HEAVENLY INCLINED...: CHRIST IS CHRISTMAS...

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...

CHRIST IS CHRISTMAS...

THIS IS a MOST HOLY season, but how many view it as such, in this ever busy world???

It is a time of JOYOUS REJOICING, regardless of our circumstances, conditions, or situations, BECAUSE THE LOVE OF *GOD*, whom brought forth of HIMSELF, the GREATEST GIFT imaginable; pardon for our sins, THAT we might share with HIM the BLESSEDNESS of eternity, as HIS own beloved, and NEVER will we have any thing to suffer again! Let us PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and LIFT our weary spirits to EXALT HIM, with grateful celebration!!!

Times are bad all over the globe, which makes CHRISTmas difficult to enjoy for many, but I tell you, lose this mentality, for it is ALL about CHRIST JESUS, and nothing else matters, save for sharing in HIM, HIS GLORY, and HIS most wondrous GIFT! DON'T be downcast when what HE has offered us IS SO BEAUTIFUL it brings tears to the eyes, PEACE to the being, and HOPE to the soul! RAISE UP your spirits, and CELEBRATE HIM with ALL you can muster! CHRISTmas IS a perfect time to strengthen our relationship with HIM, and to forward HIM to others; after all, what better gift is there to give?!?

All Christian Adults throughout the world, during this season, COULD create an atmosphere of festivity for those who need HOPE, and need to be reminded that the suffering of this world is for but a while, then, HE PROMISES those who LOVE HIM, ALL will be far greater than our imaginations could fathom! I was reading about countries where 100, 000 people live in a 2 mile square, which is slum in the first degree, in which the Children are mistreated, LOVE is a rarity, and happiness is hard to come by! IF only one Adult of CHRIST would spend a day SHARING HIM, and HIS LOVE, in JOY, perhaps the little ones would begin to flourish in the goodness of HIS PRESENCE! It could make a world of difference for them in this most HOLY, and REVERENT time, and how THE LORD would BLESS such a one who took the time to do so!!!

We DON'T need the presents money can buy, or other worldly matter to CELEBRATE THE LORD, and IF we do, aren't we far removed from THE TRUTH?! Granted, in some countries, it has become standard to celebrate in a big way, but IS that TRULY the way to celebrate HIM, who came to the Earth, and was placed in a manger of hay, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and led the life of a poor Man? Did HE NEED to come in riches, with much panache, and grandeur? HE DID NOT, for HIS nature is FAR ABOVE such nonsense as the world demands! Therefore, DOESN'T it seem fitting that we celebrate HIM in simplicity, yet with LOUD PROCLAMATION?!!

There is a misconception about being generous, and the fact that THE LORD gives 'every good, and perfect gift' to HIS Children! The generosity HE EXEMPLIFIES and bids of us, is that which comes from the heart, and the spirit; that LOVE, and compassion which evidences HIM IN us! I am sure HE is not against giving presents to one another, however, when presents take the place of celebrating HIM, we have an issue which NEEDS to be acknowledged, and reckoned with! Generosity of spirit would see us giving gifts to those who are in need, to those whom have no one, and so on! IF we share with others what we can, before everyone else, we are acting rightly!!!

Living in a world which contrasts greatly with what reflects THE LORD, is NOT an easy task; it is downright difficult at times, but we RELY ON HIM for resolution! We are caught in dilemmas as we strive to UPHOLD TRUTH, and keep the PEACE, beginning with Family, traditions, and on it goes, and as enmity would have it, that just has to overspill into the MOST HOLY season of all! Ironic, isn't it, but par for the battle of REMAINING IN HIM!!!

CHRISTmas is about CHRIST JESUS, period! It is about HIS LOVE, HIS GIFT, HIS WILL, HIS PLAN, HIS HOPES for HIS own! IF we could learn to share HIM OVER all else, the HEAVENS would MAGNIFY THE LIGHT in this season, and the darkness would be as burnt away!!!

Let us remain right-minded, grounded, and centered in THE LORD in this season, and beyond, that HIS GLORY OVERTAKES what is not of HIM! Let us KEEP HIM as the reason we celebrate, and grow! Let us PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVE, and let us SHARE HIM as far as to the deepest crevices in the Earth, for HE ALONE, IS WORTHY! Let us HONOUR HIM in more than thought, more than in words, more than in action, more than in reaction, instead with ALL we have, at ALL times, for HE HAS GIVEN ALL OF HIMSELF for us!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014