HEAVENLY INCLINED...: REACHING THE YOUTH; THE TRUE CHALLENGE FACING US TODAY!!!

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...

REACHING THE YOUTH; THE TRUE CHALLENGE FACING US TODAY!!!

The youth of the world seek to be left alone, to be, and to go through whatever, and I can, certainly, relate to this, as this is, partly, how we grow, yet, some could be saved SO much trouble, IF they would take to heart, certain matters, such as those we find in THE LORD, especially FROM people that have been there, done that! Of course, every one of us has our uniqueness to deal with, and that which affects the overall person we will become; then sometimes, *GOD* places us in circumstances to SHOW us, as we grow, but which, might not take root until later, some DIVINE lessons of our need of HIM, HIS unfailing LOVE, and HIS MIGHT!!!

Churches today are struggling to attract the youth, which is NECESSARY, for all the obvious reasons, but, I would like to remind Adults that the youth of today are WAY different than previous generations, in many ways! Most Children today, throughout their School years, have spent much time online, playing video games, and other such; MORE than they have socialized, or have been outside, AND, many, if not most of them, are alone much of the time, especially the ones from single Parents, and even those whom have both Parents at home, as economical woes keep the breadwinners very busy! Next, the youth of this country, have been exposed to enormous dysfunction, as well as negative influences from TV, movies, games, and what is happening in school, or, their own neighborhoods, and on it goes, which, has the frame of their minds, FAR removed from what is HOLY...

Then, HOW many Parents ARE devout, let alone going to Church regularly? We need to begin with the most influential persons in the young person's life! Also, we must not forget the hypocrisy found in many Churches, that young people are exposed to, which, I KNOW, for sure, can change an impressive mind QUICKLY about wanting to BE in Church!!!

Oh, and let's not forget that with there are new religious bans, and other such, which HAS stagnated a few areas of REACHING the youth! Not but a few generations ago, there was an ample amount of what I will call street Preachers; those who SPENT time out in the world, in HOPES of REACHING the people! Today, with all that is going on, including challenges in the 'hoods, these numbers are almost non-existent, in which case, many have taken it to the 'Net, though, it is NOT the same as BEING face to face with someone, hanging out with them, and encouraging them to listen, and think...

Church leaders, all the way down through the membership, need to consider the youth of today EXACTLY as they are, and THINK REAL long, and hard, to find ways to reach them! The old school ways won't reach them; though, after they have been reached, yet retain tried, and tested principles for KEEPING them around, but, at the onset, aren't going to offer a moment of their attention! These kids are sharp, and they aren't going to bite into any more of the same that has proven what the world around them is; troubled, messed up, and uncertain!!!

You can't be slick with them, you can't be too cool with them, you can't be anything other than REAL, AND ABLE to PROVE that you walk your talk, and that this walk IS RIGHT!!!

Let us PRAY for those who are struggling to reach the youth, and let us PRAY for the youth, their Parents, and all of those who have the power to influence them, or not! Let us ALL ponder this dilemma, as it IS SUPER important, because the Church, the body of CHRIST is INTENDED to GROW, GROW, GROW, then CONTINUE forevermore, and we DON'T want any precious young ones to be lost!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013