HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: GIFTS TO *GOD*; DAY TEN...

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...

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: GIFTS TO GOD; DAY TEN...

As we near the end of CHRISTmas, may we NEVER forget the beauty, and impacting GIFT which *GOD* bestowed upon us, through CHRIST JESUS, and may we always inch closer to HIM, that we are able to BE the evidence of this GIFT of LOVE...

Our role in THE COVENANT lies greatly upon BEING CHRIST-like, for the world to bear witness to, and for the increase of HIS CHURCH, of which we are the body, and HE is the head! We are to inspire, not only through HIS GOSPEL, but through example, and grab as many from the fire as is feasible; such is LOVE in action, in TRUTH!!!

We CAN'T BE CHRIST-like, if we don't know HIM, or understand HIM! Thus, we have to go deeper into HIM in order to secure the knowledge and wisdom we need! Primarily, we must have a change of heart towards *GOD*, and HIS WILL, and towards sin, which leads us to humility, which leads us to increased obedience! And NONE of this is accomplished without HIM, or HIS HOLY SPIRIT, which guides the sincere to existing in righteousness, body, heart, mind, and spirit!!!

When we KNOW CHRIST better, we are then, INSPIRED to act in ALLEGIANCE to HIS WILL, and in righteousness, within, to without! We are intent on ever growing into HIM, and bearing fruit worthy! We understand the NEED for THE LAW of LOVE, and develop our lives to reflect, and echo of HIS LOVE, which means, we are no longer concerned, beyond necessities, for the self, instead for the good of ALL, and HIS GLORY!!!

In this *GOD* given New Year, 2014, may we EMBRACE the NEED to REFLECT HIM, HONESTLY, for the good of ALL, and for HIS GLORY! May we BECOME TRUE Disciples, and FOLLOW HIM all the way home! May we REALIZE that we HAVE roles to fulfill, according to HIS WILL, for HIS GLORY, for the building UP of THE CHURCH, and for the well-being of ALL!!!

CHRISTmas exists because CHRIST JESUS came to reconcile the world to THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY; TOTALLY designed, and fulfilled BY LOVE, and HIS WILL! Without falter, without sin, without ANY flaw, CHRIST JESUS LIVED as a human; tested, tried, and refined, void of weakness, swaying, or quavering; HE REMAINED TRUE throughout, KNOWING that this world has NOTHING pertinent, lasting, or worthy to offer, in comparison to *GOD*! HIS very nature was pure, undefiled, LOVING, kind, compassionate, diligent, uncompromisable, PEACEFUL, non-condemning, FORGIVING, and well, the EPITOME of VIRTUE, and GOOD! Thus, it only makes sense to KNOW as much about HIM as is feasible, in order to pick UP our crosses, daily, and FOLLOW HIM, imitating HIM IN the BEST of our knowledge, understanding, and capacities...

CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, and SAVIOUR IS THE LIVING WORD! In BECOMING CHRIST-like we EVIDENCE THE WORD in ALL we think, say, and do, thus, we PLEASE *GOD*, and such is the greatest gift we can offer to HIM!!!

Let us LEAP into exemplifying HIM, with LOVE, FAITH, HOPE, and the EVIDENCE of HIM in our hearts! Let us LEAP JOYOUSLY into sharing HIM, PRAISING HIM, WORSHIPING HIM, REJOICING IN HIM, HONOURING HIM, and the building UP of HIM! Let us LEAP into being as HIS LIGHT, in more than word, for HE ALONE, IS WORTHY of ALL righteous alignment we can muster!!!

As we wrap up this season, let us remind ourselves that HE has bid us to BE HOLY AS HE IS HOLY, and, TO LOVE AS HE HAS LOVED, for SOUND reason, and principles! Let us DIG DEEP into THE WORD, that understanding becomes melded into our beings! Let us STRIVE to SHINE of HIM, in more than word, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the betterment of ALL! Let us BE THE TRUTH OF HIS CHURCH!!!

Read EPHESIANS 4: 14-16; 2 PETER 3: 17-18; ROMANS 12: 1-2; JOHN 3: 30; and LUKE 9: 23-24...

REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

BLESSED IS THE LAMB OF *GOD*, who lowered HIMSELF, IN LOVE, to bring us back into the fold! PRAISE, and EXALT HIM, and most of all, HONOUR HIM in ALL you do, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the good of ALL!!!