HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: NEGATIVELY INCLINED PEOPLE NEED LOVE TOO...

Thanksgiving for the LORD's Favor

Psalms 138 (A Psalm of David)
1/ I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2/ I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3/ In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4/ All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5/ Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6/ Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7/ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8/ The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands... AMEN!!!

One CANNOT earn GRACE, it is HIS own ESSENCE; a gift, still, IF one claims to be IN HIS GRACE, we ARE to, or, OUGHT to, be reflections of that GRACE! 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1, tells us not to take HIS GRACE in vain! This means, living in LOVE, morality, ethics, virtue, righteousness, and, spiritual improvement, TOWARDS, spiritual maturity, WHILE, visibly BEING as LIGHTS, beaming OF *GOD*, beckoning the world, TO THE LIGHT! Righteousness MEANS, conduct in conformity with *GOD'S* WILL, and, "Be HOLY because I AM HOLY!", therefore, indicating that knowledge, wisdom, and, effort, DO, apply TO the righteous!!! NEVER forget, we were grafted in, and, if we do not bear fruit, as a dead branch, we will be pruned out, just as were, the natural branches!!!

We are not saved by works, instead, works PROVE HIM in us: they identify HIS own...

IF I claim ONENESS with *GOD*, through CHRIST JESUS, I am DEAD TO THE WORLD, THUS, LIVING as HIM, which is, hopefully, witnessed IN, and, THROUGH, my every thought, action, and, reaction; MEANING, I am, THROUGH CONSCIOUS application OF THE WORD, HIS COMMANDS, HIS WILL, REFLECTING righteousness, not, merely, FAITH! I become, the TRULY FRUITFUL branch, of THE VINE, the TRUE member of THE BODY/THE CHURCH, CHRIST JESUS, and, TESTIFY, then, GLORIFY, BOLDLY, BY my thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HIS name, because, HE IS WORTHY, and, IN HIS LOVE, has SHOWN me, how I OUGHT to exist, to which, I eagerly, adapt, and, comply!!!

MATTHEW 5:48...
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect

1 PETER 1:14-16...
14/ Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance
15/ but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
16/ for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."

ROMANS 12:2...
Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Conduct, in conformity to *GOD'S* WILL, marks the righteous; it is NOT because of guilt, or, ancient Laws, but, because of LOVE; LOVE for *GOD*, self, then, others! CHRIST JESUS gave us Commandments to live by, of which, the first is to LOVE *GOD*, with all of your mind, heart, and, soul; the second is, to LOVE one another!

LOVE COMPELS us to LIVE IN HIM, through conduct which conforms to *GOD*; in other words, morality, ethics, doing good, and, being good, and, ever striving to improve the spirit! It is about REFLECTING THE TRUTH, for ALL to bear witness to, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, RADIANTLY SHINING OF HIS POWER, GRACE, and, MERCIES!!!

It IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, baby, all about LOVE!!!

MATTHEW 4: 17...From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

JOHN 14:15..."If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NOTE: I do not intend to preach, rather to reach; to stir up, awaken, to inspire, and, bring forth, in discussion, that which is, perhaps, dormantly existing in the heart of hearts, thus, little, or, no, sugar coatings, just THE WORD of *GOD*, the TRUTH, along with some of my thoughts. And truth is, I am reminding myself always, as I practice these reminders, in the best of my abilities, and capacities, while RELYING on THE LORD to lead me on that narrow PATH---> MATTHEW 7: 14: "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it... TO *GOD* BE ALL GLORY...

MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: NEGATIVELY INCLINED PEOPLE NEED LOVE TOO...

Yes, there ARE people in our lives, those we HAVE to be around, whom, are like thorns in our sides, and, DO provoke us, at least, some of the time, no matter how we strive to remain unaffected by them! What do we do when someone seems bent on making your time around them, miserable? Well, according to *GOD*, we are to LOVE them, forgive them, and, let them do what they will, without being affected! We are to remain meek, gentle, kind, and, understanding, ALWAYS being PEACEABLE! It can be downright difficult at times, so, what do we do then? We PRAY for forgiveness, and, forgive them! We struggle to NOT react to them, and, when we are finally, away from their presence, we meditate on WHY they are bugging the bejeebers out of us, forgive, PRAY, and, calm down, maintaining LOVE for them, no matter what!!!

HEBREWS 12:14...
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

ROMANS 12:14, &, 18-21...
14/ Bless those who persecute (you), bless and do not curse them.

18/ If possible, on your part, live at peace with all.
19/ Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
20/ Rather, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."
21/ Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good.

MATTHEW 5:41, &, 43-48...
41/ Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.

43/ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44/ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45/ that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
46/ For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?
47/ And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
48/ So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

There are MANY such verses telling us HOW to deal with difficult people, and while, it takes some time to master, obviously, according to CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, *GOD*, it CAN be done!!!

Just as the LIGHT penetrates, then, eradicates the darkness, so too, does goodness overcome evil...

People with negative intentions, attitudes, actions, and, reactions, need LOVE too, so, I CAN see the soundness in *GOD'S* instructions for dealing with them, still, it IS one of the MOST difficult areas of obedience to master, yet, we MUST!!!

Through CHRIST, let us LEARN to control ourselves, despite what is uncomfortable, and, wrong! Let us live in the PEACE HE has set before us, and, within us, and, LOVE, no matter what! PRAISE HIM for giving us answers, and, solutions to every matter under the sun, because, without these instructions, only HE knows how much worse this life would be!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS