HEAVENLY INCLINED...: REMAIN ENCOURAGED IN THE LORD!!!

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...

REMAIN ENCOURAGED IN THE LORD!!!

We should strive to remain encouraged in THE LORD, and, to find happiness in every day! I KNOW it is difficult to do, but, it is to our advantage! When we are FREE from the damaging forces of the world, in mentality, we are free to grow ever closer to HIM! The closer we come to HIM, the more HE dotes over us, listens to us, and, provides for us! When we are facing a challenge, we only need to lift UP to HIM, and, TRUST that HE hears us, feels us, and, is moving mountains for us! The greatest challenge in doing so, is understanding that HIS time is not ours, and, HIS WILL prevails over all else!!!

I realize I seem to repeat some messages, but, there is reason in everything I do! Each day, more than a few cave in to their troubles, problems, and, state of mind, as well as emotions! *GOD*, our LORD, is EVER near, and, IS concerned about us, for HE IS full of LOVE, compassion, GRACE, and, MERCY! AND, each day, HE HAS provided reprieve from the pressures, the onslaught of worldly woes!!!

PSALM 146..
1/ Hallelujah!
2/ Praise the LORD, my soul; I shall praise the LORD all my life, sing praise to my God while I live.
3/ I Put no trust in princes, in mere mortals powerless to save.
4/ When they breathe their last, they return to the earth; that day all their planning comes to nothing.

5/ Happy those whose help is Jacob's God, whose hope is in the LORD, their God,
6/ The maker of heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, Who keeps faith forever,
7/ secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free;
8/ the LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9/ The LORD protects the stranger, sustains the orphan and the widow, but thwarts the way of the wicked.
10/ The LORD shall reign forever, your God, Zion, through all generations! Hallelujah!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary...
146:5-10 The psalmist encourages us to put confidence in God. We must hope in the providence of God for all we need as to this life, and in the grace of God for that which is to come. The God of heaven became a man that he might become our salvation. Though he died on the cross for our sins, and was laid in the grave, yet his thoughts of love to us did not perish; he rose again to fulfil them. When on earth, his miracles were examples of what he is still doing every day. He grants deliverance to captives bound in the chains of sin and Satan. He opens the eyes of the understanding. He feeds with the bread of life those who hunger for salvation; and he is the constant Friend of the poor in spirit, the helpless: with him poor sinners, that are as fatherless, find mercy; and his kingdom shall continue for ever. Then let sinners flee to him, and believers rejoice in him. And as the Lord shall reign for ever, let us stir up each other to praise his holy name.

NOTHING in this world, in this life, is going to LIFT you, as WILL THE LORD! We HAVE this precious OPTION at ALL times, to RAISE to HIM, and, IF we have FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF, and, are IN HIM, HE IS THERE! Though, we must NEVER expect immediate results from HIM, we CAN TOTALLY, RELY upon HIM; this is, after all, what HE wants of us, to RELY upon HIM for every matter under the Heavens!!!

In this day, this gift of *GOD*, there IS happiness, and, PEACE; you only need to have the understanding, and, BELIEF to gather what you most need, for HE IS a MOST FAITHFUL, LOVING, CARING, and, PROVISIONAL *GOD*! THANK HIM in advance, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and, PRAY without ceasing, HE IS EVER NEAR, then REJOICE with all your might!!!

Be ever encouraged IN HIM! MUCH LOVE, I wish you the bounties HE HAS set before you, but mostly, I wish you the knowledge, wisdom, and, understanding to recognize HIS hand of plenty!!!

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