HEAVENLY INCLINED...: GIVE EVERYTHING, EXPECT NOTHING...

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...

GIVE EVERYTHING, EXPECT NOTHING...

And CHRIST JESUS, THE LORD *GOD*, and SAVIOUR was intently teaching the people, healing them, curing them, performing signs, and wonders, because they would never believe if they didn't see...

Even with HIS obvious PRESENCE, HE was questioned, doubted, and refuted! Not only by the Pharisees, and Sadducees, but also by certain of the masses who followed HIM, despite hearing HIM, and witnessing HIS powers...

You know, a lot of people, become discouraged in this life, because they are not well received, or, the good they do, is not celebrated, if even remembered. We have to come to terms with this, because to lose heart over human acceptance is debilitating. It is true, and I can testify to this, that people, soon forget the good one does, HOWEVER, our overall efforts are NOT measured by the world, they ARE measured by THE LORD *GOD*, and are being tallied for our recompense, come that Day of Days...

Also, to EXPECT notice for doing what is right, what is good, takes away from the heart of doing good, and should remain as anonymous as is feasible! Doing good is NOT about us, it is about the building UP of THE LORD, and HIS GLORY! It is about forwarding LOVE! It is about many intangibles, which somewhere along the line, might have tangible effects. And, it should be noted that doing good is more than deeds...

There was a point in CHRIST'S Ministry, when Disciples fled from HIM (JOHN 6: 66), because of the TRUTH, but, that did not dissuade HIM, not at all, for HIS mission was NOT about how many would not accept HIM, but those that would, or might at some point, all the way to this very day...

The product of our efforts, is NOT always noticed, or even appreciated, but that is alright; we are storing up treasures in HEAVEN, not on Earth!!!

THE LORD spoke about HIS followers, and Disciples as being the salt of the Earth; if the salt loses it's flavour, it is useless, and so it is with being discouraged by how the world receives our efforts, as our efforts, while in HOPE of inspiring, and guiding TO THE LIGHT, are not finalized by humanity, instead by *GOD* HIMSELF...

The same works with FAITH; many lose FAITH along the way, because they don't see instant results of their FAITH; did they really have FAITH?! Did they really have the knowledge to understand FAITH?!!!

Evil opposition, and oppression, is at work 24/7, using the slightest discouragement to build a mountain of faltering, wavering, unsteady issues from that one slight hindrance, thus, we HAVE to realize, then remember, it is NOT about us, it is NOT about accolade, it IS about THE LORD, HIS GLORY, and what IS to come! Though the HOPE remains that OUR limited efforts have some effect upon others, we should KNOW that whatever we do, IN HIS name, is but a seed, and the rest is up to HIM...

There is SO much to learn from our LORD, and while some seems so obscurely hidden from us, the MORE we delve INTO studying HIM, the greater insight we have of HIM, and HIS DIVINE nature, thus, a greater model to pattern ourselves after...

NO ONE said this is easy; the journey wasn't designated for ease! Whatever we do is a drop in the bucket, but the bucket is PERFECT, and so, what we drop in the bucket, should be with great intent, and all the GOOD we can bring forth, rejoicing in that we had a part in the whole, FOR, and TO HIS GLORY, and for the good of ALL...

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS