HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE EMOTIONAL MIX OF 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...

THE EMOTIONAL MIX OF CHRISTMAS...

CHRISTmas is a most HOLY, and BLESSED time on this Earth, though unfortunately, not everyone embraces THE LORD, thus, the season is marred, daily, by those remain away from HIM!!!

Horrific things happen in this dark, and troubled world, but some are more awful than others, and you know that I am speaking of the evil done against Children, Women, and those of the FAITH, not to lessen that done against Men too! Hate is rampant in this world as the oppressor increases his hold on the weak, and those who have no understanding of THE LORD, of LOVE, and of LIFE!!!

I find it difficult to enjoy the HOLYdays fully, because of the excessive suffering of the world, yet, I also, in FAITH, understand that many things which happen ARE part of the labour pains of what is to come, as well as the refiners fire is active, testing, trying, and perfecting that which belongs to HIM! My heart thus, is more humbled by what is wrong with this world, as before HIM I come, knowing that we TRULY NEED HIM, and HIS GIFT OF LIFE, because what we have here, is NOT what was ever intended...

We have ALL fallen short of HONOURING HIM, as we err, even in ways unknown to us, and so, that we NEED HIM, in every second of the days HE has GIVEN us, is an understatement! We SHOULD be aware that in this most HOLY season, it is a perfect time to be sincerely grateful, thankful, and appreciative, as we ARE indebted BY HIS GIFT, and then, HIS SACRIFICE!!!

During this season, tears accompany the festivities; tears of sorrow, of remorse, of mourning, and for sure, tears of JOY, for HE HAS filled my being, with LOVE, with HOPE, then, with a certain PEACE ONLY HE can bring, and I KNOW that despite the world, HE IS NEAR, and IS IN THE LEAD, guiding me, and those of HIM, through the tragedies, and travesties we witness, and which SHOW us that INDEED, this is NOT where we belong, and what BEAUTY exists in such knowledge!!!

I spend much of my time talking to HIM from the heart, and in PRAYING as I do my thing on this Earth, in which case, I am kept nearer to HIM! We lose sight of HIM in the ugly realities of this time, when we give in to such, and give it power it does not hold! When we waver, we are compromised, and easy prey for the enemy; thus, we FOCUS UPON THE LORD, and our FUTURE!!!

This HOLY season is an optimal time to reflect on EXACTLY the wondrous GIFT HE has bestowed upon those who CHOOSE HIM OVER all else! It is an ideal time to SHOW others HIS LOVE, by sharing it in various ways, and to assist those who are suffering so greatly! It is a time of reverence, of action, and of deeper commitment TO HIM! Let us PRAY, let us REJOICE, let us PRAISE, let us WORSHIP, and let us EXALT HIS HOLINESS, then let us HONOUR HIM BY BEING HIS reflection, let us SHINE in the darkness, and share the JOY of HIS PRESENCE even when it seems impossible, for WITH HIM, ALL things ARE POSSIBLE, evident in HIS immaculate birth!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014