HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MONDAY'S MEDITATIONS: CHRISTMAS IS NOT A HAPPY TIME FOR EVERYONE...

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: CHRISTMAS IS NOT A HAPPY TIME FOR EVERYONE...

The CHRISTmas season is special; it should be enjoyed by everyone who LOVES THE LORD, but unfortunately, many find this season to be a reminder of what they lack, materially, instead of what they have, spiritually, and, by the way of *GOD*...

I remember one CHRISTmas, when I had just a few bucks to provide CHRISTmas for my Daughter. I walked about 10 miles to buy one of the cheapest trees in a lot, then, dragged the tree back, 10 miles home. Now, I didn't have much back then, but, what I had, I was extremely grateful for. We made some things to hang on the tree, and, with the few other things I did have, it was really cute! Then, with just a few bucks left, I went out and managed to purchase some toys, and, wrapping paper! It wasn't the kind of CHRISTmas kids dream of, for sure, but, we had fun, and, at that age, my Daughter was quite satisfied, and, always, THE SPIRIT was with us. Some years were better, some were worse, but, this time of year, always, magically, came to life for us; in fact, we made a tradition of having a Charlie Brown CHRISTmas tree, even when times were good, as a reminder!!!

Hard times are upon many of us, in every country! That SHOULDN'T affect the celebration of LOVE, of CHRIST JESUS, THE LORD, our *GOD*! CHRISTmas is about SPIRIT, LOVE, GOODWILL, and, JOY OF HIS GIFT! CHRISTmas is about paying it forward, in ANY way you can! CHRISTmas is about what is REAL, not what is superficial!!!

Don't think I don't know what it is like to be impoverished, hungry, or, without! I most definitely DO! Still, some of my fondest memories of my life, were derived in the worst of times, probably because THE SPIRIT was ever present, and, because I am able to be grateful, no matter what! Yes, it DOES hurt, deep inside, to see so many WITH, when you are without, but, remember, one day, you WILL be recompensed for your lack, for your endurance, for your perseverance, and, for REMAINING IN HIM, no matter what!!!

FAITH TEACHES us that when there is no way, *GOD* MAKES a way, and, I BELIEVE in this! I have SEEN it, and, have FELT it!!!

CHRISTmas, is NOT about us, anyway, it is about LOVE, and, the GIFT of LOVE! It is a time to REJOICE, and, to SING out loud, so the whole universe can hear our heartfelt expression of thanks to our LORD, CHRIST JESUS!!!

Be of good cheer, TRUST IN THE LORD, let HIS LOVE BE the PEACE you need, and, celebrate, no matter what, for HIS LOVE SHINES in our lives, forevermore, we only need to remove ourselves from the shackles of despair, and, negatives to ALLOW that LOVE to lead us through; and, let us PRAY for those who are suffering, body, mind, or spirit, as well as, help out as we can, in ANY way we can to lighten the hearts, minds, spirits, and, loads of others!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2012