Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 5/29/18  Romans 12:1: we can quote the verse, but what does it mean? “Living sacrifice” = living with pain...AND being holy while doing so...AND obeying all the more while doing so. Complaining and quitting are not mentioned. And, BTW, doing all of this is simply “reasonable”: not “commendable.”
                          “Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of public opinion.” This is a hard lesson that I’ve not learned very well. I’m striving to say much less. Proverbs 26:22, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Talebearers have hurt me and I fear that I, too often, am one also.

 

- Wednesday, 5/30/18  Psalm 119:30, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Teach the “way” of the statutes and not just the statutes. Teacher, dad, pastor: include the reasoning behind the commandments. God and Christianity are logical.                                 Romans 13:9b, ...and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. It’s simple to live the Christian life; it’s very hard, but simple. Go love your family, your coworkers, your fellow commuters, God, and neighbors today...it’s YOUR choice.

 

- Thursday, 5/31/18  Matthew 1:20, But while [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him... Luke 2:19, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. Both Joseph and Mary had the trait of thinking a LOT before speaking or acting. I wonder if this was a major factor in their being so singularly chosen and used by God. I need a LOT of improvement here... You?                                    Romans 14:14, I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Realize that there are things/actions/habits that you might feel are wrong to do that I do not feel are wrong, or vice versa. Each of us has the liberty to answer our conscience to God. If you feel it’s wrong, then for me to convince you to do it is sinful for both of us. But for you to condemn me because I don’t share your feelings on that matter is wrong. As Pastor says, “Be loud where the Bible is loud, and be soft where It is soft.” Let the Bible teach and direct us. Now, if one of us thinks something is wrong and the other doesn’t, maybe the second should investigate WHY the first feels that way...maybe they need to learn something. Ultimately though, if we don’t all see totally eye-to-eye, it’s OK.

 

- Friday, 6/1/18  Are you more of a person who lets things go, or one who has to get in the last shot? To make sure your opinion is at least heard? (Sadly, I know where I fall...)  Proverbs 28:25a, He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife. The world doesn’t have to agree with us or even know what we think...just sayin’.                                  (For us middle aged and senior saints): Romans 15:1, We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. We prove our strength and maturity in the Lord by putting up with “spiritual babies,” even when those babies puke or doo-doo on, or backtalk us. Are you as mature as you thought you were? Are you worthy of being held up as an example in this area?

 

- Saturday, 6/2/18  Romans 15:14, And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Every man knows something that we do not know; therefore, every man is our teacher, (i.e. able to admonish us...and we will listen...right?)                              Psalm 119:73, Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. Each of us is a unique model: therefore, God must involved in teaching ME or I’ll learn much less efficiently. BTW, teachers/preachers/parents: your pupils are unique too: customize your lessons to them, with the Holy Spirit’s help.

 

- Sunday, 6/3/18  School is out and classes are passed. However, in God’s curriculum, there are classes in which we NEVER master the material or move on. The class continues and the lessons get harder. Psalm 143:10, Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God. Obedience NEVER becomes easy...so keep striving.                              Proverbs 30:24, There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise. The first thing mentioned about these 4 creatures are their weaknesses. Are you aware of your weak areas? Really aware? And do you excuse them, or work on them? Could you tell of your 3 weakest areas and what you’re doing?

 

- Monday, 6/4/18  Read this verse several times, and allow the truth to sink in:  you are NOT being overlooked.  Hebrews 6:10, For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.                                  Consider: a guaranteed, sure sign of vain, empty religion is an undisciplined, out of control tongue: one that is hurtful, ever present, unrepentant.  On the other hand, a guaranteed, sure sign of pure religion is a consistent outreach and sincere inner purity.  James 1:26-27, If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Each of us must ask ourselves on which end of the teeter-totter we most often sit.

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- Acts 8:35, Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. Sincere worship will always be led by the Spirit to Jesus. All other is fake, and put on for show.

 

- Pro 24:23, these things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. Decisions of life need to be made based on merit, right & wrong, and not on expedience, convenience, and personal preference. Even in a court of law, decisions shouldn’t be made on popularity, social position, or whom you know.

 

- Acts 9:5, And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. When a child of God is attacked, our Lord takes it personally, as an attack upon Him. We need to take it as seriously as He does.

 

- Ps 33:20, Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. In a day when we are more interested in politics, negotiations with world leaders, and military might, we need to look to Heaven, and not forget Who really has control and the power to protect.

 

- Mark 14:8, She hath done what she could. Our Lord does not expect the same production from everyone, but wants each of us to do what we can. He will be pleased with anything from most. We must do our best, not someone else’s best.

 

- Ps 34:6, This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. When we come to God with a humble spirit, He hears us, and comes to our rescue. I wonder how many times He wanted to help but our attitude got in the way?

 

- Pro 31:26, She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. Wives who give wise advice, speak to help, and have a godly, kind spirit are difficult to find. They are reared in godly homes where Mom sets an example for them.

 

- Pro 1:27-28, When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.   Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. God is not a good luck charm, a rabbit’s foot, or an emergency escape when we get in trouble. He is a gracious, merciful heavenly Father Who desires our love and attention constantly, not just when we are in trouble.

 

- Ps 37:16a, A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. It is far more important to be godly and righteous than to be wealthy, crooked and wicked.

 

- Pro 3:21-22, My son, let them not depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: so shall they be life unto they soul, and grace to thy neck. PTL that we have God’s eternal word, the source of all wisdom! Now all we need to do is to read and apply it.

 

- If a person falls seven times we focus on the repeated falls but God focuses on the fact that they got up seven times. It takes a lot of courage...no it takes a lot of faith to get up often after falling repeatedly. I think some Christians would rather they just stay down after the first time so as not to embarrass us or to test our grace. Your grace is tested most by those who fall repeatedly and keep trying to get back up. After awhile it takes a lot of grace to show mercy to one who keeps failing and falling, but that is exactly the kind of grace our God has.

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- Remember, if it costs you your peace it’s TOO expensive!

 

- Atheism is believing that God can save our soul from Hell, but not save our life from Hell on earth.

 

- You cannot know love until you are asked to love the unlovable. You will never know forgiveness until you have been asked to forgive the unforgivable. You will not truly experience faith until you have been asked to trust the unfathomable.

 

- The surest way to please your spouse is to do what pleases God because what pleases God was designed to please your spouse.

 

- You are not a good Christian because you have all the answers but because you trust God when all you have is questions.

 

- Do not expect perfection in fruitful Christians. Even the most productive gardens have some weeds.

 

- You cannot forsake your sins without also forsaking your excuses.

 

- If there is ever a time in your life when you better deny yourself, it is when you feel someone has hurt your feelings.

 

- Giving up on anybody is actually giving up on God.

 

- Those who love me teach me to have gratitude. Those who hate me teach me to have forgiveness.