Baptist City Blog

- Tuesday, 6/19/18  Psalm 72:18, Blessed be the Lord...who only doeth wondrous things. Do you believe this to be a true statement? Then, your current situation, problems, heartbreak, health issues are “WONDROUS.” Praise Him that they’re so awesome you can’t understand them. 
                              John 1:5, And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Keep in mind that despite being born-again, our fleshly minds are still heavily dark...in the twilight, you might say, so there are many things about the Lord which we’ll never understand. Therefore, we shouldn’t get so frustrated with Him, nor with ourselves for our “stupidity.”

 

- Wednesday, 6/20/18  Matthew 5:2, And he opened his mouth, and taught them... It seems redundant to say that, but we all teach in other ways besides our words (face, tone, character, reputation, etc.) Two questions for all of us: does your current lesson match your current life, and does your life today match your lesson today?                           Matthew 5:10, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake... When it’s against us, it’s hard to discern, but we need to ask (and honestly answer) if we’re being persecuted for righteousness’ sake or for religion’s sake; for righteousness’ sake or for being tactless; for righteousness’ sake or for stupidity’s. In most criticism, there is usually, at least, a grain or two of truth: it’s seldom 100% fabricated hatred.

 

- Thursday, 6/21/18  Matthew 5:13, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it [the earth] be salted? It [the now worthless salt] is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. We all need to examine our level of saltiness as compared with what we should be.                             Let me encourage you. Have you ever “gotten on God’s case” and accused Him of not caring or mistreating you? I have. And I’ve felt guilty about it and chided myself for “not being a better Christian...what’s wrong with me?”  God says that “holy men of God” wrote the Bible, and it was done under the leadership/inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 74:1, O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? The psalmist was accusing God of permanently abandoning His people (which would’ve involved breaking a zillion promises.) Yet, God says, at that moment, that this man was holy. Maybe you and I aren’t as bad as we think (and like the Devil or other believers would have us believe.) Also, we’re nowhere as good as we’d like to think. Are you sincerely trying to be more and do more of what He’d have you to do? Are you further along the road of holiness than a year ago? Are you rebelling against anything in particular. Is your heart right with God? Keep on going...your Lord is FOR you and WILL help His child. The only time I see in the Bible that God “played rough” was when His people rebelled...not screwed up, not stumbled and fell: rebelled. If that’s not your description, get up, dust yourself off, and keep on walking with your head held high.

 

- Friday, 6/22/18  Proverbs 17:3, The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts. A piece of ore (a rock) is put into the fire, and the garbage is burned away and the precious material remains. We understand the process: will you, will I submit to it, and even farther: WILL WE ASK FOR IT?                                  An X-ray gives a clear picture of a broken bone. An angiogram shows the blocked arteries around the heart. God gives us such a “camera” to see our heart’s condition. Proverbs 17:20, He that hath a froward heart findeth no good. Piercing questions: your enemy, do you see and do you mention their good qualities? What about those of your ex? Are they 100% evil and demonic, or do they have some good qualities? That jerk at work? Can you ONLY see the bad? That boss who fired you? The policeman who gave you the ticket? If you can see both sides of the person, then on which side do you think most? Comment most? (Sorry for stepping on your toes...mine are slowly healing from where the Lord got me...)

 

- Saturday, 6/23/18  John 8:12, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Notice: followers HAVE the light...but that doesn’t mean they’ll choose to walk in it. We have the wisdom of God in our Bibles, but we must choose to follow it. If we stumble, it’s our fault.                               Proverbs 18:6a, A fool's lips enter into contention. I just thought of this: a fool will immediately cause a verbal altercation. In other words, he will (quickly) point out how the one speaking is wrong or the thinking is poor or the conclusions aren’t logical. All of those may be true, and the pointing out of errors may be necessary, but perhaps the wiser course would be to acknowledge the thoughts and feelings of the one speaking. Try to see the reason behind the reasoning: is the person speaking out of anger or hurt or fear? If so, perhaps their words cannot be taken 100% at face value; or the tone they’re projecting is not indicative of their true spirit. In a nutshell, do we listen to understand or to reply?

 

- Sunday, 6/24/17  1 Timothy 1:16a, Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering... I’ve gotten frustrated when God seemingly hasn’t worked on people who’re obviously doing wrongly...yet I like Him to be longsuffering with me. Let’s live toward God like we do toward our neighbors: let’s not tell anyone else (Him) how to rear their kids.                             Deuteronomy 5:9, Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me... This is referring to “generational sins.” When we allow sin to come and remain in our lives, the author of that sin (demons) comes with it. Then, it follows to our kids and grandkids. There is a LOT more to your decision than doing what makes you happy...

 

- Monday, 6/25/18  Proverbs 22:5, Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. “Froward” means, “not willing to yield or comply with what is reasonable or required; perverse; disobedient.” God’s judgment may not be “obvious,” but those who disobey DO pay a price.                                  John 13:1c, ...having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. He loved even those Who had let Him down (a lot). How do you and I treat those who hurt us? Think of a school principal teaching an individual class: Can someone fail YOUR class, but you still be give an overall passing grade from the whole school?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- Mark 15:23, And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. He drank no alcohol or pain relievers, but suffered it all for our sins.

 

- Ps 53:3, Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no not one. I wonder when God looks down on our nation and our world today, if He does not say this again.

 

- Luke 24:45, Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Our daily desire and prayer needs to be this one from Him.

 

- Heb 12:6, For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. PTL for His love, but at times, I wish He didn’t love me so much.

 

- Ps 55:21, The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.  When a trusted friend turns on us it hurts for a long time and cuts deeply. It drives us to our knees and to a total dependence on the Lord as expressed in v22.

 

- Pro 25:16, Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filed therewith, and vomit it. It is important to be disciplined in our dietary habits, especially when it comes to honey, sugar, and sweets.

 

- "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."  When a man tries to "get even" he does the same thing Lucifer did to God. Lucifer tried to level the playing field. No man can put himself on a level with God.  "Getting even" may be the most destructive sin idea a created being can ever have.

 

- People often think that by surrendering to God they are giving something up. They are: bondage for freedom.

 

- Today forget what people are saying about you and concentrate on what they are saying about Christ because of you.

 

-  David was hiding in a cave from King Saul. David was still young and inexperienced, not far removed from being a mere shepherd boy working in the fields for his father. Now here he is a fugitive from King Saul himself probably wondering how in the world he ended up in this predicament. It is in these circumstances that David spoke this prayer, "in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." David fled to the cave but not to find protection. He fled there to find God. Just as a baby bird finds safety not in the nest but under the wing of its mother in that nest. When we flee it is easy to mistake the place for the person. We flee to church not to find safety but to be reminded that the Lord is our protector. We flee to Christian friends because we need to be encouraged to hide under his wings. Be careful that in your calamities you seek shelter in him and not in places, people or things.

 

- It is not God's responsibility to make us understand His reason. It is our responsibility to trust Him enough to know His reason is for our good.

 

- Let your words today be used to light a fire in others that keeps them going even when it hurts. Let your words be what others hear in their sorrow that reminds them that they are loved, they are special, and they are in God's tender care.

 

- Cream may naturally rise to the top but servants willfully submerge to the bottom.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- ¨It´s one thing to have it all,¨ She stated. ¨It is another thing to lose it all and have someone give something to you. All of a sudden, abundance is not the amount of things you have. It is that one grain of rice you get to hold in your hands. That is abundance because you look to God and say 'Thank you for THIS.'"

 

- Never rush what God is preparing you for. It’ll be worth the wait.

 

- Love seeks the highest good for another human being. Be careful in using this word for your own personal gain. That’s not love, that’s lust.

 

- Worry is a signal that it's time to pray.

 

- I Believe crisis is not failure. It is only a process! Regardless of how severe the storm, the sun always shines again...always! Every season changes!

 

- Kindness...what a simple way to tell another struggling soul that there is love to yet be found in the world.

 

- Pure love needs no return. It is one directional. Lust demands a return. That is the difference.

 

- If you have to think about it first, then it is not a habit. Habits are the things we do without thinking.  Do you have to think through before doing something for God, or do you just find yourself doing it?  An addict doesn't think through, he just does it. A Christian doesn't have to think through, he just lives it.  The addict questions, "Can I get even higher?" just as the Christian asks, "Can I do more?" Habits are conditioned both ways.

 

- If you lose your joy in the Lord, you can always go back to where you left it, but you will have to forsake all the excess that took its place.

 

- Every prodigal experiences a burst of freedom from the "concentration camp" of home, until he learns that pig Latin was only funny the first time.

 

- Love is a choice, not a feeling.  Jesus did not feel like being crucified.  A parent doesn't feel like being awakened by a colicky baby.  A young husband doesn't feel like caring for his new wife just diagnosed with MS.  Love is a choice.  Most people's definition of love is cheap and disposable. But the gold standard of love is a powerful unending commitment.

 

- "Greatness is not in the recital. Greatness is found in the practice room. Greatness is not in the performance. Greatness is in the preparation. Greatness is not found in the pulpit. Greatness is found in the study. Greatness is not an A on a test. Greatness is in proper studying for that test."

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Contact me at baptistcity@gmail.com for information on subscribing to the weekly email or daily text messages from Terry.