CHOICE

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CHOICE

Today’s Scripture    (Nice Thought came across my desk this morning: )  6/26/18
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…”  (Exodus 19:5, NIV)

Obedience
Sometimes God asks us to do things that don’t make sense. It doesn’t seem logical. It doesn’t fit into our budget. It doesn’t line up with our schedule. “God, You want me to go back to college? I’m 40 years old.” “God, You want me to give them a gift? I was saving those funds for my own dreams.” Or, “God, You want me to leave this secure position that I’ve had for years and start my own business?” Too often we over analyze it. We debate it; look at it only in the natural. We end up making excuses, talking ourselves out of it, “That couldn’t be God.” But if you’re going to reach your highest potential, you have to have bold obedience. That means you obey even when you don’t understand it. You just do it even when it doesn’t make sense. That’s what faith is all about.

If you can understand everything and have the time, the money and it’s all lined up, then that doesn’t really take any faith. God will ask you to do things that seem far out, unusual, not practical. With every act of obedience, there is a blessing attached to it. When you do what you know God wants you to do, a blessing will follow. God rewards obedience!

A Prayer for Today
“Father, today I choose to obey You. I let go of trying to reason it all out in my mind and choose to trust You. Thank You for Your faithfulness and for rewarding my obedience in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My notes:
It seems to me that the importance of this message in not only Obedience but also Knowing what GOD is asking us to do?   I often think of Abraham being so very sure that GOD had ask him to sacrifice his only son who had also had a supernatural birth.   How did Abraham really know that it was GOD talking to his heart of hearts?

When I talk to GOD (Prayer) which is a lot of the time, that I first have to filter out the other voices in my mind, some demonic.    And what others have said to me in my related memories.   And my own voice of rationality and then finally perhaps, way down deep in the quietness and stillness of my soul I just might hear GOD’s loving and kind voice of truth.  I am learning that HIS voice in my soul is found in a place of quietness where I choose to shut down every other voice.  And when I do get the right connection he is never in a hurry or is short on words and always has consideration of my space in HIS great love for me.  And I wonder how HE can be that way with every other soul on planet earth but then,  HE IS GOD and holds my atoms together by the word of HIS power.  He has my hair counted (much simpler these days) and has the Universe totally under control to do HIS bidding along with every national leader.  So it is not easy but can be done to hear and talk to GOD but it is not easy shutting everything else out. 

So Abraham must have totally mastered filtering out the world to know the voice of GOD that well.   So well that he was willing to build an alter,  place the kindling on the alter,  tie up his only son and raise the knife before he was stopped and found the ram sacrifice provided by GOD in the thicket.   My thoughts are that GOD already knew what Abraham would do but that Abraham needed to know, in fact, as well, what he would do.  And thus Abraham became the father of faith in the Bible.  So first we learn to have faith,  then we find God’s will for sure and then we come into obedience as above.  And fight our carnal nature all the way.  We must be patient in seeking, asking and knocking on HIS Door but when we do our homework HE is always at HOME….

Of course the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life will try to keep you so busy that you don’t have time for this eternal exercise.

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

TRUE VINE

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Today’s Scripture  (Across my Desk)  ( Abide)  is the word  in the King James.

The way that I came to the LORD in 1955 was that I saw this abiding Fruit  clearly in the life of a young custodian (age 19) for the very first time.   He was truly abiding in the Vine and his branch was absolutely full of God’s fruit and it so amazed me that I began to go with him to meetings to find out what had happened to him.   I think Floyd was the first true Christian that I had ever met.  He was 100% captivated by God’s Truth,  Christ Jesus and the Spiritual.  (Never did attend that church but sure loved to play their concert grand piano.  I meet Floyd while sneaking in to play the piano when no one was around.   It was a sin to let that beautiful piano be an orphan for most ot the week.)   (Fruit Attached)   Love you much in Jesus,   Ken<><    www.Trinity-Aloha.org

TRUE VINE:   6/22/18
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5, NIV )

Remain in Him
Have you ever thought about the relationship between the branch and the vine? We don’t use these kinds of word pictures very much anymore, but think about it–if the branch is not attached to the vine, it withers and dies. The branches’ very life depends on being attached to the vine. The same thing happens if we try to operate in this life without Jesus. Without Him, we can do nothing. We are cut from our life source. But when you remain in Him, by daily connecting with Him through prayer, worship and study of the Word, then your life will be fruitful. You’ll walk in joy and blessing. I love that this verse says “much fruit,” which means you will have an abundant harvest in your life. God doesn’t want you to just barely get by. He wants to overwhelm you with His goodness. Remain in Him today. Choose to make Him top priority, and you’ll see His hand of blessing operating in every area of your life!

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being my source of life. Thank You for Your hand of blessing that is leading and guiding me. I choose to make You the number one priority in my life. Let my heart hunger only for You today in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

More GREAT QUOTES  -Sermonindex.net    "Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity  without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is   always Christianity without Christ." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer    "Let us beware lest the things we own come to own us."  - Anonymous    "'Why are we not more holy?' asked John Wesley, addressing his  preachers. 'Chiefly because we are enthusiasts, looking for the   end without the means.'" - John Wesley    "Men are God's method. The Church is looking for better methods;   God is looking for better men." - E.M.Bounds    "The devil has a counterfeit for nearly everything."  - Anonymous    "The Book of books is called the Holy Bible because it has a holy  author, and aims at a holy purpose, the production of holiness in   its readers." - Daniel Steele

VICTORY IS HIS

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VICTORY IS HIS     (6/21/18)    “WORTH CONSIDERING”

No Hope of Victory in Our Own Strength

David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

June 7, 2018

Even if you are saved — living under the covering of Christ’s blood and secured by faith in his work on the cross for you — you can still have ongoing battles raging inside you. Enemies of your soul seek to devour you and you are still engaged in a battle with satanic powers and strongholds. We are to claim the power that is available to us through God’s New Covenant, but that power comes only by faith.

The prophet Isaiah warned Israel that there was no possibility of victory for them if they attempted to fight their adversary in their own strength. Isaiah chapter 31 paints a perfect picture of the futility of trying to do battle with the enemy in our human ability. I believe this chapter is a type and shadow of the ineffectiveness of our attempts today to defeat lusts, bad habits, and besetting sins by relying on human ideas and aids.

This chapter is also an example to us of how sin will increase in the last days. Scripture says that society will wax worse and worse and the Church will be inundated with deceptions and doctrines of demons. I believe we are seeing that happen right now. Demonic hordes have infiltrated all media and every form of technology, flooding our culture with sensuality and perversions of all kinds.

If you are in the midst of an overwhelming struggle, you must learn the word God gave to Zechariah: “’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

“For through the voice of the Lord, [the enemy] will be beaten down” (Isaiah 30:31). Isaiah is saying, “Your Lord promises to fight for you. He will make his voice known and it will put all your enemies to flight.”

Are you facing an enemy that is too powerful for you right now? If so, God asks simply that you lay down your sword and trust him to fight on your behalf.

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This was written some time ago by David Wilkerson but still very true and a very difficult lesson to learn for me.  At near 86 I have been fighting gout in my right foot and ankle,  very very painful at times.  So still trying to learn how to rest in the LORD, cease from my own efforts and Trust HIM for the healing.   But then it seems I have more faith for others than I have for my self.   Perhaps that is why we need each other in HIS UNITY, like in:  John 17:20-26 & Eph.4:11-16.   (Please Read the Verses!!!)

Perhaps when we are fitly joined and compacted we get to see Jesus powerfully living among us…  In John 17:22 the LORD gives us HIS glory (power) because we come into Unity in HIM.  So  OK,  perhaps this is the way that it works.  We get together with One Mind and One Spirit in HIS Truth and we then can experience Freedom from sin, sickness and death?  No memberships,  no pew polishing, no tithing,  no denominations just giving out of vision and love.  Leadership, of course,  but there because we want to be there, where ever,  house church or big box building with a steeple,  no matter the place.  The CHURCH is the people.

After all,  There is but one Church of Christ Jesus and all who love HIM and obey HIM are members….   Right ???  So find a Jesus Church where Jesus is actually LORD, IN POWER,  where HIS commandments are really honored and see where it goes.

Love in Jesus,  Ken<><

MIGHTY GOD

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MIGHTY GOD

Today’s Scripture  (on my computer today)  6/20/18
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.”   (Isaiah 9:6, AMPC)

When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, not only is your eternity secure, but you become a child of the Most High God. You instantly have an Everlasting Father! Think about that word everlasting. It means that before the beginning of time, the Father was there. He was waiting for you to make the choice to receive Him as your Heavenly Father and become a child of His.

I can only imagine that He was excited and anticipating that day just like a father would anticipate the birth of his child in the natural. I can imagine that each day God would think, “It is today!” I don’t know what your experience has been with your earthly father, but God is a good and perfect Father. He loves you with an everlasting love. He loves everything about you so much that He notices when a single hair falls from your head. He accepts you just the way you are, and He loves you enough to guide you and work His character in you. Best of all, He will be your Father from now through eternity! He will never leave you nor forsake you! Thank Him today for being your Everlasting Father!

A Prayer for Today
“Everlasting Father, thank You for loving me today and for always being with me. Help me to understand Your love more so that I can know You better. Let Your love flow through me so that others can see Your goodness and come to know You as Father, too, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Comments:
The follow message came across my desk today and is absolutely TRUE.  Not much else needs to be said.   But then there is the little word Lord,  in the beginning comments which we say so often as Christians but may not fully understand what it means:

lord  noun    1.  a person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.      2.  a person who exercises authority from property rights; an owner of land, houses, etc.  3.  a person who is a leader or has great influence in a chosen profession:

So really, when I say LORD JESUS:   It should mean that HE has real Authority, Control and Power over my life and my property and is the great basic leader and influence in my daily life.

So if this is really true then it means that I have studied in depth the Holy Scriptures to see how HE want’s me to live my life.  It means I am looking to find his commandments and to keep them.  That in my life HE is my MASTER as implied by the word Christian which means:  To Be A Slave of Christ.  (First used in Antioch as a derision against those of “The Way” or the Early Christians.)

IF OTHERWISE and I call myself a Christian it is pure Hypocrisy or Acting.  Isaiah writes about those in Isaiah 28:9-20  (15)…“for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”  So Isaiah warns us that Hypocrisy will not work.  Hypocrisy is what I call fire insurance.  You may have an old policy in a drawer some place but unless you have paid the premiums the paper will only help to make a fire hotter and burn better.  So before you apply the good stuff of the note below,  please do an inventory,  Is Jesus Really LORD or is your little ego sitting in HIS place in the throne room of your life with no LORD or authority over you at all ?  Hope that Jesus is Truly Lord?

Love you much in Christ Jesus,  Ken<><

NEW LIFE

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ALOHA FAMILY AND FRIENDS,  Beloved of the LORD

NEW LIFE    “WORTH CONSIDERING”    3/8/19   (Across my desk this morning.)

Today’s Scripture
“And provide for those who grieve in Zion…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
(Isaiah 61:3, NIV)

New Garments
Do you need a new garment today? I’m not talking about a physical garment. I’m talking about what’s covering your mind and emotions. When you feel that heaviness and discouragement are trying to overtake you, the first thing to do is take off the old coat of heaviness and put on a new coat of praise. When you put on the garment of praise, that spirit of heaviness has to go. Sometimes you won’t feel like being grateful. That’s why God says to offer up the sacrifice of praise. God knew it would not always be easy. You will have to dig your heels in and say, “God, I’m tired and discouraged, but I know You are good. You are good all the time, so I choose to give You praise.” Today is the day for new garments! Thank Him for restoring you, even if you don’t see it yet. As this verse says, you will be called an oak of righteousness, strong and secure, and you will display the splendor of the Lord!

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, I come to You today and ask that You take off my old, heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me a garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendor. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Comments:
Seems to me that this can only be done through believing that the KINGDOM of GOD is more real than our earthly existence.   If we truly believe that this temporary time on earth is for spiritual growth, testing and deciding to “Walk in the Light as HE is in the Light” then it is become much easier. Then it becomes stupid not to pass up the lies of the world and the signs that say buy this or that to be happy.  So it takes a heart change as to what is real and eternal and what is not to be able to settle into a Holy life style.

The Good Book teaches that “FAITH comes by hearing,  and hearing by the Word of God.”   So if you really want to get ready for eternity with the time you have left you are going to need to spend some real time with the Bible and especially the New Testament.  The Holy Bible gives us GOD’s perspective on eternal things like nothing else.   So if you are really REALLY expecting to live with The Creator through out eternity when this life is over,  what needs to change?  Are you really on track with what HE created you to do while being tested in this temporary dimension of time.  I often think that HE has given me more time here (at 86) because I am a slow learner.  But I am learning that we can only keep what we send ahead.

So setting things in place here in Kealia,  Hawaii to be able, in the Holy Spirit, to gather a small house church gathering with some extra space to mentor some young folks who feel called to be leaders in HIS CHURCH.  Rafters are now up for the roof for the ohana/barn/shop/storage area.  So please keep us in your prayers.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy,   Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

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Good Quotes:

“Put off a sin or a piece of a sin every day.”-Rutherford.

"A revival is no more a miracle than a crop of wheat. In any community revival can be secured from heaven when heroic souls enter the conflict determined to win or die - or if need be to win and die! The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent   take it by force." - Charles G. Finney    "Truth must be spoken, however it be taken."-John Trapp    "Playing marbles with diamonds, thats what we are doing in the church today."   - Vance Havner

“When the church and the world can jog comfortably along together, you can be sure something is wrong. The world has not compromised – its spirit is exactly the same as it ever was. If Christians were equally as faithful to the Lord, separated from the world, and living so that their lives were a reproof to all ungodliness,  the world would hate them as much as it ever did. It is the church that has compromised, not the world.”    – Catherine Booth

"I bet you there will be people in hell saying, 'I thought there was no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.'"   - G.A. Jarquin    "Where there have been mighty deeds, there need be no multitude of words to tell of them. Many words are required only where the deeds have been too feeble to speak for themselves." - A.W. Tozer

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Politics:
The Washington, D.C. based, Christian Defense Coalition, calls for Speaker Pelosi to include Christianity in a potential House Resolution condemning all forms of hatred including anti-Semitism, racism and Islamophobia. According to the Pew Research Center, Christianity is the most dangerous and persecuted religion in the world with nearly a quarter of a billion Christians facing bigotry, harassment and violence.

FATHER

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FATHER      “WORTH CONSIDERING”  6/17/18

Definition of father,  from Webster Dictionary…

 

1a : a man who has begotten a child; also : sire 3

 

b capitalized

 

(1) : god 1 
(2) : the first person of the Trinity (see trinity 1)

 

 

A little of my father’s story:
As I understand it, my Father  (Norman Kenneth Smith Sr.) had it pretty rough growing up,  his mother died when he was about 5.  His dad married his mother’s sister.  And I don’t think he had a good relationship with his two older brothers and then also his 1/2 brothers and sisters of the second family.  One 1/2 sister of his is only 4 months older than I am,  Aunt Janice.

And when I came along in the middle of the Great Depression in 1932 it was hard scrabble living.  I was born on my Great Grand-Father’s Farm in the back hill’s of Kentucky.  “Bingim Hill” I think it is called.  It was the year that all of the banks closed and FDR made gold illegal for anyone to have and went out and collected all he could find.  I remember seeing the soup/bread lines in town.  But on the farm, where we all lived, we lived good and totally off grid.   Actually my dad was a very hard worker and provider for his whole life but died really young at 53.  I can remember only one conversation with my dad in my whole life and that was just a few weeks before he died.

Paul Gibbons was my Dad’s close friend and boss as the story goes.  One day Dad was over at Paul’s home when Paul’s mother had a sudden stroke and died in the bathroom.  One moment she was fine, next moment she was dead.  So that shook him up and a few week later Dad gave his heart to Christ Jesus as LORD and became a Christian during the evening prayer time at Paul’s house.  Then a few week after that he came for a visit to see me and my 4 kids living in Buena Park, Ca.  We had a great time together and as he was leaving we had our only ever real conversation through his car window as he was headed out.  We must have talked for 45 minutes through his car’s drivers side window.  Don’t remember what was said but remember the good feeling of being in one mind and one spirit with my father for the very fist time in my life.  He did not tell me about becoming a Christian as he was still rather private, stoic and internal.  Then one night, soon after, he graduated into the Kingdom while in his bed at age 53.  I was called by Paul and cried all the way from Buena Park to Inglewood thinking Dad had landed in darkness for eternity.  But at Inglewood I was met by Paul and told the good news that He had made it into the Kingdom.  So I have had that wonderful feeling that some day I will be able to sit and talk to my Father and make up for all of the Father’s days that we missed.  And it will be a special time as I am his,  only son.  Of course,  the 150 Hollywood friends who came to his  funeral went home with the Word of God.  Paul’s pastor preached to them for an hour and a half.

And of course our Heavenly Father is waiting, with much love and patience,  for all of HIS Elect Children to complete their homework,  complete their testing, make their eternal connection and graduate to join HIM in the new heaven and earth for eternity.  Hope you all choose wisely and will be there.   Yours, in HIS great love,  Ken<><   www.Trinity-Aloha.org

 

 

HEART

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  NEW HEART:   "WORTH CONSIDERING"  6/15/18   (across my desk today)    Today’s Scripture  "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."  (Ezekiel 36:26, NIV)  	  In life, we all have negative things that happen to us. We go through situations that are unfair. I know people who were raised in an unhealthy environment. Their parents had issues, and now it’s making life much more difficult on them.    But here is the truth: when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He gives you a new heart. In other words, your bloodline changes. No longer are you subject to your earthly heritage; you become subject to your heavenly heritage! His spiritual blessing always overrides the curse in the natural realm. When you understand who you are and what God has already done, then no matter what someone else did, no matter how unfair it was, no matter how you were raised, you won’t get bitter. You won’t live with a chip on your shoulder. You realize that nothing can stop you from fulfilling your God-given destiny!    Today, remember you came from Almighty God. He gave you life. When you choose Him, you are choosing your heavenly heritage of blessing and eternal, abundant life!    A Prayer for Today  "God in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I may be saved. Today I surrender every area of my life to You. Have Your way in me; let Your will be done in my life. Thank You for making me new in Jesus’ name. Amen."    Quotes,  I thought the second one by C.S. Lewis had some real meat in it.  Be Blessed in your day,   Ken<><    www.Trinity-Aloha.org    Quotes from the past:    "Someone asked 'Will the heathen who have never heard the   Gospel be saved?' It is more a question with me whether we --   who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not --   can be saved." - Charles Spurgeon    "A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor false  because spoken magnificently." - Augustine    "The surest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft  underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without  signposts." - C.S. Lewis    "Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that   will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."   - Augustine    "God doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called Who obey." - Anonymous    "If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most   for the present world were precisely those who thought most of   the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the   other world that they have become so ineffective in this." - C.S. Lewis    "If men can get to heaven by being good then the death of Christ   is the worst waste in human history." - Dr. Toussaint

UNITY

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UNITY     6/14/18
How to bring Christian Ministries into a John 17:20-26 much needed Unity is going to take some real soul searching and wisdom for us Christians in the Holy Spirit?  The Church of Christ Jesus needs to come into Universal Unity for the Power of the Holy Spirit to flow again like in (ACTS 2:43, 5:14-16,  notice: Every One was healed.)   And we need to become prepared for the next Great Harvest of Souls and then to GO HOME.  We go home,  clean house, boot out lucifer (Rev.12:11) and enjoy our union with Christ Jesus. (Rev. 19)   Then Armageddon, help set up the 1,000 year Kingdom of Christ Jesus as KING of KINGS.   Then one last battle and a new heaven and a new earth of Righteousness with our Creator for Eternity.    As Christians we need to see that our differences,  in humility and love,  are a wonderful opportunity to find more of GOD’s TRUTH and FREEDOM.  The world is totally confused by the differences that they see in our divisions.  We have agreed to disagree. This does not work.  (United we stand, divided we fall.)

Eschatology  (Study of Prophesy) is also something that most are interested in as we seem to be coming into our LORD’s prophesy’s of Matt.24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 and the end of this age.

Denominations and Cults often weave in some kind of a special track for securing their own community and keeping their “own” membership safe so as to pay their “own bills.”  Many of which are not for the poor or for evangelism as per the scriptures.  Often it is just not a Jesus Church.   When I was the moderator one year for the local Ministerial Association I was sharing on unity and the other ministers told me that they were all very much in unity.  I suggested that then they should all have the same ministry bank account,  I about got hooted out of the meeting.

In a Jesus Church there is only the membership to Christ Jesus as LORD and to learn to hear HIS voice and do what HE says to do.  Of course there is provided by the Holy Spirit a structure of elders to help guide us in this purpose, (Eph.4:11-16.)   But these Elders also need to be guided by the Holy Spirit.   And have a global view and not a local,  political or a denominational kind of view.  His Church is HIS people,  not the steeple.  I hope to live to see a Church/Fire that brings unity with every other Church that is on fire into the John 17 Unity that our LORD prayer for.   The New Testament began with HIS Resurrection.  No one was a Christian until HIS Resurrection and the debt of sin was paid in full.  Then the Church was started at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit.   That process is still at work in the world today but nearly over for the gathering of HIS CHURCH.

God has set out 7,000 years to develop HIS Eternal Family of souls who are to become in HIS IMAGE and LIKENESS as per the original design plan.  He was powerful with man for the first 2000 years,  Then with Abraham and Moses came the 2,000 years of Faith and LAW.  Now we are nearly concluding the 2,000 years of Faith and LOVE in Christ Jesus.   Next we have a Sabbath of 1,000 years of REST in the Kingdom of Christ Jesus to complete the restoration process.  After that is a New Heaven and a New Earth with our Heavenly Father living in LIGHT and RIGHTEOUSNESS as an Eternal Family without time, fear or sin but in LOVE, POWER and a SOUND MIND.

There are a lot of folks that have been deceived by a traditional religious theater church experience that is advertised as the way to heaven, but ???,  Isa. 28:9-20.   Our relationship to Christ Jesus is as LORD ( King,  Master) and then SAVIOR on a personal level,  HE is the only way into God’s Holy Light for Eternity.   HE is building a KINGDOM,  not a democracy,  and we will not get to vote.   But a Kingdom with a perfect loving King is the very best form of government.

There is only one True Church of Christ Jesus and all who love and obey HIM are members. 
In the New Testament HE give us HIS commandments to obey and they are good for us.
HIS TRUTH sets us FREE and brings us no bondage.  The lies of sin do bring us into bondage.

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

FAITH

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FAITH,   TRUE FAITH,   “WORTH CONSIDERING

 Today’s Scripture       (not written by me but worth considering.)
“If you believe, you will receive…”     (Matthew 21:22, NIV)

All through the Bible, there are so many promises of what God has already done for us. It says in Ephesians that “God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.” It says in Colossians that “God has made us worthy.” There is mercy for any mistake we will ever make. It’s already been taken care of. He paid the ultimate price through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. He’s done His part. Now it’s up to us to do our part. We have to start believing it so we can receive.

In the natural, when someone gives you a gift, what’s the first thing you say? “Thank you.” When you give thanks, it’s a sign that you are receiving the gift. Today, receive what God has given you by saying, “Father, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for supplying all of my needs. Thank You for Your goodness in my life.”

As you learn to give Him thanks, you are learning to receive from Him. Open your heart by faith today and thank Him for all of the blessings He has in store for you!

A Prayer for Today
“God, I come to You today giving You thanks and praise for Your faithfulness in my life. I receive Your Word which is life and strength to my soul. Help me to keep my heart focused on You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

My Thought:
I love these positive spiritual reminders, as follows, that I receive in my mail.  But there are issue that sometimes seem to be missing.  Obedience to God’s Truth (not traditions) brings blessings and disobedience brings weeds and pain.   So for “Faith” to be effective there must be  an accompanying action.  If I truly have faith that it is going to rain I take an umbrella with me when I leave home.    James supports that, “ Faith without Works is dead…”  James 2:25.  James is an exceptional book on how to get healed and about faith.  He grew up with Jesus and it shows.   Be good to read James once a month, at least.

So if your faith does not have the support of your actions then it is only head  faith and not heart faith, Rom.10:9-10 and will not work.  James 5:13-18, notice the comment, “Righteous Man.”  There is the Jesus imputed righteousness as we, by faith, make Christ Jesus our LORD and Savior and our sins are blotted out.  But then there is the process in which the Holy Spirit then begins the work of restoring and transforming us into the likeness of Christ Jesus and into the image of GOD.   It was GOD’S  original design plan to make us in HIS IMAGE and LIKENESS.  GOD will absolutely complete what HE begins to do or HE would not have started.

Of course we also are involved as HE has given us a free will and we must also allow the needed changes to happen to be made into HIS IMAGE.  Those who do so will live with our Creator forever.   But those who do not, may find themselves consigned to be alone to outer darkness for eternity.  Hope you choose wisely,   Be Blessed in your Day as you obey the KING of KINGS.    Ken<><

GETTING OLD 6/12/18

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GETTING OLD    6/12/18

Being 85  and nearing 86 in a few months,  LORD willing and the lava don’t rise is a very interesting study in humility for me.  

It is almost like the LORD realizes our need to become humble later in life and has set the stage for it to happen.  Things that I did 10 years ago and did not even think about I now look for someone younger and with better balance to do.   Don’t get me wrong,  I enjoy being 85, it is a brand new experience for me. 

This morning I found that the oat meal (a favorite breakfast) was on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets and needing a ladder to get to.  No one around,  wife gone to work.  So got the little step stool out and started up the steps.  And then said to myself,  what are you doing here with your bad balance?  If you fall,  you would put those you love in a very bad way to take care of you and the mending process just might not go as well as it use to.  So very carefully I got my oatmeal and had my breakfast,  cleaned up my mess and the put the oats in the freezer this time for the next time with kitchen stool ladder not needed.   I also Still have my bike license,  and that also is a no, no…..

My mind is still really pretty sharp but this house that I am living in is really getting worn out.  Should have taken better care of it.  Now if I eat much red meat the gout in my feet feel like walking on broken glass.  But I try to stay away from red meat, and miss it, and I still get things done PTL…  But much more limited.   So not so much by my own doing any more but by those who I can find to help.  Had heavy boxes stored on shelves today,  looks great, that I had been looking at for a week to be stored but just too much for me to do.  So the concept of humility settled in a little deeper today in my world.  The word humility is rather interesting when used in the Bible.

          A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back. (NAS, Proverbs 29:11)

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (NIV, James 1:19-20)

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. (NIV, Leviticus 19:18)

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins. (NIV, Proverbs 29:22)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. (NIV, Proverbs 27:1-2)

When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the falseness of the treacherous will destroy them. (NAS, Proverbs 11:2-3)

Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life. (NIV, Proverbs 22:4)

“But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (NAS, Matthew 23:11-12)

And [Jesus] called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (NAS, Matthew 18:2-4)

And the other side of humility is a willing heart to be obedient as was Moses and Jesus.   So it would seem that I am now entering a school to learn humility and obedience to my LORD in a way that can not be avoided that goes much deeper than ever before. 

Love you much in Christ Jesus and hope you make it into HIS KINGDOM.  Yours, in HIS great love,   Ken<><