HEAVENLY INCLINED...: CONTENTMENT...

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...

CONTENTMENT...

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-8...6/ Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.7/ For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
8/ If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13...11/ Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient.
12/ I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need.13/ I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.CONTENTMENT, and, self-sufficiency, are, almost, as proof, of a *GODLY* person, as, they BELIEVE that ALL provision shall be given them, through the LORD, *GOD*, and, have OUTGROWN the usual NEEDS which accompany spirits of the world! NOT that they do not have needs, desires, or, wishes, but, that they have MATURED into an UNDERSTANDING that what comes of the world is temporal, often, holding conditions within acquisition, but, that which comes of *GOD* is HIS WILL being manifested, thus, is lasting, and, free of any hindrances, save for obedience, and, existing IN HIS WAYS!!!

I have an advantage over most in my contentment, as I was homeless for some years, not due to my own mistakes, exactly, but, to fulfill *GOD'S* WILL for my life, thus, that is the way it played out! That was long ago, but, I will NEVER forget the lessons, nor, the pleasures, of being provided for, by *GOD*! It was a different time, but, *GOD* was working in my life, throughout it all, and, while I was not spiritually mature, I WAS AWARE of HIS movement in my life, oh, so many times! Through these harsh times, I gained much experience in contentment, and, self-sufficiency, and, humility!!!

People do NOT understand what it means to turn your life over to *GOD*, nor, do they TRUST HIM, in FAITH, enough to ALLOW HIM to take care of them; this is so, because of misinformation, ignorance, and, that rebellious nature of the egocentric self! This means that it is TIME to LEARN to PLACE ALL FAITH in *GOD*, which does NOT come easily, especially to the proud, but, ANY EFFORT opens up to, results! FAITH IS the KEY to much of *GOD'S* reality, in connection with us, because, WHEN we BELIEVE in HIM SO MUCH that we are willing to completely SURRENDER our egocentric self unto HIM, we have SHOWN HIM our sincerity of the heart of hearts, which, HE, in turn, opens up the floodgates of HIS benevolence, that HIS PROMISES TO THE FAITHFUL, ARE manifested, as HIS PROMISES ARE TRUE; HE CANNOT LIE, HE CANNOT SWAY FROM HIS OWN TRUTHS!!!

Again, it goes to free will, thus, choices! Do I want material accumulation of this world, or, do I want the heritage of eternity as the proof of my wealth? Do I want to wander around in the world, without *GOD*, and, take from the world, that which is temporary, or, do I want to LIVE in this world IN *GOD*, with ADDED bounties by HIS own hands? Do I want NOW, or, do I want ETERNITY? Do I BELIEVE ENOUGH to be content in the state of NOW, WHILE looking FORWARD to the riches of the eternal promises? It IS ALL ABOUT CHOICES!!!

Being content with NOW, while looking forward, FREES your mind, thus, your soul, that you ARE able to fulfill *GOD'S* WILL, FOR your life, and, in ways, directly associated with fulfilling HIS WILL, in the lives of others, as well! You see, when you are FREE, your FOCUS is ON HIS WILL, and, HIS WORD, in which case, ALLOWS YOU to LIVE in HIS WAYS, which means, you ARE living in righteousness, thus, wholesomeness, which, opens up to goodness, which, MEANS you are LIVING in LOVE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, CHARITY, and, all other virtuous characteristics WHICH MARK the Child of *GOD*, AND, your TIME is filled by DOING that which is the NATURE OF HIM!!!

So, in conclusion, by BEING content with the NOW, you are BEING FAITHFUL, IN HOPE of eternal promises, and, are being PROVEN by the good of your thoughts, actions, and, reactions, IN the EVIDENCE of your undying BELIEF in HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD! In other words, you ARE LIVING PROOF of HIS GLORY, and, HIS EXAMPLE, and, ARE SHINING as a reflection of HIS own LIGHT!!!

BE CONTENT, BE FREE, BE FULL OF PEACE, and, BE HAPPY IN THE LORD, our *GOD*! It is NOT improbable, nor, impossible, I AM LIVING PROOF of this message! AMEN! PRAISE *GOD*, for HE IS ALL, and, EVERYTHING GLORIOUS!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS