HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, TESTS OF TIME...

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...

TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, TESTS OF TIME...

CHRIST, our LORD, and, SAVIOUR, did NOT have an easy time as a Man! HE went through a LOT in HIS short lifespan, from being tempted as no one has ever been tempted before, to being ridiculed, rejected by HIS own relatives, and, town, scorned, scourged, tortured, then, nailed to a cross!!!

Throughout it all, HE maintained LOVE, compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and, found hope, peace, and, strength, BECAUSE HE RELIED ON *GOD*, IN ALL WAYS! HE wept, HE anguished, HE PRAYED, PRAYED, PRAYED, PRAISED, and, WORSHIPED THE FATHER ABOVE, while, fulfilling HIS WILL!!!

Challenge yourself EACH day to CLING to THE LORD, to RELY upon HIM! TURN TO HIM with your heart, and, soul! ALLOW HIM to BE the DELIVERER! TRUST HIM to move mountains for you! No matter what is going on in your life, IF HE is THE CENTER of your thoughts, actions, and, reactions, HE WILL LEAD YOU THROUGH!!!

ALL things happen for a reason, with purpose, AND, work towards the GOOD, FOR, and TO, THE GLORY of *GOD*! While things often happen so fast, or, assail us, we are wise to TURN TO HIM for ALL assistance; HE IS THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY! I KNOW it gets difficult at times, any day can pound us hard, but, ALL resolve lies IN HIM, and, IN LOVE!!!

1 PETER 1: 6-7...
6/ In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,
7/ so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, cry out, and react, WITH HIM as your sounding board, and, HOPE! Remember it is written, 'No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.' 1 CORINTHIANS 10: 13...

Yes, it gets tough, there is ALWAYS sumthin' to throw you for a loop, but, FAITH, and, FAITHFULNESS, coupled with LOVE, invoke HIM to coming to our rescue! It is, often, a lonely road we travel, for we feel as if no one has to bear the weights of the world as we do, but, you know this isn't so!!!

FIND HIM in the course of the day, FIND HIS BLESSINGS, and, HOLD TIGHTLY, for HE IS the evidence of ALL which is just, right, good, sound, sensible, and, restoring!!!

THANK YOU LORD, for YOUR presence in the lives of those who choose YOU over all else! BLESS YOU, PRAISE YOU, and, ALL GLORY BE TO THEE!!! AMEN!!!

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

1 comment:

Lynda said...: As CHRIST endured what we endure and more, to BE entirely, empathetic, even sympathetic to our woes, battles, and, sufferings, that HE is a PERFECT MEDIATOR, and, ADVOCATE for us, I suspect that through our enduring, we become more inclined towards others too, as we survive them, then, see others going through them; this develops compassion, forbearance, tolerance, understanding, and more... Such things TEACH us LOVE and it's fullness!!!; December 13, 2012 at 10:53 AM