Issues and Circumstances

Watching TV in the late 1950's and 60's one phrase I heard on cowboy shows was "Let's cut 'em off at the pass!"  The good guys would take a different trail.  It was more difficult but more direct and stopping the bad guys before they could arrive at the stagecoach they had planned to rob.

Parents (most, well some) know that discipline at an early age curbs some behavior problems in later years.  The child is too immature to see that it is for their own good, as well as for future relationships. The development of children and in changing adult behavior will be a "cutting the issues off at the pass."  Deleting many of the issues and circumstances of an untrained lifestyle.

In our own lives we hope to be growing and maturing.  On the other hand, we have or know someone that stopped investing in themselves much less others.  The result often is to flow through life later bouncing off one circumstance floating aimlessly

The Bible calls it being tossed to and fro.  A Christians lifestyle can be ordered and submitted to the loving teachings/doctrines of God's Word.  Many a Christian either untrained or distracted from quiet time of prayer and reading God's word soon find themselves throwing toddler like tantrums or falling for an incorrect teaching or secular worldview. The term "selfie" comes to mind.

So let us draw near to God and He will draw near to us. The Bible also directs us to have our minds set on the things above because our citizenship is in His kingdom!  Then we will shine in a dark world, giving God glory!

"As you therefore have received Christ the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6,7.

"Chasten your son while there is still hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction." Proverbs 19:18.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."  Philippians 2:3,4.

"He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses instruction goes astray." Proverbs10: 17.

In Christ!

What a miracle it is, being "in Christ." At one point you are dead in sin, realizing the call/draw of His Holy Spirit.
you then hear: "Follow Me." And you do.  You then are born again.  Your sin is covered/blotted out by the blood of Jesus. The believer walks now in Spirit and in truth. Now I'm dead to this world but alive unto God.

When it comes to God, your "Do I have to?" turns into "I love to." Religion turns into a relationship!  

 That person now knows what it means to have old things passed away; all things are made new.  Paul wrote that, His Spirit and Word, assures us we are the Children of God.  John said that those who received Him, to them, He gave power to become the children of God.!

 "But God who is rich in mercy, because of His great love, with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,  made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been sasved), and raised us up together, in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians 2:4-6.

HOSANNA! HOSANNA!

I have read that in the history of Israel, kings and military generals have returned to the cheers of Hosanna. The Maccabees in victory heard the crowds chant Hosanna.  Jesus the carpenter's son, humbly riding a donkey into Jerusalem receives the kingly praise. 

HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
(quoting Psalm 118:26).

Crowds headed to Jerusalem for Passover festival (another picture of Christ Jesus). Those already in town had heard that Jesus was coming,  they and all the people already on the road, came to meet Jesus waving palm branches and laying them and their coats on the ground before Him, hailing Him as King and Messiah.

Hosanna has everything to do with Salvation (save us now), and the palm branches, everything to do with victory.  Jesus was/is who he had said He was; The Son of God! and worthy of their praise and ours. Jesus through His death, resurrection and ascension has defeated the power of sin, death and the grave!

"O' death where is you sting? O' grave where is your victory?  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 54-57.

 Previously, Jesus had asked those He delivered and healed, not to tell anyone . Now here in John 12, He allows everyone to shout sing and announce that He was King and Messiah!  As always the jealous, power grabbing Pharisees show up and tells Jesus to silence the crowd, Jesus reply to that was: " If these be silent , the rocks would  cry out in praise"  There will be those  people and events, in your life that will try to hinder your praise and devotion and ministry.  Whether we are approved of or not, we can continuously have a dip in our hip and a  praise on our lips.

HOSANNA!

They say Sunday He rides down the road hearing Hosanna!  By Friday they are shouting "Crucify Him". That day He hung on the cross dieing for the sins of the world  (we remember it as "good Friday") and said "Father forgive them".  Finally He said "It is finished".  Watching them roll the stone in front of the tomb, His followers might of said "It's over all right".  The events and paradigms of today, make many feel like it's hopeless and over.  

How about you? still have some praise left?  He was crucified, but on Sunday what happened? (stay tuned in for more).  It wasn't over. It was just beginning! We have great opportunities for ministry ahead.

John 3:16.

We serve a God that is very much alive. He is not dead!  We are then to die to this world yet be alive unto God.  Today Christ followers can give Him that praise of deliverer and King!  Worshiping Him with our voice and life.

HE IS RISEN !!



 

Stormy Life.

Occasionally off in the distance, you see storms clouds rolling in. Other times you are caught in the middle of nowhere, rowing as fast as you can, knowing you will not make shore in time.

Emotional, financial, mental, storms arise.  These storms can be a result of our lifestyle or no fault of our own.  The wrong or even sinful decisions of friends and family, can effect the every day of someone else.

The Word of God assures us we can experience peace, while being smack dab in the middle of a storm.

"Peace I give you. Not the peace the world gives, but my peace."-Jesus.

Paul wrote "Let your requests be made to God and the peace of God that passes all understanding, will keep (guard) your heart and mind, through Christ Jesus our Lord."

You can read Acts 27 for starters.  I believe it will encourage you or someone you know, that hasn't seen the Sun for days.

The Way of the Cross - A short film for Good Friday and Easter

He is risen, no prison.

Resurrection

Flowers rising,

surprising,

within green grass,

shining alas.

Flowing in mass,

victorious through winter,

even because of winter,

displays a splinter,

a stem.

Spring proves resurrection!

He is risen

no prison

no death or grave

Risen indeed will save.

First sign of life after death

giving the dead new breath.

New colors, new hopes.

Spring displays through green,

colors seen...

The death of Christ and resurrection!

                                                   tim flener

Don't be fooled!

 I could write about the snowstorm that I woke up to. That might fool some people but not those who lived near me.

This might work on April fool's day but not in the heat of the Summer.

Spiritually speaking, (you knew I was going there), We get occasionally fooled by our emotions or experiences and ultimately by the ol' devil.

Those near to God and staying in His word and truth will be more likely to recognize the lie. While those that are distant and unaware what God's truth is, will often be fooled by the twist or out and out lie which is not meant for a joke but the destruction of the unaware victim.

Stay in the Word and be aware of your surroundings thinking "That doesn't sound right."

John writes for us to test the spirits, if we do run everything through divine discernment, we won't hear satan yell "Gotchya!"