Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 3/9/14  Ps 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Do you simply wnat forgiveness for your sin, or cleansing from it? Forgiveness is good, but it allows for continued sin: cleansed implies victory. Let’s strive for cleansing.    
       1 Chron 11:2 And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel... Do you tend to fill the role of boss (like Saul) or that of a leader (like David)?

Monday, 3/10/14  “Little by little; inch by inch; by the yard it is hard: by the inch what a cinch” is a recipe that works for both success or disaster. Pro 6:10-11 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that traveleth, and thy want as an armed man.                Mark 14:26 and when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (after supper). Whether it was habitual, or it comforted and encouraged Christ as His doom was fast approaching, we maybe should sing more and more often.

Tuesday, 3/11/14  James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Whatever temptation you battle, whatever extenuating circumstances present themselves, whatever justification is concocted, sin’s cost is always greater than sin’s pleasure.                Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. When asking the Lord if I should voluntarily pick up some hours at work and skip 1 service this past Sunday, He made His wishes known to me with this verse..

Wednesday, 3/12/14  Don’t think God is treating you rightly? He may just be reflecting how you treat Him.  Ps 18:25-26 With the merciful thou wilt shew theyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.              How can I know that I’m going the right direction in life?  Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. Hear Bible instruction; heed Bible instruction.

Thursday, 3/13/14  Heb 3:13a But exhort one another daily... How well are you obeying this command? Who are you urging forward? Who’s been encouraged by you recently? Many of you have said that my texts do it for you....what’re doing for another?             1 Pet 3a,4a Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning...but let it be the hidden man of the heart. Which is prettier: your inside or your outside? On which do you spend more time? Compare the time you spend bathing + grooming + decorating your exterior versus the time you spend on decorating your inside.  “But what would people think about me if...?”  What does God think about you when...?

Friday, 3/14/14  Ps 60:1 O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. If you feel God is “against”, “mad at”, or “disappointed in” you, go TO Him; don’t run away and hide like Adam and Eve did. (That’s the natural reaction.) BTW, apply this to any human relationship too.           Ps 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. It sounds like God may have a daily message in nature for us. Idea: for spiritual reasons, let’s start taking a daily walk. (I’ve started already: there’s a daily alarm set on my phone to prompt me.) (The health benefits will be bonus.)

Saturday, 3/15/14  Ps 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect. Have you ever realized that the Bible is the only perfect thing that you can hold or look at? Nothing else in this world meets that standard. Make more of it than you do.              2 Chron 10:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants forever. All young leaders (new parents, bus captains, supervisors at work, teachers, new staff members, young executives) should memorize this verse!!!

Ps 103:14 For he knoweth our frame, and remembereth that we are dust.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we gave people the benefit of the doubt like God does? We are all made of flesh and are prone to wander, stumble, and fail in our walk with God. Let’s give them some room to be human and stop being so vindictive, critical, and condemning.

Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Listening to wise instruction, counsel, and preaching from God’s word protects the soul of the one that loves life. Those that refuse it do irreparable damage to their innermost being. The emotional and psychological illnesses in America are not by accident and shouldn’t be a great surprise.

Ps 88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. We will find out how big and great our God is when all earthly friends, relatives, and acquaintances leave and/or turn on us. I feel sorry for the lost who have no real living God to turn to.

Ps 89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Oh for leadership in our homes, our churches, and our nation who would have this faith and will pray this prayer.

Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we apply our hearts unto wisdom. We only have a brief time to live and to show our God to a needy world: let’s not waste a moment of it.