Baptist City Blog

Tuesday, 6/7/16  Ps 23:1a, The Lord is my shepherd. Since the day you asked Christ to save you, this verse pertained to you. Therefore, expect Him to occasionally “interfere,” “inconvenience,” or “overrule” your plans. (See v2-3.)   
               Jer 21:2, Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us... Thus saith the Lord god of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. If you ask for God’s input/opinion, you may not like what He says. (Especially if you’ve been living rebelliously.)

 

Wednesday, 6/8/16  Mark 10:21, Then Jesus beholding him loved him... To grow in love toward another, you must look into their lives, i.e. think of them and their situation; what are they thinking, feeling, wanting, fearing? This means asking questions...TALKING and listening to their words, silence, as well as actions. “Love in action is thinking.” L-O-V-E those with whom you live. Put down your phones and CONVERSE...deeply!!                      Ps 16:8, I have set the Lord before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Being on the right side is a spot that the leader is to be placed. It’s a matter of respect and honor toward him, and protection for you.  Notice the results of putting Christ there: V9: Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

 

Thursday, 6/9/16  2 Tim 2:2, The things that hast heard...the same commit unto [others]...  God wants us to talk about the things that we learn from His word. Assignment: If these texts are a help to you, find 2 people who’ll let you forward these thoughts to them everyday (some of you have several already.) Or, have them text me and request them.                               Pro 4:1, Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Kids, before you can hear and heed, you have to be around your parents. Are you? As much as possible or as little as necessary? (Adults, how close to YOUR parents are you?) Do you need to mend some fences? Do so, even if it was your parents who tore them down.) Current parents, how enjoyable would your kids say that you are to be around?

 

Friday, 6/10/16  John 3:1, There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews... Though rich and prestigious, Nicodemus asked for insight from one without any outward “official” credentials. You leaders (businessmen/owners, successful people, principals, pastors, well-respected, etc.): are you humble enough to do this?                  Would you consider yourself to be “wicked”? Consider this characteristic before you answer: Ps 28:3, ...the wicked...workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.

Saturday, 6/11/16  Ps 27:1, The Lord is my light and my salavation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? A rhetorical question with the obvious answer of, “No one.” But the implied obvious answer is “God.” Yes, on some level, we are to be afraid of God.             Heb 11:35, [Through faith] women received their dead raised to life again... Just a reminder that the first step to a resurrection is a death; the first step to getting a miracle is needing one; the first step to hope is despair; to a crop is dying by planting and decay. Are you resurrect-able? Miracle-able? Hope-able? Harvest-able? GOOD!!! You’re one step away from your dreams coming true!!

Sunday, 6/12/16  Are you near-sighted or far-sighted? Heb 12:2b, [Jesus,] for the joy that was set (far) before him endured the cross, despising the shame (that was near and immediate), and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.                   Pro 8:6-8, Hear, for I [wisdom] will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. What adjective would characterize your overall topics of speech? Excellent? Worldly? Casual? Self-centered? Critical? Uplifting? Mindless?

Monday, 6/13/16  Pro 6:16, 19, These 6 things doth the Lord hate; yea 7 are an abomination unto him...he that soweth discord among brethren. Though the topic of discord may be true...it’s a sin to plant divisive seeds. Forgive and shut up about already!!!              Note the amazement and incredulity:  Lam 1:1, How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! How is she become as a widow! She that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! Sin’s effects are truly amazing...and you won’t be the exception to those effects. Whether your sins are universally acknowledged (illicit sexual indulgences, anger, drunkenness, etc.) or are “OK” sins (bitterness, lack of devotion, spreading dissension among brethren, idleness, etc.) the result will be the same. Quit playing with a rattlesnake that CANNOT be tamed and cajoled into becoming a lap dog.

 

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- Rest time is not waste time. It is wisdom to gather fresh strength.

- Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.

- The more hopeless and impossible the circumstance, the greater the opportunity for God to work, and the more potential for God to receive glory.

- Your life does not get better by chance;  it gets better by CHANGE!

- The singular sin that is doing more to damage our churches, our homes and individual Christians than any other is not porn, perversion, or other gross sins we so easily abhor. It is bitterness.

- My friend, just because you are struggling in an area of your Christian life does NOT mean you are failing, as Satan would have you believe. Paul spoke openly about his struggles because he knew they were a natural part of our humanity. Stop beating yourself up and let the struggle be a part of the journey to our eternal destination where we will struggle no more.

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- Pro 7:11, She is loud and stubborn! Her feet abide not in her house. Immoral women are easily recognizable, and men need to read and heed these verses!!

- Ps 51:1, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. This is my constant plea and needs to be for every child of God!!

- Heb 4:16, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. We need not ever be fearful or apprehensive about coming to our God for help in time of need. He awaits us with open arms for any who will come.

- Bible thoughts! Mark 2:3, And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. Wow! These 4 friends of this paraplegic guy had an amazing amount of faith! Do we have faith like that for our friends when we pray for their needs?

- Bible thoughts! Heb 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Can you imagine? If Satan chases as hard after us as he does today, how much the more did he chase after Jesus?! I mean think about it, every force of Hell was driven mad and consumed with getting Jesus to sin, so that we couldn't be born into God's family! Wow! I'm so glad He overcame and prevailed! So can we!

- Ps 106:15, And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Be cautious to not ask God for vain or selfish things. Are they worth the peace, joy, love, contentment, or any other good* thing that fills your soul?!

 

- To say, "I have trusted Jesus with my soul, but do not trust His Word" is an oxymoron.  Jesus is The Word. If I do not trust One, I cannot trust the Other. (Matthew 7:21)