HEAVENLY INCLINED...: BECOMING THE BEST ME...

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...

BECOMING THE BEST ME...

Do we live in glass houses? Certainly we do. We are born into sin, there is not a question about it; one and all, we are born into sin, and into a world filled with sin. We often forget our own sins and thus, live in a glass house, by judging another who has sinned, perhaps a sin that we have, ourselves committed, even not too long ago...

I have sinned, Oh LORD, how I have sinned, and, I do not forget or easily dismiss my sins. This helps me to be less judgmental, though surely, in my human condition, I have yet far to go. I remember my sins, indeed, for they have taught me valuable lessons. Lessons of righteousness, character, honesty, perseverance, and, mostly compassion...

If we are growing in the spiritual realm, we have to admit and remember our past transgressions, for the sake of compassion. In compassion's state, you will find tolerance and forgiveness, and, far less judgement towards others, for you have been there yourself at one time or another, or are even going to be there one day...

Compassion is a branch of LOVE. LOVE is unconditional. The CREATOR, *GOD'S* LOVE for us is unconditional. HE carries in that LOVE, the branch of compassion, which means HE forgives us for our human sin, our human condition. HE UNDERSTANDS that each of us are born into a world of sin, and, that part of the development process is going through said sins, that we can develop character, honor, forgiveness, compassion, and finally, LOVE...

I am human. Fallible, imperfect, and, often stupid or ignorant in my thoughts or actions. Sometimes I judge, particularly when I am being judged. When I do, I remember that I may have also committed that very sin, and, in this reaction, or reflection, I find compassion and forgiveness, for I have been forgiven, therefore surely, my Brother or Sister of life should be forgiven. I am not yet, 100% in this area of understanding, but, the more I practice it, the more it becomes part of my growth...

Being perfect is not an option in life. There is, and never has been, any such thing as perfection in mankind. We should strive to remember this. We should remember this when we feel compelled to judge another, for surely, we are as imperfect as are they?! Perfection for the righteous, begins the day we are welcomed into eternity, though the road to eternity, and righteousness begins with working through our OWN imperfections!!!

Becoming the BEST person I CAN BE is where the balance lies in growth. This is basically all that is expected of us, as then, in having done so, we have become a functionally effectual, and visible example of THE LORD'S LOVE, which works FOR the good of all, and HIS GLORY!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013