
    5Evil people must be removed
   before anyone can rule
   with justice.


Verse of the Day

“Pay attention to advice and accept correction, so you can live sensibly. We may make a lot of plans, but the LORD will do what he has decided.” - Proverbs 19:20-21
Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

Linyutang.jpgThought for the Day

Renowned Hokkien Chinese writer, translator, linguist, philosopher and inventor, Lin Yutang wrote, “Today we are afraid of simple words like goodness and mercy and kindness. We don't believe in the good old words because we don't believe in good old values anymore. And that's why the world is sick.”

A Joke for Today

Image result for cooking jokesOne day a little girl was watching her mom make a roast beef. She cut off the ends, wrapped it in string, seasoned it and set it in the roasting pan.

The little girl asked her mom why she cut off the ends of the roast. Mom replied, after some thought, that it was the way that her mother had done it.

That night grandma came to dinner and the little girl and her mom went to her and asked why she had cut the end off of the roast before cooking. After some thought grandma replied, that was the way her mother had done it.

Now great grandmother was quite old and in a nursing home. But the little girl went with her mom and grandma to see her and again asked the question.

Grandma looked at them a bit annoyed and said, "I had a small oven, of course."

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