HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: THE REASON FOR THE SEASON; LOVE ♥♥♥

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...

MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: THE REASON FOR THE SEASON; LOVE ♥♥♥

Well, Thanksgiving week is past, now we gravitate into Advent, or, the celebration of the birth of our LORD, CHRIST JESUS, my 2ND favourite HOLYday! Easter is my absolute favourite, though, CHRISTmas is nose to nose with it:)))

This is the season of the celebration of THE GREATEST GIFT of LOVE, ever known, or, imagined! The GIFT of CHRIST, our LORD! Thus, it is only fitting that we celebrate HIM, BY coming closer to a true understanding of LOVE, and, to living, hourly, in LOVE!!!

There are many facets to LOVE, yet, only one origin, *GOD*, or, HOLINESS! In order for the various facets of LOVE to work in our lives, it is necessary to understand HIM, HOLINESS, and, the inner-workings of this BLESSED LOVE! It is helpful to devour THE WORD in entirety, from beginning to end, to pick up on HIS LOVE, and to, gain understanding of HOW to apply HIS HOLY LOVE to our lives! Also, memorizing 1 CORINTHIANS 13, aids greatly, for there is imperative principle, therein! The GREATEST TRUTH in existence IS: LOVE NEVER FAILS, so, IF we can grasp the meaning of this one TRUTH, we are well on our way to living in the LOVE HE requires of us!!!

The more we learn of LOVE, the more we are optimized to grow INTO this LOVE, because, the sense, and sensibility of LOVE, begins to take root, past the egocentrically humanness of our perception(s) of LOVE! We begin to SEE, clearly, that LOVE is SELFLESS, yet, in that selflessness, there is compensation, in a multitude of BLESSINGS!!!

LOVE, PURE LOVE, IS THE REASON FOR THIS SEASON, thus, let us take time EACH day OF this most HOLY season, to dig deeper into the understanding, embracing, and, utilization of LOVE, as a gift to HIM, and, for the sound purpose of LOVE, for the GOOD of ALL, and, EVERYTHING, FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY!!!

LOVE is HEALTH beyond description! It is CRUCIAL TO our walk with HIM, now, and, forever! It is IMPERATIVE to FORWARD as much LOVE as is feasible, TO ALL in this life, that, LOVE'S roots, have the fertile grounds to span far reaching, deeply planted roots, throughout ALL of the world, which, WILL lessen, then, diminish all which is not of LOVE!!!

Advent 2012 begins December 2ND, and, lasts for 23 days, for especially, Western Christians; Eastern Orthodox, celebrates Advent for 40 days, which, begins on November 15; the Orthodox Christians call Advent, The Nativity Fast...

Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of prayer, fasting and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope and joy.

Many Christians celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for Christ's first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of time.

Advent is reverent, thought-inducing, inspiring, interesting, and, fun!!!

IN this spiritual preparation, LOVE IS THE CORE! Therefore, let us LOVE with the heart of THE LORD, our *GOD*, in the best of our abilities! In this season, we are called to be charitable, which does NOT mean, exclusively, in a monetary sense! Remember, to be charitable is to be merciful, IN the example of our LORD, *GOD*, so, we are called to be forgiving, kind, compassionate, tolerant, understanding, and, all which, exemplifies HIM! We are called to take care of broken ties with others, to reach out to the poor, and, suffering, and, to let LOVE guide our thoughts, actions, and, reactions, that, HE IS HONOURED, as HE should be!!!

I LOVE YOU! *GOD* BLESS, and, BE with us ALL, and may we, this year, 2012, make CHRISTmas the year of increased HONOURING of THE LORD our *GOD*, by means of LOVE!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012

BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS