Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 9/7/14  Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction. The implication is that God is persistent in His correction; He’s always working on us. This may explain why sometimes we feel He’s “picking” on us. Thank Him, submit, change, and serve.      Josh 18:3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? Dear friend, claim what God has provided for you:  He’s made available contentment, joy, a divine satisfying purpose, rewards, fellowship with Him, etc. YOU can have a good marriage, good kids, a successful spiritual life....His recipe still works, if we’ll follow it.

Monday, 9/8/14  Ps 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Any hope we have is in God...do you pray like you should? Do you attend a prayer meeting? Start to, or start one. Does God know that you realize He’s your only hope? Do you know that?            Matt 15:21-28 ...Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil I wonder if this story was a test for the Apostles. Jesus was all about love and helping others, yet, he answered her not a word. I wonder if He was waiting for one of the 12 to call Him aside and say, “This isn’t like You...You OK??”  They failed.

Tuesday, 9/9/14  Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. An indication of our closeness to God is our happiness. If you’re a consistent, grouchy, doom-n-gloom person...MOVE!!!             Pro 4:4 He taught me also...  The next generation needs exactly what you and I needed. The godly ingredients that made us what we are for God are still vital...don’t cheat the youngsters because you want to “be liked” or because you’re too timid to be tough or because you’ve got more important things to do.

Wednesday, 9/10/14  2 Tim 2:2 The things that hast heard...the same commit unto [others]...  God wants us to talk about the things that we learn from His word. Assignment: find 2 (more) people who’ll let you forward these thoughts to them everyday (some of you have several already.) Or, have them text me and request them.                Ps 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. Do you cry for deliverance from problems, or for understanding? Maybe if we’d value the things that He values, He’d deliver us more.

Thursday, 9/11/14  Josh 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.  He never has failed His own; He never will fail His own.               Ps 99:4a The king’s strength also loveth judgment. Leaders, be sure to utilize the power of your office, not to enhance and stabilize your power base, but to ensure more justice for your followers.

Friday, 9/12/14  Acts 13:9 Then Paul...filled with the Holy Ghost... We don’t hear it, perhaps, as much as we should, but we need to get filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit. Think of a balloon, filled with air, vs. a balloon filled with water: they act very differently and have different purposes.             Pro 10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. Work when it’s time to work; play when it’s time to play; study when it’s time to study; worship when it’s time to worship; and sleep when it’s time to sleep.

Saturday, 9/13/14  “I need a day to recharge my batteries...I think it’s called a Mental Health Day.” Here’s what you need: Pro 11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. Go extend mercy to someone who doesn’t deserve it.       Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. Do you deliver what people expect you to? Eight hours work for eight hours’ pay? A meaty, helpful SS lesson or just fun, useless, fluff? A spouse who’s sincere and true, or one who cheats in their mind? An honest attempt at learning the difficult or blowing off hard homework? Exact change after an errand or rounding off at your choice? Really listening or faking like you’re paying attention?  Putting gas in the car you borrowed or returning “as is”?

Pro 7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night... We must be on guard and teach our young ones the dangers of night life.

Ps 123:3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us, for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. We must be careful about our attitude toward lost sinners. Were it not for God’s grace and mercy, we could be where they are.

John 5:22-24 The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. We’d better make peace with and fall in love with Jesus. Forget about everything else if that is not tops on our priority list.

Pro 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets, but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Character is revealed by talk. Gossip tells all, but the godly and wise weigh what they say and talk about.

Josh 23:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. We need to choose very carefully the crowd we run with and whom we befriend. If you run in the wrong crowd, you could suffer their fate.

Ps 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord: that walketh in his ways. To be blessed by God is not complicated: run scared and walk/live in his ways and will. It sounds simple, but it takes discipline, dedication, and constant awareness of purpose.