HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ROCK SOLID FAITH...

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...

ROCK SOLID FAITH...

I think one of the best things about having FAITH is being ABLE to ALWAYS look forward! In contrast, when our FAITH is weak, or we don't have any, we are wrapped up in what is at hand!!!

FAITH ALLOWS us to move forward, all the time, no matter what! Lack of FAITH keeps us bogged down, anxious, worried, skeptical, uneasy, and it makes getting ahead, all the more difficult!!!

Sure, people with pretty solid FAITH, react to things that happen, but then, they turn to THE LORD, with PRAYERS, PRAISE, and WORSHIP, releasing what has the potential to overwhelm them! They TRUST the WILL of *GOD*, and move on working through what is at hand, BELIEVING that HE is working along with them!!!

PEACE is a part, and BLESSING of FAITH, because we KNOW THE LORD is INVOLVED in our life! We KNOW HE CAN move mountains for us, if it is in HIS WILL to do so! The stronger the FAITH of person, the more one can depend upon HIM; there is no better way to illustrate the power of FAITH!!!

I KNOW that sometimes it SEEMS HE is not involved, not listening, not moving mountains, but, we HAVE to remember, always, HIS time is not of our time, and perhaps there is SOMETHING HE wants us to experience, learn, or think about before HE assists us! PATIENCE goes hand in hand with FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF, and HOPE!!!

Some days just seem to pour problems on us; one after another! NEVER forget, what we go through, what we endure, what we persevere in, is part, and parcel of HIS WILL, that, we are REFINED into the strong, capable, FAITHFUL people we REALLY are, and, the more we go through, the more we learn to RELY upon HIM, as we work through these things!!!

It is said that if some people who have exhibited FAITH, are still caught up in a sin, or two, and not yet receiving, it could be that HE is bringing the sin to face, so, such people should search themselves to see if there IS some area in which they are in err, then, acknowledge, and work to correct it, while PRAYING, PRAISING, and WORSHIPING HIM! Sincerity, and honesty also, are part and parcel with FAITH, TRUST, BELIEF, and HOPE!!!

Yep, life is full of adventure, not nearly enough of the best kinds of adventure, but, we MUST recognize that while we ARE to RELY upon HIM, we have to do our part too! Some will suffer greatly, thinking that HE should, and will do it for them completely, without ever raising a hand, or a thought to being PRO-ACTIVE in their FAITH, and resolutions!!!

EVERY step of the walk with *GOD* IS PRO-ACTIVE, for many reasons! We are weakened greatly, by the world, and it's ways, thus, what we expect of *GOD*, we HAVE to contribute to, all the while, in sincere, honest, open communication with HIM, as well as THANKS in ADVANCE, with PRAISE, and WORSHIP! If we simply, sit back, and do nothing, expecting of HIM, have we grown any stronger, wiser, or better? No! Just as with a Child, THE FATHER of CREATION, in LOVE, allows us to learn, to understand, and to grow INTO the being HE KNOWS we are!!!

BE STRONG, BE COURAGEOUS, BE UNDAUNTED by afflictions, or what the world throws your way! BE CONTENT, THANKFUL, and EVER working FAITH into PURE FAITHFULNESS, solid, and indestructibly honed IN *GOD*!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013