HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUCCESS...

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...

SUCCESS...

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.
~ Jim Rohn ~

I would like to add that success is variable, and, is often not related to materialism, although, most people view success in that way, it is NOT exclusive to worldly gain...

DISCIPLINE IS CRUCIAL to success, especially consistent disciplines! We have to get our priorities straight, focused, then, adhere to those choices! We have to sense them, dream them, breathe them, cultivate them, and, live them UNTIL they are realized, *GOD* willing!!!

And, you NEED to face facts, SOMETIMES your direction is NOT correlated to the reality of your destiny, in other words, *GOD* might NOT feel the direction you have chosen is right for you, or, for HIS ultimate purpose of your life! Facing this fact can bring one down, BUT, a TRULY successful person does NOT lay low for defeat; NO WAY! They are able to head toward another direction, CARRYING some of that previous dream, and, the lessons from the Wisdom gained, with them, while becoming stronger, and, more adept AT realizing their intentions, again, *GOD* willing!!!

*GOD* has EVERYTHING to do with your successes in this life, even those that take you to the top, just to bring you tumbling down! You see, HE often ALLOWS your carnality to succeed SO that you will SEE, after the struggle, the vainglory, the pain, and, the humility, that TRUE success is based on HIS WILL for your life, that you come, fully, around to the reality of HIM!!!

Also, it is in this way that HE rescues some of HIS Children from themselves, and, the world! HE TEACHES them THROUGH their gain, and, loss, WHO is REALLY in charge of ALL, and, EVERYTHING! HE REACHES them through the rise, and, fall of their egocentric based expectations, and, SHOWS them that NOTHING in this life has SOLID foundations, EXCEPT FOR HIM, HIS WAYS, HIS WILL!!!

When a person is *GODLY*, successes happen for them according to HIS WILL, and, has seen MANY people acquire GREATLY! When a person BASES their dreams ON HIS REALITY, or, TRUTH, then, they are NOT of the world, NOT temporal, instead, FOUNDED on HIM, thus, they are TRUE successes, that the world CAN SEE HIS hand at work, TO GLORIFY HIS name!!!

SEEK *GOD* first, and, other things will be added to you! MATTHEW 6:33 says, But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, 19 and all these things will be given you besides...
1 KINGS 3:11-14...(*GOD* speaking to Solomon)
11/ So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this--not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right--12/ I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.13/ In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.
14/ And if you follow me by keeping my statutes and commandments, as your father David did, I will give you a long life."

The above Scripture, from 1 KINGS 3, holds a KEY to abundance, as, *GOD* was extremely PLEASED with Solomon because, he asked NOT for worldly riches, and, worldly matter, but, for WISDOM, and, KNOWLEDGE, and, the ability to judge fairly his subjects! You see, he was wise enough, even at a very tender age, to realize that ONLY through the gifts of *GOD* could he succeed in every way he sought to!!!

Placing SINCERELY HONEST FAITH, BELIEF, and, TRUST, IN *GOD* IS THE KEY to successes of EVERY KIND! Don't you doubt this fact! HE, alone, has LIFTED many people from the most dire circumstances to abundances! HE has taken people from living in the dirt, to living in castles! HE has GIVEN GREATLY to HIS Children WHOM BELIEVE in HIS POWERS!!!

Also, DON'T measure success by what you see, NOR, by what others have! Success is as individual as are you, and quite often, shines from within, where it is secured, eternally, instead of temporarily of this world! Success is like this: I survived abuses, I overcame extreme poverty, I rose to worthiness of *GOD*, and, so forth, ALL BY THE GRACE OF *GOD*, and, YES, sometimes that includes material gain, fame, and, acclaim!!!

*GOD* WANTS you to be successful, but, HE is NOT a genie in a bottle, AND, it requires DISCIPLINE on YOUR part, as does ALL concerning a walk with HIM! Be careful what you wish for, be careful what you strive for, but, mostly be careful what you do with what *GOD* has given to you, be grateful, thankful, PRAISE, and, GLORIFY HIS name, forevermore!!! AMEN!!!

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