HEAVENLY INCLINED...: HAPPY MONDAY AT THE END OF 2013!!!

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...

HAPPY MONDAY AT THE END OF 2013!!!

By the GRACE of *GOD*, it is Monday, the 2ND day of a new week, and the day before New Year's Eve! The HOLY season is winding down a bit, with LOTS of tired people, fighting to find just a bit more energy to finish it off...

I PRAY that your HOLYdays were full of HIS LOVE, of HIS GIFT, of all things right, and good! I hope you had fun, enjoyed, and kept THE LORD as the focus of this time!!!

My festivities were excellent, though I missed my Daughter, am drained, and actually, picked up the flu bug, as several people who celebrated CHRISTmas Eve with me, were carrying that nasty bug with them:))) Thaz life, and all will be well! Other than that, everything was just about as good as it gets, but, CHRISTmas Eve flew by so fast everyone was curious about it! Last year it went real slow, this year, poof, it was over! I got a new BIBLE, and some other reference books, since mine were falling to shreds, and yes, those were my favourite gifts!!!

We began a new tradition this year, giving all the girls snowmen top hats, which were quite beautiful, and the guys all wore Santa hats; next year, it will be something different! They enjoyed this, which surprised me! The youngest one is 6, and of course, the life of the party; she is REALLY funny, and a unique character...

CHRISTmas Day was a bit difficult for me, as I am not used to having company on that day, and the flu was setting in! I had to reclean the house, make a whole new Dinner, and hors d'oeuvres, but, I managed, and it was nice! See, I LOVE CHRISTmas Eve, and CAN'T go to sleep, it has been like that since I was very young, so, I did not get to bed before around 5 a. m., so, CHRISTmas Day is generally, for veggin', reflecting, and basking in THE GIFT of THE LORD...

Now, we are moving into a New Year, and, as usual, I am excited about this time! It is intriguing to TRY to figure out WHY we are so revved up over a day which brings in a New Year! I just can't figure it out, but, I think it is alright, as long as we are looking to *GOD* for what this year will bring, instead of magic, and mysticism!!!

A New Year seems to bring new HOPE, and so, we all look forward to it, though, we SHOULD KNOW by now that this would include action on OUR part in order for that HOPE to manifest!!!

Instead of making New Year's Resolutions this year, perhaps as Don Whitney; Live It, at Christianity.com suggests, we should ponder a set of questions to increase the benevolences of this coming year, let me call them *GOD*solutions:)))
He writes:
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?
11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year?
12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area?
13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?
14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?
15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?
16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?
17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?
18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?
19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?
21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?
24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year?
25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?
26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?
27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?
28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?
29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?
30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year?
31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

The value of many of these questions is not in their profundity, but in the simple fact that they bring an issue or commitment into focus.

Yah, FOCUS: obviously, a New Year is premised upon aligning, and formatting to meet that allegiance, which HOPEFULLY, is with *GOD*! All in all, THE WILL of *GOD* prevails, and so, there SHOULD be thoughtful PRAYER, and opening UP to HIM, in FAITH, and aligned behaviours, that HE WILL guide us, aid us, and BLESS us!!!

Happy Monday, and happy end of 2013! May the coming days of the New Year, 2014, bring PEACE, LOVE, JOY, and CONNECTION TO THE MOST HIGH LORD, in ways unprecedented, and may we all, spread ALL HE IS, and GIVES to the world! *GOD* BLESS, and BE with us ALL! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME, WORSHIP HIM ALWAYS, REJOICE IN HIS PRESENCE in our lives, in HIS LOVE of us, and HIS unceasing CARE for us! HONOUR HIM by BEING HONOURABLE to ALL, and THANK HIM for ALL HE gives! PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY for one, and all!!!

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