HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: THE STABILITY OF LOVE, IN OVERCOMING WHAT IS NOT OF LOVE...

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...

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: THE STABILITY OF LOVE, IN OVERCOMING WHAT IS NOT OF LOVE...

MATTHEW 18: 23-35...
23/ That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
24/ When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
25/ Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.
26/ At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.
27/ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
28/ When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'
29/ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.
30/ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
31/ Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
32/ His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
33/ Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'
34/ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.
35/ So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

MATTHEW 5: 38-48...
38/ "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39/ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.
40/ If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
41/ Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.
42/ Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.
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.

MATTHEW 10: 14...
Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words--go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.

ROMANS 12: 17-21...
17/ Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.
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.

Stability in the face of adversity, forgiveness, and, mercy, are LOVE personified! One must always remember that we are not exactly worthy of THE LORD'S LOVE, but, HE LOVES us anyway, and, COMMANDS that we LEARN to LOVE as DOES HE! It is by deception that we even know adversity, thus, IF we claim THE LORD, we are to grow beyond such! It is not easy, yet, IS IMPERATIVE; HE says, as HE has had pity, and, MERCY on us, we are to do with ALL!!!

LOVE is FAR ADVANCED OVER all else, and, is NOT disturbed by what is against it, instead, it races on, spiraling, because, it CANNOT BE DEFEATED, EVER!!!

The HIGH road is NOT an easy road, nor, was it intended to be! The roads of the world are the easy ones to take, but, the straight, narrow, and, HIGH road is one of greatness, thus, those who travel it, MUST leave the falsehood of the wrong behind, even IF the wrong is in close pursuit, and, creating havoc!!!

When our stance of LOVE is challenged by uninformed, ignorant, uncaring people, we must PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, and, GLORIFY THE LORD, in our thoughts, actions, and, reactions, even IF it is the most difficult thing we have ever had to do, because to the easiest thing for us to do, is to come off the HIGH road, down to their level, but, that really isn't an option, is it???

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