HEAVENLY INCLINED...: *GOD* COMPLETES ME...

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...

GOD COMPLETES ME...

I strive to be the best me possible, not only out of LOVE for THE LORD *GOD*, but, for the good of others, and for the advancement of my being! I would NEVER want to remain less than I can be, because I am not programmed that way! It would be boring, even stifling to remain in set boundaries, which is WHY we are encouraged to ARISE, and ELEVATE from this world, which DOES set boundaries on our spirits, on our souls!!!

After spending an hour or so, reading through my older works, I can see improvement, growth, and development, and while it is not close to where I COULD be, it is encouraging to see that I HAVE made some progress in the right direction! After reading multiple articles, and theological discussions lately, I SEE that I have grown, yet, it isn't quite enough for me, but, that is fine, because it keeps me challenged, learning, aligning, and busy!!!

The point is that I KEEP striving, and that I KEEP on KEEPIN' on, in the name of *GOD*! The point is that I RECOGNIZE my TRUE self, the spirit, and aim to allow it to become the domineering presence of my being, THAT *GOD* SHINES through me, for HIS GLORY, and the good of those trapped, or imprisoned by the darkness, by the deception, by the enemy! *GOD* is their SAVIOUR, I am HIS reminder; a reminder of HOPE, as they struggle to find HIM in this crazy, troubled maze called life...

I lived enough of the world's ways to last me forever, but, not enough to trap me eternally! I lived enough of the world's ways to TEACH me that this ISN'T enough for me, nor, does it hold enough principle to appease me! I lived enough of the world's ways to SHOW me that this ISN'T THE WAY, and is, in fact, absolutely in opposition of THE WAY! I lived enough of the world's ways to WANT to KNOW *GOD*, because ONLY HE is RIGHT! I would be a liar to say that having given up particular things doesn't cause twangs of missing them, but this too, is part of the growing process, and after years of doing without them, I am SURE they are best left behind!!!

There are a few areas of my character, and certain behaviours I have that NEED developing, no doubt, but, that I recognize them IS to be heading in the optimal direction! Some of them have just surfaced in recent years, or is that I just noticed them?, and they bother me, because they are like left over dirt from living in the world so long, so strong! I am THANKFUL that THE LORD is revealing these areas, that I CAN correct them, otherwise, they would just remain as is! I DON'T strive for perfection, I strive to improve the imperfections! Perfection will come, when does HE!!!

I LOVE THE LORD, and I LOVE the PROMISES of what lies ahead, and so, it seems natural for me to WANT to become one with what HE HAS PRESCRIBED as evidence of being one with HIM! I have SEEN what the world does to a being, body, mind, heart, and soul, and I have SEEN what *GOD* offers to CORRECT the damages, to HEAL the being, to ENLIGHTEN the spirit, and to EMPOWER the days of this life!!!

People often judge those that take their Calling seriously, and ask silly questions to try us! In answer, I say that I LOVE *GOD* enough to SEEK knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and discernment enough to MAINTAIN self-control in as many matters as is feasible THAT I am not in the line of fire of temptation, the tempter, and my errs! I am not trying to prove anything, though I have much to gain, as I am ARISING TO THE BEING *GOD* HAS MADE, and HONOURING HIM WITH, in the BEST of my being, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the good of others! I don't live for the world, I live for HIM, and for TRUE LIFE, therefore, my thoughts, actions, and reactions are aligned to such matters, and save for that yet undeveloped within me, I keep my focus aligned, THAT I REMAIN on course, and IN HIM! I am taking up HIS yoke, I am finishing the race, through what HE has begun in me! In short, it is NOT I who is causing growth, and development, but THE LORD, whom has taken view of my willing heart of LOVE FOR HIM, and has put me on course!!!