HEAVENLY INCLINED...: HAPPY AUGUST: RETROSPECTIVE REFLECTION...

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...

HAPPY AUGUST: RETROSPECTIVE REFLECTION...

August? Already? Wow, time is certainly moving at an incredible pace! But let us be thankful, grateful, and appreciative for the GIFT of time which our LORD *GOD* HAS allotted us, and let us make the best of it, FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others---

True to August, it is hot, and muggy, but it is beautiful! It has been an odd Summer weather wise, though that IS normal in the overall cycle of nature! Every few years, or at least every 7, there are weather related events which aid in the healing, and restoration of this magnificent planet, although too, we might endure some of *GOD'S* anger being cooled off by means of drought, super storms, pests, and other natural means, intended to cause us to pause and THINK long, and hard...

I don't know HOW THE LORD handles all the wrong HE hears, and sees; I guess that's why HE IS *GOD*, full of LOVE, compassion, and wishing all would turn to HIM, or return to HIM! Still, HE DOES vent HIS anger on us, which is good thing, because IF HIS wrath were to be made known in full, well, too many would be lost forever!!!

At any rate, the season is in full swing, and we HAVE been granted more time to recognize our TRUTH, our REALITY, which has NOTHING to do with the world, and EVERYTHING to do with THE LORD *GOD*, our souls, and THE ETERNAL KINGDOM! Right now, there is every kind of negative ruling the hours of the day; people HAVE gone off on some sort of tangent, there IS overwhelming hate, anger, frustration, violence, a strong sense of entitlement, rudeness, vulgarity, disrespect, disregard, and so much more, AND those OF THE LORD OUGHT to be DOING all they can TO bring some order, HOPE, PEACE, and right-mindedness into the picture, because it seems too few ARE, which means fear, complacency, and passiveness HAS influenced too many to the point of idly listening, and observing the dangerous indications of these days! Our role IS to provide *GOD* in the darkness, and in the midst of the throes of this world!!!

GALATIANS 5: 19-24...
19+++Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20+++idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21+++envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22+++But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23+++gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24+++Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The works of the flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut men out of heaven. Yet what numbers, calling themselves Christians, live in these, and say they hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature, which we are to do, are named. And as the apostle had chiefly named works of the flesh, not only hurtful to men themselves, but tending to make them so to one another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit, which tend to make Christians agreeable one to another, as well as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show, that such are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is the sincere care and endeavour of all real Christians. Sin does not now reign in their mortal bodies, so that they obey it, Ro 6:12, for they seek to destroy it. Christ never will own those who yield themselves up to be the servants of sin. And it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our conversation will always be answerable to the principle which guides and governs us, Ro 8:5. We must set ourselves in earnest to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness of life. Not being desirous of vain-glory, or unduly wishing for the esteem and applause of men, not provoking or envying one another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.

We are to walk IN SPIRIT, IN TRUTH; not only when it is convenient, but at ALL times! We ARE to REFLECT THE LORD *GOD* in ALL we think, say, or do, THAT those lost in the darkness, and in the enticements of this world SEE HIM CLEARLY, and might be inspired to KNOW HIM! In these late days, it IS IMPERATIVE FOR HIS people to SHINE OF HIM, and to SHARE HIM in LOVE, in those ways which bring others to considering the POSITIVE OPTIMIZATION OF turning to THE LORD! We HAVE to be WILLING to be utilized BY HIM, thus OPEN TO HIS WORKING through us, in order to reach those who might perish IF NOT FOR the opportunity OF HIS GRACE, and MERCY! We CANNOT sit by and ALLOW evil to reign, we MUST expose it for what it is, and REVEAL THE ALTERNATIVE, CHRIST JESUS, LORD *GOD*, and SAVIOR!!!

IF you are OF CHRIST, you are NO longer yours, you have been purchased with a MIGHTY HIGH PRICE, and are NO longer OF this world, hence, we ARE to exist as citizens OF HEAVEN, with thoughts trained on that ABOVE, as we DO, and BE the fulfillment of HIS WILL, in the best of our understanding, and capacity, which IF we PRAY and RELY ON HIM, will increase all the while! There are FAR TOO MANY souls at risk, and it IS within our role TO snatch them from the eternal fires!!!

Regardless that no one wants to hear THE TRUTH anymore, our work is that they hear, and see THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY through our existence, and right-minded efforts to REFLECT HIM! Let us grasp onto HIM, and to the importance of our PARTNERSHIP WITH HIM, FOR HIS GLORY, and the increase of souls who enter into eternal PEACE!!!

August is like a time to consider Summer this far, and to prepare for a new season, and SO IS this hour of time too, that in retrospect, we consider ALL THE LORD *GOD* IS, and DOES, as well as OUR part IN HIS PLAN TO SAVE the souls of Mankind! Let us USE this time TO study, learn, embrace, and put into practice the crucial knowledge HE SO WILLINGLY HAS shared with us; it IS for the good of our souls, and those of others, and FOR HIS GLORY which we SHALL benefit from infinitely!!!

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS