HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THURSDAY'S TRIUMPHS: TOUGH TIME MENTALITY; THE LORD POWERS MY BOAT:)))

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'S TRIUMPHS: TOUGH TIME MENTALITY; THE LORD POWERS MY BOAT:)))

Listen, times are tough all over the world, as economies shift, downgrade, and other factors play into the trends of today. For more than some, there is increased anxiety, fear, along with negatives of all sorts. Then, of course, our perspective is affected, and on the tidal waves of worry go...

Perhaps we should devote some time to this. Maybe we should study every possible resource, beginning with *GOD*, and working through some known expert advice. We don't have much to lose, and for sure, there just MIGHT be something that clicks, that helps, that points us in a better direction...

IF we are people of FAITH, our FIRST step IS to RELY upon THE LORD, WHILE PRAYING to HIM, and remaining PATIENT for HIS answers, and assistance, as well as keeping it real in expectation, in that, sometimes HIS WILL is not on the same track as what we want, or need....

When we are worried, we NEED to PRAY; when we are stressed, we NEED to PRAY; when we are hungry, homeless, downtrodden, discouraged, or whatever negative of the world is eating away at us, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! This not only places HIM first, it aids in OVERCOMING the bonds of negativity, that keep us in the same place, or even worse off, because the evil one is delighted by our inability to work through problems, troubles, and when we are stagnated, or enmeshed by them. PRAY WITH ALL YOUR HEART, with tears, with PURE release; HE is our SAVIOUR, strength, fortress, rock, and our sure, and present help! PRAY WITH FAITH, not waveringly!!!

Next, we move FORWARD, WITH TRUST in HIM, and an open mind as we approach the circumstances of our lives! We become PROACTIVE in FAITH, BY beginning the process towards realizing answers to our PRAYERS!!!

We have some lessons to LEARN about being content with our present situations! It is TO OUR ADVANTAGE to be FREED from the negatives that CAN take us down, make us ill, and remove us from HIS GRACE! I am a FIRM believer in the FACT that things could be worse, MUCH worse, and so, I AM GRATEFUL, at ALL times!!!

I, like many, am in a boat without an engine, without oars, or other means, HOWEVER, I HAVE the STRENGTH of *GOD* to TEACH me, and SECURE me, and LEAD me! Not only that, I have learned to BE content with what I have, and to TRUST HIS WILL, so while I am not where I would like to be, I AM where I am BY THE LOVE, GRACE, and PROVISION OF THE LORD! Plus, HE HAS given me sense, sensibility, and other gifts for USING towards a better life; body, mind, and spirit! So, I am in this boat, drifting along, sometimes using my hands as power, sometimes my legs, sometimes, just going with the waves! If I don't have a destination in mind to begin with, what point is there for me to expend the energy of powering the boat? I HAVE to make a decision, then some alternate decisions, premised on REALITY, then work TOWARDS these decisions, WHILE TRUSTING THE LORD, and PRAYING, PRAYING, PRAYING, one arm stroke, or one leg kick at a time!!!

We are NEVER at the end, until we no longer exist! It is NEVER too late to recreate! The FAITHFUL ARE empowered, and enabled, we only need to STAND STRONG, and be PROACTIVE! We need to read THE WORD, and remind ourselves of HIM in ANY given situation, because there IS plenty of HIS advice, instruction, guidance, and direction throughout THE WORD!!!

Read MATTHEW 6: 24-34, and LUKE 12: 22-34, and meditate upon HIS WISDOM in these matters! USE THE SCRIPTURES to heal, restore, resolve, motivate, inspire, and fuel!!!

I have a great book about it NEVER being too late, unless you don't start today, but at the moment, it is evading my sight, so, when I locate it, I will share some of the valuable lessons therein, as well as other expert advice, encouragement, and usable applications to making life better...

HANG TOUGH, BELIEVE and RECEIVE, TRUST THE LORD, PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, BE THANKFUL, BE GRATEFUL, and REJOICE for HE IS NEAR! And ALWAYS SEEK HIM, and HIS bounties, BLESSINGS, and beauty in the hours of the day; they ARE everywhere, and AID us in safe, and happier passage to shore:))) MUCH LOVE, *GOD* BLESS, and BE WITH US ALL, and may we HONOUR HIM in ROCK SOLID FAITH, GOODNESS, and LOVE!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013