First Baptist Church of Bay

“Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” (Psalm 32:9)

  
Why is it necessary to shoot a horse when it breaks it’s leg? The answer to that question is simple: the horse makes a terrible patient! The horse will never remain calm enough for the broken leg to heal properly. A dog with a broken leg has enough sense and patience to hold it up but a horse will put his entire weight on it, never allowing it to be treated successfully.

  
There is a lesson there for us today. Happy is the one who learns to yield to God in the times of trial and trouble. So often, we allow our lives to fall into a rut in the areas of commitment, faithfulness and our attitudes. God will speak to us during these times in our lives and try to treat our condition, but so often, we just ignore His counsel and continue on our merry way! The one who maintains a rebellious spirit does so to his own destruction, (just like the horse!) but he that submits himself to the sovereignty of God shall be sustained in his daily walk with the Lord.

  
Our faith teaches us to say, “My heavenly Father never makes a mistake and all things that He permits will work out for my good and His glory.” (Romans 8:28) So we must be determined to remain faithful, to praise the Lord even in the midst of our trials and glory in our tribulations. (Romans 5:3) Always remember, God can still be trusted even when He cannot be understood. May the Lord truly bless you and yours today!

Bro. Danny

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

  
Over thirty years ago, the Rolling Stones sang about it. They’re a lot older now, yet they’re still rocking and rolling and singing: “I tried and I tried and I tried and I tried, but I can’t get no satisfaction.” That line in the Rolling Stones song seems to be the common experience of people everywhere today. I’m referring to those who have tried almost everything – possessions, pleasures, relationships, religions – in search of happiness and fulfillment, but their search has been meaningless. More people than you know, even some Christians, are empty because they haven’t found their fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

  
Jesus is the only one who can quench the thirst of the human heart. You were made by God – specifically for Him. Augustine, the great theologian of yesteryear, said, “Our hearts are restless, oh God, and we will not find rest…..we will not be satisfied until we find our rest in Thee.” Today, I want us to go one on one with Jesus Christ, person to person, heart to heart and life to life. In the accounts of the Scripture when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, He had an incredible way of communicating and delivering the Word of God whether it was standing in a boat, on a hillside or in someone’s home. Masses of people would come to follow Christ. He would bring them up close to Himself even though there were many of them. He didn’t just speak to the multitudes, but He also spoke to individuals. Some of the most powerful messages that our Lord ever gave were delivered one–on-one!

  
Every time we speak the Word of God, there are individuals whom God has singled out to hear it and believe it. It very well could be that you reading this article today is actually a divine appointment between you and God, where He is singling you out so He can speak directly to your heart. I believe the Lord is here right now, ready to meet you at the point of your need and stands ready to change your life. Are you ready to be changed? May the Lord truly bless you and yours today!  

Bro. Danny

   To the average person, blood is repulsive. Even among some who would claim the name of Christianity for their faith, blood has long been associated with a slaughterhouse religion. Several years ago, in one well known Protestant denomination, the leaders met to determine what should be allowed in their new hymnbook. They decided that no references to blood should be included. To them, it was offensive and outdated, so all of the hymns having to do with the blood of Jesus were removed!

 

   But, did they forget that when you turn to the Scriptures, you find the blood of Jesus mentioned everywhere? The Bible bleeds with the blood of Christ! It is a constant, continual theme of the Scripture. Like a scarlet thread that is woven through a priceless tapestry, the blood of our Savior is spread throughout. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

Latest news reports are that four terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt and destroy.

 

 

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return!

 

   NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT! 
   However, you can spot them if you have Bin Lookin and Bin Goin!

   May the Lord truly bless you and yours today!

Bro. Danny
(copied)

P.S. With revival just around the corner, have you joined a prayer triplet

and Bin Prayin?

 

Forgiveness is not always as easy as it sounds. Forgiveness can be so hard that we just don't want to forgive at times. All too often, there is a Pharisee in us that insists on being self-righteous because it is easy to forget how dependent we are on God's grace and mercy.

 

There is risk in forgiveness because the ground rules must change. We must move from suspicion to trust, from conflict to cooperation and from anger to love. Revenge can never be a part of forgiveness because we cannot give the pain back. It is important to realize when we forgive that we are not letting something slide by as that would be destructive. In forgiving, we are doing something that is both healthy and creative. We are changed from being angry, revengeful, judgmental and perhaps petty into someone who is able to have a new and productive relationship. The other person is changed because he or she is not constantly motivated by guilt and is not road blocked by the past. So, now the relationship has changed! We can now face a new future together - one that is worth moving forward to!

 

What is our problem with forgiveness? Do we not pray, "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us?" We must always remember that we can never have an enemy if we are unwilling to be one. Forgiveness is man's greatest need and God's greatest gift. May the Lord truly bless you and yours today!

 

 

   Have you ever been in a situation where you just didn't know what to do? I mean, you were at a complete loss as to even begin to solve a problem? We have all been there and sometimes, it's frustrating, but it seems to be a natural part of our life. Sometimes, we face things that are simply out of our control. Well, when those times happen to me, I use a simple three step process to get me through them, and all are based on God's precious Word.

 

1) Be Sensitive: When troubles come (and they will), listen for what God might be trying to tell you in the circumstance. God often uses times of testing to get our attention and to remind us of who is really in control of our life. Don't fight against what He might be trying to teach you, as difficult as it might seem.

 

2) Be Secure: God's promises to us never change and are just as true today as they have always been. You can find rest and comfort in knowing that our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that gives us a solid foundation of spiritual security that we can stand on, regardless of our circumstances.

 

3) Be Still: Sometimes we need to quit trying to solve our problems on our own and simply let God handle them for us. Our fleshly attempts often muddy things up and can actually make things worse, but when we allow God to work in our circumstances, He works from His perspective, not ours, and that's a guarantee that all things will work out for His glory and our good! (Romans 8:28)

 

   Sounds too simple to work, doesn't it? But it works every single time! My prayer for you this Christmas is that when you find your mountain of challenge too high to climb, or your river of discouragement to deep to swim across, you will remember this simple plan. It has worked for me time and time again. Pray for us as we pray for you and may the Lord truly bless you and yours this Christmas season!

 

Yes, it's true! Elvis is alive! I know - a man told me so. He said he sat right beside him on a UFO. Besides that, I read it in the newspaper, one of those tabloids, just as I was checking out of the grocery store. It was under the article, "I ate the shark that ate my wife!" Elvis has been spotted in many places. Is this a new age phenomenon? Is Shirley MacLaine right? Did the serpent in the garden say, "Surely you will not die," or did he say, "Shirley, you will not die?" Are we going to come back again and again? Should we now put on our tombstones, "Better luck next time?" Should we make Shirley the spokesperson for Nine Lives Cat Food? Is Elvis really off somewhere in, "Blue Suede Shoes," singing, "Jailhouse Rock," or was his song, "You Ain't Nothing But A Hound Dog," really prophecy?  Is Elvis now in some backyard barking out, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" There are just too many questions for one person to answer!!!

 

Why the preoccupation with Elvis, the King? There is a whole book dedicated to the, "fact," that Elvis is still alive. Recently, there was a convention of Elvis impersonators. Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, in Memphis, is the most visited home in America, after the White House. Why the preoccupation? The King, (Elvis) epitomizes the world's system. We want to think that Elvis is still alive and enjoying that money somewhere with another beautiful woman. It is so hard to admit that he's really dead. Admitting his death is to admit that the world's system makes a lot of promises, but it simply cannot deliver. Even if we pursue the world's promises and obtain them as Elvis did, all you really get is a room at, "Heartbreak Hotel."

Of course, there are rumors of another King that died and yet is still alive! He has also been spotted by many. I have a personal relationship with Him. He is my Rock and I'm on His Roll. Now, that's good Rock and Roll! Why? Because, in the end is a, "Mansion Over The Hilltop," not a room at, "Heartbreak Hotel." That's why I obey Him when He says, "Love Me Tender." May the Lord Jesus, our Wonderful King, truly bless you and yours today!

 

   A Levite priest would leave his dwelling place and travel through the cold desert night until he came to the tent of the meeting place where a burning lamp illuminated the entrance. He always carries with him a container of oil. When he arrives at the tent, he refills the lamp's dwindling oil supply and takes the place of another priest sitting beside the lampstand. He stays there throughout the night watching and guarding the light - lest it go out! This was a familiar scene in the Old Testament. Keeping the fire burning was an important function of the Levite priests. God had commanded Moses to assign them the duty of watching over the lamps, so they would not burn out and bring darkness into the dwelling place of God.

 

   Why did God insist on such a routine task? Jesus shed light on the significance of the oil in a parable about ten virgins in Matthew 25:5-6. Ten virgins eagerly awaited their bridegroom with their lamps burning. But the bridegroom tarried! A long night of waiting and anticipation  followed in which the girls grew tired and fell asleep. Five of them were foolish, (Churchianity) and had not brought enough oil. Their lanterns burned out and they had to go home for more. The bridegroom arrived unexpectantly just after they left. The other five girls, who were wise, (Christianity) had brought enough oil and because they were not found unprepared, joined the bridegroom in His feast!

 

   Like the five foolish bridesmaids, many of us today have given in to a general spirit of lethargy. Others among us are tired, simply bored, disappointed, afraid or even resentful. Still others remain actively involved in the church activities but live more for themselves than for the cause of Christ. It is not enough to merely profess Christianity. We must truly surrender our wills, trust Him and obey Him. Jesus ended this parable with a warning to watch, which simply means to stay awake and be alert, lest we be caught off guard when He comes! My prayer today is that we will be awake, alert and enthusiastic as we serve the Lord on a daily basis. May the Lord truly bless you and yours today!