Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 10/11/15 Hos 13:1, When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. And now they sin more and more... Zombie Christians...walking around while they’re dead and doing wrongly. Stay humble my friend. Re-read the verse.                        Hos 13:9, O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. Ultimately, YOU got yourself into the mess that so troubles you; it’s no one else’s fault, so quit trying to pass out blame like Halloween candy. YOU made the choices, and it’s YOUR mess to clean up. Ps 119:95, The wicked have waited for ME to destroy ME. I’m not trying to be callous, but YOU have destroyed YOURSELF. So now the focus needs to be on rectifying what you’ve messed up. Now, God is the One Who believes in you; He is the One Who can forgive you; He is the One Who can restore you:  run TO, not AWAY from Him. Get back into Sunday School and church; rekindle old relationships with spiritual people. Apologize for your foolish selfishness. Dust off the Bible and ask God to speak to you again. Get on your knees and come clean with God: admit your guilt and pride and rebellion... O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

Monday, 10/12/15  Pro 6:6-8, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, [works really hard].  How much supervision-cajoling-nagging-reminders-encouragement-threats-motivation-rewards do you have to have to do what you’re supposed to do?              Ps 111:10b, A good understanding have all they that do his commandments. An oft-repeated Bible principle: obedience first, and then understanding comes. We (I) often insist on the reverse...what about you?

Tuesday, 10/13/15  Oftentimes, we believers try to fit in (a little) around the unsaved crowd and our speech declines in holiness. Here is what we should do:  Ps 39:1, I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth WITH A BRIDLE, while the wicked is before me.                 Do you have a regular routine of praising God (bragging on Him for what He does)? Ps 113:3, From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the Lord’s name is to be praised. I think we all need to “up our games” in this area.

Wednesday, 10/14/15  1 Thess 4:1, Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would more and more. Take what you’ve heard and apply it, and apply it more, and more until you perfect it. All of us depend on TOO many reminders.             1 Thess 4:7-8, For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Those who preach holiness are often despised and persecuted. However, those people need to remember that the anger is not directed at them, but at God.

Thursday, 10/15/15  Acts 18:23, And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. When you cross another’s path...are the other believers normally strengthened or drained because you were there?              Ps 116:1, I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. There is nothing wrong with this statement/sentiment, but all of us like to be loved simply for whom we are instead of for what we do. What if God quit paying attention to you...would He still deserve love and honor and service and praise? A better question, not would He deserve it, but would He get it?? (Hint: look at how you acted/felt during your last “dry spell” when He didn’t answer your prayers or you were a little backslidden.)

Friday, 10/16/15  Notice the description of those who trust in idols in Ps 115:4-7. Ps 115:8, They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. Soul winners need to remember this: the unsaved really are clueless. They’re in rebellion against a God they don’t know.            Ps 43:5, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall YET praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Are you currently defeated and depressed? Look to the future: you will YET praise God. You will YET be the one He wants you to be. You will YET win over sin. You will YET be holy. Believe in yourself...more importantly, believe in the One Who is working on you!!

Saturday, 10/17/15  Ps 46:10, Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. I wonder how often, REALLY, we disobey this verse. I wonder how much, REALLY, needless worrying we do. I wonder how often, REALLY, we act without thinking of God and His plans.            Luke 24:6, The 2 angels at Jesus’ tomb said, He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee... Even those who had the finest, most Spirit-filled Teacher, #1) didn’t get the lesson, and, #2) needed reminding.  So, #1) don’t be too hard on your students since you are neither the finest nor most Spirit-filled teacher in history, and, #2) don’t be upset if they need frequent and repeated reminders.

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- Loving a friend is the love of human commonality. Loving one less fortune is the love of human compassion. Loving one more fortunate is the love of human contentment. BUT, Loving my enemy can only be the Divine love of Christ.

- If you fight to win an argument and lose respect and peace and joy, then you did not win, you lost, twice! Sometimes when you surrender the win and lose, you maintain respect and peace and joy, therefore you did not lose, you win, twice!

- Storms always heighten your sensitivity while in one; then comes the sunshine to shine on what you learned while in the storm.

- Giant leaps of faith are nothing but many small steps of obedience.

- "I don't have time" is not a reason for not doing the right things. It is an excuse for not doing them.

- The reason you don't enjoy forgiving is perhaps because you have never really enjoyed having been forgiven. When you enjoy God's forgiveness you find forgiving others to be sweet.

- God created every man with a void that only Jesus Christ can fill. When Christ is rejected, some other consuming addiction will take its place.

- The purpose of studying the Bible is so we can live it.

- The slothful fails to do while the sluggard refuses to do!

- For a long time I was angrier than I was broken and there is a huge difference. Brokenness replaces human anger with godly sorrow.

- Care is not a word that expresses a feeling. Care is an action that meets a need.

- I refuse to let anyone get me down; because, if you discourage me, I will, in turn, fail to encourage you.

- Our sins were bad enough for there to be a Hell, and His love was great enough for there to be a Cross!!

- Our God desires internal consecration, not simply external conformity.

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- Bible thoughts! Ps 12:6, The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. We cannot always trust a man's words, but we can always trust God's!

- Matt 13:11, 16-17, He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. I find it extremely interesting what Jesus said in verse 17. He DIDN'T say, wicked, or ungodly, or even those who aren't Christians. He said, many prophets and righteous men. Keep reading God's word even though you might not understand certain parts. It's up to God to reveal the meaning to you in HIS time.

- Ps 23:6a, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Thank God for His mercy and goodness. All He gives to us is good and best for us. His mercy is not giving us all we deserve for human failure, faults, blunders, and sins. PTL!!

- Pro 11:28, He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. The danger of riches and a lack of dependence on God cannot be overemphasized.

- Pro 12:28, In the way of righteousness is life, and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Eternal salvation and righteousness living leaves no regrets!

- Luke 8:23, But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. Just because Jesus is on board the ship and is an intimate part of our lives, does not mean that we will never face storms and fearful times. Praise the Lord He calms the storms.

- Pro 14:21b, But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. If we really want to be happy, find a poor person, show love, and lend a hand.

- This one's very clear. Think before you speak! Matt 14:7-9 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 15:1, Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Who better to hang out than with God?! He's amazing Company!

- Ps 119:18, Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. How many times have we read the same verse hundreds of times but then one day the truth really grabs our attention? You won't find those "wondrous things" without continually reading God's Word.