DECEPTION

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

DECEPTION,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”   9/26/19    (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows…”(Galatians 6:7, NIV)

He Has Mercy     Have you ever looked at a large old tree and wondered how long it has been there? The thing to remember when you see a tree like this is that at one time, it was merely a little seed. Just like a mighty oak tree, if you want to grow tall and strong in your faith, you must plant the good seeds of faith so that you may reap a great harvest!

All through the Scripture, we find the principle of sowing and reaping. Farmers may get discouraged sometimes, but they know that if they want good results, they must keep planting and watering the good seeds. This is true of you as well. Notice, we reap what we sow. If you want to reap happiness, you have to sow some “happiness” seeds by making other people happy. If you want to reap financial blessings, you must sow financial seeds in the lives of others. If you want to reap friendships, you should sow a seed and be a friend. Keep planting the seeds of faith, and you’ll see growth and a good harvest.

Today, look for ways to show kindness and goodness to the people around you, even when they aren’t kind to you. Don’t repay evil for evil. Take the high road. Bless those who wrongfully use you. Seek to do good, show kindness, and you will see it come back as a blessing in your own life in return!

A Prayer for Today    “Father in heaven, thank You for the relationships in my life. Help me find creative ways to connect with the people I love. Help me to walk and live in a spirit of unity as You commanded in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thoughts:   Over the years I have observed a lot of bad decisions including those of my own doing.  And I have also observed God’s protection at times and intervention.  Three times HE has saved me from death through just a word to my spirit at the right time.   However,  I have never seen HIM reverse the law of sowing and reaping.  I have never seen a broken hearted pregnant girl have her baby just disappear.  The Holy Spirit would help make lemon aid out of the lemon situation but once that bit of the original diamond is chipped away in time it can not be glued back again.   We can help others to not make the same mistakes but the stone that is left smaller in potential than the original stone. 

So in knowing this,  our Creator’s advise is to forget what has passed and use what still remains to press on into the knowledge and presence of Christ Jesus as LORD.  You can not change the past but the past, if left to the flesh, can and will corrupt your future.   And as for tomorrow it also is out of reach with it’s fears and is best left alone.  So today is the first day of the rest of your life, best to use it with wisdom and the Word of God in your heart.  And tomorrow do the same.  And don’t be fooled into thinking all is OK if you are still walking in disobedience to the Truth that you do know.  It is our actions that determine our faith not our words.  I can parrot Holy Scriptures till the cows come home but if my life does not reflect what is said then it is hypocrisy or just an act.  Jesus called the people out on this thought: 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity,  Matt.7:20-23.  and in John:  20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  21 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 14:20-22.

Christ Jesus came to actually change us into HIS Image and Likeness if we will allow it?  Coming to Christ Jesus as LORD begins the process.  He taught us that narrow and straight is the way to eternal life and not many would fine it.  That out of the heart proceeds the issues of life.  As a person thinks in their heart so are they.  With the heart man believes into righteousness.  For our lives to change, by faith, we must envision the long view of GOD’S loving plans for us in HIS Eternity.  We must personally decide to totally submit to Christ Jesus as LORD,  REALLY !!!  We must make a final good bye to this world’s lies.

Really let this verse, from Jesus, find home in your heart of hearts:  24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.  John 12:24-26.


Thursday,  a beautiful day in Kealia, HI.   Be Blessed in your day,   Ken<><

(Past “Worth Considering” notes may be found as a link:  www.Trinity-Aloha.org

There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all who truly love and obey Him are members.)




UNITY

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

UNITY       “WORTH CONSIDERING”    9/25/19,    (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”  (Romans 15:5, NIV)
A Spirit Of Unity

Do you find that you are surrounded by people all the time, yet you still feel disconnected from them? In your family, is everyone going in different directions, always busy, always doing their own thing? I’ve found that we really have to make a conscious effort to walk and live in unity with the people in our lives and not allow distractions to pull us apart. Walking in a spirit of unity goes beyond just getting along, it’s about going the extra mile to support and lift one another up. If you want to get the most out of life, you’ve got to draw a line in the sand and say, “I’m going to slow down and connect with the people I love. I’m not going to take my relationships for granted.” Start today by calling a friend or family member whom you haven’t talked to in a while. Reach out to them and let them know they are important. Make time to have dinner as a family and support each other’s activities. When you walk and live in unity, you bless the Lord and open the door for Him to pour out His abundance in your own life in return!
A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, thank You for the relationships in my life. Help me find creative ways to connect with the people I love. Help me to walk and live in a spirit of unity as You commanded in Jesus’ name. Amen.”


My Thoughts:
We have been taught to be able,  “to agree to disagree” was somehow OK or magnanimous.    But it is really an ego/pride position.  And continues to supports lies for someone and makes for division.  Today, it is my understanding that the so called “church” of Christ Jesus has been fractured into some 30,000 denominations and divisions.  It is any wonder that the church is mostly powerless as a fact.  With unity the Early Church enjoyed walking in the Power of Christ Jesus to the place to where all who came to Jerusalem in Acts 5:16 were healed.

So let us totally digest the prayer of our LORD,  Christ Jesus in John 17 to help us understand how Eph. 4:11-16 really works.   Jesus taught:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. John 14:12.  And in John 17:22 Jesus give that Glory or Power to HIS Church.  So where is it?  Notice that the verse in the Lord’s Prayer includes the oneness factor.  This factor is noted by Luke throughout the book of Acts where there is power.

So OK, how do we come into an actual unity or oneness?  By using the Word of God properly where every verse on a subject is gathered together and is “rightly divided” in continuity of understanding in love.  That, when we find a place of division, we in love work together until we come into the unity of the faith into GOD’S TRUTH in humility.  So many times it is only 2 alpha males dukeing it out over control or superiority.  This is the source of most divisions and we all know that in being divided, we fall.  God’s power is found only in loving unity and only when we have HIS TRUTH on the given subject.   For the world to see Jesus we are going to have to allow the Holy Spirit to fitly join us together in Loving Unity with GOD’s Truth.  Otherwise church will become dry and boring and just another little box for the elect to gather in.  We must come to the place of peace and unity where we allow ourselves to become the answer to our Lord’s Prayer of John 17 through the Holy Spirit. 

Be Blessed in your day,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org   Copy of this note may be found under “Worth Considering” on our HomePage.

THERE IS BUT ONE CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS AND ALL WHO TRULY LOVE AND OBEY HIM ARE MEMBERS.
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Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
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Christian News
China cracking down on providential relationship between North Koreans and South Koreans within its borders
China is cracking down on a phenomenon that has allowed North Korean defectors to receive Bible teaching across the border in the communist superpower to the south.
Statistics for India show Christian persecution rising overwhelmingly since BJP took power
Disturbing statistics are coming out of India, where the fruit of nationalism has been an uptick in severe persecution against Christians.
Trump Shines Spotlight on Christians Being Killed, 1st President to Host UN Religious Freedom Meeting
Donald Trump has become the first US President to ever host a meeting at the United Nations on religious freedom.

TIME

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

TIMING :     “WORTH CONSIDERING”   9/24/19   (Across my desk this morning.)
Today’s Scripture
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart…”
(Galatians 6:9, NKJV)
His Timing

I’d love to tell you that if you stay in faith, if you believe, God will always answer your prayer within twenty-four hours, or at least within the first week. But we know that’s not reality. God promises He will be true to His Word, but He never puts a timeframe on it. In fact, He tells us that we need patience to see the promises come to pass. Sure, it would be a lot easier if God told us when we were going to get well, when we would meet the right person, or when our child would straighten up. But the truth is, that wouldn’t take any faith. It takes faith to say, “God, I don’t know when You are going to do it, but I trust You enough to believe that You will do it, that the answer is already in my future.” Today and every day let this be your prayer: “God, give me the grace to accept Your timing.” That means you’re asking for God’s strength, His supernatural empowerment to stand strong while you are waiting. Choose to keep believing, choose to praise Him, and choose to accept His timing, whether it’s twenty minutes or twenty years, knowing that what God promised He will bring to pass.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your hand of favor, blessing and mercy on my life. You are good and faithful. Because of that I trust You. I trust Your love, and I trust Your timing in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Comments,
This is so true.  We have such a difficultly in comparing our dimension in time,  with God’s dimension in eternity.   Peter said that God’s time was like a day to a 1000 years of our time.  Where God lives, there is no time,  1 Cor.13.  And the Holy Scriptures indicate that our dimension of time will eventually cease with the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.  Jesus even taught that we had a difficultly in discerning time,  Matt.16:3,  In Matt. 24:21.    Jesus taught that time had a beginning, Mark13:19.    And in Rev. 10:19 Jesus taught that time would have an end.  So time is a temporary dimension in which our eternal souls are created with a house to live in to experience free will and the ability to learn to love in the one physical life time body (house) that each of us receive as a gift from God, our Creator.  The physical house we live in is very temporary.  And we are warned not to get tangled up in earthly time stuff: Gal.4:9-11 as it is vanity.  We are encouraged in Eph.5:15 to use our short time on earth wisely in learning to do the will of our LORD.  As receiving a new eternal house to live in from God is in many ways subject to what we do with the temporary house we live in today.

The word time is used 703 times in the Holy Bible,  it is a study well worth the time.
 

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.  3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psa. 34:1-3.  5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  Rom.5:5-6  10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><

( Back issues of “Worth Considering” may be found by a link on our HomePage,    www.Trinity-Aloha.org )


 

PEACE

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ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of God,  John 3:16-20

PEACE,   “WORTH CONSIDERING”  9/23/19,  (Across my desk today.)

Today’s Scripture

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones…”
(Proverbs 14:30, NIV)
A Heart At Peace

The best thing you can do for health is to set your heart at peace with God. Peace is such a powerful position. It is a position of life and strength. Peace literally means “to set at one again.” In other words, we have peace when our minds and hearts are “at one” with the Word of God. It’s so easy to let the pressures and distractions of life pull our thoughts away from the heavenly Father. It doesn’t take long before we are so focused on earthly things that we feel overwhelmed and all stressed out. We weren’t meant to live filled with anxieties, we were meant to live in peace. Today, keep your heart at peace by staying focused on God the Father. Sow life to your body by staying in agreement with Him. Let His peace guard your heart so that you can be equipped to live the abundant life He has promised to you!

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my soul. I praise You because You are the Prince of Peace. I choose to set my heart and mind on You today. Thank You for guiding my every step in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

My Thoughts:
Seems that there is so much noise pollution in our world today that it is difficult to hear the voice of God in our hearts any more.  Where ever we go, there is noise pollution.  Even in the church, so called,  there are so very many words and so much music that at times it seems only to keep us from hearing the Holy Spirit .  And it really it is the Voice of God that we mostly need to help us in making the positive decisions in lives.  Even in going out to a restaurant for a peaceful dinner is difficult.  On my birthday we went to our special place for dinner.  It was a great dinner as usual but we could hardly hear each other due to the music and noise pollution and it made it very difficult to enjoy the meal. 

Each of us have a different temperament for what is peace for us.  So my slow beats per minute classical Moonlight Sonata (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzWDs26YL9Y) or Cannon in D  ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOA-2hl1Vbc ) may not work for others but it helps me get into a peaceful place.   So each of us need to find that place of peace of where the Holy Spirit can speak to our spirit and we can learn to know the voice of our wonderful shepherd’s voice for sure.  So I truly hope you will find in the Holy Spirit your place of peace, your prayer closet and guard and use it well.  Our Creator God wants to have a personal relationship with each of us in and through the Holy Spirit by Christ Jesus.  But it is up to us to silence the interruptions of this world.

Of course music is a door for all kinds of emotions…. I can really feel the fun and joy in this band with Itzhek Perlman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkmFgQ9fM94: or feel the pain in the “Mission”:: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oag1Dfa1e_E&list=RDoag1Dfa1e_E&start_radio=1&t=0    So music can open many doors.  So take care….

The Holy Spirit can help you know the difference between HIS music of peace and worlds confusion.   God is never ever the author of confusion.  And music can be very helpful in you find your place of peace.  When you find a place of peace then trust the LORD with your cares in detaching from the world and open your heart in prayer to the Voice of God. God’s place of peace will be difficult to find if you harbor unforgiveness or resentment for anyone or anything in the past or present.  God’s voice will also always agree with HIS voice through HIS prophets and especially Christ Jesus as HE never changes HIS mind.  He enjoys absolute foreknowledge so HE never needs to change HIS mind.  He already knows all of our choices but we don’t and we still have to make them.

We are born into the dimension of time and things are yesterday, today and tomorrow of us.  Our choices are very real and eternal.  Our Creator does want us to live with HIM for eternity,  But in our time dimension we must decide if we want the same thing and choose to want to be with HIM above all else including the lies and confusion of this temporary physical world.  Finding the peace to Hear HIS voice and learning to Love and Obey HIM is just the beginning of the changes that we will need to make with HIS GRACE in order to learn how to live with HIM..

Ecuador Andes Pastor Solitario   This is fun for me to listen to,  like flying,  but this is just my cup of tea…. Freedom ! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1E0nEe8RxM&list=PLxavnFJokz5G4ovWqPdxFp1vRpifkQVjJ   

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org
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Things are heating up in the Middle East….  Need to pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem…..
WORTHY BRIEFS,  Is a very good condensation of world news.    Editor’s Note: If you would like to submit a note to the editor, simply hit reply. Be sure to add your name and location!  Help spread WORTHY BRIEFS, now reaching 126 countries daily! Forward this brief to a friend!  IMPORTANT NOTE: To ensure delivery of your Worthy Brief please add worthynewsbrief [@] worthynetwork.com to your address book or approved senders list.  So contact to be added to their mailing list.  Really well done,   Ken<><

ANGELS

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

ANGELS      “WORTH CONSIDERING”    9/20/19,    (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word…”
(Psalm 103:20, NIV)
Angels Move On Your Behalf

Did you know that when you speak words of faith, angels are dispatched to move on your behalf? The Scripture tells us that God gives His angels charge over us. That means, when God hears you declaring His Word, He says to the angels, “Do you hear My child speaking words of faith? He believes I can do great things. Angels, I have an assignment for you. Go to work and begin to turn the situation around.” And the angels obey His Word!

If we could pull back the curtain on the unseen realm, we would see a host of angels and heavenly beings watching over us. That’s why it’s so important to guard what we say because with our words, we either open a door for God and His angels to move on our behalf, or we open a door for the enemy and the forces of darkness.”

Make the decision today to only speak words of faith and life over you, your home and your family. Declare God’s Word and His promises and let your words set the angels into motion to help you fulfill the destiny God has planned for you!

A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, thank You for the relationships in my life. Help me find creative ways to connect with the people I love. Help me to walk and live in a spirit of unity as You commanded in Jesus’ name. Amen.”


My thoughts:
The Greek word Angelos simply means Messenger and it is the context that determines if heavenly or earthly.  Mostly it means heavenly but in some cases it could mean a Christian or the LORD.  Sometimes we get to see the heavenly Angels if God opens our eyes into HIS spiritual world.   And each of us has an assigned heavenly angel to try to keep us from getting hurt.  But much of the time we are too busy with noise pollution to hear him.  A certain quietness of spirit is necessary in order to be able to hear him.  Jude writes about an angelic encounter and so does Paul in many places,  Heb.1 & 2 are good chapters to consider.  In Heb. 1:14 the Angels are called “Ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation.  Notice it says, “for us” and not “to us.”  In Heb. 1:7 God calls us as, HIS Ministers, a flame of fire.  So the Angels are available to help us as God’s potential children but when we come of age we will be joint heirs with Christ Jesus as HE is the first born among many brethren and we also are to be made into the image and likeness of God.

Of course this means that we must set our will 100% to want to do this to be there.  We have to renounce our citizenship with the world and the world’s system to be renewed and born from above by the Spirit of God.  We are to be granted a new citizenship in the Eternal Kingdom of God if we decide to do this.  Rom. 8:13 reads like this: “13 For if we live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if we through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live (have God’s life.)“  Romans 10:9-10 follows soon after.  So the Angels are on call to help us with God’s Grace (power) to be born from above and sanctified (made holy) and to be made ready for the Kingdom of God if we want to…. with our whole heart.  To make this happen it takes faith (Heb. 11) and faith comes by going through the Word of God, over and over until it becomes more real than the things of this world. 

So in the Holy Scriptures Angel simply is a Greek word meaning messenger.  The context determines what kind of a messenger.

Like Baptism in the Gr. is to place one thing in another needing context to understand what is being place into what.   And also the word bishop simple in the Gr. means overseer, regardless of what kind.  Again needing context to know the details.   Seems to me that the translators used some of the Gr. words in order to avoid a doctrine conflict with the church of the 1600’s.

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<>< 
www.Trinity-Aloha.org   (Past blogs are available as a link on our homepage.)
“There is but one church of Christ Jesus and all who truly LOVE and OBEY HIM are members.”

Self & Others

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 SELF & OTHERS   “WORTH CONSIDERING” 

(Centered in the world or centered in the heavens.)
9/20/19  by Ken Smith <><

We are born in this temporary physical world and we tend to live like it is eternal and we are the center from birth.  Two babies and one milk bottle in one crib and you automatically have war.  We are born spiritually dead with the genes and nature of fallen Adam who submitted to lucifer.  In sharing with the religious rulers of HIS day in John 8 Jesus made the following remarks:   20 Jesus said these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple [[c]court]; but no one ventured to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come. 21 Therefore He said again to them, I am going away, and you will be looking for Me, and you will die in (under the curse of) your sin. Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come. 22 At this the Jews began to ask among themselves, Will He kill Himself? Is that why He says, Where I am going, it is not possible for you to come? 23 He said to them, You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world (of this earthly order); I am not of this world. 24 That is why I told you that you will die in (under the curse of) your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He [Whom I claim to be—if you do not adhere to, trust in, and rely on Me], you will die in your sins. 25 Then they said to Him, Who are You anyway? Jesus replied, [Why do I even speak to you!] I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first. 26 I have much to say about you and to judge and condemn. But He Who sent Me is true (reliable), and I tell the world [only] the things that I have heard from Him. 27 They did not perceive (know, understand) that He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus added, When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realize (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught Me. 29 And He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him. 30 As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him]. 31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.33 They answered Him, We are Abraham’s offspring (descendants) and have never been in bondage to anybody. What do You mean by saying, You will be set free?34 Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin.35 Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever.36 So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free. AMPC

So Christ Jesus simple tells us that there are two roads into eternity.  The one we are born into which is temporal, self centered, egotistical, disobedint and prideful.   And the other which is offered to us in Christ Jesus as selfless, humble and obedient to our Creator in making Christ Jesus our LORD (Boss) by choice.  And that way that we live our lives reflects which road that we are on.  One is fearful, the other full of faith.  One is ego centered the other is heavenly centered.  So are you living for the security of this world or the next?  Are we using our resources to make an earthly comfort zone or in helping others to find their way into a heavenly comfort zone. 

So let’s back up a few chapters to John 3 and what does Jesus teach to Nicodemus, a Pharisee?    …”

Rabbi, we know and are certain that You have come from God [as] a Teacher; for no one can do these signs (these wonderworks, these miracles—and produce the proofs) that You do unless God is with him.  3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.  4 Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born?  5 Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [[a]even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.  6 What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.   And then let tag this to John’s understanding in 1 John 4

8 and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].  9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.  10 He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.  11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.  13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in [c]the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, [d]yes, eternal life.  14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

So we see here that John 3, when Jesus speaks of water HE is referring to a physical body which is mostly a bag of water with bones for structure.  That Christ Jesus is the first to be created as man in the image of God as in Gen.1:27-28.  And we have been invited to become HIS brethren and in HIS likeness 1 John 5:8…8 and there are three witnesses on the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree [are in unison; their testimony coincides].9 If we accept [as we do] the testimony of men [if we are willing to take human authority], the testimony of God is greater (of stronger authority), for this is the testimony of God, even the witness which He has borne regarding His Son.10 He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son.11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  12 He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.  13 I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in [c]the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, [d]yes, eternal life.  14 And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.  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.

This walk in the process of Sanctification can be short or long as it is subject to our free will and our faith in the Holy Spirit for us to make decisions based on the long view of eternity.  Do I have the faith to give up the ice cream today to be able to have the bike tomorrow?  Making the selfless salvation and growth of others our goal in GOD’s LOVE is expensive in time and resources.  But our Heavenly Father’s primary concern is the salvation and sanctification of souls.  Should this not also be our primary also concern as HIS children?  He has entrusted the good news of the Gospel into our clay hands so we could participate in HIS glory to come.  Jesus freely gave up HIS life in this world for that same Glory.

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

 

CHOICES

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

CHOICES    “WORTH CONSIDERING”    9/19/19   (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people…”   (1 Thessalonians 5:15, AMP)
Kindness and Goodness

In Galatians 5, the Scripture talks about the nine fruits of the Spirit or the spiritual qualities that manifest in our lives when we allow Him to work in us. The more we invite God to move in our hearts and follow His Word, the more those characteristics will manifest in us.

Kindness and goodness are two of those fruits of the Spirit. The Scripture tells us that His kindness leads people to repentance. In other words, kindness advances the kingdom of God. The more kindness and goodness we show other people, the more we are acting like God. The Bible also tells us that what we sow, we shall reap. When we seek to do good to others, we will reap goodness in our own lives in return.

Today, look for ways to show kindness and goodness to the people around you, even when they aren’t kind to you. Don’t repay evil for evil. Take the high road. Bless those who wrongfully use you. Seek to do good, show kindness, and you will see it come back as a blessing in your own life in return!
A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, thank You for displaying Your character through me. I choose to show kindness and goodness so that I can honor You with my thoughts, words and actions all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thoughts,
Your life and mine are the result of our choices and not our circumstances.  God can easily change our circumstances.   But even If we decide to make “righteous” choices we will still need God’s grace (help) to overcome the world, flesh and the devil but it all begins with our choices.  Much, perhaps even most of the publicity in the world is a lie and moves us to make wrong and prideful choices.  We need wheels to get from point A-B and can afford a used yet dependable car but we end up in pride buying a new car with a large monthly payment that is more than we can afford.  Then other things suffer in the family due to the excessive payments.  So a wrong choice.  The Word of God instructs us that the Holy Spirit wants to help us walk in the TRUTH of GOD and have all we need in life.  Problem is that we don’t take time to get to know HIS voice in our heart.  John 10:27.” My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
 
So first we need to decide to make Christ Jesus the LORD (Boss) of our lives and change our citizenship from earth to heaven and then we need to learn to know our LORD’S voice above all the others,   the world, flesh and the devil.  Obedience is a choice even as love is a choice and they both come out of humility.  Pride only has love for self.  So here are some instructions from the LORD,  Christ Jesus from Matt. 6:9      Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also….24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon…33 But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides.34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. AMPC

So getting into the Bible for ourselves and saturating our hearts with the New Testament gives us ears to hear our Master’s Voice.  He will never ever contradict the truth that you find from HIS prophets as recorded in Holy Scripture.  Only when we know HIS will can we be assured of making sound choices.  And God’s Grace and Power always flows in those perfect choices for us.  I find it most helpful to listen to the New Testament when driving on my truck CD.  I like the King James as shared by Alexander Scourby…  (He use to do the voice for “The Shadow Knows” and has a wonderful voice and his inflections are perfect.

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org   (Past issues of “Worth Considering” are available with a link on our homepage.)

“There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all who truly love and obey HIM are members.”

LIFE ETERNAL

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

LIFE ETERNAL,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”   9/18/19   (On my computer this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you…”
(Romans 8:11, AMPC)
The Same Spirit

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit makes His home inside you. That’s the same Spirit and the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. That resurrection power can bring back health, strength and life to your physical body, and it can bring back life to your hopes and dreams. In fact, it can bring life to any area that may seem dormant on the inside of you!

The next time you feel overwhelmed by sickness, challenges or despair, remember, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you! You may have been burdened by an addiction, fear, worry or sickness, but there’s nothing that can stand against the power of God! Rise up and declare by faith, “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. I am restored and healed because the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me!”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for loving me perfectly. I want to know You more, and I want to know Your love. I receive it by faith today and ask that You show me Your ways and fill me with Your peace as I keep my heart and mind stayed on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thoughts:
There is a feeling in all I have talked to that somehow death is not the end of it,   But only one man has come back from the other side to spend some time on earth to tell us about it,  Christ Jesus.  And we hear/read stories about near death experiences all the time where someone records that there is something on the other side of the door from life to death.  Of course if I am totally wrong about this, it really will not matter.  There will be a big -0- at death and no way to apologize not that it would matter…    But what the 66 writings in our Bible tell us is that our soul is eternal in the image of GOD who created it.  That we were given the ability to have children and that at conception a new eternal soul is created with the body that is born 9 months later.  This should make some real issues with abortion.  Abortion could be the murder of another Bach or Beethoven.

OK,  if you are tracking with me then,  why are we here,  why are we alive for a few short years on planet earth?   The Bible teaches that this is a life time opportunity to make an eternal choice for the light or the darkness.  We are confined to this capsule of time in which to decide if we like God’s Truth or lucifer’s Fiction. We were created with a free will, also in the image of our creator, in which to learn to LOVE.   Love ourselves, Love God and to Love each other.   As Love can only exist with a free will.    But the Creator is not going to allow the destructive results of lucifer/man’s negativity to exist throughout HIS creation in HIS dimension of eternity.  So for us life is like a gym to make us stronger and headed towards HIS Kingdom or wrongly used can send our soul into a black eternal hole,  Jude.  The Creator has given us a great guide book to study,  a maker’s manual, if you will.  Unfortunately most of us are too busy to see how the Creator has designed things to work.  We take all the parts out of the box and toss the directions and make all kinds of weird stuff.  Like my erector set on Christmas as a kid… I never really built anything that was constructive as I was just too busy to read the directions.  God’s ultimate vision is to create a LOVING family that will enjoy living with HIM.  He wants to share what HE has and KNOWS as a father with HIS kids.  But HE is not going to allow stress, confusion, rebellion, pride, hate, lust and the other junk of this world, due to lucifer and adam, into HIS Eternal HOME.  So if you believe in Eternal Life you need to study the Maker’s Manual and start with John,  Acts and Romans to find the main support system.  You and every soul has been invited to have an Eternal Home with the Creator if you will read the directions and find your way.  The Heavenly Father resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

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

PRECIOUS SEED

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ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of GOD,   John 3:16-18

PRECIOUS SEED,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”  9/17/19,    (Across my desk this morning.)

Provision In The Wilderness

There’s a lady in our church who is a single mom. Her family has gone through a lot of struggles. For years she was barely making it, but every Sunday she and her two sons would be at Lakewood. She stayed faithful during her “wilderness” season because she knew she was headed to her Promised Land.

This lady’s son, from the time he was a little boy, always said that he was going to get a scholarship to go to college. He could have thought, “We’re poor. I’m at a disadvantage.” But this single mother taught her sons that God is a God of abundance, that He can make a way when we don’t see a way. Her son graduated number two in his high school. He received not one scholarship, but nine scholarships totaling over 1.3 million dollars. His undergraduate, his master’s and his doctorate degrees are all paid for at Georgetown University.

Friend, remember, God is no respecter of persons. Whatever you are believing for, whatever provision you need in the wilderness, know that He is faithful. He will provide streams in the desert and provision for you in every area of your life!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for providing streams in the desert. Thank You for refreshing me in the wilderness. Thank You for providing all my needs according to Your riches in glory as I stand in faith and stay faithful to You in Jesus’ name. Amen”

My Thoughts:
What a great story,  I am sure there are many more just like that one.  In fact the Holy Bible is full of great stories just like that one in Hebrews 11.   The writer (Paul, I think) did a masterful job of giving us that witness of faith as to what can be done when we Trust the LORD and give the Holy Spirit room to do what HE was sent to do.  I have seen it happen at least 6 times already in my life time when the impossible became a fact of history.   And a lot of times things came to pass in spite of my dumb decisions.   God has allowed me to plant HIS seed of faith many times now and others came along with weed pulling watering and fertilizing and it grew to be a fruitful trees in the Kingdom of God.   Now at near 87 working on a 7th planting..  A very small fragile house church in Kealia, (So. Capt. Cook,  Hawaii.)   But over the years I have been learning a lot of what not to do.  Our little 1/2 acre spot is right under the west slope of Mauna Loa is at about a 1,000′ elevation.  An area that is a strong with touch of Old Hawaii.  Out our back door there is only jungle forest to the top of Mauna Loa.  Did you know that there is even an Observatory up there as an atmospheric baseline station?   Friday evening gatherings are starting to happen now and the joy of the LORD is beginning to happen with our little gathering.  Looking forward to seeing what the Holy Spirit is going to do here each week now.   “Little is much, when GOD is in it”  I have been told and I tend to believe it. 

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.  Psalm 126:5-6

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

“There is but one church of Christ Jesus and all who LOVE and OBEY HIM are members.”

PRUNING

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

PRUNING,    “WORTH CONSIDERING”   9/16/19    (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong…”
(2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV)
He Uses Our Difficulties

We all face difficult situations. Somebody isn’t treating you right, or your business is not growing, or maybe you’re single and still haven’t met anyone. It’s easy to get frustrated and anxious. You don’t understand why it’s taking so long or why things haven’t changed.

But here’s a key: just because it’s an uncomfortable place doesn’t mean it’s not where you’re supposed to be. God uses difficulties to do a work in us. We grow in the tough times. That’s where your character is developed, where you learn to trust God and persevere, and where your spiritual muscles are made strong. God will not allow a difficulty unless He has a divine purpose for it. If you’re going to reach your highest potential, you have to make up your mind, “I’m not going to live frustrated because I am uncomfortable. I’m not going to be upset because things are not happening on my timetable. I’m not going to fight against everything that I don’t like.” Instead, believe that God is doing a work in you. Believe that He has the best for you. And see yourself moving forward in the victory He has prepared for you.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, today I give You my questions, frustrations, concerns and doubts. Have Your way in me. I trust that You are at work in every difficult situation in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
My Thoughts,
First thing !!!  PRUNING !!!  comes to mind.  Our LORD Jesus taught a lot on pruning in order to bear more fruit.  We have 3 small Hayden Mango Trees planted at our little True Vine Farm now.  And we read up on how to prune them when young so the fruit will grow best.   My that was hard to do as it wanted to grow up and tall but we wanted the fruit to be down low and easy to pick.  It wanted to brush out in the middle but we needed to have the sun get into the middle of the tree as best for the fruit.   It was really hard to cut off those beautiful branches that were in the way of a good harvest of mangos.  

So I see the Holy Spirit wanting to do the same with us and it works best with our permission.   Jesus clearly taught that what ever did not bear fruit was taken and burned.  So we are the garden of the LORD and we are here to learn to be like HIM but if we refuse we will end up in the dump.  He was interested in souls finding HIM,  that should be our priority.    So best to embrace the pruning and let the Son shine in to the core of your being and have faith to produce fruit that is like our Creator.   Lots of verses on this subject in the New Testament.  Use BibleGateway and look them up,  you will be glad you did.

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

THERE IS BUT ONE CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS AND ALL WHO LOVE AND OBEY HIM ARE MEMBERS.