HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE PLANES OF HAPPINESS...

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...

THE PLANES OF HAPPINESS...

Let's talk happiness...

There is controversy over this topic, because there is misunderstanding! Does *GOD* want us to be happy? Well, I would say that the answer lies mainly in whether you are speaking of *GODLY* happiness, or worldly happiness...

*GOD* doesn't call for us to be happy in the world, that is for sure! HE calls us to be happy IN HIM, and IN HOLINESS, in that we are to be content IN HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, and HIS GLORY!!!

Don't misunderstand that HE doesn't call us to be happy in the world; what this means is that we should not be happy in worldly matters, instead in HIGHER matters, for these matters ARE those that elevate us, now, and forever. It isn't that HE doesn't want us to have, or to enjoy, it is that HE doesn't want such to OVERTAKE what IS IMPERATIVE, because it IS true, we are easily preoccupied with matters that have NO significance to that later date when we arrive home! We are easily distracted from HIS WILL, in order to satisfy this time, and so forth!!!

HE doesn't want us to be crippled with misery, either, for such also, OVERTAKES the openness of receiving, or, reflecting HIS WILL!!!

Therefore, happiness should NOT be something we chase after, or even require, it should be that we are happy IN HIM, HIS PROVISION, HIS LOVE, and HIS care for us! IF we are TRULY walking in FAITH, we RELY on HIM for EVERYTHING, and what we come into by HIS generosity, tangible, or intangible, ARE the standards for happiness...

Many of HIS favoured characters in THE WORD, were HIGHLY BLESSED, in various ways, and were quite happy in SERVING HIM, and HAVING HIM as the CENTER, and SOURCE of their lives! They were FULFILLED THROUGH HIM, and IN HIM! HE met their every earthly need, and more, plus, HE advanced them spiritually because of their DEVOTION, OBEDIENCE, and LOVE of HIM OVER the world...

Some walked through the desert for 40 years, grumbling, complaining, and being discontent, despite HIS PROVISION, PRESENCE, LOVE, and CARE for them! Yet, as HE PROMISED them through their Forefathers, HE DELIVERED them into a land of milk, and honey! Though, it was touch, and go, as HIS anger flared up against their behaviours! They just COULDN'T find happiness IN HIM, they wanted happiness that comes from the pleasures of the world! They just COULDN'T be content IN HIS PRESENCE, the PRESENCE OF THE ONE SOVEREIGN KING OF CREATION, they had to have tangible goods in order to feel happy, content, and provided for! Amazing...

We SHOULDN'T seek happiness, it comes from a TRUE relationship with HIM! Instead of chasing happiness in this world, and in this time, IF we FREE our minds, and emotions from this shackle of desperately seeking, and ALLOW HIS WILL TO BE, true happiness IS found, and the being IS satiated in ALL matters!!!

When we are ONE with THE LORD, what more could we need, since HE ALONE, IS PROVISION of EVERY kind???

So, you see, it is a matter of understanding; happiness derived of HIM, or happiness derived of the world! One is EVERLASTING, the other is fleeting, and empty! One is FULFILLING from the depths of the spirit, the other is delusional, and ever changing, as do our minds, and wants!!!

MATTHEW 6: 33...
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often ensnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich.

But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God.

We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.

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