HEAVENLY INCLINED...: IN ALL, THERE IS BALANCE, HIS NAME IS 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...

IN ALL, THERE IS BALANCE, HIS NAME IS THE LORD!!!

I have had an existence full of suffering, YET, I have experienced LOTS of BLESSINGS, health, and good too! IF I had no troubles, time would be perfect, and I suspect that those less than favourable times keep us humbled, centered, and ever looking TO *GOD*, while RELYING ON HIM, and TRUSTING HIM, and NONE of us have suffered as did our LORD, CHRIST JESUS, for our sake---

Then, there is this; our time here IS NOT what we will spend eternity in, and IS fleeting! IF we hold onto this exclusively, then we are lost in the world without direction! For EVERYTHING under the sun, there IS recompense, consequence, and more to come, as difficult as that is for the human condition to come to terms with, it IS TRUTH...

Though I suffer, though I ail, though I stumble, I LIFT UP TO THE LORD, and TRUST IN HIS WILL concerning what I am to deal with, and work through! I PRAY, and PRAY some more, albeit that doesn't mean I am never anxious, or worried, STILL I manage to find the WILL to move onward, and to RETAIN FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS. HE NEVER said it would be easy here, NOR did HE PROMISE that we wouldn't be subject to what is of this world, and what comes by way of err, and sin!!!

We ARE being refined; tried as if by fire! In all of this, we learn, gain strength, knowledge, skills, and MUCH more! JAMES 1:2-11...
2+++Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
3+++knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4+++And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5+++But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6+++But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7+++For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9+++But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;
10+++and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
11+++For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

Christianity teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now, and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us: whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare.

We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it. And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs? Here is something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. A mind that has single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in devotion, and rise above trials and oppositions. When our faith and spirits rise and fall with second causes, there will be unsteadiness in our words and actions. This may not always expose men to contempt in the world, but such ways cannot please God. No condition of life is such as to hinder rejoicing in God. Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God, not from perishing enjoyments.

I think I have always been able to 'handle' the negatives, and the downfalls, but not always the 'right' way by placing full trust in *GOD*! So, my ever inching closer TO THE LORD, and actually learning from HIS WILL, HAS aided me to rely more on HIM, and less on the self! But bad habits are VERY difficult for humans, and I yet feel the need to act when challenged, confronted, or suffering...

JOYFUL under troubles? Say what? SO hard for us to accept, or reckon with, and yet, FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS WILL teach us, and lead us, despite our inclination to be overtaken by what appears, and yah, we CAN remain JOYFUL KNOWING that THE LORD IS WITH us, and IS WORKING on our behalf, even if that might not show on the outside, it remains true within...

While I work through my Salvation with fear, and trembling (PHILIPPIANS 2), and being humbled more, I still have LOTS of behaviours, and other matters to improve upon; like sometimes I still cuss, which I don't get, because I can go long periods without doing so, then bam!, for a shorter while I do it, and of course, there are other matters, some far worse, some not so! The point is that I am AWARE of WHO I am IN CHRIST THE LORD, and HIS WILL, so, I AIM to exist as accordingly as is feasible, and in the best of my abilities/capacities, which by the way, increases the more I align TO HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS...

KEEPING IN MIND that I LIVE IN, and FOR THE LORD *GOD*, I DO, and BE as good as I can, as I was once not so good, and I now, know the difference, thanks be TO HIM, REGARDLESS of the world thrashing me, or contesting me, or whatever it throws my way...

We learn to do what is pleasing to THE LORD (EPHESIANS 5; ROMANS 12; COLOSSIANS 1); for this, PRAISE, and WORSHIP, do we exist! And keeping our hearts, minds, spirits, and sights upon HIM, aid in finding THE WAY THROUGH all the suffering! Let us PRAISE HIM ALWAYS, WORSHIP HIM WHOLLY, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVING KINDNESS, and CARE FOR us, as we give thanks, being grateful, and appreciative FOR ALL HE HAS DONE, and IS DOING! STAND STRONG IN CHRIST, and LOVE no matter what!!!

LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOUR