HEAVENLY INCLINED...: IN MY LIFE THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, I AM ALWAYS SEEKING GROWTH...

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...

IN MY LIFE THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, I AM ALWAYS SEEKING GROWTH...

There is always room for improvement in my life, in my being! This face DOESN'T upset me, in fact, the challenge inspires me! Whereas deception says that I WON'T succeed, *GOD* says I CAN, and WILL, IF I place HIM as the forerunner of all I think, do, and say! I BELIEVE HIM, and I find HOPE in HIS promises for my life...

IF I KEEP HIM as the center of my life, allowing HIM to be the model by which I pattern my life, there are endless promises, and encouragements to gather along the way...

DEUTERONOMY 31: 6...
Be brave and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you."

THE LORD is CONSTANTLY with those HE LOVES, especially, the FAITHFUL; this is my MOTIVATION, and my will to keep on keepin' on in HIS name!!!

PSALM 9: 10-11...
10/ The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, stronghold in times of trouble.
11/ Those who honor your name trust in you; you never forsake those who seek you, LORD.

I TRUST HIM, and so, CAN move forth encouraged, and revitalized BY HIS promises for my life! I am strengthened by HIS promises!!!

PHILIPPIANS 4: 6-9...
6/ Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
7/ Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8/ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9/ Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Even though I am learning, and WAY more comfortable in the knowledge of my purpose in this life, I still have moments when I am overcome by the world, and so, I RAISE UP to HIM, TRUSTING in HIM for guidance, direction, might, and determination to lead me past such instances! I HOLD FAST to HIS encouraging WORD, and HIS promises for my life, so, I can GROW from such occurrences, which, have purpose to the development of my being, and DO give me renewed vigor in their wake...

PSALM 32: 8...
I will instruct you and show you the way you should walk, give you counsel and watch over you.

This is exactly what I need to KEEP me in HIS WILL; the KNOWLEDGE that IF I have turned to HIM, that HE WILL instruct me, show me THE WAY, counsel me, and watch over me, protecting me, comforting me, and BLESSING me with HIS LOVE!!!

Yes, I WILL face trials, tribulations, tests, and afflictions, but, they shall NOT overcome me, for my FAITH is in THE LORD, my HOPE is in HIS promises, my COURAGE is found in HIS example, and my determination is EVER fueled by HIS WORD!!!

PRAISE THE LORD, WORSHIP HIS HOLY NAME, GIVE THANKS for HIS CONSTANT PRESENCE in our lives, and REJOICE for ALL HE DOES for us! AMEN!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013