HEAVENLY INCLINED...: LENT LESSONS: REFRAINING FROM HARMING OTHERS: LIVING IN LOVE......

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...

LENT LESSONS: REFRAINING FROM HARMING OTHERS: LIVING IN LOVE......

In this HOLY season, we are called to come closer to CHRIST, to HIS WILL, and WAY! Thus, there are certain behaviours that should be examined, discussed, thought through, and corrected, that we are walking IN HIM, LOVE, and some semblance of righteousness, FOR, and TO HIS GLORY...

One such behaviour is GOSSIP! Personally, I am surrounded by gossips; it is like a normal part of life in these parts, and the worst of the gossips believe that THEY are nearly perfect, but, besides the people they choose to admire, and care about, everyone else is imperfect! They really do some damaging work on others, and no matter if they are challenged in their gossiping, they find ways to justify their actions...

There is MUCH in THE WORD about gossip, libel, slander, and harming others, even references to busybodies! CHRIST, THE LORD endured it, too! There are over 40 verses concerning gossip alone; 92 about busybodies, and as I have grown, I can surely, understand why! Gossip is really harmful to those being gossiped about; in fact, gossip in recent years, has driven many people to suicide, even 7 year old Children; it is that damaging! Not only that, but what is the sense in being addicted to talking about people, running them down, judging them, condemning them, and outcasting them? Just WHAT pleasure is derived from doing this???

IF we are of THE LORD, IF we are following HIM, we are to take on HIS beautiful, gentle, LOVING, compassionate, kind, meek, and perfect nature! We are to BUILD UP one another, for we ARE the members of HIM, THE CHURCH, NOT designated to destroy one another with senselessness!!!

I doubt if there is anyone on this planet who has not suffered from gossip, it is that inbred in societies! The fact that it is rampant in society is an indicator of the FACT of the world's hold on us, OVER THE LORD, LOVE, and HIS WILL! LOVE does NOT bring damage to anyone, anything, at any time!!!

PROVERBS 6: 16-19...
16/ There are six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him;
17/ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
18/ A heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
19/ The false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

PROVERBS 11: 13...
A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence.

PROVERBS 20: 19...
A newsmonger reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler!

EPHESIANS 4: 29-32...
29/ No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.
30/ And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31/ All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
32/ (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

PSALM 34: 14...
Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies.

1 TIMOTHY 5: 13...
And furthermore, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips and busybodies as well, talking about things that ought not to be mentioned.

Gossip, slander, libel, and being a busybody has been around since the first peoples, but that does not make it right, or acceptable, especially to those claiming CHRIST! The point of such posts is to REMIND us, as we go through the gifts of days, to develop more conscientious application OF HIS instructions for our lives, that we remain as HIS LIGHTS, SHINING for the world to see, and THROUGH example, inspiring others to follow HIM! We have SO much work to be done in our own selves, thus, we should be busy enough to refrain from damaging others...