HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: RETROSPECTION & REFLECTION = CONSCIOUSNESS & CONSTANCY...

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...

FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: RETROSPECTION & REFLECTION = CONSCIOUSNESS & CONSTANCY...

On this first Sunday after CHRISTmas, our attention is focused upon the wondrous GIFT of CHRIST JESUS, the mystical manifestation of LIFE, via our SAVIOUR, and how we can better engage ourselves WITH THE LORD, that doors be opened, or that we know when to enter an opening, or to gain WISDOM enough to talk, walk, and act ever, IN HIS WILL, and WAYS---

Historical prophecies were fulfilled in the birth of *GOD'S* only begotten SON; prophecies which did not settle well with the majority back when, but which touched another people, THAT HIS WILL, and PLAN FOR HIS people comes to fruition! Those whom had not previously known HIM, NOW KNOW HIM, and are GIVEN LIFE, VIA CHRIST JESUS, and IN this miraculous GIFTING, lies THE WAY for HIS people who rejected HIM, as they imagined HE would arrive in pomp, and GLORY, instead of lowly, and modestly! ALL INVOLVED IN HIS WILLFUL PLAN IS INTERWOVEN, thus, IS significant to THE TRUTH OF HIS coming, then, now, and later...

Even today, while we celebrate HIS GIFT OF SALVATION, few involve themselves IN the PROCESS, or relinquish themselves unto HIM; instead, they believe it all lies on HIM, and yes, most of it does, as we are powerless to SAVE ourselves, YET, we HAVE duties, and responsibilities aligned to THE PRICE of our SALVATION, and THE COVENANT! We ARE co-partners in various ways TO HIS PLAN, such as we ARE TO BE HOLY, BECAUSE HE IS HOLY; we ARE TO HONOUR HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS, ALL OF OUR DAYS, BY BEING GOOD, and DOING GOOD; we are to STUDY, LEARN, EMBRACE, and UTILIZE HIS WILL, and WAYS, FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of others, and the sake of souls...

We HAVE to acknowledge THE FACT that we are NO LONGER OF THIS world, but ARE NOW OF HIM; in which case, we HAVE taken off the 'old' person, and have put on the 'new' person, which IS regulated, and agreeable TO HIS WILL! We MUST remember that though HE grafted us into the olive tree, we are NOT the original branches, and whichever of these is NOT bearing FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, CAN be lopped off! LOGIC IS necessary in visualizing our ONENESS WITH HIM, like in the sense of hoping, or believing that we CAN continue in our 'beloved', and favourite errs VOID of discipline! There is NO logic in the idea that one can continue corruptly, and exist HOLY!!!

HE DOES THE WORK of MAKING us HOLY, BUT we COOPERATE, and COMPLY according TO HIS WILL! For instance, we SEE sin for what it is, and we RESIST it as much as is feasible, BECAUSE we KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHOM WE ARE NOW! We tame our tongues, we watch our steps, we seek to DO what GLORIFIES HIM, and INSPIRES others TO SEE HIM IN us! This IS VERY important, as there ARE endless LOST souls in the darkness whom NEED TO SEE THE LIGHT, in which case, SHINES THROUGH HIS OWN, and INSPIRES these to SEEK HIM, FIND HIM, and FOLLOW HIM!!!

Speaking of FOLLOWING HIM; this means we ARE to BE AS MUCH LIKE CHRIST JESUS as is feasible, based upon our knowledge, understanding, and LOVE OF HIM! We NO LONGER aim to be worldly, we ARE HEADING HOME!!!

HOW BEAUTIFUL THE LOVE OF *GOD* THAT HE GAVE US HIS SON, hence, LIFE! And what do we do? We LIKE it, but are reluctant TO MELD INTO HIM, and our TRUTH!!!

In this HOLY season, let us CONSIDER TRUTH, plain and simple, and seek TO, HONESTLY, become ONE WITH HIM, and LIFE! Let us SINCERELY decide, once and for all, that nothing gained in this world is worth losing our souls over! WHAT LIES AHEAD AS HIS Children IS FAR more SUPERIOR, and LASTING than the total acquisitions of this Earth; HE HAS PROMISED, and HE SHALL DELIVER! STOP, LISTEN, and FOLLOW THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY; there is NOTHING else IN TRUTH!!!

LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! PRAISE THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY ALWAYS! WORSHIP HIM IN ALL HIS HOLINESS & IN ALL HIS GLORY! REJOICE IN HIS LOVING KINDNESS & CARE for us, and towards us! LOVE AS HE LOVES! HONOUR HIM in ALL your ways, ALL of your days; DO GOOD, and BE GOOD! GIVE THANKS, BE GRATEFUL & APPRECIATIVE! SHINE, SHINE, SHINE OF HIS GLORY THAT ALL lost in the darkness MIGHT notice HIM, seek HIM, find HIM, and FOLLOW HIM! SING, DANCE, & CELEBRATE THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST JESUS, AMEN!!!