HEAVENLY INCLINED...: STAND STRONG IN THE LORD...

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...

STAND STRONG IN THE LORD...

THE BIBLE tells us we will have troubles in this world; but we are to take heart, and remain IN THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS---

Oh MERCY, when troubles come, they sometimes come in large proportions! Sometimes it is like even the sunshine is raining troubles, trials, and tests! We can get swept away in what arrives to challenge us, and so, all the more reason to cling to *GOD*, to FAITH, and PRAY, and PRAY, and PRAY!!!

Right now, problems are pouring into this household, and it is not easing up! There is reason, and purpose for this, I am sure, and we WILL get through it all, WITH THE LORD as our buckler! FAITH CANNOT diminish for one second when battles of time ensue! ONLY IN THE LORD IS HOPE, and what is needed to overcome! This I believe, this I stand in!!!

In one second our existence can be changed dramatically, and while it WILL shake us up, it should NOT shake us loose! Instantly, we have to turn to *GOD*, and TRUST HIM, as well as WAIT on HIM, while doing what we can to ease the tensions, and anxieties which accompany obstacles, and challenges! Though our hands, and knees be like tree limbs in a storm, our minds MUST REMAIN FOCUSED UPON THE LORD, as we aim to restore some calm to our beings IN our TRUST of HIM!!!

HE never said it would be easy, and because we are in such a negative realm, how could we expect otherwise? Yet, we get so comfortable when things are going well, that when something adverse happens, we are faced with internal battles as well! All the more reason to develop the kind of LOVE, and FAITH of *GOD* that HE teaches us to!!!

NOTHING in this time is predictable, and so, we must always be awake, aware, and alert, because in at any moment something might pop up to challenge us! THE LORD HAS left us extensive information, and guidance to DEALING with, and FACING such challenges, which all begins WITH placing ourselves IN HIM, and TRUSTING HIM, and accepting that everything works according to HIS WILL, which might mean in some instances that things will not be the same as they were before!!!

We ARE UP to it; *GOD* designed us to be able to withstand a slew of assaults, which is even more enabled through FAITH, and PRAYER! We resist the urge to be swept away, as we cling TO HIM, and learn to let HIM take the lead; for HE ALONE IS THE LEAD, and DOES LIFT us from what would sweep us away!!!

In good times, in bad times, in all times, there is NOTHING greater than THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and it IS HE WHOM IS ALL POWERFUL, ALL KNOWING, and EVER PRESENT; ABLE to rescue HIS own, and to place them on dry land during any storm! Let us PRAISE HIM always; let us WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS; let us REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us; let us HONOUR HIM in FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, LOVE, and TRUE ALLEGIANCE, no matter what the world hurls at us! Let us PRAY; let us be GRATEFUL; let us be THANKFUL; let us ever BE HIS REFLECTIONS, and let us SHINE through the darkness, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of others! Let us move forward in the comfort of HIS PROMISES, and let us cling to HIM OVER all else, for HE IS FAITHFUL to the FAITHFUL, indeed!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2016