GARDEN OF CHARACTER

     One Sunday I spoke at a local Church, I was speaking about "The garden of Character." In the letter Peter wrote, he listed some characteristics that should be added or planted in our lives.  He said to add to your faith, virtue and to virtue, knowledge and to that knowledge, self control, and to that perseverance and add Godliness, and to that brotherly kindness.
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      You can see what a great life we could live with all that. Wouldn't it be good to have one like knowledge, but can you see how important, self control added to knowledge is?
       I could be beneficial to the circle of life God has placed me in with a garden of those character traits. Everyone likes a flower, but enjoys a vase full much more.
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       Even Christians mess up and lose the spiritual battle in our lives.  But believers empowered with love and vision and God's power would be better than money, education, property and all the rest. Some  people that have money, education... "things".. still are a detriment to society.  In my life, with a new nature and the old nature, I need to plant that garden of character and it takes some daily or minute by minute work to feed and weed my life.
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       You can see in the picture, that garden wouldn't be there if it had not been planted or added to.  After that Service on that Sunday we gave everyone seeds to plant.. My wife did and soon there were a variety of zinnias etc.  Yep, for an attractive garden you have to plant the seeds.  Happy growing!

A Rock in the Time of Storm!

When I am in a room by the computer or in my chair reading the Bible or another book.  I am safe and comfortable.  There in my comfort zone, it is peaceful and I/we realize God's presence.

What is going to happen to that relationship, worship and faith, when the tornado twists my possessions throughout the community.  What happens to my peace when the rain becomes a storm, a hurricane that never seems to end.

Worry, fear will show up.  That's natural.  Soon like a rushing current God's Holy Spirit will bring the truth I have read and His presence that we experienced in the quiet time, will flood our souls and mind.  That's Supernatural.  

Peace is not the lack of storm but internal trust smack dab in the middle of it.  Thank God for these times of sharing at the computer and receiving while reading His Word.   I thank Him for being our rock in a fallen world!

Matthew 7:24-27,      Acts 27: 9-35.  Philippians 4: 6,7.

 

Fighting, Finishing and Faithful!

In the Garden

                           Spend quiet time with God.  Allow yourself to listen as well as speak.

Let no one despise your youth!

I have written some quick and easy to read books for discipleship for teens to adults.  My favorite is, "The Prayer of Nehemiah"  followed by the two reads; "Project Nehemiah" and "Back to School."

http://amazon.com/author/timflener

                                                                Let Us Grow in the Lord!

Discipleship

                

                                                           GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES