Today’s Scripture
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  Phil. 3:13.”

Forget What Lies Behind
Many people don’t fully understand what it means to forget the past. One definition of the word “forget” is “to disregard intentionally, or to overlook.” You have to intentionally disregard your past so that it doesn’t keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. If we’re not careful, even our past victories can keep us from rising higher if we get too comfortable where we are. God wants to take us from glory to glory, but if we don’t let go of the old, we’ll never be able to embrace the new. It’s time to forget what lies behind. Put it away once and for all. When you release it, it’s an act of your faith. Focus all your energy on moving forward. Trust that God has new levels of victory, peace and favor. Trust that He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today
“Father in Heaven, I choose to forget the past today. I don’t want anything to hold me back from the future You have prepared for me. I choose forgiveness and ask that You help me, by Your Spirit, to press forward in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Comments:
This one is difficult to do as we think with our mind and act out of our heart.  So how to get that concept of truth way down in our heart of hearts.  And like written above,  forget both the good and the bad and trust GOD with the ultimate judgment along with HIS help,  you will need it.  It may even be totally different than what you thought it was when you were going through it.   So we need to think something through many times before our heart will really accept it.  That is one of the reasons for listening to the New Testament on CD over and over.  Each time that I listen the message goes a little deeper.  I have a N.T. + a  CD in my truck,  great to go down the road watching the road but considering the Truth of God so as to make the needed changes in my life almost easy.

If we walk in unforgiveness towards someone then any one that we come in contact with that looks, feels, acts or even smells like them will cause us to become  defensive and tend to write them off.  And yet they did nothing.  And on the other side, someone reminding you of someone who made us happy will cause us to lower our normal guard and trust them.  And that too can be very dangerous.  So getting rid of the past is a most necessary thing to do.  If you would like to have a future guided by the Holy Spirit without fear or anger creeping in from the past and messing things up for your future the past must go.  So it is not worth it to carry on with a feud, vendetta, attitude or even a stink eye.  The Word of God states clearly that all Judgment belongs to GOD.  Just got accused on Face Book of getting charred by my foil hat.  I wrote back that when it torches my Hawaiian lauhala straw hat I will take notice.  

It often helps me shed the past by remembering what Christ Jesus said when the guys were driving nails through his feet into the Cross.  “Father forgive them, they really don’t know what they are doing.”   So our LORD was more concerned about their souls than he was  concerning the pain in HIS feet,  WOW!  Hope I can learn this one by faith and not by experience.  You might want to consider that there are 2 ways to learn.   You can learn by experience about Mac Trucks or you can learn by faith and just stay out of the way.  But if you live to tell about it, it is the same lesson.  Only one way is much more painful than the other. 

So read the Word of God,  forget the past and step out in faith and enjoy the manny opportunities to make lemon aid.

Yours in HIS great love and wonderful Grace and Mercy.  Ken<><   ( There is a link on  www. Trinity-Aloha.org to many of our past Blogs with easy to find subject headings.  Hope you enjoy.  )

Looking forward to getting together this Friday Evening and talking story in the Holy Spirit.
“There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all who love and obey HIM are members.”

The Biblical Approach to coming together for “church”  (The work of the people)  or Ecclesia (or Ekklesia) in Christian theology means both: a particular body of faithful people, and the whole body of the faithful. Latin ecclesia, from Greek ekklesia had an original meaning of “assembly, congregation, council”, literally “convocation”.

It is the concept of the round table where most can see each other and all have access to talking or sharing with each other.  (A Forum)  On the other hand the theater seating is for the one way experience of listening.  And of course there should be Elders present to make sure that all that is being taught is GOD’s TRUTH and not fiction.  But a “Round Table” can be both Powerful and Dangerous.  So most established churches avoid the danger but may miss out on the power.

In 1 Cor.14:23-33   Apostle Paul gives a general overview of how “church” is supposed to work.²³ If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?  ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: ²⁵ And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.  ²⁶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.  ²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.  ²⁹ Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  ³⁰ If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  ³¹ For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

So the Early Church had 7 levels of experience as in the Tabernacle of Moses,  but was not under the law but guided by the Holy Spirit.  The approach was not a liturgy but a basic guide.  First there was the testimony of the Saints as to their salvation like the sun coming through the Eastern gate of the Tabernacle of Moses in the morning.  Remember Jesus said HE was the door to the sheep fold.  Then there was the teachings of the Elders as the Altar,  Rom.12.   And then the Agape Meal.  The laver in the Tabernacle was for cleaning and fellowship (  A time to share a meal, gain unity and restore fellowship if it had been broken.)  Then the Lords Supper, 1 Cor.10.  Then perhaps a break and then a time of prayer and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Body Life Ministry of praying for each other.  And finally what ever needs or questions that were left would be addressed by the Elders.   In the Early Church the Holy Spirit gave powerful signs as to the use of faith in the ministry of Christ Jesus as LORD.
 
And we can see this form in Acts 2: 41-47  ⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  ⁴² And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.  ⁴³ And fear (awe) came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles  ⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  ⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  ⁴⁷ Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should (were being in the Greek.) be saved.

And again in Acts 5:14-16

¹⁴ And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  ¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  ¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

My understanding is that becoming a Christian by making Christ Jesus LORD is the beginning of “being saved” and ultimately “sanctification” or by the finishing our course we are finally saved by enduring to the end of our life in Faith as did Paul in 2 Tim.4:5-8.  I have known many who have been ship wrecked along the way.  Perhaps this is a study for another time.    Yours in HIS great love,   Ken<><
  ( You may access all of the “Worth Considering Blogs” at www.Trinity-Aloha.org )

“WORTH CONSIDERING”   (Across my desk today from Joel and well worth considering.”

Today’s Scripture
“There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”  (Luke 10:42, TLB)

Just One Thing
You can learn a lot from the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha busied herself preparing a meal, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He was teaching. When Martha realized that Mary wasn’t helping her, she marched over, interrupted Jesus, and said, “Lord, this isn’t fair. I’m in here doing all the work and she just sits here!” Jesus’ reply must have stunned her: “Martha, you’re stressed out about so many different things. Only one thing really matters, and Mary has chosen what’s best.” In effect, Jesus was telling Martha to slow down and enjoy the moment. He could easily be saying the same thing to you! It’s good to be a hard worker, but it’s important that you know how to put your work aside and enjoy the blessings He’s bringing into your life. If so, look at your schedule today and choose what is best!

A Prayer for Today
“Lord, thank You for wanting to bless me. Give me eyes to see when I should serve and when I should just sit at Your feet and listen. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thoughts:
The O.T. Prophet Joshua came to mind:  24:14,  ¹⁴ Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.  ¹⁵ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  ¹⁶ And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods;

Now think about it, was Martha serving other god’s?    The gods of propriety and custom?  After all what would everyone think if the place is a mess when they come to see Jesus?  Was she really a Christian, well no.  This was a time of transition as Christians were born from above after the resurrection of Christ Jesus in the Upper Room.  The thought here is priority.  How do we find GOD’s priority in situations and become more concerned about what HE thinks than what our family, friends and others may think.  When we are born from above and become “Christians” then our first priority should be to seek to know our new LORD’s will for the new life that HE as given us.  Jesus tell us that Mary choose rightly.  And we also are endowed by our Creator with a free will to choose what we will spend our life doing.  And the investment can be for this world or for the next.  St. Paul writes in 1 Cor. 3:11 -15 the following message:  ¹¹ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  ¹² Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  ¹³ Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.  ¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  ¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org
(“WORTH CONSIDERING,”  may be found on a link in our web files for back issues by subject.)

ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of GOD   (In my mailbox this morning from Joel,  good subject.)

REST

Today’s Scripture
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  (Matthew 11:29, NIV)

Find Rest
Sometimes the pressures of life can cause unnecessary stress. So many people these days lose sleep worrying about things or people in their lives, but God wants us to live a life of rest and peace. When Jesus walked on this earth, He took time away from the crowds. He spent time with the Father. He found rest. He was gentle and humble in heart. Do you ever notice that when you are stressed out or worrying about something, you’re less tolerant of the people around you? You’re more likely to say something you don’t really mean. God wants you to cast your cares on Him so that you can live with a gentle and humble attitude toward others. When you learn to release your burdens and follow the example that Jesus gave, you will be refreshed and find rest for your soul and peace in your heart.

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, today I choose to cast my cares on You. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to have a gentle and humble attitude. Help me find rest for my soul so that I can love others the way You love me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Comments:
Obviously,  this rest is not a guarantee for a long vacation.  Physical labor is given to us as a blessing.  Personally, I like to build things.  Even as a kid I liked to build things.  In Kentucky we would build forts in the attic and basement.  Build dams during the spring rain storms in the stream next to our home.  Of course there were domino’s.  tinker toys, Lincoln logs, play dough, erector sets, Monopoly and such.  By 1947 I was drawing house plans for a general contractor and by 61 had my own Construction Co. so we are not talking about rest as in loafing.  In fact the Bible teaches that a loafer has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel (or a soul that is unsaved), 1 Tim.5:8,  2 Thess. 3:12.  So the ability to work and to create is something that is in the IMAGE of GOD and a blessing.

So what the verse is referring to is the “Rest of Soul”  The blessing to be able to sleep good at night.  That we have no concerns about our past or our future,  that all is in the hands of our loving GOD.  And sometimes we get talked out of the “Rest” by our life style or by watching something on TV that is wrenching.  Sometimes I am watching something rather interesting and positive and all of a sudden it goes sour and south.  Want to see where it goes but learning to turn it off anyway or it could disturb my rest for that night.   Emotional and word fights do the same things.  We are created in such a way that our body runs very well on a blood flow of about 60 beats per minute.  And it slows down at night to around 45.  Physically this is called homeostasis: ” the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.”  This allows our body to work at an optimal speed and get the best mileage which is neither fight or flight as with adrenaline.

Our soul (heart,  id,  sub consciousness ) also has a rest speed at which we can more easily make contact with the super natural and touch GOD and have HIM touch us.  This is the real source of power for the Christian.  When our heart and the heart of GOD come together in true UNITY then we get to touch the the supernatural world,  John 17^{.  Heb. 4:  9} There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.  ¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.  ¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  ¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  ¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

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

Receive Grace
You are approved by Almighty God! When He created you in His image, He stepped back and stamped His “Made by Almighty God” approval on you. You are the apple of His eye, and His favor surrounds you like a shield. You did not choose God, but He chose you and He is pleased with you—His most precious creation. Notice that verse doesn’t say that God approves you as long as you don’t have any faults or as long as you don’t make any mistakes. No, God approves you unconditionally. No matter how many weaknesses you may think you have today, no matter how many times you fall, you’ve got to get right back up again and hold your head high. Don’t allow the enemy to bring strife into your life by deceiving you into thinking that you are not “good enough.” Stand strong in your thoughts about yourself, knowing that not only have you been chosen, but you are approved by Almighty God.

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your promise of grace in my life. Thank You for unmerited favor and empowering me through Your Word. I receive Your grace right now and invite Your love to flow through me today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Comments:
Simply, in this verse, Jer.1:5,  God is speaking to Jeremiah and telling him that in HIS dimension of time less Eternity and through HIS Foreknowledge,  Rom.8:29 that God saw Jeremiah’s life even before the creation of the universe and consecrated and confirmed him in what God knew that he would do.  This God also did the same with Christ Jesus and all of the Elect,  past, present and future.  And all of this was based upon what God knew before it came to pass.  Before the fist energy went into making the first atom GOD know the ultimate detailed results in creating HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM FAMILY.  The Architect with the plans prior to the completion of the building.

Matt.7:21-23:   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.

James 2:16-18:   And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  ¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  ¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Any questions, get back to me.   Love to all in Christ Jesus,  Ken<><

(Past issues of “Worth Considering” may be found:  www.Trinity-Aloha.org )

Catastrophic Midwestern flooding costing farmers $1 billion and counting
Catastrophic flooding across the central Midwest has wiped out livestock and probably will prevent farmers from planting this spring.
Spring flooding could be ‘unprecedented’ with 200 million Americans at risk
Spring flooding has already been disastrous, and it’s likely to get worse, federal forecasters announced Thursday. Floods could reach ‘unprecedented’ and ‘potentially historic’ levels.