HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THURSDAY'S TRIUMPHS: TOTAL RELIANCE ON 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...

THURSDAY'S TRIUMPHS: TOTAL RELIANCE ON THE LORD...

IF we can keep *GOD*/CHRIST, in the forefront of our thoughts, hearts, actions, and, reactions, at ALL times, we are triumphant over the world, even though, we may experience the tugs of it trying to bring us down to it!!!

REMAINING IN HIM, is power absolute! When we have our entire focus upon HIM, relying solely, upon HIM, HE draws ever nearer to us, while, providing for us in a multitude of ways! HE LOVES those who LOVE HIM, having an especially kind, and, generous disposition towards these, and, by now, everyone should know that we CAN'T do this without HIM...

Of the BIBLICAL characters we know, and, LOVE, there are but handfuls of those who TRULY, relied upon HIM, and, remained in HIM, obediently, and even some of these, sinned against HIM, at least once! King David, the shepherd boy, is a great study of humility, devotion, FAITH, and, obedience to *GOD*! He was a human after *GOD'S* own heart, who continuously revered *GOD'S* justice! He waited on *GOD*, and, worshipped HIM constantly, out of deep LOVE, respect, and, regard! David always yielded to *GOD'S* rebuke when he erred, and, accepted humbly, whatever *GOD* gave him, in punishment, or, whatever! He always appealed to *GOD*, when he needed a way to overcome anything, never seeking self-glory, or, self-vindication, and, he carried out *GOD'S* instructions without fail! David's life was not an easy one; he had much to contend with, but, HE KNEW HE had been BLESSED by THE LORD, throughout it all! There are other remarkable characteristics, and, behaviours concerning David, all which left him transparent, and, sharp in awareness of his humanness, whom, enjoyed an open, friendly relationship with THE LORD! He, eventually sinned, and, spent much time confessing, repenting, and, prayer, in which case, *GOD* forgave him, yet, HE also, altered the relationship, by placing certain restrictions, that were not there before! It didn't change HIS LOVE for David, but, sin upsets our LORD, greatly, and, the consequences ARE evident, and, ARE effective, according to HIS WILL!!!

Anyway, the point is, that David SO LOVED *GOD*, he walked in integrity of HIS LAWS, STATUTES, and, PRECEPTS, all of the days of his life, even after sinning against HIM, and this earned *GOD'S* favour, HIS personal attention to every detail of his life, as well as the promise HE made to him, concerning his descendants, his seed, and, his witnessing all *GOD* promised!!!

We can half-step all we want, and, complain when it seems HE is not listening to us, but, TRUTH would have it, that we come FULLY TO HIM, body, mind, and, spirit, with TOTAL reliance on HIM, and, TRUST in HIS GRACIOUS LOVE for us!!!

We CAN be triumphant OVER all in this life, we only NEED to get our priorities straight, as we walk IN HIS WILL! PRAISE HIM for giving us ALL we need to make this journey! THANK YOU LORD, for YOUR LOVE, and, YOUR gifts, tools, instructions, and, YOUR sacrifice!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012