HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SIRACH 17...

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...

SIRACH 17...

SIRACH 17...
1/ The LORD from the earth created man, and in his own image he made him.
2/ Limited days of life he gives him and makes him return to earth again.
3/ He endows man with a strength of his own, and with power over all things else on earth.
4/ He puts the fear of him in all flesh, and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
5/ He forms men's tongues and eyes and ears, and imparts to them an understanding heart.
6/ With wisdom and knowledge he fills them; good and evil he shows them.
7/ He looks with favor upon their hearts, and shows them his glorious works,
8/ That they may describe the wonders of his deeds and praise his holy name.
9/ He has set before them knowledge, a law of life as their inheritance;
10/ An everlasting covenant he has made with them, his commandments he has revealed to them.
11/ His majestic glory their eyes beheld, his glorious voice their ears heard.
12/ He says to them, "Avoid all evil"; each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
13/ Their ways are ever known to him, they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
14/ Over every nation he places a ruler, but the LORD'S own portion is Israel.

15/ All their actions are clear as the sun to him, his eyes are ever upon their ways.
16/ Their wickedness cannot be hidden from him; all of their sins are before the LORD.
17/ A man's goodness God cherishes like a signet ring, a man's virtue, like the apple of his eye.

18/ Later he will rise up and repay them, and requite each one of them as they deserve.
19/ But to the penitent he provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope!

20/ Return to the LORD and give up sin, pray to him and make your offenses few.
21/ Turn again to the Most High and away from sin, hate intensely what he loathes;
22/ Who in the nether world can glorify the Most High in place of the living who offer their praise?
23/ No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; they glorify the LORD who are alive and well.

24/ How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!
25/ The like cannot be found in men, for not immortal is any son of man.
26/ Is anything brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed. How obscure then the thoughts of flesh and blood!
27/ God watches over the hosts of highest heaven, while all men are dust and ashes.