HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WITH YOUR 'WHOLE' HEART, STAND 'IN' THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, YOUR *GOD*!!!

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...

WITH YOUR 'WHOLE' HEART, STAND 'IN' THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, YOUR GOD!!!

Have you ever wondered what *GOD* means when HE says that people stand afar from HIM???

We have some insight into this from ISAIAH 29:13, MATTHEW 15: 8-9, MARK 7: 6-7, COLOSSIANS 2: 22, and, even more!
ISAIAH 29: 13...
The Lord said: Since this people draws near with words only and honors me with their lips alone, though their hearts are far from me, And their reverence for me has become routine observance of the precepts of men,

IF *GOD* is NOT the pulse of your time, if HE is not revered, prayed to, or, given the respect, and regard, of HIS absolute presence, and, provision in our lives, we are standing far from HIM! IF we do not believe that HIS hand IS in EVERYTHING, we are denying HIM! IF we do not give HIM credit for ALL, and, EVERYTHING, we are incomplete in our belief of HIM!!!

He that is greater than the heart, and knows all things, knows that though they draw nigh to him with their mouth, and honour him with their lips, yet they are not sincere worshippers. To worship God is to make our approaches to him, and to present our adorations of him; it is to draw nigh to him as those that have business with him, with an intention therein to honour him. They do not apply their minds to the service. When they pretend to be speaking to God they are thinking of a thousand impertinences: The have removed their hearts far from me, that they might not be employed in prayer, nor come within reach of the word. When work was to be done for God, which required the heart, that was sent out of the way on purpose, with the fool’s eyes, into the ends of the earth. They do not make the word of God the rule of their worship, nor his will their reason: Their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men...

People have a tendency to, albeit unconsciously, place *GOD* in the background of their lives, choosing to imagine that they are the ones who manifest the fruits of their efforts! This is clearly, err, because, the truly devout KNOW *GOD'S* hand is IN EVERYTHING, and, HE IS to be venerated FOR HIS constant movement in ALL things, matters, and, times!!!

We also, have a tendency to blame HIM if things are not well for us, but, when things are well, we do not give HIM HIS GLORY!!!

IF we claim to be of *GOD*/CHRIST, we are CONSCIOUS of HIM, 24/7! IN that state of consciousness, we become CONSCIENTIOUSLY aligned to HIM! We conform in conduct, TO HIS WILL, because we LOVE HIM so, and, stand in awed humility of HIS LOVE, GRACE, and, MERCY! I have said this MANY times, to walk with *GOD*/CHRIST is NO part-time past-time, there is no half-stepping, it is a FULL TIME endeavor, motivated by LOVE, HOPE, FAITH, TRUST, and, BELIEF in HIS SOVEREIGN ALMIGHTY position as AUTHOR, and, CREATOR of ALL in existence, along with, UNRELENTING GRATITUDE FOR HIS GRACE, and, MERCY towards us!!!

For those who find it too much work to give HIM HIS due GLORY, it is clear to HIM, their position!!!

From the time we open our eyes in the morning, until the time we close them again, at night, HE SHOULD BE the CENTER of our thoughts, respect, regard, appreciation, PRAYER, PRAISE, and, WORSHIP, as well as, the MOTIVATION of our thoughts, actions, and, reactions! NONE other in ALL of CREATION is worthy, and for sure, none other will attend to you, as will HE!!!

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