HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: THE SHIFT FROM WORLD TO SPIRIT...

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...

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: THE SHIFT FROM WORLD TO SPIRIT...

As we are coming of age, the world has us by the brain, by the brawn, by the heart, by any means feasible! As we mature, we begin to notice that all is not quite as wonderful as the appeal made us to believe! We grow less attracted to this, to that, and find less pleasure from things we wonder that we ever enjoyed! This is an important time; that time when we start to ponder the enticements of the world, and just what we might be missing! Even those raised in an environment of Church, may be missing *GOD*! Of course, not all people experience what I have illustrated, but then, a LOT do!!!

I lived the life out there in the world, and the farther the world took me from the reality of my existence, the more I began to miss my LORD! At times, I felt as if I were being held captive against my will, by the very people I LOVE, or associate with, because *GOD* was NOT the focus of their lives, though, some are coming around, slowly! Sometimes I felt as if I were in position to SEE myself acting worldly, and doing things that, actually, went against my grain! I was unhappy because I wasn't living spiritually, even though most would tell you I was, and am, very spiritual! The world's hold on me was beginning to irritate me, to bug me, to make me nervous! Then, *GOD* did HIS thing, and my story changed...

I NOW KNOW that the TRUTH of our life is *GOD*, go ahead, run far as you can, there is no escaping this reality! We were CREATED FOR HIM, the fulfillment of HIS WILL, to serve HIM, and others, and to have an HONESTLY SINCERE relationship with HIM, as HIS Child, as HIS eternal companion!!!

This freaks people out, totally! They balk at this notion, they cringe, they just don't like it! Fine, but, does that change the reality of our CREATION???

WHY does this freak people out? I can only imagine! It is difficult for us to place more significance on HIM, than on ourselves, for one thing, for another, it means giving up too much of what life has to offer, and this is exactly the mentality which separates us from HIM, because it is fleshy pride, pure, and unquestionable...

Some think that if you come into *GOD* with your whole heart, it is boring, and dry! HOW can that be, when HE IS THE PREEMINENCE of ALL, and EVERYTHING? HE HAS ALL we need, and BLESSES those whom BLESS HIM, exceedingly! OK, so HE is not the Wizard of Oz, nor, a magical genie, who grants our every wish, but, HE IS MORE than any such thing! FIRST of all, HE HOLDS LIFE in HIS hands, HE MADE us, and KNOWS the number of hairs on our heads, and the exact moment that our breath will cease, SO, DON'T take HIM down to worldly standards, and fantastical dreams!!!

HE GIVES ABUNDANTLY, according TO HIS WILL, and IN HIS OWN TIME, but, is NOT going to lavish us, because, we are barely attentive enough to acknowledge HIM, let alone that HE should go to worldly measures to prove HIMSELF to us! Not only that, what would we learn, and HOW could possibly desire HIM, if THINGS manifested all over the place???

Sure, our lifestyle changes when we align to HIS WILL, but that doesn't mean there isn't excitement, joy, or celebration; in fact, as our relationship with HIM develops, our spirit, not only ELEVATES, it is filled with a cheer that fills the being, like NOTHING on this planet! We may not walk around smiling all the time, but inside, we are jubilant! So difficult to explain, yet, MUST be shared, because it is important to growth, and our journey home...

The world begins to lack flavour, zest, that appetizing allure, when we eat, and drink the superiority of THE LORD'S offerings! Nothing HE offers is lacking, ever, and everything HE gives is satisfying in a multitude of ways, in a diverse range of being!!!

Yes, there are times now, when I feel as if too much has been removed at once, yet, I wait on THE LORD, with LOVING FAITH, and understanding that HE gives, HE takes, HE balances it all out, in HIS own way, and HIS own WILL! Life is devotion is not intended to be a bed of rose petals, in fact, it holds many thorns to constantly remind us of THE TRUTH! Still, it is a better life, body, heart, mind, and spirit, with less, and less remorse, or negative inclinations, due to our failure to live as intended! Life is not perfect right now, but we KNOW that we heading to that end, and we ARE being BLESSED in numerous ways, the more we tread comfortably on THE PATH! HE KNOWS what we experience, and IS ever nearby, to LIFT US HIGHER, and OVER the human conditions which perplex us along THE WAY...

IN CHRIST, I AM dead to the world! What does this mean? To me, it means that the dazzle of the world, the come-on, is illusional, and empty, disappointing, and incomplete, BUT THE LORD, on the other hand WALKS HIS TALK, and IS ALL THAT, and DOES HAVE what my being seeks in fulfillment!!!

Baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being as it were buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life. Unholy professors may have had the outward sign of a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness, but they never passed from the family of Satan to that of God.

The corrupt nature, called the old man, because derived from our first father Adam, is crucified with Christ, in every true believer, by the grace derived from the cross. It is weakened and in a dying state, though it yet struggles for life, and even for victory. But the whole body of sin, whatever is not according to the holy law of God, must be done away, so that the believer may no more be the slave of sin, but live to God, and find happiness in his service.

You see that? TO FIND HAPPINESS IN HIS SERVICE! ONLY *GOD* could provide the inspiration, the motivation, and the TRUE desire to exist in servitude! ONLY HE HAS THE POWER to MAKE this choice beneficial; extensively so, and eternally so!!!

I don't know what I will be when I am finished growing UP, I only know that with *GOD*, I WILL grow UP, and that, HIS WILL shall be done in me, thus, I WILL share in HIS GLORY, and find ALL I long for, when the time is right!!!

PRAISE THE LORD OUR *GOD*, WORSHIP HIS HOLY NAME, REJOICE IN HIS LOVE FOR US, and HONOUR HIM BY turning to HIM, in heart, mind, body, and spirit! You have EVERYTHING to gain, and nothing to lose! AMEN!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2013
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS