Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 3/15/15  Pro 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. Ladies, does your husband rate you as shameful or superlative? (I guess there could be another: so-so.) How would you rate yourself? Unmarried ladies and teens: study good wives at church; ask questions; observe; learn.               John 13:1b …Jesus knew his hour was come…having loved his own…he loved them unto the end. Here’s a good goal: love your spouse until the end; love your kids ‘til they move out, then love them as friends and adults; love your church, your pastor, your friends, your God, the Christian life, the KJB, lost souls, wayward church members, etc.              Mark 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising of the dead should mean. What do you do when you’re unsure of a spiritual matter? Talk to others who’re as clueless as you? Or seek out the answer from credible sources: the Bible itself (with the help of the Holy Spirit), or people more wise than you?

Monday, 3/16/15  Mark 10:38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? I wonder how often we ask for things that carry with them qualifications or ramifications from which, if we knew them, we’d flee in terror?            Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. It can make sense to you; it can feel right to you; you can sleep on it; and it could still mess up your life. Run it through the Bible; run it past someone wise.

Tuesday, 3/17/15  Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but that honoreth him [the Maker] hath mercy on the poor. How do you treat the homeless, the bus kids, the socially awkward, the divorced, the sinful (unsaved, gay, drunks, addicts, etc.)?               Ps 102:5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. God seems to be saying that complaining caused him physical discomfort or disease. Maybe this is the opposite of “a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Maybe it’s more serious than someone just having an annoying habit. I know some people have many things about which to complain, but maybe, just maybe, our health would improve by changing our attitude.  ‘just saying...               Mark 15:12-13 What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him. Horrible words to read; painful to visualize; heartbreaking to think of. But you and I often reject this same Jesus and want Him banished: we don’t read His word; we don’t listen to His preachers; we criticize those who repeat what He says; we ignore the lost for whom He died; we reject His authority over our lives. Many of us would’ve fit in perfectly with this crowd...

Wednesday, 3/18/15  Exo 34:12 referring to their religion and lifestyle: Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land...lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee. What do Americans worship? Pleasure, sex, and money. We must constantly be cautious about the attractiveness of this modern religion and its seductiveness.          Another recipe from God:  Isa 30:15 ...In returning (withdrawal, i.e. conversion) and rest (a letting down: stopping fighting) shall ye be saved (salvation from sin’s penalty comes when we quit fighting what He has said in His word is the way to get saved: quit trying to have a part in it: simply rely upon what He’s done); (now to those who’re saved:) in quietness (to keep self tranquil) and in confidence (trusting, confidence) shall be your strength (power of God): and ye would not.           John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If you have no persecution because of Christ...maybe you’re not serving Christ...  ‘just sayin’.

Thursday, 3/19/15  John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The greatest love. Then perhaps the greatest insult is to not perceive when someone is loving you thusly. Who’s doing their all for you?            Are you willing to be used by God? Are you sure? Mark 13:9 ...they shall deliver you up...shall be beaten...brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. God may choose you to be the recipient of evil...to build His case against the evil doers. Still want God to use you however He chooses???

Friday, 3/20/15  In 2 verses, (Ps 13:1-2) David asks God FOUR TIMES, “How long” til you do something? Perhaps the greatest lesson we need to learn is to wait on God’s timing. (Notice, by v6, David said God had dealt “bountifully” with him.)                         Ps 11:1-2 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may shoot at the upright in heart. The Devil is whispering to flee while the wicked are waiting to shoot you in the back. (Wartime studies show that it’s easier to kill a fleeing enemy than one that you have to look at.) If you’ll simply face your fears and stand fast, they most likely will fade.

Saturday, 3/21/15  Mark 14:31 [Peter said], I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.  They swore they’d never deny Him...and then did. What occurred in between? A lack of obedience to a “small” task (watch with Me) and a lack of prayer. Bible recipes are given to us for our protection and help. Heads up!!                Pro 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment. In an argument, do you want justice...or do you want your way? Are you willing and able to admit fault when disputing with your spouse, kids, parents, peers, boss, subordinates? Is your life’s verse “It’s my way or the highway”? If so, God calls you ungodly.

Mark 6:56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.  At this point in time, EVERYWHERE Jesus went people were clamoring just to “touch if it were but the border of his garment". Wouldn't it be great if we sought out Jesus just as much because we simply wanted to be WITH him and not wanted something FROM him?!

Pro 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. One can tell a lot the condition of a man’s heart and disposition by the way he treats animals.

Ps 130:3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? If the Lord can overlook our human weaknesses and faults, why can’t we be as understanding and willing to forgive?

2 Sam 13:21 But when David heard all these things, he was very wroth. Many problems could be avoided if we put strong action with our wrath. We had peace at our house because Dad was willing to go to war.

Everybody in church sooner or later gets hurt by other Christians. That's why God gives us charity, to overcome the hurt (Doug Fisher).  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Ps 136:4 His mercy endureth for ever. Mercy is not getting what we deserve, and God’s loving care for His chosen people. Twenty-six times, at the end of each verse, we are reminded that every event and every detail of life is a result of God’s mercy, and not by accident.
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