HEAVENLY INCLINED...: LESSONS, GROWTH, GLORY...

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...

LESSONS, GROWTH, GLORY...

We live to learn; if we learn what is right, just, and good, then live what we've learned, we GLORIFY *GOD*, and thus, have fulfilled HIS WILL...

Learning isn't easy for the most part; just think of all the lessons of life that you have learned this far; some have been downright painful to learn, but, the harder anything comes, the longer lasting, and deeper it's impact, or impression! Some people won't learn much in this journey, as they attach to comfort zones, imagining that this is just about as good as it gets! Then, there are those that get stuck in a rut, or even an era, choosing to remain in such, without much interest in growing past it! We all know people that will be in the same place, doing the same things, and acting pretty much the same as always, even as decades go by; such people are not learning, and for sure, they haven't grown much, at least in areas of significance...

ALIGNED living is about learning; it is a never ending process, with great purpose, as well as infinite benefits! We learn from THE LORD that which comprises the nature of HIS people, which WILL lead them through the obstacle mine fields of this time in the world! We can't read through THE WORD once, and imagine that we have knowledge enough to aid us! What THE LORD has set before us in Laws, COMMANDMENTS, Statues, Decrees, Precepts, and Instructions are intricately woven into one another; partial, or incomplete understanding, leaves gaps enough for the enemy to do his thing, as well as the likelihood of our own minds creating distractions, and conditions that find us suffering for the lack...

While writing this post, when I found this in my inbox:
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Craig Groeschel...

We live, we learn; sometimes what we learn is not what we expected, and can be quite a rude awakening, but, our LORD uses most means available to TEACH HIS own, and to BRING them to, not only their knees in humility, but to HIS WILL! Some of what HE teaches us, comes softly, like a Summer breeze, some harshly, like the bitter cold of Winter, some with extra lessons hidden, like storm clouds, some popping up at us, like the growth of Spring, and some with a series of details which tie into one major lesson, like the falling leaves of Autumn, which leave TRUTH in the starkness of the trees! *GOD* is creative, determined, and expertly reaches those HE intends to reach...

Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people, life is full of lessons for ALL people, because learning is KEY to growth, development, stability, LOVE, FAITH, and ALL *GOD* intends for us! When we make full use of our time in this plane, edging towards HIM, we will surely, learn, it is only natural to the process of awakening the spirit, and casting the flesh aside...

We can NEVER know enough to keep what is against us at bay, thus, *GOD* has placed before us, ample advantages, which requires diligent study, in order to gain deliberate knowledge, and so, we are opened UP to receiving from HE whom is guiding us, that we have the wisdom to take the endless provisions HE gives us, to safely reach our TRUE LIFE! Learned lessons ARE pertinent, even when they hurt, even when they change everything, even when we don't quite understand them, because there will come a time when the heart of their purpose will serve us, and GLORIFY THE LORD *GOD*!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013