HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FABULOUS FRIDAYS!!!

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...

FABULOUS FRIDAYS!!!

It IS Friday, thanks be to THE LORD! It has been a tough week because of the deadly cold in which we are enveloped, and it doesn't look like it will be retreating any time soon; I heard that they predict it will be with us for a few more weeks! Ah well, such is life, such is endurance, and perseverance, and such times offer greater appreciation for what is to come, *GOD* WILLING!!!

Anyway, it is time to be thankful, and grateful for another week of living! It is time to find balance, PEACE, renewal, restoration, and rejuvenation! It is time to celebrate having survived the week, to celebrate the simpler, finer things of life, and those people who make our lives all the sweeter! It is also, time to celebrate *GOD* for HIS hand in all, and everything...

Some people think that devotion means being like a monk, but let's think about this for a moment! The Apostles, and Disciples surely did leave everything behind to follow CHRIST JESUS, but they remained true to nature, besides their development of spirit, and the placing of *GOD* as the center of their lives! ALL through the BIBLE, those prominent in HIS works, remained who, and what they were, only better as their relationship with HIM developed. HE CREATED us for purpose, reason, and HIS GLORY, despite the fact that we are like diamonds in the rough! HE desires us to be ourselves, only elevated! HE wants us to be truly, and sincerely devout, while being whom HE made us to be, using the gifts, and talents HE bestowed upon us...

*GOD* at the center of our lives finds us living in ways pleasing to HIM, and allows us to be led to the greatness within! I can retain my identity, and reflect HIM at the same time! I can retain my interests in art, muzik, and so forth, and be aligned! I can BE ME, while growing into the spirit! I give up egocentricity, carnality, and the flesh in favour of the spirit, because it is the TRUE me, but other than leaving the world behind, I can flourish with HIM, as the person I am, without the excess garbage imposed upon me, caked upon me by the world...

For one thing, especially for me, if I can't be me, who can I be? HE doesn't want to alter me, HE wants me to improve upon myself for many reasons, such as safety, well-being, and other POSITIVES which HE BLESSES the devout with!!!

BALANCE at all times, makes for a open, receptive, growing, and productive person! When someone goes to extremes, they are stifled in those extremes, they are bound to them, and then, serve little purpose, as they are lost in those extremes! In the NEW HEAVEN & EARTH, HE says that we will serve HIM, but also that we will enjoy life! This is balance, and it is imperative to ALL in CREATION!!!

CHRIST JESUS walked the Earth in poverty, worked long hours for HIS WILL, yet, took time to retreat, relax, renew, and rejuvenate! HIS focus was increased by this balance, as was HIS Disciples/Apostles! HE spent time with Friends, with Family, and strangers, in leisure, albeit with the focus of HIS purposed WILL! If we can't tune out, we can't tune in!!!

Throughout THE WORD, *GOD* is pleased by the REJOICING of HIS people, as they sang, danced, told stories, and so forth! HE tells us to enjoy the fruits of our labours, and much more; the KEY is to remaining aligned, which, if one is truly devout, is no problem, because they CANNOT be swayed!!!

THE LORD CREATED EVERYTHING in existence in 6 days, on the 7TH day, HE rested, and reflected upon HIS works! HE appreciates the beauty, and infinite diversity before HIM, after all, HE brought it ALL forth!!!

It is Friday, the beginning of the weekend, let us say, "AHHHHHHHHHHH", and "THANK YOU LORD"! Let us do something special for ourselves, for our spirits, for those close to us! Let us find more reason to REJOICE and PRAISE HIM in the days ahead! Let us BE, just BE, and take the time to free the being from the world! It is time to stop, smell the roses, and take in the wonders around us, in open simplicity, and gracious expectation!!!

Enjoy this day which THE LORD has given! BLESS HIM, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, THANK HIM, HONOUR HIM, and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014