HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TIME IS RELEVANT TO THE HOUR AHEAD...

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...

TIME IS RELEVANT TO THE HOUR AHEAD...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr; hey there from the tundra! For 3 wks, it has been cold, but for the past 2 wks it has been frrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeezing cold; you know that kind that bites and isn't much alleviated by heat! The weather indicates temps rising on Sunday, but one can only hope, and PRAY---

I tell you what; the USA HAS had a strange year, in almost every imaginable way, and looks like even more to contend with in the first week of this New Year! We surely AREN'T the only country suffering, still, we HAVE been hit hard in almost every possible aspect of our existence, and well, we have our plates overloaded...

Let us be reminded that we ARE designed to endure, and persevere, AND to be resourceful when things need to change, although inspiring change is like hitting a slab of concrete at high speed! We DON'T exist in a perfect world, not even close, and so, by now we ought to be able to dance with our overloaded plates while moving forward...

Frustration, anxiety, boredom, pressures, anger, and other such negatives ARE of the enemy, and ARE devised to keep us distracted enough to ignore *GOD*, and TRUTH! You see, the alternative IS eternal, and right nearby, but when we get caught up in the world, and it's ways, we are blinded, deafened, and we forget suddenly, THE ANSWERS to it all...

Then, we take TOO many things for granted, including *GOD*, HIS PROMISES, and each other! We COUNT on things remaining the same, if we are content, and get downright distraught when changes occur! This also, IS of the evil oppressor, who KNOWS that FAITH wanes when we are shaken...

From the sunrise to the dreams of night, take it one hour, and one day at a time, and FIND what is good, right, and just, THAT JOY remains, and sustains! I don't care who you are, or what you are experiencing, I KNOW there IS something worthwhile, and able to balance you! FIRST, there IS THE LORD *GOD*, HIS LOVE, and HIS PLAN for you! Secondly, HE HAS put HIS beauty in everything, but which goes largely unnoticed because of worldly concerns, enticements, distractions, and the poor me syndrome! Just be open to discovering the good, it IS right before you, but perhaps not as flashy or impacting as you wish for; which should NOT be reason for more despondence, because you HAVE the option to accept WHATEVER is good without measuring it to your expectations that are often geared by carnal desires and nothing else...

I have cabin fever big time, though I FIND ways to diminish it! I keep busy, and I AM grateful for all I have! I spend time in communication with *GOD*, in PRAISE, and in PRAYER, as I do what I do! I can't wait for sunny, warm days, but I KNOW they are in the distance, *GOD* WILLING, and so, should I make it worse for myself by pouting, or groaning? NOPE! There are LOTS of things to do, and ways to make it more tolerable, AS I seek and cherish what good there IS in the days until then...

You realize, don't you, that the strange times ARE those times when people just might turn to *GOD*, and to the TRUTH of their reality?! AND reflect upon what has led them this far, as well as lending them insight to what may be next...

What is, IS; things happen, NOT for us to be swept away in, or trapped in, but to work through, to learn from, to become stronger, wiser, and more appreciative of what is right, good, and just! We ARE enabled, endowed, enriched, enlightened, empowered, and encouraged IF we are of THE LORD *GOD*, and RELY ON HIM! HE IS our POWER source, diversely so! And HE IS THE LIGHT in the darkness which discomfort, and despair tends to overwhelm us with! TRUST HIM, and LET HIM DO WHAT HE DOES!!!

Set you eyes on THE LORD, not on the world, and FREE yourself TO HIS MIGHTY WAYS!!!

We've had raging fires, earth a-rumbling, it's raining, it's snowing, the bitter North winds are howling, and blowing, but those who are knowledgeable, WILL survive, happy, even glowing!!! lw'18

Time is relevant; HOW we use it affects the time ahead; even when we have been dealt a bad hand, we ARE ABLE to make it work! *GOD* CREATED us a little lower than the angels, but when all is said and done, we ARE CREATED IN HIS LIKENESS, HENCE we ARE empowered in, oh, every which way! BELIEVE IT! WORSHIP HIM, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE for us; for HE PROVIDES EVEN WHEN we can't see it!!!

LWINSOR © 2018