Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 4/19/15  In your world, do arguments tend to persist and grow, or get settled, lessened, and forgotten? Pro 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.               Ps 93:1c ...the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. If mankind is causing any damage to nature (via global warming, pollution, nuclear radiation, etc.), God is in overall control of the situation...and any damage is either negligible or is being governed and managed by Him. Relax!!!

Monday, 4/20/15 Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I SHALL come forth as gold. Job makes a great statement of faith which has comforted and inspired many. But...can you make his next statement as emphatically?  V11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.            Reading the Bible is never commanded in the Bible and, for many, it may be a waste of time. (Yes, I said that.)  Deut 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. God’s goal is for us to incorporate it (make it an integral part of us.) Head knowledge is just the first (albeit, necessary step): it is never the end goal. We’re to put it into our hearts, and let it “be pumped out” to our members, i.e. our body so that we become “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” THEN, v7, teach it to others, especially your kids.

Tuesday, 4/21/15  Ps 124:7 Our SOUL is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Troubles, sickness, and persecutions can ensnare your body, but strive to always keep your spirit free. “To rejoice is a choice.”              John 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. This seemed like a goofy statement to the listeners. But it becomes clear by knowing that God’s definition of the state of a Christian 5 minutes after his heart stops is “asleep,” not “dead.” We are commanded to study to shew thyself approved.  ¹We must pay more attention to our Bible reading than we did to the textbooks back in English or History classes in high school.  ²Since the Bible involves words, proper knowledge of definitions (exact or assumed) is necessary for a proper discussion. (Knowledge of grammar is good too.)  ³Reading is not like eating. Whether I wolf down my meal or savor each bite, my stomach and intestines do the same processing. But “wolfing down the Bible” is vastly different from paying attention to it and savoring each part of time that is spent in it.                   2 Cor 12:19b ...but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. Why do you teach SS? Drive a bus? Rear your kids? Go to your job? Play softball? Is it for yourself or for others? For comfort? Pleasure? Or to enhance and enliven your spiritual walk and that of others? All of us need to strive to get a higher and higher percentage of our actions into the “others’ edification” category.

Wednesday, 4/22/15  Pro 20:7 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The context says that most men do little and say much while a few faithful men do much. Which group are you most often in? (A good indicator may be: do you come early to work and stay late?)               Pro 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord. Just a reminder that saved people (the “just”) still do wrongly: don’t be surprised when it happens, but don’t condemn them either. Correct, reprove, scold, and even separate from socially...but don’t condemn. They’re a brother who is stumbling and one who needs strength, encouragement, prayer, maybe some training...but not alienation.                                   John 14:5-6a ...Lord, we know not whither thou goest: and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way... Though you may not know the destination, relax, He does.  The old song said: “Put you hand in the hand of the Man Who calmed the waters. Put you hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.”

Thursday, 4/23/14  Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Our society and culture have totally accepted the “need” and acceptability of including alcohol into every situation. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived. Make no mistake: God is a Teetotaler.              Ps 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. The context is family. The verse specifically deals with sorrow, burdens, i.e. worries.  ¹If you know what to do to resolve the issue: DO IT!!  ²If you don’t know what to do:  get counsel, fast & pray; learn (increase your knowledge base); let it go.  ³If you need to, try diversion to allow your mind time to process all the possibilities: sleep or play.  ⁴Don’t neglect your physical needs for worrying. Sleep. Eat. Socialize.           Pro 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.  God may or may not “get” the one who hurt you, but, given the chance, He’ll work on you to save you from a hateful, vengeful spirit and bitterness. Honesty check:  do you want His salvation or do you want Him to “get” your offender?

Friday, 4/24/15  Pro 20:7a The just man walketh in his integrity. Let your principles make your decisions and govern your choices. Don’t follow your lustful heart or corrupted mind. (Yes, yours ares as wicked as anyone’s.)         Job 29:2 Oh that I were in months past, as in the days when God preserved me. Don’t allow yourself the pleasure of a vacation to “What-if-Land” or “If-only-ville.” Just enjoy a quick peek at a postcard from there...but no visits...no timeshares...you’ve GOT to deal with “what is” and your new realities.

Saturday, 4/25/15  Ps 131:1b …neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things to high for me. Be honest enough to know when you’re getting in over your head, and when it would be better for you to shut up and listen instead of speaking. “A man’s got to know his limitations.”            Pro 20:11 Even a child is know by his doings, whether his work (deed, doing, thing done) be pure, and whether it be right. Are your deeds pure? Are the things you do right?

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- The only way you'll be able to hear the rebuke of the wise is to surround yourself with wise people.....not 'wise-guys'!! Ecc 7:5-6 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

- As kids we either heard or said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." Even tho that statement's really NOT true - bc getting called a name actually DOES hurt our feelings - God tells us not to give it much careful attention. Why? Because we've had bad days ourselves when we've thought (or said) things we didn't mean. Ecc 7:21-22 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 20:7, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Before we can run to a human, we must first run towards God! He's so amazing and able to supply us all with what we need!

- Ps 22:4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them. We need to remind God regularly of His mighty works of help and deliverance for His people in the past and ask Him to do it again!!

- It's comforting to know that we serve a God who not only loves us, protects us and provides for us, but he's also extremely hard-working. Solomon said as much as he looked, even with all his wisdom and knowledge, it was impossible to find out about all that God does.  Ecc 8:17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

- Ecc 9:9a Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity. It appears to me that God's saying if we will truly love our spouse, it will eliminate our pride and bring real happiness: even joy.

- God is so good...it's unbelievable!!! Ps 23:4b & 6a ...I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.  Bad things (humanly speaking) will most certainly happen to us at one time or another. Yet, God says we have no reason to fear because he's with us and makes sure that what happens to us is GOOD. Maybe it's to strengthen us, prepare us for something later, for God's glory, etc. AND he's continually merciful to us: meaning, it's not as bad as it COULD'VE been.

- Pro 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. Our bodies require sleep, but more than 7-8 hours is excessive, and one is either lazy or sick. Either way, that one needs to address the cause, and then go to work.

- Ps 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. A verse we all need to read and heed.