Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 11/23/14  Pro 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. In context, look at the 2^nd half of the verse with the first. Maybe we get to moving so fast that we run right by knowledge that we’re to get for our soul (attitude, spirit).              Pro 20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Knowing rightly is not sufficient. Doing rightly is stopping short. We must teach rightly also. God blessed Ezra because he sought the law of the Lord, he did it, and he also taught it. God said in Hebrews 5:12 that when they should have been teachers, they still needed to be taught. YOU need to teach what you know. YOU are the smartest biblical scholar that someone knows. YOUR knowledge wasn’t just given you to for you: it was given you for you and others. Please consider starting to send out a daily text or make a daily post like I do. Message me for more details on how to get started.

Monday, 11/24/14  Pro 19:3a The foolishness of man perverteth his way. Out of bounds, crooked living is caused by a crooked/defective heart, not vice versa. And the crooked living certainly isn’t caused by the environment (poverty, lack of education, minority status, etc.)            The soul is what we would call our personality, our spirit, our attitude. Ps 25:1 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. When you’re stressed and at the end of your rope, do you go to God first, or to a bottle of beer? To the gym? To the Critics Corner or Whiner’s Way? To anger and take it out on those closest to you? Just askin’... There is a more effective way to deal with stress...Just sayin’...

Tuesday, 11/25/14 Ps 25:12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. If your attitude is correctly oriented toward the Lord, He will teach you in the path that He has chosen for you.  (Note: He won’t necessarily change your path to suit you.)             Est 1:20 And when the king’s decree which he shall make be published throughout all the empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small. You cannot legislate respect.  It must be freely given by followers after being earned by leaders. Parents, bosses, husbands, teachers: do you and your actions deserve respect?

Wednesday, 11/26/14  Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth withersoever he will. If the boss/teacher/government official is acting wrongly, what is your first or most frequent action? Gossip? Griping? Going to the person? Sulking? Prayer?               Matt 24:37, 40 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field: the one shall be taken, and the other left.  A reminder that the Rapture is the next thing on God’s calendar: Christ will come without warning and take His born again believers instantaneously.  Some of you who read my posts are not scripturally born again. That means that you would be left behind to face the Tribulation period and probably be lost for all eternity.  The new birth has nothing to do with a particular church in which you’re a member nor does it pertain to any good deeds or character that you have. Message me TODAY if you’re not sure. Born again believer, will the Rapture be time of joy or shame for you?

Thursday, 11/27/14  Ps 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Overall, our demeanor should be characterized as joyful and happy. Yesterday...would that have been the adjective your spouse, roommates, peers, or coworkers used? Perky? Bubbly? Is that you today?                        Ps 31:1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness. It’s unrealistic to pray for and to expect to NEVER be ashamed or ALWAYS be delivered. God is not a lucky rabbit’s foot or a genie. We live in a sinful world, and bad things WILL come our way. (“All they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution...”) Expecting a bed of roses with no thorns is a recipe for disillusionment toward the Christian life in general and bitterness toward God and others.

Friday, 11/28/14  Ps 70:4a Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee. If you’re in a valley in life, an ebb in the prosperity cycle, you CAN be glad in God. That’ll make a good motto:  “Glad in God!!”                We tend to shine our own personal spotlight on whatever we love the most. (That’s why so many of us talk mostly about ourselves and shine our lights on “me first.”) Ps 70:4b ...and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. The more that we love the things of God, the more we’ll shine our light on Him. (Evaluate your life for the direction of your light.)

Saturday, 11/29/14  Matt 26:39 And [Jesus] went a little farther, and fell on his face...  Most of us could use a kick in the pants about our character: often, we need to just “go a little farther.” However, while it’s great to have character and perseverance and a dogged attitude, don’t go that extra distance without prayer.  Yes, “endure hardness as a good soldier...” Yes, go the 2^nd mile.  Yes, do it 490 times...but do it all with prayer.                      Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Many people seek comfort in the 2^nd half of this verse, but sorta gloss over the first half. It’s like they write the 2^nd half IN ALL CAPS and highlight it, and shrink the point size of the first half. Have you sought the Kingdom recently? Have you talked to the King? Talked to others about the King? Read and obeyed His laws?

Pro 23:2 And put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite. This is good advice for every child of God. I am appalled at the lack of discipline by God’s people who should know better. We owe our Saviour more.

Ps 54:4 Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. We need to be very loyal, supportive, and encouraging to our encouragers: our mates, pastors, family, friends, etc.

Pro 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search out their own glory is not glory. To gloat and glory over our self-esteem and achievements is as dangerous psychologically as too much honey and sweets are physically.

Ps 54:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. When scared to death: v17, Pray and cry aloud to God.  56:3: Trust in God.

Ps 105:3 Glory in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. We have so much to rejoice and praise God for today. How blessed we are.

Pro 28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favor than he that flattereth with his tongue. Better to be honest and reprove than to cover up wrong, make light of it, and praise the offender.