HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THIS WORLD OF SUFFERING...

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...

THIS WORLD OF SUFFERING...

GOD will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless HE has a specific plan by which great BLESSING can come out of the difficulty --- Peter Marshall

I share the above quote because it speaks loudly! Sometimes in suffering, there is greater good to be found, as is evidenced in the Sacrificial suffering of our LORD CHRIST JESUS, who is our best example to reiterate this message...

We humans, are hard pressed to accept suffering, and we cry out to *GOD*, "Why LORD, why"? It is difficult for us to understand that sometimes, great good derives from what causes anguish, and despair...

CHRIST JESUS asked *GOD* to remove the cup from HIM, 3 times in the Garden, before accepting it as absolute necessity! Apostle Paul asked *GOD* to remove the thorn in his side, 3 times before *GOD* told him, "MY GRACE is sufficient for you"!!!

Hence, we HAVE to TRUST THE LORD, in FAITH, and HOPE, and hone our spiritual vision! It is written that what we suffer is common to Man, and HE who is FAITHFUL will not let you be tempted beyond what we can bear; and HE will provide a way that we can endure it (1 CORINTHIANS 10: 13). It is also written that we are heirs of *GOD*, and co-heirs with CHRIST, if indeed we share in HIS sufferings, in order that we may also share in HIS GLORY (ROMANS 8: 17). Indeed, there are ample references to suffering, and we should take them to heart, that the mind is stilled when we face what is of the world...

Day in, day out, my heart is troubled with the sufferings of the people of this world, but I TRUST in THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and REALIZE that not only is some of this suffering for the overall good of all, much of it is brought on by ourselves in our quest to be independent of THE LORD, as we give power to enmity OVER HIM, LOVE, and RIGHTEOUSNESS...

We are TAUGHT in the trials, tests, and tribulations of this time; we GAIN power to endure, to persevere, and overcome! Bottom line is, the more the throes of the world affect us, the more inclined we are to turn to *GOD*, and to RELY ON HIM for a way through...

*GOD* BLESS, and BE with us all! MUCH LOVE, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, that THE LORD IS EVER invoked to consider our plight! Thank HIM, TRUST HIM, and move through within HIS POWERS...

REV. LWINSOR © 2014