Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 6/21/15 Job 23:12 I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Perhaps the most helpful vow you could make to God is “No Bible, no breakfast.” Don’t allow yourself to eat until you have read a chapter or two. Try it... for a month? (Maybe make a it a public decision at church.)                                1 Sam 5:1-3 And the Philistines took the ark of God...into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon...on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face before the ark... You can try to make your God subservient to your other gods (alcohol, hedonism, love of money, sports, illicit sex, etc.) but He will not play second fiddle. Shortly after this, He smote the Philistines with a horrendous disease. His character has not changed.

Monday, 6/22/15  Ps 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. If you have a flashlight, but don’t turn it on while walking a dark, dangerous path, don’t get mad at it when you hurt yourself. So too, if you ignore God’s light, it’s not His fault if you run into a thorn bush.                         Ps 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God have I put my trust. In troubles, don’t just say, “Well, I’ll have to trust the Lord.” No, trust is a conscious decision. Stop...think...recount God’s character of loving His kids, and then choose to consciously roll your trouble onto Him. THAT will bring the praise. Don’t talk about trusting God...TRUST GOD.

Tuesday, 6/23/15  Ps 56:9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. Do you have confidence in your prayers? Don’t settle for infrequent answers...figure it out. Read John R. Rice’s book on prayer, specifically the chapter on “Hindrances to Prayer.”                           Job 26:2 How hast thou helped him that is without power? How savest thou the arm that hath no strength? For 24 chapters, Job’s 3 friends have tried to place blame and give reasons for Job’s calamities. Figuring out “why” has a place, but we see no offers of tangible assistance; no, “I love you Job and will pray for you”; no silent services such as meal prep or cleaning.  Do you HELP in time of trouble, or just talk to, or about, the victim?

Wednesday, 6/24/15  Ps 119:113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Do you get upset at your faults, or do you go easy on yourself? Deepen your hatred for self-stupidity; confess, forsake, and get forgiven; and deepen your relationship to the Bible.                               Ps 119:115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Oftentimes, at work or school, just keeping a Bible handy or simply requesting that sinners change their behavior will deflect much temptation or wrong behavior around you. However, if more tactful methods don’t work, you may have to bluntly tell them to leave you alone, or that certain behavior is unacceptable around you. You have the right to protect yourself (including your spirit.)

Thursday, 6/25/15  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; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. Many Bible believers, fundamentalists, (me too) are pretty clean on the outside. A simple question: is your heart clean? Do you long to be holy, inside and out?                             Pro 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honor.  Honesty check: Are you pursuing righteousness? If you were called to testify in church about what you’re doing now that you weren’t last year...could you? Are you more righteous, or are you “good enough”? “Holy enough”? “Devoted enough”?  Secondly, are you pursuing mercy (to give, not to get)??

Friday, 6/26/15  Pro 22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. Men, beware of a sweet talking woman who isn’t wearing your wedding ring. It could start with honest admiration, sincere compliments, and/or flattery. It WILL stroke your ego. Ladies, watch your compliments toward other men, but do give them very lavishly and abundantly to your husband. Keep flirting with the one you married.                                    1 Sam 8:7 ...for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. Basic doctrine: when Israel insisted upon a king, they began a “new normal.” They were no longer a theocracy, but a religious monarchy. No longer was the Bible their final authority: the king was. Likewise, we are under civil government. So, all the OT laws concerning civil behavior (crime, inheritance, etc.) are now for examples and principles, but we are not bound by them, nor were the Israelites at this point.

Saturday, 6/27/15  2 Kings 17:9a And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God... He already knows of your secret sins. Therefore, own up to them; confess them; enlist His help, and start working diligently on them. He could expose them to the world...                          Ps 119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Each choice brings its own consequences: positive or negative. Each person is allowed their own choices, and each gets their own consequences. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink: some will refuse to get saved, or to obey God. Some will choose stupidity and folly. The question for me is, do I care about the consequences that ignorant people choose? Do I weep? Do I try to persuade? Do I pray? Or do I just wash my hands (as if that were possible), and say, “Oh well, their choice...” The question for all of us is, “What is the end result of our choices?” (And for some of you who read this, “Are you 100% sure that you’d go to Heaven?” If you are not, message me today.)

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- Religion makes us religious sinners. Baptism makes us wet sinners. Works make us busy sinners. Grace makes us saved sinners.

- God chose to use me before I knew I was going to fail him, but not before he knew it, yet he chose me anyway.

- Christ claiming us cost him everything, so don't you think claiming him should cost us something?

- Live today like you'll be gone tomorrow.

- God's saving grace is best evidenced by our living grace.

- "How am I today, you ask?" Well I am loved, forgiven, accepted, righteous, justified, perfect, chosen, blameless, holy, complete, worthy, valuable, significant, and a child of God. I guess that means I am doing quite all right, thank you. Oh, and how are you?

           Recently someone sent me a private message that was actually an apology. They said, "Brother Dave, for many years I have been angry at you for disappointing me. When I heard about your failures I became angry and harbored a bitter spirit. Even though you did not know it, I want to ask you for your forgiveness." I always have bit of mixed emotions when I read notes such as this, but they are not that rare. While it is a blessing to be blessed with such an act of grace, it is a reminder of the failures of the past and the fact that there are still many who secretly or openly harbor the same feelings.

           Whenever I receive such an apology I react in much the same way. First I pray for the person. Second I write them back to thank them and let them know they are forgiven. However, I do not forgive them at that point. Now, that may sound a bit un-Christian, but allow me to explain. There are certain things that I have forgiven long ago. I call it "blanket forgiveness." I knew long ago there are certain offenses that I needed to throw a blanket of forgiveness over. Doing so means that I have already pre forgiven those who have "committed" those sins against me. One such offense is those who secretly have harbored bitterness or resentment towards me for the failures in my life. If they feel the need to confess it to me I accept it with kindness but I do not need to forgive them because I already have done so.

           Now in case you are thinking that I am a good Christian, I assure you I am not. No, the real reason I have done this is because I do not want to make myself miserable, nor do I want to face the temptation to wallow in self pity when such a things happens. I also do not want to be faced with the decision of whether or not to forgive them. It is done, because they are under that blanket.

* People who slander me.

* People who hold secret grudges against me.

* People who blame me for their hurts and subsequent problems.

* People who reject me such as pastors who refuse me from attending their churches.

* People who are friends with my enemies.

           This is my unique list, but I imagine you have yours as well. Let me make a suggestion. Get yourself a blanket to throw over throw over those in your life who need to be forgiven. You may need a small blanket, whereas I may need a linen closet filled with king-sized ones. Whatever the case, do not forgive one person at a time. Predetermine forgiveness that you suspect will be needed and throw a blanket over it.

- No great man ever complains of want of opportunity.

- The problem is not that we do not know how to pray—the problem is that we do not pray.

- If God is enough for you then you'll always have enough—because you'll always have God.

- The junk buyer, like God, does not purchase an item for what it is worth now, but for what he believes he can make out of it.

- So if you swallow the vomit of slander and gossip should we expect that you will regurgitate the good news of Jesus Christ? Just wondering.

- We husbands often try to solve the problems women simply want to share. Sometimes the most loving thing I can do for my wife is to merely listen to her intently without trying to solve a thing.

- Someone asked dad, "How do you deal with all the people who hate you."
His answer, "I use it them to practice loving like God loves."

- Sometimes trials come to teach us a lesson, but at other times they come so we can teach others a lesson by our example in dealing with our trials by faith.

- We warn our children not to talk to strangers and then allow strangers to talk to and influence them on the television. Oh, how inconsistent we really are.

- Why will we wait in line for two hours in scorching heat for a two minute thrill ride, but won't fifteen minutes wait on our knees in our air conditioned homes for a Divine blessing?

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- 2 Kings 7:20 So it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died. We should be very careful what we say and think about the prophecies and promises of God.

- Ps 83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee. When the world attacks God’s people, it is really against God Himself.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 18:5, The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. At times all we can see is the darkness around us. It's times like these that God's light shines the brightest! Isn't He awesome, folks?! I love Him, and basking in His love for me! Have a great day!

- Just a thought from Bible reading this morning: 2 Sam 21:20-21 “And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.”  I wonder how many times Shimea, David's nephew, had heard the story of David and Goliath as a young boy. I wonder how many times he pretended or imagined himself killing a giant someday "just like Uncle David!"  I wonder how much and what my girls and other young ones are picking up from me. These verses were just a great reminder to me that they are watching! They are listening. And they will copy!

- 1 Kings 13:18 He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art -- but he lied unto him. Don’t believe a man’s relationship with God until you know from reputable references and personal observation for verification.

- Pro 24:30-31 I went by the field of the slothful; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and the stone wall was broken down. Our character is revealed by the condition of our property and possessions.

- Bible thoughts! Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Just imagine, as the battle rages all around, the Lord sets up a delicious feast, a party, if you will, to take our eyes off of the problem. Yet, He Himself is fully aware of everything going down and never misses a beat. Isn't it grand to not only feel, but KNOW, He's in control! Wow! What a promise!
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