HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEETING OF THE MINDS: THANKFULNESS???

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...

MONDAY'S MEETING OF THE MINDS: THANKFULNESS???

What do I have to be thankful for???

For many, this is the response concerning giving thanks unto THE LORD, as their situation, circumstances, or conditions are not up to their par! They are blinded by what they don't have, so they can't find reason to rejoice in what they DO have! They can't recognize what in this day, IS worthy of gratitude! Generally speaking, no matter how bad things are, there are at least, several things in each day worthy of thanking THE LORD for, even though the darkness attempts to hide THE LIGHT of TRUTH from us, it's OPTIMIZATION IS EVER PRESENT, and working wonders!!!

Again, my own life in this world is FAR from perfect, but I can ALWAYS find what is right, just, good, and the beauty in this time; there ARE endless areas where wholesomeness CAN be noticed, found, and embraced, and THESE are what matter: THESE are what are worthy of giving thanks for, and PRAISING THE LORD for!!!

It is a bit odd that the things which hinder us SEEM to be as mountains, on which it SEEMS it is difficult to find even one good thing, but that one good thing found, appreciated, and taken to heart, levels down that oppressive mountain greatly, BECAUSE that mountain is only founded upon human perception, emotion, and imaginings, whereas ALL good things come from THE LORD, and thus, ARE empowering, BECAUSE they are ROOTED in HIM, who IS FOREVER! Just think about that for a moment, and I am sure you will find reason to agree!!!

Emotionalism is a great deceiver, and is largely aided by self-inclination, pride, and those very characteristics which separate us from our LORD, giving power to what is not of HIM, in that, when we attach importance to what we don't have, can't do, or on fanciful wishes, we are NOT thinking rightly, as our objective is fleshy, not *GODLY*! I am no exception, I have my wishes, but I have learned that I ought NOT be taken over by these wishes, and to honestly prioritize my days, according to the WILL OF *GOD*, in practical sensibility, FOR HIS GLORY, as IN HIS GLORY, I AM optimized! WHAT sense does it make for me to waste time wanting what I might never have, when I can spend my time working with, and through what I have, while being grateful, and thankful, and moving forward in HIS name, KNOWING that this is all temporary, but where I am ultimately heading, is eternal? In other words, I am NOT allowing myself to be fooled away from HIM!!!

Ah, our journey through this realm is complicated, to which WE add more complexities than necessary! IF we RELIED ON THE LORD as we are taught to, we would be able to move fluidly through, while being taken care of, because that IS what HE DOES; HE CARES for those who LOVE HIM, and TRUST HIM! Alas, we are taught in reverse, and we go through much before we begin to realize THE TRUTH!!!

There ARE lots of negatives in this day, no doubt; often they accumulate all at one time, but I testify freely that the POSITIVES HOLD MIGHTY, SUPERNATURAL POWER OVER those negatives, KEEPING THE LIGHT visible, and touchable! People are prone to letting one bad thing ruin the day, but they find it SO difficult to accept the FACT that one GOOD thing can change the course of the day, eradicate the weight of the bad, and increase the spirit! Again, it is about choice; we HAVE the choice to wallow in the murk, or be FREED by THE LORD, of whom, EVERY GOOD thing is brought forth!!!

I KNOW there are times, and circumstances that are horrendous, I have endured quite a few myself, but I also KNOW that THERE IS GOOD TO BE FOUND IN THIS *GOD* GIVEN day, and that I AM enabled BY HIM to move through that which would bind me down, and captivate me!!!

Some ask what is there to be thankful for, and to them I reply, look to THE LORD, who GAVE you breath, whom has led you this far, whom at a sincere beacon IS right here to move you through, and has placed all sorts of wonders, and beauty before you! If you are overtaken by what is of the world, then I urge you to look UPWARD, and INVOKE THE POWERS of THE HOLY LORD, to RELY on HIM, TRUST in HIM, while PRAISING, and WORSHIPING HIM, and being GRATEFUL FOR HIS PRESENCE in your life: gratitude is an attitude which OPENS UP to greatness!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014