THANKSGIVING

Aloha Saints, Family & Friends,  beloved of Jesus and me,   John 3:16
THANKSGIVING   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   Thanksgiving 11/25/21,   From Ken<><  www.trinity-aloha.org

A TIME TO BE THANKFUL ,   ALWAYS.       ( This is a memo for Christians from your Bible.  )

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Roger Babson, a famous statistician was having lunch with the President of Argentina, “Mr. Babson,” the President said, “I have been wondering why it is that South America, with all its natural advantages, mines of iron, copper, coal and silver, rivers and great waterfalls is so far behind North America?” Babson replied, “Well, Mr. President, what do you think is the reason?” He answered, “..South America was founded by the Spanish who came in search of gold. North America was founded by the Pilgrims who went there in search of God.”

Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. 16 Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Col.3:15-17

And by conscience I mean for the sake of the other man’s, not yours. For [a] why is my freedom [of choice] judged by another’s conscience [another’s ethics—another’s sense of right and wrong]? 30 If I take my share [of food] with thankfulness, why am I accused because of something for which I give thanks?  31 So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.   1 Cor 10:29

But sexual immorality and all [moral] impurity [indecent, offensive behavior] or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints [for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith]. 4 Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers]; but instead speak of your thankfulness [to God]. 5 For be sure of this: no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is [in effect] an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God [for such a person places a higher value on something other than God]. Eph.5:3-5.

And then in Apostle Paul’s prophesy about our time he notes a much different attitude;

“But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and unthankful, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and un-thankful], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.   2 Tim. 3:1-5.

It is taught in the Bible that as we come to the close of the “Age of the Gentiles” Luke 21 that we will be faced with a time of darkness as opposed to the light.  A time when many will take God’s truth and modify it to fit their own weaknesses rather than in the Holy Spirit finding the power in Romans 8 to enjoy the victory over the flesh.  And that it would become a time of “Look , what I did,  rather than what God did with a thankful heart.  Jesus taught that if we would walk in HIS TRUTH,  (Not our truth) that we would find real freedom and God’s real purpose for our creation.  As I am older now, I am living off of the energy that God gave me when I was active so I easily forget what day it is or even the time of the day.  Sometimes I take a nap and wake up, look at my clock which says 7 but it is dark outside.  And then I remember that it is still the same day only evening and that the new day has not even started as yet.   So I am thankful for one more day in which to try to serve my King Jesus.  When I look at his life through the eyes of the Gospels, I see where HIS interests were/are.   And as HE taught for me to follow HIM then I am energy bound to try to walk in HIS footprints and I am very thankful that it is so very simple,  just know about Jesus.    John shares with us something that is very important:   “In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world..”  Jesus came to give us a living road map of how to spend eternity with our Creator in Righteousness and Joy.  He is the example.  He walked it out for us as the Son of Man, perfectly.   Did you know that our Creator has made it possible for us to learn how to live perfectly before HIM in Loving Faith with humility and obedience.  The ministries that HE assigned to us to build HIS CHURCH are anointed to do exactly that.  Eph.4:11-16 if we go for it with loving faith and a thankful heart for what Jesus did for us.   Of course with a free will we always have the option to try to build our own little kingdom as did lucifer.

Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

So want to live for eternity in a whole new heaven and earth with our Creator?   Better become really thankful for the opportunities you now have and use them wisely as there is much to learn to eventually come to being completely Sanctified and becoming like Jesus and invited to make the jump to light speed and beyond. 
So have a REAL THANKSGIVING IN JESUS AS REALLY YOUR LORD….

There is but ONE Truth Church of Christ Jesus as LORD, and
All who Love, Honor and Obey Jesus as LORD are eternal members.