HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THURSDAY: TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES, MIND, BODY & SPIRIT...

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...

THURSDAY: TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES, MIND, BODY & SPIRIT...

SIRACH 30: 14-25...
14/ Better a poor man strong and robust, than a rich man with wasted frame.
15/ More precious than gold is health and well-being, contentment of spirit than coral.
16/ No treasure greater than a healthy body; no happiness, than a joyful heart!
17/ Preferable is death to a bitter life, unending sleep to constant illness.
18/ Dainties set before one who cannot eat are like the offerings placed before a tomb.
19/ What good is an offering to an idol that can neither taste nor smell?
20/ So it is with the afflicted man who groans at the good things his eyes behold!
21/ Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding;
22/ Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days.
23/ Distract yourself, renew your courage, drive resentment far away from you; For worry has brought death to many, nor is there aught to be gained from resentment.
24/ Envy and anger shorten one's life, worry brings on premature old age.
25/ One who is cheerful and gay while at table benefits from his food.

Yep, the state of the mind, affects the emotions, then, the intricate workings of the body, then, if the mind, and body are unhealthy, the spirit suffers as well!!!

Attitude is a choice, and I would have balked at this when I was younger, but, now I am mature enough to KNOW it is true! An elevated attitude is like the launch pad of the spirit!!!

Stuff IS gonna happen in this life, so, if we can TRAIN ourselves to be confident, practical, and sensible as things occur, we are heading towards greater health, first of mind, then onward to the rest of the being...

MANY of us today, exist in sadness, in stress, in all sorts of negatives, then, we wonder why we suffer physically, emotionally, and spiritually! Time for a serious assessment of our mentality! Don't we KNOW by now, that the negatives only have power over us IF we succumb to them? Granted, there are often external factors, forces, or what have you at work, but, a POSITIVE mentality helps to diminish, even eradicate what damage can be done by the negatives! So, in securing overall health, and well-being, the mind HAS to be trained to be RECEPTIVE to the GOOD, and POSITIVE, which derives from *GOD* HIMSELF; all else is of the world, and the world is in enmity with us in MANY regards!!!

Each day, let us READ these verses, and let them take root in our mind, that they seep into our emotions, then strengthen our body, that the spirit is ALLOWED to flourish as intended! PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, REJOICE, BE THANKFUL, BE GRATEFUL, BE APPRECIATIVE, LIVE IN THE JOY OF HIS LOVE, as the Fruits of THE HOLY SPIRIT would have it! This is a GREAT place to begin, and WILL benefit the entire being, and life!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked, BOLDLY IN COLOURS