HEAVENLY INCLINED...: 'EACH' OF US HAS CHALLENGES...

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...

'EACH' OF US HAS CHALLENGES...

There IS NOT a person in this life who does not have problems, troubles, trials, and tribulations; it is part of our journey in this realm! Yet, many of us look enviously upon the lives of others, which is wrong for many reasons, one of which is, it makes our lives worse, because we are then, caught up in negatives that further remove us from overcoming...

Yes, there ARE lots of matters in this life that cause us to wonder why, and how some people SEEM to have perfect lives, but truth is, those lives are just as riddled with challenges as ours, if not more so! We CAN'T know what it is like to live someone else's life, regardless of external indicators, and so, we are wise to manage our own lives, and attempt towards improvement, easing the way, void of envy, or discouragement...

We waste SO much time being jealous of things that are the way they are for reason, which hinders our own progress! Whatever we endure today, makes for a better tomorrow, *GOD* willing! The things we are jealous of are of the world, NOT of *GOD*, and this is the most important point to remember as we wallow in the murkiness of feeling left out, or denied!!!

IF we could ALWAYS use the energy we expend on wrong, or negative matters, TOWARDS building UP the POSITIVE, we would move forward with greater ease! When we become enmeshed in what is wrong, or negative, we are stymied, slowed, and probably have a lesson, or two, to learn before we can move forward, BECAUSE we have given such matters importance OVER *GODLY* matters!!!

FAITH is TRUST, and BELIEF in *GOD*, and HIS SUPREME MIGHT, and so, we RELY ON HIM for ALL that we need, and for HIS guidance in ALL matters! We stand SOLID in BELIEF that HE HAS our best interests in heart, and according TO HIS WILL, IS working around us, in us, and through us...

The happiness, and comfort we desire is not usually, aligned to the happiness that HE desires for us! Not that HE doesn't desire for us to be comfortable, instead that this comfort, and happiness is NOT premised on creature comforts, instead ON HIM!!!

We make it through the tough times, and we DO see better times, still, we are rarely happy with what we have! HE asks that we be content in this journey, BECAUSE of our RELIANCE on HIM, and NOT what is of the world, because what HE provides IS lasting, and beneficial for the whole being, thus, TRULY satisfies us! A difficult lesson for us to master, yet, imperative for many reasons!!!

Next time you feel the pangs of envy as you view someone's life from a distance, remind yourself that they, too, have their share of challenges to deal with, then, remind yourself that there are MANY who have it way worse than you, then, PRAISE THE LORD for YOUR life, and HIS PRESENCE in it!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013