HEAVENLY INCLINED...: EXSISTING IN THE NOBILITY OF OUR CALL AS HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM...

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...

EXSISTING IN THE NOBILITY OF OUR CALL AS HEIRS TO THE KINGDOM...

Once upon a time, I felt the need to defend myself, to respond when others would put me down, or call me names, or otherwise try to belittle me---

Those were senseless battles, often making things way worse, as well as prolonging their duration!!!

THE LORD *GOD* HAS taught me a better way; a way in which there is NO need for the drama, partly because it is quite often futile because when someone is against you, it isn't too likely that they will ever change that opinion, and it surely, won't help to make matters worse! *GOD'S* WAY IS a better way, as I have found this far; it is an ELEVATED WAY, PAVED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS, and therefore is wholly functioned by what is right, just, and good, melding within the being TO enable, and empower it TO the end of the journey!!!

MEEKNESS might not be socially accepted, or revered, but it DOES hold great advantage, and IS aligned to THE LORD'S WILL! It is a virtue, or fruit of the spirit that is taken as weakness, but I testify, a weak person cannot possibly be meek, as it takes a LOT of strength to remain meek in many circumstances! Meekness is a specific virtue, tool, way or fruit that is excellent in dealing with conflict or potential conflict within relationships. The meek person has ceased to think or care about himself. His pride and self-will have been crucified. He does not measure the importance of events by their relation to his personal comfort or what he will gain from them. He sees everything from God's perspective, seeking only to serve His purpose in the situations life imposes. This does not mean the meek will take everything "lying down". Because the meek man sets his mind on God's purpose and not his own comfort, ambition or reputation, he will offer implacable resistance to evil in defense of God yet react with patience, kindness and gentleness when others attack him...

A meek person will feel the wrong done against him and feel it bitterly. But because he is not thinking of himself, his meekness does not allow his spirit to give vent to a hateful, savage and vindictive anger that seeks to "get even." He will instead be full of pity for the damaged character, attitudes and blindness of the perpetrator. From the stake Jesus uttered, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). This virtue is a strong bulwark against self-righteousness and intolerant and critical judgment of others. Yet neither does it excuse or condone sin. Rather, a meek person understands it more clearly, thus his judgment is tempered, avoiding reacting more harshly than is necessary...

CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, and SAVIOUR IS meek, and it IS HIM whom we FOLLOW, imitate, and become more like! Jesus set a clear example of this pattern of reaction too. He made a whip of rope, and with stern and vehement energy, overturned the tables and drove the livestock, their sellers and moneychangers from the Temple compound because they had turned God's house into a common bazaar by their sacrilege. With simple, forthright, firm instructive answers and incisive questions, He met the twisted, intellectual, carnal reasoning of the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. Yet as Matthew 12:19-20 reads, "He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench." Peter adds:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. (I Peter 2:21-23)...

CHRIST JESUS did NOT act, or react in defense of HIMSELF, instead, WHATEVER HE said, or did, WAS in, for, or to the HONOUR OF HIS FATHER, our *GOD*!!!

From Moses all the way through to Apostle Paul, meekness BECAME the TRUTH of those THE LORD *GOD* approved, and employed! They were NOT weak people, they WILLINGLY GAVE themselves TO THE LORD, AND adapted their existence TO HIS WILL! They were stern, they were strong enough to endure the worst case scenarios, and yet, IN GRACE they REMAINED IN LOVE, LOVING, kind, gentle, compassionate, caring, and more, AS they aspired to break down the walls of deception between humanity and their *GOD*!!!

The lies of falsehood HAVE taught us wrongly; they ARE integrated into societies, and do NOT bring us closer to our LORD! Meekness IS part, and parcel TO our being transformed, renewed, and IS crucial, FOR the sake of unity, peace, and more!!!

A LOT of leaders, and those in positions to influence the people, OUGHT to LEARN, understand, and UTILIZE meekness; it IS a most productive leverage, since it IS founded upon *GOD'S* WISDOM, and WILL!!!

Humility, and meekness are NOT the same thing, but they must go hand in hand! One HAS to know humility, and be humble before they could possibly be meek, but there is no separating the two! Each has components which inspire one to furthering their growth, productively, in THE LORD *GOD*!!!

The principles, and standards OF THE LORD ARE contrary to those of the world, but WHY would that surprise anyone, since we KNOW the ways of the world, INDEED, are contrary to HIS WILL???

Human perception THINKS if a person is meek, humble, or otherwise unwilling to be entangled in matters of the world, that such a one is weak, or even stupid, yet, *GOD* negates it, clearly!!!

The enemy IS at work, by the moment, even in those who claim THE LORD, as their *GOD*, and UNLESS one EMPTIES of the self, there WILL be snares, trips, and traps! It IS an ONGOING state of transforming as we journey time, but IF we ALIGN in more than words, we WILL grow INTO our REALITY, and we WILL be victors, even though the world disagrees!!!

See, it doesn't much matter what others think, say, or do concerning one of THE LORD, because their TRUTH is ALREADY MANIFEST, and unless they fall away, it cannot shake them loose, MEANING, WITH diligent, and deliberate adherence TO THE LORD, they WILL realize HIS PROMISES, despite the constant challenges before them!!!

Words, and unfounded opinions hurt; they might cut deeply, but IF we are OF THE LORD, WHAT are they really, and what can they do to us? WHEN we act according to THE WILL of *GOD*, those who oppose us, those who oppress us, those who intend to harm us, and so on, SHALL find payment due in the end! And so, we go forward IN HIM, ever devouring THE WORD FOR that necessary TO endure, and persevere, WHILE REFLECTING HIM in ALL our ways, regardless that the majority chides us for doing so, or being what HE HAS bid of us! Sure, at times it takes strength, and courage unprecedented, but we PRAY, as we RELY ON HIM for help, and TRUST that HE DOES have our back!!!

LWINSOR © 2016
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS