Baptist City Blog

Tuesday, 11/29/16  1 Chron 16:24, Declare his glory AMONG the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. When was the last time that you bragged on God in front of people whom you knew were unsaved?             Heb 5:2 describes a high priest. We are also priests: does this describe you? Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. Or, have you forgotten what it’s like to be a sinner??

 

Wednesday, 11/30/16  Heb 5:8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. You might be suffering unjustly so as to teach you a little more about obedience. No, God’s not mad at you...             We all go through heartaches. However, IN your heartache, look for the Lord. Isa 6:1, In the year that king Uzziah died I saw ALSO the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (BTW, God knows of your trouble and isn’t troubled by it, or by you being troubled.)

 

Thursday, 12/1/16  1 Chron 21:1, And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. If Satan could “get inside David’s head” (and Ananias’ in Acts 5), he can get inside of yours or a loved one’s and inspire stupid, out of character acts and thoughts.           The next time that you’re unwilling to forgive, (and forgiveness is a matter of the will, not the emotions: you CAN forgive because God commands it), maybe reread this verse: James 2:13, For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Remember that you are often in need of mercy...so give a little, alright?

 

Friday,12/2/16  Ps 77:6, I call to rembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Remember when God came through that other time? Rest in His faithfulness: keep praying, keep submitting, keep obeying until He does it again. Read vv7-15.              Ps 78:1, Give ear, O my people, to my law... God speaks in LAWS, and the violation of laws have conseequences: not always, “I’m gonna get you” consequences, but, more often, simply having a harder time in life. So, maybe some of your “bad luck” or “hard times” is actually divine legal trouble.

 

Saturday, 12/3/16  Ps 51:3, For I acknowledge MY transgressions: and MY sin is ever before ME. Christ didn’t die for the world: He died for me and me only...thee guilty ONE. No one else. Lesson: confess YOUR sins, not OURS or HIS/HERS.                              Ex 9:1 Then the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. The reason that you were delivered from a worldly life was to be useful to God. We’re saved to serve, not to make money or indulge our sensual desires. So...are you serving, or did God “waste His time” by saving you?

 

Sunday, 12/4/16  Ps 119:10, With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. “Wander”: it’s easy to do; it’s gradual. Check your current Christianity against an earlier time...are you as devoted, sincere, active?             We know 2 Chron 7:14, but prompted it? V13 speaks of divine chastening. So, what were the people of God lacking that brought on the chastisement? Humility. Prayer. Seeking God’s will. Sinfulness. Does God have to get your attention via circumstances, or are you caring for those 4 items on your own?

 

Monday, 12/5/16  Job 2:7, So went Satan from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. You’ve already survived 100% of your previous “worst day ever.” This too shall pass.             John 1:11, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. I believe that I want to be like Christ (and many of you do too), but I’m having to learn this aspect of His character:  having and expressing love, and having a willingness for reconciliation and having it rejected, spurned, and ignored...I fear that I’m not passing this class. Pray for me.

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- What would happen if we could “pull back the curtain” to obsrve all that God was doing in our lives? It really isn’t about what we’re doing for Him, but rather what He is doing for and in us. Elisha pulled back the curtain (2 Kings 6:16-18) and the result was confidence and hope.

 

- Ps 42:2a, My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. An appetite for God is developed on purpose and does not come naturally.

 

- Ps 41:9, Yea mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. One can endure most relationship problems, but a spurned close friendship is the most difficult to swallow and live with.

 

- Acts 15:39a, And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other. Great leaders often disagree and for hte sake of the ministry and their testimony may need to separate and serve away from one another.

 

- Acts 16:3, Him would Paul have to go with him: and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in these quarters: for they knew that his father was a Greek. For the sake of the ministry, breaking down barriers is both proper and necessary.

 

- Ps 48:14, For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Would to God that America would believe and embrace this attitude.

 

- Acts 14:20, Howbeit, as the disciples stood about him, he rose up, and came into the city, and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe. The toughness and focus of Paul is shown here. I doubt very much if he physically felt like going anywhere, but he did!

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- Failure does not define us, it refines us.

 

- “Always remember that others may hate you, but those that hate you don’t win unless you hate them back. Then, you destroy yourself.”  Richard Nixon, as he left the White House after resigning.

 

- Happiness is determined by another. Joy is determined by me.

 

- Suffering is a part of our lives that eithe births getting bitter or getting better.

- Grace and mercy are antidotes to a victimized spirit.

- So far, you’ve survived exactly 100% of your “worst day ever!”  This too shall pass.

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