HEAVENLY INCLINED...: MORE THAN A GIFT, OUR LORD, CHRIST JESUS...

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...

MORE THAN A GIFT, OUR LORD, CHRIST JESUS...

Our LORD, CHRIST JESUS was born into humanity, thus, had to study, learn, and become knowledgeable, just as we do. By the age of 12, HE was already astounding the Elders in The Temple, with intent attention, and questions! HE had grown, was strong, filled with WISDOM, and the GRACE of *GOD* was upon HIM. It is said that HE was an ardent student, and of course, KNOWING HIS HEAVENLY FATHER'S WILL, surely, inspired HIM..

After HE had been Baptized by John the Baptist, immediately, HE was taken to the desert, where HE was tempted for 40 days, and 40 nights indicating, though HE IS THE LORD, HE had the human will to deny what is just, right, and good, just as we do. But, HE REMAINED LOYAL to the WILL of *GOD*, from beginning to end, without sin, without falter...

HIS temptations were like our whole life of temptations, in a single one of those 40 days, and nights! Satan tempted HIM with the best of his wickedness, pulling out all reserves to defeat THE LORD! What audacity! No wonder this being has his way with so many of us!!!

LOVE was the stronghold, as CHRIST SO LOVED HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, HE was WILLING to withstand the worst of the human condition, all the way to the point of dying for us...

HE was raised in righteousness, by a close knit community of righteous, diligent, dedicated, hard-working people, whom WORSHIPED *GOD* in LOVE, ease, and devotion...

HIS MENTALITY REMAINED WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER, no matter! HIS mind was SOUNDLY embedded in THE TRUTH, and HIS FATHER'S WILL! We, on the other hand, are raised in the world, with the egocentric being as the evidence of our upbringing. I am not saying that none of us has been raised in righteousness, or by devout Parents, instead, that what we have learned from a young age on, has taught us to be SELF inclined! CHRIST JESUS was *GOD* inclined, never waning in wanting to please HIM, and take care of others! HOLY LOVE was the evidence of HIS nature, without EVER being corrupted by the ways of the world! HE WAS affected by what HE witnessed in the world, and WAS caused agony, suffering, pain, hurt, and worse, yet, HE REMAINED FAITHFUL to the end...

YES, HE WAS *GOD* in the flesh, yet, HE faced what we face, and more, VOID of relenting to any lower level than the DIVINE...

There are wonderfully RICH lessons to be learned from HIM! What HE DID for us, what HE left behind, in a multitude of ways, is WORTHY of study, embracing, and utilizing, indeed! HE is MORE than we accredit HIM with, as we remain distant, yet intrigued! HE IS NOT an icon, HE IS ALL, and EVERYTHING, but whom lowered HIMSELF to fully experience our human condition, without EVER LOSING HIS WILL, or sight of HIS SPIRIT, ACKNOWLEDGING ALWAYS that HIS FATHER'S WILL SHALL BE DONE, despite the constant evil surrounding HIM!!!

In ALL of history, is there ANYONE who is more WORTHY of imitating? NO WAY! Yet, we imitate people, NOT THE LORD! Is there ANYONE who is more WORTHY of being called a HERO? NO ONE! Yet, we find heroes to fawn over, in the human race, and forget about the TRUEST HERO EVER!!!

AMAZINGLY AWESOME is THE LORD, CHRIST JESUS, in EVERY way imaginable! HIS beauty overspills into the world, moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, because HIS LOVE for us IS that beauty! HE taught by EXAMPLE, thus, we OUGHT to by now, be trying to meld as much of HIS example as is feasible into the depths of our beings, WHILE reflecting HIM, and bearing the fruits HE SO adores on HIS VINE!!!

Some WORSHIP HIM, without TRUE WORSHIP of HIS WILL! This seems ludicrous, yet, is very evident! WHY IS HE SO MAGNIFICENT? Because HE IS! And because HE, ALONE is AUTHOR, and ARCHITECT OF CREATION, PLUS, THE EVIDENCE OF THE LOVE THAT SAVES US FROM OURSELVES! HE has SHOWN US THE WAY, which, IF embraced is FAR more sensible than the muck the world teaches us! The world's life is weighty, HIS GIFT OF LIFE is FREEING, BECAUSE IT IS GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, SO VERY GOOD FOR the TRUE self, the spirit, AND for ALL in CREATION! Because we are raised rather backwards, we are SLOW to SEEING what FREEDOM lies IN becoming as THE MASTER! ALL HE prescribes is FOR our well-being, the good of ALL in CREATION, and FOR, and TO HIS GLORY!!!

I SAW THE LIGHT, and was HEALED by THE LIGHT, thus, I devote allegiance TO THE LIGHT, because the darkness was NOT what I needed, wanted, or was pleased with! THANK YOU LORD, for LOVING me enough to rescue me, to be the only constant in my life, and to bend me, shape me, mold me, and form me into some semblance of worth! May I EVER HONOUR you, the rest of my days, in the best of my ways!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013