HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE MOST VITAL, CRUCIAL RELATIONSHIP WE OUGHT TO DEVELOP...

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...

THE MOST VITAL, CRUCIAL RELATIONSHIP WE OUGHT TO DEVELOP...

It seems like a number of people have a constrained, and distanced relationship with THE LORD. This happens for various reasons, and any of many factors can be found in such. One thing is for sure, an authentic, INTIMATE relationship with HIM IS the MOST important relationship there is, and so justifies our every effort towards sealing the bond!!!

As a foundation to more, opening our hearts, then minds to HIM, along with PRAYER, and conversation, as well as commitment to THE WORD, increases our understanding of HIM, and HIS vital role in our lives. When we strive to be closer to HIM, although HE is already close to us, HIS presence becomes more evident, and HIS movement more noticeable! HE IS ALWAYS near; HE exists within HIS people! We only have to awaken to HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS, while we recognize that our allegiance with HIM, involves sincerity, reverence, trust, belief, FAITH, and some correction of matters that affect our relationship with HIM! Allegiance can be described as loyalty, fidelity, FAITHFULNESS, duty, commitment, and DOES bring us closer to HIM!!!

The human condition, and faulty understanding, customs, habits, and so forth, create the strained relationships between people, and THE LORD *GOD*! MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS LIFE, a relationship WITH *GOD* IS NATURAL, though, because of the way we are raised, and taught, we see this in reverse, much to our own disadvantage! Thus, it IS crucial, now, and forever, to forge a tight, honest, and open connection, or rapport with HIM! WHO but HIM is more worthy, or more beneficial TO us? WHO but HIM has our best intentions in mind, at all times? WHO but HIM is more devoted to our plight, safety, and well-being???

Some view THE LORD as formidable, intimidating, and too stern for their liking, thus, though they might believe in HIM, they have placed barriers between them, and HIM! Personally, I don't understand HOW anyone could feel this way about such a LOVING, caring, compassionately beautiful being, but again, faulty upbringing could be the reason...

I always thought I was attuned to THE LORD, until the moment of reality, when HE came and shook my thinking UP! Then, after HE put me in my rightful frame of mind, it took a bit of time, and training, to inch closer to HIM! There are those shames, and fears that deception uses to hinder our progress with HIM, but, we learn to move past this chattering, with knowledge of HIS MERCY, GRACE, and LOVE! Like anything, you have to begin somewhere, and diligent application sees results!!!

*GOD* LOVES US! HE WANTS to share ALL HE is with us! HE is not holding back from us, we are holding back from HIM! There ARE things we need to do to come closer to HIM, yet, the heart speaks to HIM OVER all else!!!

PRAY to HIM, talk to HIM, TURN to HIM with ALL your being, ALL your issues, ALL your problems, ALL your desires, ALL you have, and HE WILL take you in HIS embrace, while guiding you to where HIS WILL would have you, all the while, PROVIDING for you, abundantly, in every way, and every matter!!!

Your faults, your weaknesses, your errs, HE understands completely, and only WILLS that you acknowledge them, work to correct them, and TRUST HIM to lead you to victory OVER them! Don't let your imperfections be the distance between you, and HIM; HE IS *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and KNOWS you better than you ever will, as HE CREATED you, and SEES you entirely!!!

Be open to HIM, and receive HIM, and HIS GLORY! PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, GIVE THANKS, be GRATEFUL, and CONTENT IN HIS PRESENCE, and PROVISION! HE WILL move mountains for those who have stepped out from behind the ones they attempt to hide behind!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013

Dear FATHER who art in Heaven, I know I have done wrong in your sight, and I feel great sorrow for the many things I have done against YOUR WILL! I have no excuses, yet, as YOU know, it is crazy down here on this Earth; we are taught in opposition to YOU, and YOUR WILL, from an early age, thus, by the time we are of age, that opposition has become a part of our thoughts, and ways! Of course, few of us are taught exactly YOUR WAY, so this has much to do with our mistaken reality!

I come to YOU with great regret, as I have been enmeshed for longer than I had thought, in this mistaken reality, and have come to see the falsehoods, the lies, the constant onslaught of negativity, and broken spirits caused by living in opposition to YOU, and YOUR WILL!

Forgive me, FATHER, and guide me to healing, to restoration, to renewal of spirit! Teach me, and aid me in overcoming what I know now, was working against me, that I am able to live in YOU! Hear me, as I cry out unto YOU with all my heart, and lead me to a place of comfort, PEACE, and well-being! Show me how to come to YOU, so that I can begin anew with YOU as my sight, intelligence, and direction! Help me to KNOW YOU, and YOUR WILL, while basking in the balm of YOUR LOVE! Instill in me the way to understanding, knowledge, and wisdom of YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, then, pilot me accordingly! Dear FATHER, I am at a point of near devastation, and I come to YOU, with HOPE that YOU WILL restore me! I thank YOU for hearing my plea, and in FAITH, I will, patiently, await YOUR deliverance! In the name of CHRIST JESUS of Nazareth, I thank YOU in all YOUR GLORY... AMEN...