HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE ASTOUNDING BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS...

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 ASTOUNDING BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS...

When *GOD* came to Earth, when LOVE came to share with us it's intense optimization, and GIFT, almost immediately Joseph, Mary, and baby JESUS had to flee to Egypt, as the wicked evil power of hatred was bent on driving HIM, and HIS LOVE out---

No matter that the sinister ruler of this realm rejected THE LORD, and HIS LOVE, his greatest strength is NO match for *GOD*! AND, all the more reason WHY it is necessary THAT we have a SAVIOUR, and the WISDOM of HIS LOVE; otherwise, in the vile poisons of what is not of LOVE, ALL would eternally perish...

Say what you will, there is NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL than the LOVE of *GOD*, our FATHER, and CREATOR, whom CHOOSES TO SAVE us, despite our flaws! And NO, we are not flawed because HE made us that way, we are so because we are FAR FROM TRUTH, having been blinded, by the shroud of deception since the first humans, by the fallen, and very diabolical Satan...

CHRISTmas IS a most perfect time to reflect upon THE LORD *GOD*, AND HIS MIGHT; yah, especially over what is contrary TO HIM, and HIS WILL! It is a time to give THANKS FOR HIS LOVE, and HIS GENIUS PLAN to RESCUE us from the fiend(s) of this world! It is a day for REJOICING, and APPRECIATION OF HIS GIFT OF LIFE, for those who will receive HIM! It is a season of JOY, in which PEACE IS found IN FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, for when we cling TO HIM, focus upon HIM, and anchor to HIM, there is NOTHING to fear but fear itself! PRAISE BE UNTO *GOD*, whom through CHRIST JESUS, TOTALLY came to share in our experience, and then, to DESTROY what would shackle, and chain us to the fate of the world, and what is worldly! WORSHIP THE LORD FOR HE IS, WAS, and EVERMORE SHALL BE, SOVEREIGN KING OF KINGS, RULER OF RULERS, LORD OF LORDS, and PURELY, LOVE!!!

The world is growing dimmer, darkness is getting thicker, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT IS SHINING, and IS DOMINANT! NOTHING in CREATION has the ability, nor, the capacity, to diminish THE LIGHT, nor LOVE, for *GOD* IS THE SOLE POWER OF POWERS, and WISE beyond WISDOM! Despite the forces in the universe which oppose *GOD*, and HIS WILL, and the people whom resist TRUTH, there is NO denying THE LORD *GOD*, however, those who attempt to, or defy HIM, have settled their eternal fate, and they probably won't like it when THE SUPREME JUDGE IS BEFORE them...

Ah, CHRISTmas, we welcome, and revere YOUR GIFT(S), and we celebrate YOU in exaltation! GLORY TO *GOD* IN THE HIGHEST, AMEN!!!

LUKE 2: 4-20...
4+++Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5+++in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6+++While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7+++And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8+++In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9+++And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10+++But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11+++for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12+++“This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13+++And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14+++“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15+++When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16+++So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17+++When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18+++And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19+++But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20+++The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

JOHN 1: 1-5; 9-14; ...
1+++In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2+++He was in the beginning with God.
3+++All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4+++In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
5+++The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

9+++There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
10+++He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11+++He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12+++But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13+++who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14+++And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

JOHN 3: 16...
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

It's ALL ABOUT LOVE; HIS LOVE for us, and our LOVE for HIM, then our LOVE for one another! BEAUTIFUL LOVE from our MAGNIFICENT LORD, which LIGHTS UP the world, through THE LIVING WORD, FOR the sake of LIFE! Absolutely GLORIOUS, FULL OF GRACE, and MERCY, which WHEN we meld into, becomes our nature too! *GOD* seeks NOT gestures of WORSHIP (lip service and tokens), HE seeks the TRUTH of our beings, grounded IN LOVE, grace, and mercy!!!

EMMANUEL, *GOD* IS WITH those whom ARE WITH HIM! BLESS HIS HOLINESS, and HONOUR HIM ALWAYS, and in ALL WAYS!!!

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTmas with my LOVE; may THE LORD FILL you, and pour forth from you, FOR HIS GLORY, and the greater good of souls lost in this very troubled world!!!

LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS