HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TO LOVE HIM, IS TO DESIRE TO PLEASE HIM...

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...

TO LOVE HIM, IS TO DESIRE TO PLEASE HIM...

THE LORD, our *GOD* asks us to LOVE HIM, to obey HIM, and, to repent; these 3 things, begin to lead us into the fulfillment of HIS WILL, while also, opening for us the way to being ABLE to bear worthy fruit, in HIS namesake...

It is difficult for most to get past the primary one, because LOVE is embraced from the natural plane, the egocentric, carnal realm, and, the enemy has done a sure job of making this LOVE very perplexing for the masses! WITH *GOD*, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE, and, besides that, LOVE IS INTRINSIC, INNATE to our beings, although, the magnitude, and, soundness of this LOVE lies in the spirit; the spirit which, belongs to *GOD* alone! So, LOVE, as always, is something we should work to develop, from HIS own example, and, instructions!!!

Obeying HIM is easier IF we LOVE HIM, as we ought to, and, is NOT a weight to be dragged around, with discomfort, or, disdain! Obedience is GOOD for us, and, removes all weights placed upon us, by the oppressor!!!

Repentance is a change of heart! A change of heart which is, premised upon knowledge, wisdom, and, understanding of HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS! In this change of heart, there is realization OF the damage our errs lead us to, and, through, and which, have the power to nullify our inheritance in THE KINGDOM of *GOD*! TRUE repentance leads to more righteousness, which defined is, conduct in conformity to HIS WILL! These 3 steps are NOT beyond us, they are in place FOR us, in that, they will FREE us, and, SEE us in eternal bliss! As these 3 steps are enjoined, all else HE asks of us, is also, one with the whole!!!

Few seem to grasp the FACT that to SERVE HIM, is what we exist for; what ALL in CREATION exists for; thus, we have the battle between the flesh, and, the spirit, right, and wrong, life, and death...

I suspect that, many people approach THE LORD with an attitude, of sorts; one which leads them to believe that HE is overly stern, demanding, and, asking the impossible from us! NO WAY! ALL that HE asks of us, and, has instructed for us, IS HIS unfathomable LOVE working FOR our benefit, and, release us from the grip of this world! HIS intentions are beyond honourable, they are with tenderness, compassion, and, deep, deep regard for our fragile lives! HE IS THE MASTER of ALL, and, EVERYTHING, so, why shouldn't HE have the right to SHOW us, what we don't know, don't grasp, and, struggle with?!?

When you LOVE HIM enough, you will be happy to be obedient, and, your repentance WILL be a true change of heart, towards the things that will rob you of your relationship with HIM! It is pretty cut, and, dry, but, there is SO much human doctrine, and, perception in the mix, that, people are, largely, puzzled BY HIS WILL, WAYS, and, LOVE!!!

In this HOLY season, let us focus upon these 3 actions, which WILL elevate the spirit, and, place us in alignment FOR HIS favour! Let us also, in the context of these 3 actions, be grateful, content, cheerful, deliberate, diligent, kind, compassionate, caring, sharing, merciful/charitable, LOVING, while, thanking HIM, PRAISING HIM, WORSHIPING HIM, and, REJOICING IN HIS manifold WISDOM, and, GENIUS; TRUSTING HIM, BELIEVING IN HIM, and, ALLOWING HIM TO be THE ALMIGHTY LORD, *GOD*, and, SAVIOUR HE IS!!!

DEUTERONOMY 6: 5-9...
5/ Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.
6/ Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.
7/ Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.
8/ Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.
9/ Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

LUKE 10: 27...
He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

JOHN 14: 15...
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

REV. LWINSOR © 2012
BIBLICAL, and/or, other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS