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

BLESSINGS OF JABEZ, “WORTH CONSIDERING” 12/30/19,  (Across my desk today.)

Today’s Scripture

“Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested…”   (1 Chronicles 4:10, NASB)

Enlarge Your Territory

In 1 Chronicles 4, Jabez was a man that people said was supposed to have trouble and heartache and lived depressed and defeated, but he shook off the negative mentality. Despite how people labeled him, he had the boldness to ask big, that God would bless him and enlarge his territories. He was saying, “God, let me see abundance. Let me see more of Your favor.” And God blessed him indeed. Like Jabez, you may have plenty of reasons to settle where you are—what you didn’t get, what people said, how impossible it looks. The odds may be against you, but the good news is that God is for you. He wants your new year, your life and everything about you to be successful and wonderful. He knows how to make up for what you didn’t get. He can thrust you further than you ever imagined, but you have to pray bold prayers. Ask in spite of what the circumstances look like and what people are telling you. Ask in spite of what the enemy keeps whispering in your ears. If you’re going to beat the odds, stand out in the crowd and reach your best life, you have to learn this principle of asking big.

A Prayer for Today

“Father in heaven, today I open my heart to You and ask You to bless me. I ask You to increase me in every area and teach me to be faithful to You always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Thoughts:
Yes, and a bit of repentance and obedience could be very helpful for the success of the vision as well.  Obviously most of us do not deserve the blessings that we have.  I watch films on how the other half of the world lives.   And I grew up in the 1930’s on a Kentucky Hillbilly farm with no power, a bucket for water and a deep hole in the back yard for a cooler and an out house behind the chicken house.  But was loved and healthy.  So life does not revolve around the stuff we may have but around relationships and especially our relationship with our Creator.   God’s blessings come to us out of our obedience to HIM as with any good father.   With pride and rebellion, things dry up.
 Jesus said:
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.(John 15:10)   “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7)   “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matt. 19:17)  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matt.5:19.)

So if we, as the children of GOD, really want to be blessed, we need to search the New Testament thoroughly for the Commandments of Christ Jesus.  We must saturate our heart with them and learn to keep them.  There are literally hundreds of the LORD’S Commandments in the New Testament that we need to be learning to obey.  Our Heavenly Father is creating a Kingdom of Righteousness for us to live.   There we be total love, unity and obedience in that new Kingdom.   We are now in a process of learning how to be able to live there in Love, Peace and Joy.  So we might as well spend our very short time here learning what His Commandments are all about and in learning how to submit to authority.  Our Creator God is not going to allow the present rebellion to exist at all in HIS Coming Kingdom.  He is not going to allow the rest of the universe to experience the destruction that rebellion has caused on earth.  So just where are we learning how to be in humility and to learn obedience.  This school seems to have  very few in attendance.

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

Christian News
Gunman opens fire in White Settlement, Texas church, leaving 2 dead
Two people were killed and one person critically injured in a Texas church shooting Sunday morning, with one person having died on the way to the hospital and been revived.  The attack was stopped by 2 members with permits to carry.
Pastor in Tajikistan charged with “inciting religious hatred” released
A Tajik Pastor imprisoned for over 2 years for possessing a Josh McDowell book was released recently, 3 months before the end of his sentence.
China intends to manufacture new religion, rewrite Bible and Quran
17 Chinese officials discussed revising religious texts last month to suit the needs of the Chinese Communist Party, even framing a new religion.     worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

Equality Act Bill:  S 788.   Every time a society replaces lifelong, monogamous marriage with sexual immorality, that society collapses to the lowest state of functioning within just three generations.  Written by a non-christian anthropologist who was born in 1865.  The so-called radically anti-family, anti-faith  “Equality Act” bill (S 788) would FORCE pastors to “wed” same-gender couples in their churches, house boys and girls together overnight on mission trips and other church functions, and allow drag queen Sunday School teachers. The alternative would be to face crippling lawsuits or even arrest.  This bill is now headed towards becoming a law by the Democratic House.

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,    Rom. 10:9-10

HEART FAITH,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   12/26/19,   (Across my desk this morning from Joel.)

Today’s Scripture

“…I will walk within my house with a perfect heart…”   (Psalm 101:2, NKJV)

Perfect Toward Him

This time of year, people often take time to reflect and set goals for the new year. But have you ever set “perfection” as a goal on your list? Now, that may seem a little strange or unobtainable to many, but really, in God’s eyes perfection isn’t about performance. In fact, it isn’t about behavior at all. What God is looking for is a heart that is perfect toward Him. Scripture says that man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. That means that He is more pleased with someone who has a heart toward Him who may mess up than He is with someone doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons. The condition of your heart is extremely important to God. When you have a right heart, you are humble before Him. You seek His ways. You get up each day with a desire to please Him. You submit every area of your life to Him, and you are willing to make adjustments and receive correction so you can grow and come up higher. As you prepare for the coming year, make knowing Him your number one priority. Yield yourself to Him and let Him shape your character. Serve Him with all your might and let your heart be perfect toward Him!

A Prayer for Today

“Father in heaven, thank You for all of Your blessings in my life. I declare today that You are good and thank You for Your mercy. I set my heart and mind on You and ask that You have Your way in me. Help me to love You perfectly and keep me close to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thoughts,
Could not have said it better.  Christ Jesus spent a lot of time teaching about our “heart” our subconscious,  the place where we are really real,  the place of our soul.  There are 160 verses in the New Testament and 724 verses in the Old Testament concerning our heart.  The heart is somewhat like an ice berg.  Our conscious mind is the 1/7 above the water and the heart is the 6/7 below the water.  Much of what we say comes out of our mind and we can be talking just to see what it sounds like with no commitment as to the truth at all.  For many even being a Christian is really somewhat like belonging to a bridge club, nationality or of  environmental conditioning. 

Jesus taught us: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt.6:21,  “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matt.5:8, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Matt.22:37,  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45,  “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” Luke 21:34,  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.“John 14:27,  “⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.“  Rom.10: 9-10. 

The little books of James and Jude are great also in training the heart as to what is GOD’S TRUTH.  I like listening to the New Testament in my truck while driving.   Usually our hearts are initially filled with the junk of this world from Adam and seriously needs to be replaced with the TRUTH of the Word of God.  This means that we need to saturate our mind many many times (what ever it takes) to change our heart into believing what we know to be God’s truth.   The mind is the gateway to the heart.  The conscious mind is very flexible but the heart can be like stone and difficult to change.  And especially to agree with God’s Truth in humility.  One time I remember going though the process and it was like a very serious hard drive crash.  The erroneous issue that needed God’s Truth were so woven into so many facets of my thinking that it trashed all kinds of stone work in my mind.  Knocked some big holy holes into my heart library and I gained a great deal of freedom,  That was back in 1967.  Sure benefited from GOD’S Truth that finally got through to my heart.   God’s Truth sets us FREE!!!!!
Yours in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

Let God’s Light Shine:
D. L. Moody told the story of a man who was crossing the Atlantic by ship. He was terribly sick and confined to his cabin. One night he heard the cry “Man overboard!” He felt that there was nothing he could do to help, but at second thought, he said to himself, “I guess I can at least put my lantern in the porthole.” He struggled to his feet and hung the light so it shined out into the darkness.  The next day he learned that the person who was rescued said, “I was going down in the dark night for the last time, when someone put a light in a porthole. As it shone on my hand, a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in.”  All of us have weaknesses — and times of weakness. The fact of the matter is, though, that weak or not, we need to muster up the strength to put our lights in our portholes for the sake of the dying and the lost among us. It’s so tempting to sulk in our weaknesses, and stay in our beds — but God expects more of us. He has given us the strength to do all things — even move mountains! There are so many people around us sinking in despair. But God has chosen us to reach out and light up their lives!

Israel’s Christian population grows to 177,000 citizens
The Christian population of Israel currently stands at approximately 177,000 citizens, or 2% of the overall population, according to data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) ahead of Christmas.
Nine earthquakes in less than 24 hours hit California on Christmas eve, early morning
A series of earthquakes on Christmas Eve and before dawn Christmas morning hit around California, and a much bigger 6.3 quake shook off Vancouver.   worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,  Matt. 1:18-25

WORD MADE FLESH,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”    12/24/19    (Across my desk today.)

Today’s Scripture

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests…”  (Luke 2:13-14, NIV)

With The Angels

On the night Jesus was born, there were some shepherds out in the field. An angel appeared to them to tell them about Christ’s birth. Then suddenly, a host of angels appeared who were praising God. Scripture tells us that there are angels in heaven singing God’s praises day and night. Think about this: When you praise God, you are joining with the angels in heaven! What an awesome thought that we can be one with the heavenly hosts when we worship. As you celebrate Christmas Eve, take time to rejoice with the angels. Turn your thoughts toward Him because He is good and worthy of all our praise!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, what an awesome privilege it is to come before Your throne of grace and worship You. Thank You for sending Your son, Jesus, so that I can live forever and join the heavenly hosts in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

My Thoughts:
Some how the time of the Birth of Jesus was moved to a Pagan Holiday:     https://therealtemple.blogspot.com/2008/12/pagan-history-of-december-25-jesus.html      But does it really matter?  As the shepherds were out in the the fields by night it is obvious that Jesus was born in the late spring when the grass was good for food.   But personally,  I don’t really care about the exact date as it brings nothing special to the table concerning GOD’S great love for us and wants us to share with others.  Christ Jesus mentioned that if we even gave a glass of water to some one in HIS name, it would be remembered.   Once we have began the Road of Salvation in making Christ Jesus our LORD (Master, King) & Savior) the foundation is laid for our service to HIM,  1 Cor.3:11,  “ For no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.”    It was in considering this portion of scripture that the truth sunk in that salvation is by relationship of faith and not by works.  But that works are important.  So if our motive for giving is out of a pure love for Christ Jesus and our loving obedience to HIM, HE is keeping the account.   Of course to give to get or to look good or any other of the many flesh motivations, it is a waste of time and money.  it will come to nothing in the Kingdom of God.  And in 2 Cor.9:7 Paul further writes:  “Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift].    Fact is,  the Tithing concept of 10% was of the Old Testament covenant and not introduced at all into the New Testament at all by Christ Jesus or anyone else.  In the New Testament God is looking for us to be 100% HIS and not just 10%.  He has sent the Holy Spirit to recycle us into being like Christ Jesus if we will allow it.

So, personally,  I am delighted that we are now encouraged to say, “Merry Christmas” and to enjoy a day dedicated to the 1st advent of GOD, the visit of Christ, the Word of God, into HIS creation. John 1:1-3 with the birth of Jesus.    In Gen.1:26 it was the same Word of God speaking,  “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”   And HE has not given up on bringing that original vision into reality.  And HE came as one of us,  taught us and waits on our faith and commitment to HIM.   We will most certainly need HIS grace to make the change to light speed from being the children of fallen Adam to becoming a Child of God in humility and obedience.  The coming Kingdom will be one of absolute pure Light, Love and Righteousness. And HE warned us that only a few would make it.  Matt.7:14.    Jesus said, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.“  Matt.10:22  

So, really,  Christ Jesus is the reason for the season and nothing else.  And give only as you feel Jesus would give.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,  Ken<><    www.Trinity-Aloha.org

ALOHA FAMILY & FRIENDS,  Beloved of God and a Very Merry Christmas with your family.
    as we remember the coming of Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD.  (King/Master)

OBEDIENCE = GRACE,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   12/20/19,   (Over my desk the morning.)

Today’s Scripture

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart…”  Ps. 37:4

Your Secret Petitions

God knows the secret petitions of your heart. He knows every hidden dream He’s placed within you. He knows the things that you haven’t told anyone about. Maybe you thought they would never come to pass, or maybe you buried them because they didn’t happen on your timetable. Maybe, in the natural, you have every reason to give up on those dreams. Be encouraged today—God is still working behind the scenes! He still has a plan to bring those dreams to pass. Do what today’s verse says and delight yourself in Him. The word “delight” actually means “to make yourself soft and pliable.” It paints the picture of God as the Potter and you as the clay. Allow God to mold and shape your character today. Allow Him to direct your plans and ideas. Keep an attitude of faith and expectancy, and as you submit your ways to the Lord and follow His leading, He will fulfill those secret petitions of your heart!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, You said the path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly before You. You said because I delight myself in You, You will give me the secret petitions of my heart. Thank You for being in control of my life and for the good things You have in store for my future in Jesus’ name. Amen. “

My Thoughts
Often as I am seeking MY LORD’S wisdom, help, power, strength in a confrontational situation I am reminded of the following verse:  “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  ⁶And (God) having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.  ^{2 Cor.10:5-6}

It would seem as much of what we fear is really just out of our imaginations and by not completely trusting the LORD to protect and to provide for us.   So under the law of sowing and reaping HE has to wait on our obedience prior to assisting us.  That much of the conflicts that we endure are due to our own lack of faith.   I often counsel folks to remember that fear is faith going backwards.   And further that fear can be a chameleon of many colors so that it does not always present it’s self as fear.  Often it comes looking like wisdom or vanity but basically it digs into our past of where we were once hurt and don’t want to go there again.  But obviously it is never the same as the past and the issues are always uniquely different.  But we lack the patience to challenge our imaginations carefully.  We can not assume that any 2 people are alike,  they never are.   And each soul deserves faith and love if we are to be serving the LORD as HE loves them in all their sin and still want’s them for HIS KINGDOM.  And you are really HIS representative on earth to reveal HIM to all you contact in every day.  I usually carry a few tracts that I personally put together from the Word of God on LIGHT.  I am about to order the next 1000.   They only cost .10 cents each.   And out of 3000 so far I have only been turned down about 3 times.  I also make paper air planes out of them for the kids when I can and they love them.  And like it says in Psalm 126:5-6:  “⁵ They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”  So my feeling is that I am sowing seeds, in Joy, really, that I will not see the results of until on the other side.  That I am investing my life, little by little into that which is everlasting and eternal.  The kids always take the little paper airplanes home and I know that eventually they will fall apart and I wonder how many parents will get curious and pick them up and read what is written from the Bible on LIGHT?  This is a lot more fun than tracking what the darkness is up to.  A lot more productive than getting jailed by vain imaginations and fears.  Rom. 1:20-22.  ^” For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  ²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
So what kind of seeds are you sowing?   That will be the eternal crop that you harvest.  Obedience grows freedom.

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

Christian News
Boko Haram wreaks havoc on Christian community in Cameroon
A spate of attacks on Christian villagers in Cameroon by Boko Haram has left a community grieving beloved pioneer church planter David Mokoni and 7 others, as well as a bevy of sleepless victims in deep psychological distress.
Primitive Christian church burned in eastern India, Bibles set ablaze
Christians in a tribal village in India had their bamboo hut church burned down by animists on December 1st, 5 days after their Bibles were confiscated and set to a bonfire.     worthybrief@worthynetwork.com

ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,     Matt.7:13-15

THE LIONS DEN,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”   12/18/19,  (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture

“Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?…” (Daniel 6:20, NLT)

He Is Your Rescuer

Most people won’t ever literally come face to face with a hungry lion, but we’ve all been in situations where we felt as though we are about to be “eaten up” or destroyed. Daniel lived a life of excellence and found favor with the king. The king kept promoting him and giving him more authority, which made the other administrators jealous and angry. They manipulated the king into signing a law that Daniel could not follow. Daniel prayed and still found himself in the lions’ den. How would you respond in that situation? I’m sure Daniel believed that God would deliver him. I’m sure he hoped it would be before he was thrown into that den. Have you ever prayed and prayed for something and things just kept getting worse? Daniel trusted that God was working His plan for His glory. In the end, Daniel was protected and his enemies were destroyed. When it looks as though your friends have turned on you and you are headed for the lions’ den, don’t be discouraged because God has the final say. Keep believing Him; keep trusting Him. He’s promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He’ll shut the mouth of the lion; He’ll silence your accusers; He’ll stand with you in the fire, and He will lead you into victory in every area of your life.

A Prayer for Today

“Prayer: Father in heaven, You are my Light in dark times. I thank You for Your faithfulness and trust that You have a wonderful plan for my life. No matter how things seem, I will put my hope and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Thoughts:
There is a verse that I really lean on when it comes to the lions of this world:   “ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;    ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.“   2 Cor. 10:5-6.    It seems to me that most of our fears are really paper dragons or lions.   They are thoughts like lucifer gave to Eve,  lies.   We get to thinking that we actually know more that GOD as seen in our actions.  And usually the fear takes us out of the Peace of God and onto a road to pain or in hitting a wall.   I really like the promise here that GOD will take my side when I have come into complete obedience.  Now that is a tricky subject as to be completely obedient to GOD I must also know that Holy Scriptures in order to filter out the lies of the world.  In the little book of Jude he covers this very well, especially in verse 12 naming Cain, Balaam and Core as three type of deception that are in the church today.   And of course there is the spirit of Jezebel which is very rampant these day.   Now you probably may know a few more diversions as there are many.   Every tradition of man has to be evaluated as Christ Jesus Taught:   “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. ”  Mar 7:7.   and   ”  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”  Mark 7:12. 

We are so inclined to follow our emotions like Eve and not be foundational in the scriptures and truth like Jesus.  Our emotions are based on our past experiences and often lead us astray.  Even with people if they remind us of someone in the past that was a problem for us we tend to avoid them even though they have done nothing to offend us.  That is why we are taught,  “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”  Heb.13:2  (The word angel can also be interpreted as messenger.)  This person may be a messenger of GOD sent from GOD to help us with something important in our eternal life.   YES,  You are created to live forever, of course, like GOD.   But there is the a matter of placement.

We constantly need to be ready to shift our doctrine as the Holy Spirit shares more of God’s loving truth and wisdom with us.   Knowledge is not enough,  we must also gain the wisdom to use it properly.  Our loving Creator would like us to have us learn to seek HIM with all that we have.  He has designed each of us to fit perfectly into the Kingdom that HE is Creating.  Even our Free Will has been totally considered in HIS infinite foreknowledge.  So all of our decisions have already been included in HIS divine plan of the Ages to come.  So if you are reading this, HE already knows what you will do with it.  But it is still your decision to make in this dimension of time.  Like taught by Christ Jesus:  “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  ¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.“  Rev. 22:16-17.  So the door to God’s eternity is now open to all but “few there be that find it.” Matt.7:13-15″.

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

Christian News      worthybrief@worthynetwork.com
‘Bible-Believing’ Texas Judge Warned Over Refusing Same-Sex Marriages Responds With Lawsuit
Texas judge Dianne Hensley has decided to fight back after receiving a public warning last year on the subject of officiating same-sex marriages, announcing a lawsuit against the state.
Christian charity donates Christmas gifts to 19,000 children in Syria
Despite the ongoing hardship in wartorn Syria, there will be a little more cheer this Christmas for thousands of children receiving donated gifts.