HEAVENLY INCLINED...: 2017: WHEN SPRING NEEDED LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING...

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...

2017: WHEN SPRING NEEDED LOVE MORE THAN ANYTHING...

According to the calendar, IT IS SPRING; OH YAYYYY, PRAISE THE LORD! I can't wait for sunny skies, warm weather, and all the bountiful beauty associated with the warm seasons---

Now, if only we could see the dispositions of far too many become brighter, more understanding, more tolerant; in short more LOVING! SO many people being harmed, or worse because the sun never shines in dark, cold hearts, which SEEMS to be increasing throughout societies, AND so much of their presence in this world is rooted in senselessness! They DON'T seem to have much self-control; thinking, acting, and reacting rashly, TOTALLY void of rationale! I PRAY for these, and the far too many victims in their paths...

I must be getting older because I am stunned by the ways of the world these days; or MAYBE I have just matured into my TRUTH more than I realize! Whatever the case, my heart aches, I am just blown away by the stupid things happening, which WOULDN'T happen IF people KNEW *GOD*, and LOVE! It troubles me that respect, and regard for one another, and life, are at an all time low, and that it is worsening within the generations of those who are the future! We NEED to consider what is going on, AND we HAVE to take steps to correct the many issues we face today! The mentality of the day IS dangerous, and IS endangering EVERY single one of us!!!

Ah well, the only things we can do is to PRAY, to TRUST *GOD* to lead us through, and to always leave behind in our wake, LOVE, PEACE, KINDNESS, and all which not only inspires, but proves what is right, good, and just: like the sunshine, doing so leaves a warmth, and that which necessitates growth!!!

Spring is springing up! It is also a most HOLY season; one of rebirth, of HOPE, of being brought closer to our reality, which is bound in the HEAVENS, as long as we are bound to THE LORD! People DO turn away; they DO cave in; they DO lose FAITH, and so, as it is written, the one who endures until the end, he will be saved (MATTHEW 24: 13)! It IS difficult when it seems that the world has gone mad, but we mustn't ever fail the tests of time, for they are meant to be overcome, which we cannot do on our own, but WITH *GOD* we shall!!!

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life (ROMANS 2:7)! We MUST PERSIST IN DOING GOOD, not only for our souls, but for the good of others, no matter who they are, and the likelihood of their souls being saved as well! We ARE to be as lights in this darkening world, and to bring to the attention of all the wondrous works of THE LORD via our own good, and that which exists around us! We ARE vessels of HOPE for the hopeless, in SO many ways, EVEN WHEN all hell is breaking forth! We can point THE WAY to all who seem to think there is NO way!!!

Let us remember, CHRIST JESUS did NOT come to gather the righteous, instead the lost, and as ONE WITH HIM, we too, HAVE powers TO call attention to the TRUTH which will set those free who seek HIM! Now, in these uncertain, volatile times when people are getting worse instead of better, we have the opportunity to SHINE as never before FOR HIS GLORY, and the sake of souls who ARE at risk of being taken BY the woes of this wicked world!!!

CHRIST JESUS GAVE HIS Disciples all sorts of powers THAT they COULD grab from the fiery snares souls which BELONG TO HIM! This IS part of our growth and development as MATURE Christians; to UTILIZE HIS WILL in knowledge, and understanding, to season the world, and to BRIGHTLY RADIATE OF HIM THAT they shall be able to SEE HIM despite the heavy, heavy shroud which deception HAS placed upon us!!!

We are NOT perfect, but we ARE Children of THE LORD, and our FATHER HAS taught us in diverse ways OUR role IN HIS WILL, and PLAN, therefore, it IS HIGH time that we DO our work, FOR HIS GLORY, and for the expanding numbers of souls which ARE endangered! Let us PRAY for HIS every assistance, knowledge, wisdom, and whatever it takes TO snatch as many from the chains of destruction that we can! Let us HONESTLY, and DELIBERATELY SHOW HOW THE LIGHT HAS DAWNED!!!

HAPPY SPRING! May *GOD* BLESS this season, and BE WITH us in every hour, and may we BLESS HIM, BY BLESSING others, and BEING whom HE HAS CREATED us to be; mind, body, heart, spirit, and soul FORWARD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

IF we lag, the world suffers even more! It IS IMPERATIVE to REALIZE our role IN HIS WILL, and PLAN, AND to KNOW just how much a single aligned word, or act CAN have a POSITIVE effect on another!!!

The world NEEDS HIM, AND LOVE like never before, and so, let us be busy!!!