ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS, Beloved of God,   John 3:16

DIRT,    “WORTH CONSIDERING”   1/21/17   (Across my desk today.)
     
Today’s Scripture
“The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!…”
(Matthew 13:23, NLT)   Check Your Soil

Jesus Taught:
Jesus told a parable about a man who sowed seed on good ground, and it flourished, producing great crops. But some of the seed fell on rocky ground, and lacking soil and deep roots, its plants withered. Other seed fell among the thorns, and its plants were choked from growing. All the seed was the same quality; what made the difference was the soil.

You are a seed. You are full of gifts, talents, and potential. But if you plant yourself in unhealthy soil, if you hang around friends who compromise and pull you down, if you’re in an environment with limited mindsets where people tell you how you’ll never accomplish your dreams, you won’t see the growth you should. It’s not because there’s something wrong with your seed. It’s that the thorns and rocks are choking the life out of your seed—your dreams, your vision, and your character. Do your part and keep your seed in good soil.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the gifts and potential You put in me. Help me protect what You’ve entrusted to me by being selective about my environment. I believe that as I stay in the good soil, I am going to see increase and new levels. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
In some parables we are one thing and in others another as Jesus seeks to tell us how things really are in the Kingdom of God that we have been lovingly asked to attend.  In John 12:24-26 we are a seed.  In Matt. 13:33 we are dirt (like in Adam.)  There have been books and books written on the subject like “Born To Reproduce.” by Dawson Trotman of the Navigators.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ_dVYTjLb0  This ministry had a great influence in my life at age 22.  And I am sure that many other ministries and lives were changed to make Jesus, LORD as the Holy Scriptures were considered through the Navagators.

As you get into the teachings of Christ Jesus you will find the truth and light that you have been looking for but this story shares 4 types of soil, stony, shallow, weedy and good.   With the first soil the seed is sown and stolen by the darkness of habit.  With the shallow, there is a beginning life but it dies due to lack of moisture and food.   And with the 3rd just too many weeds and dies and of course with the 4th, good soul, water, food and weed free it reproduces good fruit.   Only one produced fruit.

So from this story of Christ Jesus we understand that there is the possibility of 4 types of potential for the Kingdom of God.  One hears and does something else, One thinks about it for awhile and dies do to lack of commitment.  One gets really interested but still has a great love for the weeds of this world and also dies and misses the Kingdom.   So only one out of four soils causes life and produced any fruit.  In the plant and animal kingdoms reproduction is primary.  If when we become a Christian we don’t mature to reproducing in kind, we really don’t understand the message clearly or we still have too much love for the world.  Perhaps not everyone is called into ministry.  But it is the sheep who bare the lambs.  It is your personal witness where ever you are that turns the light on and those who live in darkness will notice.

In the Costco food court line today, small boy up front.  The Holy Spirit reminded me to make him a paper air plane out of the “Let There Be Light” tract that I have printed up.  Boy was fearful of strangers as he should be.  But the mother saw what I was doing and kindly took the tract glider into her care for him as he had never seen one before.  So that little seed went home with that family.  What next, in the Lord’s hands, HE is the LORD of the harvest.  And so the 65ish guy behind me made sort of a weedy joke remark and I gave him the tract and said let me tell you a story and it was a joke about a religious failure and started to give the tract back to me but then I remembered a joke of a religious failure,  there are many,  as well and so told it to him telling him that I agree with him and so he thought better of it and put my “Light” tract into his back pocket.  By then, up to the counter.  I have no idea what happened but I know that seeds were sown and planted and in that day before the LORD in giving accountability I suspect some of these seeds will have grown up in to great big trees also bearing fruit.  In faith I look forward to finding out what happened today and to all the other tracts that I have been planting for my LORD over the years.

Sure I have to dethrone fear, all kinds of fear.  Is it right to be intrusive?  Was Jesus intrusive, were the apostles intrusive….A BIG YES.  Could any thing keep them quiet from freely giving away the Gift of Life, NO!  If you found a place where they were giving away diamonds, one per person?   How many people would you try to persuade to go and get one?   The Truth that we know as a Christian is the how to of Eternal Life.   What kind of a value can you place on Eternal Life?  And sure some will not believe but so what, does that change the TRUTH or the value.

I know that this scripture was written to Ezekiel in 3:17 but then it could easily apply to us as well:
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.  18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.  19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Christian News,    worthybrief@worthynetwork.com     (Contains other world news as well.)
Open Doors CEO: China creating ‘system of persecution for the future.  Open Doors USA CEO David Curry issued a major warning about China following the release of the most recent World Watch List, saying that it was creating a technological apparatus that could become the “blueprint” for Christian persecution worldwide.     Burkina Faso becomes hotbed of Islamist attacks on Christianity.  Islamic radicals have killed 250 mostly Christian people in Burkina Faso by last April, a new report by Human Rights Watch gathered. 

ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,    John 3:16

BLESSINGS,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   1/17/20,    (Over my desk from Joel.)

Today’s Scripture

“…Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…”(James 1:17, MSG)

Be on the Lookout

Just like the sun radiates heat, God radiates goodness. It’s not just what He does; it’s who He is. God’s very nature is good. It’s important that we recognize that every good gift comes to us from our Father in heaven, both large and small. You need to be on the lookout for God’s goodness. Too many times, God is working in our lives, showing us favor, protecting us, sending us healing, but we don’t recognize His goodness. When something good happens, make sure you give Him the credit and thank Him for it. The question is, are you recognizing it? Look around today. Be more aware. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” If you’re going to taste God’s goodness, you have to realize that every good break, every time you were protected, every door that opened, and every advantage you’ve gotten has been God working in your life. Don’t take it for granted.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are constantly working, constantly showing me Your goodness with every good gift that comes into my life. I want to live today with an attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. I will not take Your goodness for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts,
We all love Blessings & Gifts and especially from our Creator.   The problem is that we tend to forget that obedience is blessed and dis-obedience is not.   So how much do we know of what our Creator wants of us?    I picked up a hitch hiker yesterday on the way to town,  he was broke and hungry.  We talked a lot about how to know the voice of God.   So I worked into my schedule to take him with me to Costco and share a pizza,  and get gas and then back to town and later back to his space on a farm.   I ate a piece and gave him the rest and we had a good talk about the LORD.   He talked like a Christian the whole way so invited him to the Bible Fellowship Friday night…Even had a ride set up for him but no show.   Made like he was very interested.  But I wonder how many know how to speak Jesus talk without the walk   We enjoyed good food and fellowship at our Friday gathering but he was not there,  perhaps another time.  But even in my own life it is difficult to have my walk and talk be the same.  There are times when being a Christian is not really socially acceptable.  We tend to hid HIS light so to be better received by the world.  But if we do the light tends to dim a little.  So it seems to me that if we really want God’s Blessings that they will flow through our humility and obedience.  And of course if we don’t know the will of God, how then can we obey.  So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  So God’s Blessings are tied together with HIS Commandments as found in the New Testament.  Jesus taught us that if we found HIS commandments and kept them that we would be honored by our Heavenly Father.  Is this not totally logical?   Is this not what we do with our own children.  Our Creator has taken the time to have HIS desires for us written down and collected in a New Testament or “WILL.”   How do you think it makes HIM feel when we read and obey HIS best for us?   And if we don’t?

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,  Ken<><     www.Trinity-Aloha.org

“Revival is the saints of God agonizing on behalf of lost souls going to hell.” – James A. Stewart

"Revival is living the Christ life in the home." - James A. Stewart    "Revival is the recognition of the ministry of insignificant members  of the body, and deliverance from idol worship of the more prominent  members who are in the limelight." - James A. Stewart    "Revival is the people of God constrained, gripped, overmastered,   and overwhelmed by the love of Christ, so that they are feverishly  restless to win souls for Christ." - James A. Stewart    Christian News                Dozens of Christians killed in 'systematic' Muslim Fulani raids in Nigeria                A  mother and six-month-old baby were among those kidnapped in Nigeria in   raids by Muslim Fulani herders that began Jan. 6 and saw 35 casualties.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,   John 3:16

LIGHT OF GOD,    “WORTH CONSIDERING”    1/15/20,   (Across my desk this morning from Joel.)

Today’s Scripture

“When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in…”    (Psalm 112:4, TLB)

Light Comes Bursting In

We know that God is always with us, but the psalmist says that in times of difficulty, God is very present. You’ll never see the fullness of who God is if you’re in the light all the time. It’s in the storms, in the difficulties that God is most present. When you don’t see a way out and it’s dark, you’re in prime position for God’s light to come bursting in. It’s going to happen suddenly—a burst of favor, of healing, of strength. You didn’t see it coming. One moment you were struggling with debt, and suddenly—one contract, one promotion, one good break—you have more than enough. What happened? The light came bursting in. The God who is a very present help in trouble said, “Your night season was only temporary. It’s time for your breakthrough. Now it’s time to propel you forward.” God is about to do that for you.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that in times of trouble when I don’t see the way out and it’s dark, that You come bursting in with light and direction. I believe that You, the Creator of the universe, have highly favored me and are about to propel me forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
In the New Testament light is mentioned about 94 times and in the Old 215.  So the concern of God is to bring us into HIS light.  Darkness is also mentioned 142 times with concern that we know the difference and stay away from it.   I once had a dream/vision? of being in a pitch black room so dark that nothing could be seen.  Christ Jesus came in through a black door on my right and walked through the black room in all of HIS brightness and made a bright white door in the left end of the room and left.  Lucifer came right behind him with pastel colors painting the room with different colors:  Like green for greed, pink for passion, yellow for money or pride and so on till the whole room was a rainbow of colors and left using the black door still the same.  So now as a soul goes into the room there is only really two doors in and out but lots of colors to choose from that go no where.  Not that the colors themselves were evil but could become an obsession.  Of course white light is made of three primary colors violet, yellow and red.   And they seem to match the ministry of Christ Jesus as Priest, King and Savior.   So if we walk in the light and He is in the light we have fellowship with each other and HE keeps us clean from all sin.

So in your daily walk consider that Christ Jesus is your priest between you and the Heavenly Father,  your LORD or boss and the one who saved you from GOD’s judgment for your sins.   If we walk in the light we can make HES ministry a lot easier.   And the world is totally headed for the darkness and WRATH of God,  you really don’t want to go there.  So do get fearful about it.  But do try to help others find there way to HIS Light.  There is plenty of room for anyone interested.  So stay in the Word of God and strengthen your faith to become like Jesus.  This is the original vision of God in that HE has made the way for us to become in HIS IMAGE and LIKENESS and be HIS forever family.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><     “www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Christian News
Al Shabaab strikes Kenya school, killing three Christian teachers
Al Shabaab extremists killed three Christian teachers in Kenya Monday, the attackers justifying the carnage by saying it was impermissible for ‘infidels’ to teach children.
New Survey Reveals Most Pastors Don’t Connect World Events to Second Coming of Christ
US Protestant pastors are closely monitoring the recent events in the Middle East, but many don’t believe it will influence the return of Christ.             worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,   Beloved of God,    John 17  Read whole chapter.

FAITH OF DANIEL,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”  1/13/20,   (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture

“…Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.”  (Daniel 6:23, NLT)

He’s Got This

In Daniel 6 is the story of how the enemies of Daniel conspired to get him arrested and thrown into the lions’ den for refusing to stop worshipping God. Daniel’s attitude was, “God has me in the palms of His hands. He controls the lions.” He stayed in peace. Everyone else expected the hungry lions to tear Daniel apart, but God supernaturally closed the mouths of the lions. He made Daniel unappetizing! God never promised that we wouldn’t have difficulties, but He did promise that He would give us strength for every challenge and take what was meant for harm and use it for our advantage. You may have a good reason to worry about something, but there’s a simple phrase you have to get down in your spirit: God’s got this. He already has a solution. Live out of a place of peace and trust. It’s just a matter of time before you see things turn around in your favor.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for Your promise that You can take the things that are meant to harm me and use them for my good. I receive this word and choose to remain at rest, knowing You’ve got this. I declare that there is no God like You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Ken’s Thoughts:
Daniel was/is a uniquely single minded and devoted man like Moses, Abraham Jesus and John.  But were they given more talents and blessings than are available to us,  I don’t think so.  My feeling is that any one of us may have that same potential.  The problem is that we also have a steady diet of the world, flesh and devil coming at us all the time.  And we are lied to by the enemy so much that we begin to believe the lies.  Our fist impression about good or bad is usually the best one.   But then we still listen and after the sales pitch buy into it like Eve.  In the beginning she had it wired, in fact,  she even added “Not to Touch” which is not in the original statement of God.  But the rational of lucifer was so eloquent that it got her attention to the fruit as really good to eat, (that fruit was better tasting than any thing else.)   Wonderful looking,   Could make you as wise as God Himself.  And after all, God really does not love you as HE is keeping the best for HIMSELF.  And even today we find that false advertising has not changed much.  We are bombarded every day with,  looks good, tastes good, make you look sharp.  You got to take care of yourself, GOD really does not care,  Look at the mess of the world.   And little do we realize that we are the one’s who have created the mess.  We have a free well and it is what it is because of the lies of false publicity that we obey most are broke and the world is a mess.  The average family now has about $10,000. in credit card debt. with a monthly interest tag of $125.+   Which is about what is left over from the months wages after paying off all of the things needed to survive.   And for many that leaves -0- or less for unknowns.  And many things bought have by then even ceased to exist.   It is easy for me to say no,  as I was brought up in the Great Depression when the nation went bankrupt in 1929 and the banks went on a holiday in 1932.   The same conditions exist today for a bigger bankruptcy in the U.S.   Can it get worse, yes.  Can you survive????

So is it possible for us to become unique like Daniel,  YES.   Christ Jesus has paved the way for us to elect to become like HIM and has given us the power of faith to do so by HIS grace.  John 17:18-26  This is the original intent of our Creator God.   He wants to help us to change into HIS image and likeness,  like Jesus.  The problem is in having us trade or comfortable lazy Adamic nature for the nature of God.  We really have been brain washed by the enemy that it can not happen.  We are told it is not possible.  We are told that it would not be any fun.  We are told that we would loose all of our friends.  We are sold a bill of goods that GOD is not trustworthy but is a ripe off artist.  And you know the line………….. But Jesus prayed for us: 

Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the   world.¹⁹ And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they als  o may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.²⁰ Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,²¹ That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.²² I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:²³ I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.²⁴ Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.²⁵ O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You [continually]; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.²⁶ I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very ^[a]Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them.  John 17:18-26     ^{(Will God answer this prayer?)    You bet that HE will as HE always did.}

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.¹⁷ In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.¹⁸ There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love ^[a]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear ^[b]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection]. 1 John 4:16-18

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><    www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Christian News  (Except for God’s Grace this could happen here.)
Muslim herdsmen kill a dozen more Christians in Nigeria
Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed 13 Christians in Plateau State, Nigeria on Wednesday, Jan. 8, adding to a body count that has seen scores of Christian farmers murdered by the pastoralists in the last few years.
Grave of martyred pastor destroyed in Iran
The grave of an Assemblies of God pastor from Mashad, Iran–the same town in which Soleimani replacement Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani rose through the ranks–was destroyed this past December by the Iranian regime.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,   Beloved of God,   John 3:16-18

FAITH THAT IS REAL, WORKS,,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   1/9/20,  (Across my desk today.)

Today’s Scripture

“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb.11:6

What’s in Your Picture Frame?

The greatest key to living a life filled with God’s blessings and favor is to keep God first place in your life. When you make it your highest priority to please Him, you can expect to live a blessed, fulfilled life. Notice who God rewards. Not people who half-heartedly seek Him or who only seek Him when they have a problem. God rewards people who diligently seek Him. Psalm 34:10 adds, “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” When you seek God daily with your whole heart, you won’t be able to outrun the good things of God. God has a reward that’s just waiting to be released to you, but you have to meet the demands of the reward. God makes it so easy: “If you will just seek Me—if you will get up in the morning and thank Me, read My Word, and make an effort to please Me—I will give you the reward.”

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that I can come to You by faith, knowing that as I seek You, You will reward me. Thank You for the blessings and favor that are mine as I keep You first place in my life. I believe that I will lack no good thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

My Thoughts:
The whole of God’s Creation is made and held together by faith.  Like Hebrews 11 teaches us that “FAITH” is both substance and evidence. Our Creator God is in the process of trying to teach us how faith really works.  But often we say we believe in God,  (Intelligent design,)  but in our efforts and life we totally ignore HIM and what HE has given us to find in HIM.  And even when we know exactly what HE wants of us, we go and find something else to do.  So basically at most we usually have a touch of head understanding but not Heart Faith and that really does not work. And then we blame God when our buildings fall apart.

Of course the head is the gateway to the heart.  Truth in, truth out,  Junk in,  junk out.  As a person really thinks in their heart of hearts that is who they really are.  We are instructed that true faith comes by ingesting the Word of God.   So where is your comfort zone.  There is an old song called “Charity” that says,  “Love sings, when Jesus prevails.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgHXvOzqPMQ   When Jesus prevails in your life do you feel like singing?  1 Cor. 13 is a great chapter on the nature of God for us to consider along with the 11th Chapter of the Book of Hebrews.  So every day, we are encouraged to keep the Holy Spirit in the primary place of helping us in deciding what to do with the day.  The enemy and our friends and even our family will come with other things for us to do.  And if we go with our emotions or our flesh the time is wasted.  

Here are a few scriptures to consider for your time:   Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God’s consecrated people).  Eph.5:1-3,   “Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),¹⁶ Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.  Eph.5:14-16.   Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life].  ² For you know what charges and precepts we gave you [^[b]on the authority and by the inspiration of] the Lord Jesus.  ³ For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,  1 Thess. 4:1-3