Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 7/26/15  Luke 8:1, ...shewing the glad tidings of the the kingdom of God... Bible Christianity is a happy religion. If your religion doesn’t make you happy, if you don’t enjoy it, I mean like a close football game or a party with friends, then you might ought to get out of it, (or get into it wholly) and try something that’s real.          Matt 3:17, And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. There is in the heart of every person, even the Son of God, the desire to hear approval from leadership. Leaders: give it. Followers, practice now for later and compliment freely every chance you get. If you’ll think, then you’ll thank.

Monday, 7/27/15  Luke 8:28, ...What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? Just because someone doesn’t want you, or says that they don’t want you, doesn’t mean that they don’t need you.(Their words may just be their sin/hurts talking.) Tactfully, find a way to meet their needs.          Are you an active soul winner today? When was your last attempt to present the Gospel? Matt 4:19, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then, if you’re not fishing for men, it is very clear that you are NOT following Christ. (Kinda blunt, but they're the Saviour's words, not mine.)

Tuesday, 7/28/15  Ps 60:3, Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Not every lesson that God gives us reminds us of His love and mercy and grace. Sometimes the messages are heavy and unpleasant. Don’t shrink from these, and thus, miss vital lessons.             Ps 58:1-2, Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness... Do your beliefs and your actions match? Do live what you believe? (That souls are lost without Christ; God’s in control; the Bible is God’s book; sin destroys lives and families, etc.?) Do you believe what you live?          Job 6:2-3 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.  ¹When it’s our trial, we feel will almost always feel that it’s the heaviest one that anyone in history has ever endured.  ²Looking at my situation, I must realize that it’s not so extreme or so unusual. OK, it’s bad, but I must curb my “drama mama” role.  ³However, I must realize and allow others to feel that way when it’s their problem. ⁴As always, the Bible is written to tell ME how to act, not for me to tell others how THEY should act.

Wednesday, 7/29/15  Ps 22:3, But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. How big is the portion of God’s house that you’ve made with your praises?           Ps 19:11b, ...and in keeping of [the words of God] there is great reward. Common obedience yields uncommon benefits. You can be glad you did...or wish you had. Make the proper choice each day, and when days are all gone, you’ll be glad you chose wisely.

Thursday, 7/30/15  Ps 64:6, [The wicked] search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. I hope I never search for dirt on anyone!! All of us have some, so it’s not a major big deal to learn of some. What you encounter, generally should be kept quiet.         Ps 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Getting to the point of “not wanting” is a learning process.  Be patient with self and others.  Push yourself (not others) to make progress.

Friday, 7/31/15  Job 1:1, There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect (spiritually mature, complete) and upright (consistently righteous), and one that feared God (proper attitude: fear, respect, awe), and eschewed evil (dealt with sin in his own heart). How do you match up?          Job 1:10-11 ...thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. Would Satan think that you’d be likely to turn on God if financial calamity occurred?  Analyze yourself (cuz he is): where/how would you attack you?

Saturday, 8/1/15  Pro 29:3, Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. Concerning your entertainment dollars/budget: Is Christ pleased with how that money is spent? Remember, that money is still His also: you’re simply a steward, not an owner.          Pro 29:10a, The bloodthirsty hate the upright. There are people with whom you’ll never agree. Sometimes the problem is with them; sometimes, it’s you; sometimes both. Clean yourself up concerning them. You can’t make them like you; they can’t keep you from loving them.

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- THE VALLEY of HUMILIATION   If we are to be in His image then we all must walk through the valley of humiliation.  It may be a valley of sin when the pride of our goodness is dispelled.  It may be the valley of affliction where the pride of our abilities are removed.  It may be the valley of suffering where the pride of our possessions are quenched.  It may be the valley of sickness where the pride of our life is threatened.  But there will be...there must be a valley where we are humbled so that He can do His work in and through us. It was His valley of humiliation that our Salvation was accomplished in and through Him.

- Needing God to explain is a substitute for trusting him.

- Don't practice until you get it right; practice until you can't get it wrong.

- One might read David’s story and wonder what God saw in him. The fellow fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. He stared down Goliath, yet ogled Bathsheba; defied God-mockers in the valley, yet joined them in the wilderness. An Eagle scout one day. Chumming with the Mafia the next. He could lead armies, but couldn’t manage a family. A man after Gods own heart? That God saw him as such gives hope to us all. David’s life has little to offer the unstained saint. Straight A souls find David’s story disappointing. The rest of us find it reassuring. The heart God loved was a checkered one.

- I know I have not complimented my wife enough if, when I do she, gets suspicious.

- Often the difference between a successful marriage and a mediocre one consists of leaving, AT LEAST, three or four things a day unsaid.

- Don't envy another's faith unless you envy their trials.

- Share your failures. Yes, your failures can be a gift to others if you use them to both warn others from a potential fall, but also by forging a path back to the Lord for another who has fallen. Don't let your failures go to waste. God can use them for his glory if you let him.

- When I came to the end of my rope I discovered God was there waiting for me and bidding me to let go of my rope and trust him.

- Sometimes we break someone's heart by the words they wish we would say but we don't.

- The difference between an opportunity and an obstacle is your attitude. Your faith must be greater than your fear.

- Please God, put Your arms around my shoulders and Your hand across my mouth.

- Divorce is not really giving up on a marriage. It is giving up on God.

- Satan condemns to make us feel bad about ourselves. The Holy Spirit convicts to make us feel bad about our sins.

- When God refuses to remove my affliction, He in turn honors me by giving me the opportunity to trust Him.

- If you feel like you are always struggling in your Christian walk you are not alone and there is nothing wrong with you. You are supposed to struggle, wrestle, fight, press and endure. That is not a weakness in you. That is the life in the flesh when we try to walk in the Spirit. You only ought to worry when you quit struggling. A world class athlete doesn't one day quit struggling and everything is easy. It remains a struggle for as long as they want to be competitive. Satan wants to make you feel guilty because you are struggling as though it ought not be. He is lying. Struggle with a clear conscious but by all means keep on struggling. Press on!

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- Ps 119:165, Great PEACE have they which love THY law...and NO THING....shall offend them.  Practicing that in MY heart this morning! such a great verse and what a great world we would live in if everyone would practice the truth in this verse!

- Bible thoughts! Ps 18:1, I will love thee, O Lord , my strength. What's your favorite Psalm? Mine is the 18th chapter. This verse caught my attention above the rest today. In what ways do you show God you love Him? God has a love language, too, folks!

- Ps 111:2, The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. We need to enjoy the blessings and works of the Lord, but also take note of them, and give Him the credit and at least a “Thank you.”

- Pro 26:4, He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him. Hatred is covered by deceit. Be careful of those who attempt to cover a wicked heart with praise and a smile.

- There is a natural order. There is a spiritual order. Putting finances before faith is natural. Putting faith before finances is spiritual. Both have a guaranteed result! Pro 28:20, A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

- Sometimes when we pray, it is of no use at all. Because God has already given the answer in His Word. Pro 28:9, He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 1:6, For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Does the way seem unclear? Take heart because it is crystal clear to the Lord!

- In two verses, back to back, God mentioned abortion and sodomy. (Isaiah 13:18-19) Those same people said, "It's not about the money." (v.17) History still repeats.