HEAVENLY INCLINED...: LOVING MASTER SHEPHERD & HIS CONTENTED FOLD...

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...

LOVING MASTER SHEPHERD & HIS CONTENTED FOLD...

There is no need for me to be questioning, stubborn, obstinate, confused, dismayed, discouraged, nor in any way negative, for I am encompassed by the LOVE, and care of THE LORD!!!

IN HIM I have the PEACE of assurance of HIS LOVING care, which is all provisional, kind, and endowed with every sort of goodness! I can be POSITIVE, for I know I am on safe grounds as I follow HIM through this time!!!

This time of Exodus is not so different from that of the ancients, at least not in the nature of those being LED to safety, and HIS PROMISES! We are still hard-headed, still rebellious, still too sure of ourselves, and yet when our ways prove to bring us troubles, we cry out to HIM, then, in a short while, back to a worldly attitude we go! None of it makes the least bit of sense, yet the human condition prevails, even in the company of THE MOST HIGH *GOD*...

I probably have a few years on many of you, and have seen a lot in my life, especially the problems in this world created by our own resistance to HIS care for us! I have seen the effects of wishing to remain in the clutches of evil for the sake of creature comforts, and familiarity! We imagine that we are capable of so many things, yet the very things we TRULY need, including eternal LIFE, lie not in our powers, but in HIS! Happiness is difficult to come by in this world; money doesn't grant it, power doesn't grant it, nor do any of a number of those worldly desires we hold so dear, and near; they might for a brief moment, but they are never lasting, and so, on we go, searching for that happiness, totally ignoring that there is ONLY ONE SOURCE of happiness, and HIS name IS *GOD*, THE LORD!!!

Like sheep in a sheepfold, our SHEPHERD PROVIDES for us, exceedingly! HE PROTECTS us, GUIDES us, DIRECTS us, SUSTAINS us, LOVES us, CARES for us, and WATCHES OVER us at all times, along with more! HE takes us to soft green pastures, with optimal conditions for our growth, and development, always tending to our every need, that we flourish, and are at PEACE all around, despite the lurking perils ever nearby! A life away from this BLESSED fold is one of danger, of dissension, of discord, of discouragement, of harshness, of any of a enormous number of negatives!!!

It is JOY to be in the comforts of THE LORD; to be watched over, to be cared for, to be LED past what is endangering of this world! This terrain is temporal, and it is ideal to CHOOSE to be in HIS care during this short journey, for bountiful is HIS PROVISION! This means that HE WILL tend to us, never forsake us, nor leave us to that which would destroy us...

WHY should I waste this short time in defiance, when I KNOW HE will enhance my time here? WHY would I want to risk the stony crags, the constant cliffs which lead to nowhere, save for harm, or my having to turn around, and start all over again, more confused, more dismayed; the constant jeopardy's which ARE intent on my fall? PRAISE THE LORD I HAVE AN OPTION: HIM! I don't HAVE to face the negatives of this day alone, HE IS WITH ME, and WORKING for my benefit! I don't HAVE to succumb to the dangers that would devour me, HE WILL LEAD me through, and past!!!

At one time, I was surely LOST, but HE rescued me, and since that time, HE HAS taught me, and opened my eyes to seeing just how wondrous HIS LOVE, and care ARE! I am ever indebted, ever grateful, ever appreciative, and eternally thankful for HIS PRESENCE in my life; for including me in HIS flock, and for HIS tireless watching over me!!!

I am a content little sheep, grazing, drinking, and frolicking under my SHEPHERD'S gaze! I PRAISE HIM every day, I WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, I EXALT HIS name, I REJOICE in HIS LOVE, and care for me, and I DO my best to HONOUR HIM with wholesome healthiness, and continued following of HIS WILL!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014