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NIV Email for Dec 13

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NEW TESTAMENT

1 Peter 1:1 through 1 Peter 1:25 (NIV)
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

25 but the word of the Lord stands forever."

And this is the word that was preached to you.

PSALMS OR PROVERBS

Proverbs 13:1 through Proverbs 13:25 (NIV)
1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction,

but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things,

but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.

3 He who guards his lips guards his life,

but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing,

but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

5 The righteous hate what is false,

but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity,

but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8 A man's riches may ransom his life,

but a poor man hears no threat.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,

but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10 Pride only breeds quarrels,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,

but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 He who scorns instruction will pay for it,

but he who respects a command is rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

turning a man from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding wins favor,

but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,

but a fool exposes his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

18 He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,

but whoever heeds correction is honored.

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but fools detest turning from evil.

20 He who walks with the wise grows wise,

but a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Misfortune pursues the sinner,

but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children,

but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

23 A poor man's field may produce abundant food,

but injustice sweeps it away.

24 He who spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 The righteous eat to their hearts' content,

but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

OLD TESTAMENT

Hosea 7:1 through Hosea 7:16 (NIV)
1 whenever I would heal Israel,

the sins of Ephraim are exposed

and the crimes of Samaria revealed.

They practice deceit,

thieves break into houses,

bandits rob in the streets;

2 but they do not realize

that I remember all their evil deeds.

Their sins engulf them;

they are always before me.

3 "They delight the king with their wickedness,

the princes with their lies.

4 They are all adulterers,

burning like an oven

whose fire the baker need not stir

from the kneading of the dough till it rises.

5 On the day of the festival of our king

the princes become inflamed with wine,

and he joins hands with the mockers.

6 Their hearts are like an oven;

they approach him with intrigue.

Their passion smolders all night;

in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

7 All of them are hot as an oven;

they devour their rulers.

All their kings fall,

and none of them calls on me.

8 "Ephraim mixes with the nations;

Ephraim is a flat cake not turned over.

9 Foreigners sap his strength,

but he does not realize it.

His hair is sprinkled with gray,

but he does not notice.

10 Israel's arrogance testifies against him,

but despite all this

he does not return to the LORD his God

or search for him.

11 "Ephraim is like a dove,

easily deceived and senseless-

now calling to Egypt,

now turning to Assyria.

12 When they go, I will throw my net over them;

I will pull them down like birds of the air.

When I hear them flocking together,

I will catch them.

13 Woe to them,

because they have strayed from me!

Destruction to them,

because they have rebelled against me!

I long to redeem them

but they speak lies against me.

14 They do not cry out to me from their hearts

but wail upon their beds.

They gather together for grain and new wine

but turn away from me.

15 I trained them and strengthened them,

but they plot evil against me.

16 They do not turn to the Most High;

they are like a faulty bow.

Their leaders will fall by the sword

because of their insolent words.

For this they will be ridiculed

in the land of Egypt.

Hosea 8:1 through Hosea 8:14 (NIV)
1 "Put the trumpet to your lips!

An eagle is over the house of the LORD

because the people have broken my covenant

and rebelled against my law.

2 Israel cries out to me,

'O our God, we acknowledge you!'

3 But Israel has rejected what is good;

an enemy will pursue him.

4 They set up kings without my consent;

they choose princes without my approval.

With their silver and gold

they make idols for themselves

to their own destruction.

5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria!

My anger burns against them.

How long will they be incapable of purity?

6 They are from Israel!

This calf-a craftsman has made it;

it is not God.

It will be broken in pieces,

that calf of Samaria.

7 "They sow the wind

and reap the whirlwind.

The stalk has no head;

it will produce no flour.

Were it to yield grain,

foreigners would swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up;

now she is among the nations

like a worthless thing.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria

like a wild donkey wandering alone.

Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.

10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,

I will now gather them together.

They will begin to waste away

under the oppression of the mighty king.

11 "Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,

these have become altars for sinning.

12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,

but they regarded them as something alien.

13 They offer sacrifices given to me

and they eat the meat,

but the LORD is not pleased with them.

Now he will remember their wickedness

and punish their sins:

They will return to Egypt.

14 Israel has forgotten his Maker

and built palaces;

Judah has fortified many towns.

But I will send fire upon their cities

that will consume their fortresses."