Day By Day

Trust God!

When you pass through deep waters I Will be with you; And the rivers shall Not overwhelm you." ~Isaiah43:2

Called by God

Jesus Christ the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever!

Three Areas of Discipleship

 

 Disciples study the teacher/leader and desire to imitate the paradigms/actions and obviously teaching.  Apostle Paul encourages us to have the mind of Christ.  The disciples followed Christ and did not initially comprehend the teachings and spiritual application. Following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples made disciples, transforming hearts and lives of many in the known world!  Those men, remaining faithful, taught Christ's teaching in the face of persecution.

   Taking consideration for space and time, I will not place it here but I encourage you to read; Acts 2:42-47.  The focus of my blogs, videos and books is to encourage spiritual maturity and to develop disciples that make disciples. (that is what we are commissioned to do).

                                                   amazon.com/author/timflener

   Followers of Jesus Christ live focused and intentional. I read an acronym once; L.I.F.E.= Living Intentionally Focused Eternally.

                                                         Three areas for true disciples?

EXALT -  The disciple worships God in Spirit and in Truth.  We worship with our mouths and our DAILY behavior.  The follower knows the worthiness and majesty/Holiness of our Lord and desires to exalt Him.  Though none is needed, we are an "advertisement" for God. Our worship and joy are testimonies and proof that what we have is real!  Good times and bad we are not under the circumstances.  While at work, school, home and play, we live a life of thanksgiving and praise to God.  Others are watching as well.

EQUIP - You've heard we are to use the right tools for the right job.  Putting on the whole armor of God Paul described in Ephesians 6:10-20 makes us strong in the Lord.  Peter wrote to desire the pure milk of the Word that we might grow by it.  Ephesians 4: 11 indicates we are to be under teachers that will equip us for the work of the ministry.  We then after our own growth begin to equip others.    Being a born again Christian doesn't end at new birth.  The disciple spends much time in prayer and in the Word of God while reading other books and commentaries, to come along side. This all must be done under the submission and empowerment of God's Holy Spirit!

ENGAGE -  The New Testament followers of Christ were scattered by persecution but planted churches and engaged the communities they entered.  Christianity is a personal relationship with God.  We have peace with God through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.  It is personal but as Jesus and Paul displayed it is something to be shared.  Since the fall of mankind, God is a going God ("Adam where are you?") We are to be a going church, spiritually as well as socially. It is; "Come and see." then "Go and tell."  Whether it is in building relationships through service or spontaneous conversation we engage again; at Work, home school, home schooled or play, we are to go and make disciples and share the good news of Jesus Chris in our action AND in speech.  We engage not in order to get rewarded with eternity spent with God, but because we know we already are!

Blessing Your Community

We may have our physical limitations, that hinder us from being out in the neighborhood, doing good. Financial situations might hinder us from donating large sums of money.  Like everything else it is your attitude and heart, accompanying the effort that counts.

You may be in a wheel chair or bed ridden, but you can be a great member of your community and body of Christ, as you pray for others.

You may not be able to walk long distances to fight the ol' devil, but you can be mighty through God. Crossing the globe, empowered by the Holy Spirit, you and your key board are mightier than the sword!

You can do all thing through Christ which strengthens you.  In my weakness He is strong!

Takin' it to the Street!

This has been a divided few months. The causes and solutions must be addressed by the government and it's people.  Maybe in your house or personal life, even your thoughts and relationships have been divided.

Do you want to know the reason for this terrible season in our country and day to day lives?  You can look into the Bible initially; Genesis chapters 1-11 and find the answer, moving onto the letter to the Romans, then Ephesians.
                                                       WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." -Jesus  (John 3:16-18).

This heart type transformation/revolution, most likely will not be televised!

"Go into all the world making disciples."-Jesus.  It's time to take it to the streets.

God's peace is not the absence of a storm and unrest, but here smack dab in the middle of the storm as well.

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President

WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - America’s Most Biblically-Hostile U. S. President

How in the World!?!

How in the world are we going to help and fill so many needs!?

Pray.
Know and share the Good news of God's love.
Make disciples.
Volunteer.
Donate; time, energy, finances.  (all inclusive)
communicate with/get to know;  neighbors and even fellow worshipers.(build relationships).
Pray.

Connect with Christ.
Connect with The Church
Connect with the Community .

Matthew 28:18-20,  Acts 1:8,

"When you have done these things to these, you have done these things to me." -Jesus

Luke 10:29-37New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁹ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. ³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ On the next day, when he departed,^[a] he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ ³⁶ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
³⁷ And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

DO OVER!?

When you play a game or sport and if their was a mistake foul or miss, and a decision can't be made, we breathe a sigh of  relief when we hear "Okay, DO OVER!"  Especially when we know we've messed up.

We head into a new year giving ourselves a clean slate, a fresh start.  "This is going to be my year!" That usually means to me "Do Over."  In reality there are no do overs we cannot go back to the 6th grade or as a 12 yr old and start over.  We are pretty much stuck at our present age with all the debt, marriages, failures, etc.

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I'm already praying and educating myself to accomplish more (which would be anything), hitting the ground running January first! I can't "do over" life, but on the First day of  next year, I'll wake up...."Unproductive year for me"?  "Do Over"!  I'm going to focus on consistently reading more books, maybe even write one. I'll get out and volunteer more etc.

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There was the fall of man, and sin entered the world and mankind broke the relationship and heart of God.  "Do Over" can't be accomplished on our own.  You're not able to turn over a new leaf and act like things are all right.  We do not have that authority.

The Apostle Paul wrote "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through faith in Christ Jesus." That is how the slate is clean and we become justified, even guilt feeling erased.  We then have our faith in Jesus as our only hope to spend eternity with God.   "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES IN HIM shall not perish but have eternal life."   It is simply ; By Grace alone, thru Faith alone in Christ alone.  The Bible says:  Old thing are passed away, all things made new.  Then pertaining to our relationship with God it's like a ..."Do Over."

How Do They See You?

People in our family see us through glasses of love. Even though they may be told the dark truth about us.  They fight back "knowing" it is not true.  Many times making excuses, telling a lie themselves to cover for the parent or child's life blemish.

The Word of God turns on the light and says we all have sinned and fallen short.  There are those that see themselves very good and nice.  While others don't believe that Word is true anyway.

Nevertheless the Bible says "Not by WORKS of righteousness that we have done but according to His mercy He saved us."  and "For by grace you are saved it is the gift of God, not of Works lest anyone should boast."

Paul writes: "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
and  "Whoever call on the Lord will be saved."  (prayer)


Have you received that gift?  It's not important how others see you, what matters is how God sees us!