HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ONE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS!!!

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...

ONE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS!!!

THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY wants us to be happy IN HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, HIS PROMISES, and HIS provision---

TRUE happiness does NOT come by way of the world, and it's ways, instead, it comes STRAIGHT FROM THE LORD, WHOM BLESSES those who LOVE HIM, fear HIM, respect HIM, regard HIM, and AIM to live IN HIS WILL! While HE might provide worldly things, TRUE happiness is derived from non-worldly things, and non-tangibles! HE KNOWS what we NEED long before we do, and DOES provide such things, for the purpose of HIS WILL, and HIS GLORY, and the ability to HELP others along the way!!!

People hold *GOD* responsible for supplying them with lots of money, acquisitions, and so forth, but that is just wrong! IF HE wanted all people to be rich in worldly goods, it would be so, but that is NOT the case, and is, in fact, one of the great deceptions we tangle with! Yes indeed, HE DID add great riches to some of the BIBLICAL characters, ALTHOUGH, usually, this was for the purpose of INCREASING them, and their peoples, THAT they had power enough to go up against those who would have wiped them completely out, AND for other reasons, such as the CONTINUED provision for HIS people! It is silly to think that HE SHOULD endow us with riches that fade away, and serve us not, as most times, riches change people, and NOT for the better, and as is written,
LUKE 16: 13...
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

We ARE SERVANTS OF THE KING OF CREATION! We are to SERVE HIM, and others! When worldly riches are in place, the thoughts turn to preserving, and increasing said riches; in other words, they TAKE time away from SERVING, as they occupy our minds! FEW people have USED their wealth for the good of others, let alone for *GOD*! Yes, they might make alms, which is generally, in lieu of tax shelters, and so forth, and they MIGHT give from their heart, HOWEVER, what did CHRIST JESUS tell the young rich Man he had to do? GIVE AWAY ALL you have, and FOLLOW ME! Which saddened the Man BECAUSE he was VERY wealthy, and LOVED what he had. He walked away sad as sad can be, BECAUSE he had been taught by the world that wealth was important! Wealth COULD SERVE well IF it were used to serve, yet, more often than not, it works in opposition of *GOD*, and others, even to the point of oppressing the already oppressed!!!

As if he had said, You cannot be faithful to God, if you trim between him and the world; if you do not serve him alone. Beware, therefore, of indulging, even in the least degree, the love of the world, for it is absolutely inconsistent with piety: “insomuch that a man may as well undertake, at one and the same time, to serve two masters of contrary dispositions and opposite interests, as pretend to please God while he is anxiously pursuing the world for its own sake.

In this manner did Jesus recommend the true use of riches, power, knowledge, and the other advantages of the present life, from the consideration that they are not our own, but God’s; that they are only committed to us as stewards, to be employed for the honour of God and the good of men: that we are accountable to the proprietor for the use we make of them, who will reward or punish us accordingly; and that every degree of covetousness is such a serving of mammon as is really idolatrous, and altogether inconsistent with the duty we owe to God.”

So difficult for us to adhere to, and comply with as we are taught so contrary to TRUTH, and are so accustomed to the ways of the world! We are at loss to find the significance of receiving what we NEED OVER what we want, and feel empty when we view others who have more than us!!!

Like Apostle Paul, we SHOULD be content in any circumstances, which IS a hard way to go in the human condition, yet which SERVES THE LORD, and our overall well-being the best! BLESSINGS are NOT always tangible, nor do they have worldly worth, but they ARE OF THE LORD, and DO provide exceedingly for us, be that in knowledge, understanding, wisdom, or even having at long last, shelter, food, and clothing! WE make things more complex than necessary as we COMPARE, not only the WILL of *GOD*, but our lives, to the ways of the world!!!

IF we could just forget all we have been taught by the world, and LEARN FROM THE LORD, we would not struggle so with this GIVEN time in this realm! Yes, we have NEED to RETRAIN the mind, in which case, the rest of the being follows!!!

CHRIST JESUS IS *GOD*, and came to the Earth for *GODLY* purpose, but did NOT come in pomp, grandeur, and flash, instead, HE came as a commoner, and relied on what is *GODLY* to provide for HIM, and those of HIM! IF HE did NOT embrace wealth, WHY should we, who ARE to FOLLOW HIS model as the heart of our existence???

*GOD* PROVIDES for HIS people, but does NOT provide for their selfish desires, UNLESS HE has reason to do so, for the good of others, or for great lessons in HIS WILL! Be THANKFUL, be GRATEFUL, be APPRECIATIVE, and REJOICE IN HIS PRESENCE! Understand that in THE KINGDOM we WILL be enveloped in riches, and splendor such as never imagined! PREPARE for THE KINGDOM in the now, and leave nothing to the enemy who intends to rob us of it!!!

Today, I am feeling BLESSED, mostly because I KNOW THE LORD *GOD* IS caring for me in HIS LOVE, and IS leading me past the world, which aims to chain me! I am lacking LOTS by the measures of the world, and yet, I have known since I was quite young, that the worlds measure CANNOT rob me of REAL riches which HAVE been placed within me, and HAVE allowed me to travel this far, and to KNOW MY LORD! IF I had been brought up differently, I might not have so much regard for what I have, or what THE LORD provides for me, but I AM fortunate to have LEARNED by what I have experienced this far, THANKS BE TO HIM who HAS taught me well, and HAS shown me, sometimes through direness, what is necessary to SERVING HIM, and others, even though I am yet FAR from the mark, I AM gaining daily, which I SHARE willingly, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of all! AMEN!

BE HAPPY IN THE LORD *GOD*; HE IS OUR SOURCE of all good! HE IS THE LORD OF BENEVOLENCE! PRAISE THE LORD, WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us, and HONOUR HIM while EXALTING HIM!!!

REV. LWINSOR © 2015
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS