Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 7/19/15  Why read the Bible?  7) For strength and encouragement to our souls.  2 Chron 15:8, And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage...  Isa 40:31, But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...             Luke 5:1, And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret. Of course Jesus has an attractiveness that no human can match, but the same Word of God will be preached this morning and tonight within driving distance of you. Will you “press” to hear it, or is the TV more pressing?

Monday, 7/20/15  Why do we read the Bible?  Reason #8) It shows us how to stop sinning, primarily by replacing sin with righteousness. 1 John 2:1, My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.             1 John 3:18, My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. What love have you DONE recently?

Tuesday, 7/21/15  Why do we read the Bible?  Reason #9) To learn of Christ, and thus, to find rest for our souls. Matt 11:29, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.            Ps 45:2 is referring to Jesus, but notice: Thou art fairer than the children of men: (why?) grace is poured into thy lips: (And the result of that is?) therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gracious lips (lips that convey godly truth and help) increases your beauty and brings God’s blessings. Go be gracious at work today, with your family, with the unsaved.

Wednesday, 7/22/15  Ezr 5:2, Then rose up Zerubbabel...and Jeshua...and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. Z & J (2 pioneering men, with 2 preachers) brought a nation back to God. Rare is the task that is all a solo effort. Learn to exist and function and prosper in a team.             Ezr 7:10, For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. It doesn’t say how or what he did to prepare his heart, so, what things would keep our hearts from seeking, obeying, and teaching the Bible? Unconfessed sin, especially pride; unforgiveness; a cluttered mind (worried, distracted, noisy surroundings, etc.). Your thoughts?

Thursday, 7/23/15  Phil 4:2, I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Do you more often fill the role of peacemaker or peace breaker? (Oh, I know, the other person always starts it, right? But you’re always involved in a conflict with someone, right? Where there’s smoke...)           Phil 3:1, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Don’t ever get tired of sermons on the same topics: Bible, prayer, soul winning, forgiveness, personal holiness, church attendance, etc.

Friday, 7/24/15  Phil 4:5, Let your moderation (boundaries) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Do those at work know your boundaries? (You have boundaries, don’t you?) Do they know why? Is it just because you don’t like certain things, or is it because you love Jesus? (Jesus is quite the dividing line...)             Phil 4:21, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. Practical question: Are there any Christians to whom you won’t speak? Wish well? Help? Shame on you if there are. FIX THAT!!

Saturday, 7/25/15  Your God may be a big Grump, ready to whack people over the head, but mine isn’t. Neh 9:17b, ...thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and [forsaking] [us] not.Go serve such a God today! Read His book; talk to a soul; make plans for church; love.           Neh 13:17-18, Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our god bring all this evil upon us...? Do you learn from your mistakes, or, (even better) learn from the mistakes of others? Experience is not the best teacher!! Someone else’s experience is the best teacher.

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- There are no hopeless situations; only people who have grown hopeless about them.

- Slanderers say behind your back what they would not say to your face. Flatterers say to your face what they would never say behind your back. Don't trust either one.

- The church is only filled with hypocrites if we in the church do not acknowledge that we are just rotten sinners, saved by grace.

- Don’t die before you’re dead.

- Peter, James and John gave up their professions in order to follow Jesus. Most of us won't give up our hobbies to follow him.

- Most of us are better at praise than we are at encouragement because we are more accepting of success than failure. Yet, as much as people need praise for their successes they far more need encouragement in their failures.

- Go as far as you can see, when you get there, you can see farther.

- Failure isn't so bad if it doesn't attack the heart. Success is all right if it doesn't go to the head.

- We are all wounded people who have been wounded by people. The secret is not to look for a way to get back at those who wounded us, but to seek a way to use our wounds to move forward in helping other wounded people.

- Be willing to learn from people who have failed greatly. Solomon was called the wisest man who ever lived not because he never failed. On the contrary it was the many failures of Solomon that led him to his great wisdom.

- "It is natural to think of ourselves as humble, at least more humble than others. But humility, or lack of it, is apparent by our attitude when we are with someone who irritates us.  If our replies are expressed in an unkind way, either outwardly in our words or actions or inwardly in our thoughts, then our "humility" is not real; it is a mere pious mask."

- I’m sure that whatever you had to say can wait until you’re smarter!

- When your prayers are offered in accordance to God’s will, you can boldly ask for what you need.

- If I had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend the first 4 hours sharpening the axe. (A. Lincoln)

- Do not listen in order to reply. Listen to in order hear. Only reply when necessary.

- Many times we men want our bride to do the changing for us, yet God became flesh for his bride. It would seem that we should do most of the changing for our bride.

- Do not make the mistake of believing that those horrible consequences for your sins are of God. We are chastened for our sins, but we are punished by our sins. Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death, not God. Don't blame God for the pain sin brings forth.

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- Nobody talks about their besetting sin; but I'll be slightly transparent as a means to help. Of course, we're to ask God to help us and just decide to do something different when we're tempted. However, one day when I was, I simply thought, in all practicality, to myself, do I want to put life into me; or death? The answer and choice was then crystal clear.  Deut 30:19, I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

- I learned a truth today from Pro 29:15. ...a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." As the father in the home, I am directly accountable to God for our home. It is my job to ensure my wife is not brought to shame because of the decisions that a child can make to go the wrong way. I see the magnitude of this task, I must not only instill loving discipline in our home for our daughters future sake, but I must instill loving discipline for my wife's sake too. Thank God for the Bible to teach us these things.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 22:5, They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. There's a lot of things in this world that confound me, but NOT my God! He is the only thing that makes sense around here! He's so great!

- Bible thoughts! Ps 20:8, They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. This whole chapter basically talks about God being there when we fall, and He IS there, folks! It doesn't matter how far we have fallen, the Lord will sustain and renew! He's AMAZING like that!

- Praise refines people! Pro 27:21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 24:8, Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Sometimes we are too weak to see the way forward, but never the Lord! He's ALWAYS full of power and on top of things! Might be a smart idea to let Him guide the way!