HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PULPIT PRESSURES & ABANDONMENT...

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...

PULPIT PRESSURES & ABANDONMENT...

OVER 1, 500 of The Clergy, i.e., Priests, Pastors, Reverends, Ministers, Preachers, leave their ministries EACH month, due to burnout, conflict, and, moral issues! A LARGE percentage of them, are unfaithful to their Spouses, use alcohol, drugs, and, other means to alleviate the pressures, and, so on!!! WOW!!!

MANY of The Clergy, feel that no one wants to know THE TRUTH, but, know what? This is NOT their concern, their concern is to put THE TRUTH out there, then, pray for it to root in the hearts, and, minds of the masses! They shouldn't attempt to glorify their success, because, that is between *GOD*, and, HIS people! YOU of the Clergy, are a messenger, a vessel, an instrument, and, what comes of your efforts is for *GOD'S* GLORY! IF you are presenting THE TRUTH as written, you ARE fulfilling your role IN HIS WILL! IF you reach someone, that will be credited to you, come that DAY of DAYS, until then, just keep on keeping on!!!

YES, it IS frustrating, to think that there are people who will not listen, or, learn, but, that too, IS part of THE DIVINE WILL of *GOD*, to which, we only have a tiny part! So, DON'T add unnecessary weight to your load, by keeping score! Our work is to plant the seed, the rest is up to *GOD*!!!

Many of The Clergy feel unappreciated, lonely, and, isolated from humanity, but, to take a VOW to *GOD*, and, to fulfill that VOW, means a uniquely, different lifestyle; a lifestyle which should find us, ever too busy learning, developing, and, walking the walk, to be fretting about acceptance, or, appreciation, and, NEVER should we hope to be acclaimed for our work! LOVE does NOT need reciprocation, it only needs to forward of itself! That we are ever growing IN CHRIST, is proof of our Devotion, and, our intention, NOT anything else, because we CANNOT reach if we don't practice what we preach!!!

Others say they don't make enough money! I have LOTS to say about this, but, I will refrain! Our recompense is NOT of the world, and, if we desire it of the world, is it not altered? Sure, some are driving Rolls Royce's, and, have LOTS of luxuries bestowed upon them; well, I won't go there today; this too, is between them, and, the LORD they serve!!!

It is sad! I can understand, and, relate to the many issues those of the Clergy face, but, that is part of 'the walk'! As we grow into the priesthood of CHRIST, we ARE different beings; we are consecrated, thus, our lives ARE vastly different! We should keep our minds on HONOURING our Calling! Many are NOT being prepared properly, for their Sacred roles! It is akin to being a Martial Arts Master; there is endless mental, and, spiritual work to be mastered BEFORE the physical training, because, it IS that imperative, for safety, and, on the purposes go!!!

Instead of becoming tripped, then, bound by deception, in that negative, despondent state, PRAY with ALL your being, and, remind yourself that your work is to DELIVER THE WORD, in the best of your capacities, and, understanding! What comes of your delivery, IS between *GOD*, and, those who were in the line of receiving!!!

We should just do what we set out to do, void of pride, vanity, greed, or need, in spirit, not in egocentricity! LET *GOD* LEAD our way! It is HIS WORK we are doing, so, LET HIM LEAD us! DON'T fall into the quick, and, sure snares of the evil one, who, for sure, IS going to go for the heart of THE CHURCH, The Clergy, the pulpit!!!

I do not have the pressures some have, but, in my own way, I might have more, given my circumstances, but, I KNOW this for sure, my VOW to *GOD* is irrevocable, and, to be honoured in the best of my abilities, and, understanding! It is my pleasure to serve HIM, though I am not paramount in this servitude, what I DO through HIM, DOES have significance, one way or another, as long as I am doing so from a humbled, sincere, and, LOVING spirit! If I only reach one person throughout my work, I have done so ethically, morally, and, in sincere efforts, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY; NONE of this is about me, it IS about THE LORD!!!

ALL of those 'serving' *GOD*/CHRIST, are in my prayers, and thoughts, with LOVE! May *GOD* CONTINUE to BE our FOCUS, and, our Calling, OVER all else! May we find strength IN HIM, and, increase that strength THROUGH HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WORD, and, HIS WAYS! Such PEACE is there IN HIM, IF we just humble ourselves TO HIM, and, HIS WILL! BLESS us ALL!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012