HEAVENLY INCLINED...: A WORD, OR TWO, ON RELATIONSHIPS...

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...

A WORD, OR TWO, ON RELATIONSHIPS...

When people hear the word relationship, most are inclined to think romantically, yet there are diverse relationships to consider...

Relationships, contracts, agreements, and so forth ARE what fuse THE BODY OF THE CHURCH, communities, and societies together; healthily, favourably, and effectively...

Though LOVE is the very heart, or core of interrelationships, EVERY relationship, every contract, every agreement, sees the need for SUBMISSION; for the sake of HONOURING said relationship, contract, and agreement. Submission MAINTAINS the INTEGRITY of relationships, contracts, and agreements, and keeps the HONOUR perpetually working towards FULFILLMENT in the most NOBLE sense! Submission is NOT a negative, it is an advantageous necessity!!!

Involved in submitting is found compromise, adjustment, fairness, understanding, and much more! It is a matter of COMMITTING TO what was agreed upon, TO UPHOLDING our end, and TOWARDS the overall BEST results! It involves EFFORT, DILIGENCE, RESPECT, REGARD, TOLERANCE, KNOWLEDGE, that we are able to UNDERSTAND, as well as other characteristics, and behaviours aligned TO said relationship, contract, agreement!!!

SELFLESSNESS is HIGHLY OPTIMAL, even mandatory, although there is self-motivation in HONOURING our side! If we RELINQUISH PRIDE, arrogance, and other negatives, there is less likelihood of problems, of disturbance, of ruining what we have agreed to! Therefore, HUMILITY REIGNS SUPREME in such matters, and ALLOWS for those involved, to be elevated, as well as able to gather richly!!!

Such is the basis of ONENESS with THE LORD, in Marriage, in raising Families, in Friendships, in any of many of our associations! HONOURING our VOWS, our PLEDGES, our COMMITMENTS, our agreement of mutuality, IS from what stems GOODNESS, in every possibility! IN NO RELATIONSHIP should it be about us, it should be about the other(s), in which case, we ARE compensated exceedingly! Any time someone places the self before *GOD*, or others, the foundation is NOT solid, it is NOT premised upon growth, and is NOT going to SUPPORT all of the issues, circumstances, conditions, and so forth; it will be weak, inferior, and quite unsound!!!

THE LORD requires FIDELITY, as do any of our relationships, for SOUND reason, and purpose! Fidelity is ALLEGIANCE, DEVOTION, LOYALTY, ATTACHMENT, DEPENDABILITY, RELIABILITY, STEADFASTNESS, FAITHFULNESS, TRUSTWORTHINESS, and more, EACH of which HONOURS relationships, and the INNER WORKINGS of all relationships, contracts, and agreements! It makes PERFECT SENSE, and HAS sensibility, RESULTING IN STRONG, VIBRANT, FLOURISHING, and WHOLESOME interactions, and partnerships!!!

I think one of the most difficult things for humans to embrace is that NOTHING is about us, but IF we choose to do so, we GAIN from embracing selflessness! It IS elementary, yet deception has us blind-sighted, and convinced that it IS about us! This is to our LOSS, NOT our gain...

IF we would, FIRST, seek THE LORD, HIS WILL, HIS WAY, and establish an HONEST relationship with HIM, the rest of our relationships, contracts, and agreements would be all the sweeter! HE TEACHES US SO WELL, IF ONLY we pay attention, and LOSE the self-inclinations which destroy possibilities! The KNOWLEDGE, which LEADS to understanding, OPENS UP to all which makes our relationships, contracts, agreements, VOWS, pledges, and other such work, including REAL communication, willingness, intimacy, TRUE LOVE, and much more!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2014

BLESS THE LORD WHO LOVES US, PRAISE HIM ALWAYS, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, and REJOICE THAT HIS PRESENCE, LOVE, and CARE LEAD us through all else, and INTO HIS EVERLASTING, BENEVOLENT HEART of LOVE!!!