VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH

Arranging Your Mind

David H. Roper

Several years ago, I read a story about a 92-year-old Christian woman who was legally blind. In spite of her limitations, she was always neatly dressed, with her hair carefully brushed and her makeup tastefully applied. Each morning she would meet the new day with eagerness.

After her husband of 70-years died, it became necessary for her to go to a nursing home where she could receive proper care. On the day of the move, a helpful neighbor drove her there and guided her into the lobby. Her room wasn’t ready, so she waited patiently in the lobby for several hours.

When an attendant finally came for her, she smiled sweetly as she maneuvered her walker to the elevator. The staff member described her room to her, including the new curtains that had been hung on the windows. “I love it,” she declared. “But Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen your room yet,” the attendant replied. “That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she said. “Happiness is something you choose. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how it’s arranged. It’s how I arrange my mind.”

The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Remind yourself often of all that Jesus has given to you and be thankful. That’s how to arrange your mind.

God takes delight when we rejoice

In all that He has done

And when we thank Him for the love;

He shows us through His Son.

—Dennis J. DeHaan

Because He Is

Because He is the One who rose from the grave,

We serve a Lord, who is still living today;

He hears us pray as we give Him our cares,

He’s our loving Saviour, who is always there!

Because He is, we have life evermore,

Bought with the blood of our risen Lord;

He died for our sins on Calvary’s tree,

Then rose from the grave for eternity!

Because He is, our sins are washed away,

Forgiven forever for everyone saved;

God won’t bring up anything He forgives,

But gives, to His own, a new life to live!

Because He is, we lift our hands to Him,

Our Redeemer, Saviour, also Faithful Friend;

The loving God who reigns eternally,

Gave us a Home with Him for eternity!

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken away captive into Babylon and God gave them more wisdom than all the magicians and astrologers in the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar. But when the king set up a golden image and told them to bow to the image they refused. “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.” (Daniel 3:19) The fire was so hot that it killed the mighty men who threw them into the flames. But they stood firm to God’s commandment not to bow to any graven image and they were bound and thrown into the furnace. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:24 & 25) The Lord was with them in the fiery furnace. God does not always deliver us out of the fiery trials that we face, sometimes He goes with us through the fiery trials. God told them not to bow and they obeyed God’s Word and He went with them into the fire.

By Mark Ward

What Is Important In A Growing Church

In Acts 2:41-47 we see a wonderful picture of what happens when the Holy Spirit of God begins to work in the lives of a group of people. It tells us what the atmosphere is like when people are totally sold out to the Lord and living for Him. We see several things happening in these verses:

People are saved and added to the church—Vs. 41

Bible teaching becomes a priority—Vs. 42

Fellowship among believers is stressed—Vs.42

Prayer becomes a common part of their lives—Vs. 42

Verse 46 tells us that they met daily, broke bread together and had a joyful but humble attitude.

Verse 47 tells us that they praised God, had favor with all people and the Lord added to their number daily.

My prayer for [our church and all churches is]: that God’s Holy Spirit would fall and lead us to continue to be a Church where people are coming to the Lord, being baptized and taught God’s Word. I pray that our Fellowship would be exciting and God’s love would permeate everything we do . . . !

Used by permission of Mark Ward

Use what talent you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those who sang best. —Henry Van Dyke

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest. —Corrie ten Boom

A healthy adult consumes each year one-and-one-half times his own weight in other people’s patience.

Going out is good. Coming home is better!

You forget names—But it’s OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!

You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV ‘ON’ than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep”.

You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch..

You tend to use more 4 letter words like “what?” and “when?”???

You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless”?!!!

Everybody whispers.

Seat belts aren’t as confining as wheelchairs.

If you don’t have a sense of humor, you probably don’t have any sense at all.

Elections: Things that are held to see if the polls were right.

You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet—2 of which you will never wear.

But Old is good in some things:  Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS !!

Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!”

CALL THE DOCTOR
A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office. “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” the doctor told her.
There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, “I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked ‘NO REFILLS’.”

REBO CALL
One day a blond walks into a doctors office with both of her ears burnt.
The doctor asked her what had happened.
She says, “well… when I was ironing my work suit the phone rang and I mistakenly picked up the iron instead of the phone.
“Well that explains one ear, but what about the other.”
“They called back”

SAVING MONEY
On a hot afternoon, Scrooge the miser and his grandson, Tim, were walking home. Tim complains, “Gramps, it’s still a long way back to our house. It’s hot and I’m tired. Look, there’s a bus stop here. Can we please take the bus home?”
Scrooge is aghast. “It’ll cost us two dollars to get home from here! What a waste of money! We’ll walk it.”
Tim sighs, but he’s a good kid, and doesn’t fuss about it. They barely walk a few feet, when Scrooge sees a passing taxi and hails it.
“How much would you charge to take us home to Springfield Avenue?”, Scrooge asks the cab driver.
“Springfield Avenue? Around ten bucks.”, says the driver.
“Oof! That’s too much. We won’t be requiring your services, thank you.”
The cab drives off. Tim turns to his grandfather, exasperated. “Did you really think that a taxi to Springfield Avenue would cost less than a bus ride?”, he asks, incredulously.
“Don’t be ridiculous, of course not.”, Scrooge scoffs.
“Then why did you bother flagging down the taxi, Gramps?!”
“Foolish boy! We would’ve saved $2 by not taking the bus, now we’re saving $10 by not taking the taxi!”

Five Keys To A Happy Life
Text: Phil.3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
?Introduction: ?1. In verses 1-11, Paul portrays himself as an accountant–Key words “I count”–Paul was saying I have “new values.”?2. In verses 12-16– Pauls present- He portrays himself as an athlete–Key words are “I press”. He has a “new vigor.”?3. In verses 17-21–Paul’s future- He portrays himself as an alien. The key words are “I Look”. He has a new vision.?Let’s look at five keys to a happy new year:??I. A Dissatisfaction (v.12-13) “Not as though I had already attained.”?Paul was satisfied with Jesus but not with His Christian life. Many people are satisfied with their Christian walk because they compare themselves with other Christians. We must be cautioned about a false estimate of our spiritual condition (Rev.3:1And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.).??II. A Devotion (Phil 3:14b) ?Paul said, “This one thing I do.” He was like Mary, he focused on worshipping Jesus (Lk.10:42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.). So, many of us are like Martha who was cumbered about many things. Our focus must be on serving God.??III. A Direction (Phil.3:13c)?”Forgetting those things which are behind.” The unsaved are controlled by the past, but the Christian looks forward to the future. The word “forget” does not mean a failure to remember, but rather it means that we are not controlled by the past. We need not be controlled by past sins or past failures.?“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17?
IV. A Determination (Phil.3:14)?The words “I press” means Paul was putting all his efforts in his Christian life. Two extremes we must avoid: 1. I must do all 2. God must do all.?Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
1 For. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.?
V. A Discipline (Phil 3:15-16)?We can be disqualified for not keeping the rules. There must be discipline in our Christian lives.?Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge:
2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Phil. 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

The Promises of God

By Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Peter 1:1-11

God’s promises are precious and magnificent. They became ours at the moment of our salvation so we’d have everything we need for life and godliness. They not only remind us of His care and love for us but also provide hope and encouragement during difficult times.

Sometimes we’re shortsighted and think only of what the Lord can do for us in this life. We may try to claim biblical promises in hopes of getting what we want, but that’s not God’s purpose. He’s working for His glory and our long-term spiritual good, not our temporal desires.

The Lord wants us to take hold of all the promises that come with salvation—and to rely on every resource He provides for our continual growth in faith, obedience, godly character, and love. The Holy Spirit, our instructor, works powerfully in us to enlarge our trust in God through the Scriptures. He also provides the strength necessary for fulfillment of God’s commitments.

As you read the Bible, look for all of God’s magnificent promises that you can claim as yours. Then count them as true, and rest in them.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

God’s Love Never Changes

God’s love never changes any time at all,

He loves us enough to hear when we call;

We may not understand what’s taking place,

But He’s always there to pour out His grace!

God’s love never changes, it can’t be erased,

No principalities or powers can take it away;

He gives us His love as we live on this earth,

Caring for us often more than we deserve!

God’s love never changes, even in Satan’s wiles,

God is much stronger, prevailing is His style;

His power is greater than Satan will ever be,

He’ll love all His children throughout eternity!

God’s love never changes, nor will it ever stop,

We’re abundantly blessed, He’s our loving God;

His blessings are so awesome to behold,

He cares for our heart, for we’re in His fold!

Today is another day that I’m looking forward to meeting in the “House of the Lord.”

Where else would I want to be on a Sunday?

I’m so grateful to my parents who raised me to be faithful to attend church each week.

There was NEVER a lingering question, “Are we going to go to church today?” It was simply understood and mentally placed on our “to-do list” just like you planned to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner.

You have to wonder if Christians really “delight” in worshiping and serving the Lord.

When baseball or a TV program or sleeping in takes first place over going to the House of the Lord to worship, then I think NOT that they truly “delight in the Lord.”

The verb delight means to “please someone greatly,”  “to take great pleasure in,” “to give joy or satisfaction to.”

You see, Psalms 37:4 makes it clear that we’ll be blessed when we have such a determination to please the Lord.  When we’re more concerned about pleasing Him, we’ll walk according to His commandments.  When we LOVE the Lord Jesus, we’ll obey His Word.  And of course, that brings blessings when we have such a walk with the Lord.

The desires of our heart changes as well…

Sometimes we interpret that God will give us ALL the DESIRES of our heart if we’re trying to do right; however, I believe the closer we delight in pleasing the Lord, our desires become more inSYNC with His desires.  We’re not thinking about a diamond ring or a brand new luxury car…we’re desiring to have what God wants for us.

Yes, God also delights in giving us those “little things” that brings us joy, so please do not misunderstand me.  We are human and have earthly needs and desires.  We won’t make it very far without shelter, food, water, clothing, etc.  And I also believe that our Heavenly Father delights in giving us those extra things that we enjoy, but let’s be more generous today….

Let’s give MORE to our Heavenly Father of ourselves and our time.  Let’s truly take pleasure in serving the Lord….it’s a privilege and we OWE it to Him for all that He did to give us Salvation.

God bless your week ahead,

Rhonda White