HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THE BIBLE???

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...

WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THE BIBLE???

Unless you have walked in someone else's shoes, you cannot know what they feel, think, or experience! Therefore, we are taught, and bid to exist in LOVE, wherein such components as compassion, empathy, understanding, tolerance, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, forbearance, and much more, AID us in treating others fairly, and benevolently! The TRUTH of LOVE IS that we ARE ONE, and in this together, thus, we CONSIDER the other person before ourselves, as we REFRAIN from judging, condemning, and second guessing them---

In *GOD*, and in THE BIBLE, lies the core of the DNA, if you will, which provides humanity with the tools to thrive, prosper, and otherwise, find well-being on this Earth---

IN HIM, IN HIS WORD, we find what makes for a healthy, productive, and unified existence. Therein lie the intellectual tools to exist in morality, ethics, integrity, along with ALL the standards, and principles that find us functioning in, and promoting good, as well as that which brings us into a state of contentment, if not happiness. THE BIBLE guides us to embracing what is POSITIVE, WHOLESOME, and MEANINGFUL, not only as individuals, but as societies, FOR the GOOD OF ALL...

HIS teachings illustrate the need to focus upon what is right, just, and good, THAT our emotional beings are NOT prominently making decisions, and prompting actions, for as we all know by now, the emotional being is NOT rational most of the time, and certainly, not when aggravated!!!

Oh, the sense and sensibility found in THE LORD *GOD*, HIS WILL, and HIS WORD! Ah, the practical, and sound lessons designed FOR our sake, and our overall security, comfort, and all which enables us, AND which keeps us from being overtaken by the deceptions of this world, and it's evil!!

Taking a look around, and considering how far people are wandering from age-old virtues, we CAN see the core lessons that provide extensively for our journey through this realm, OUGHT to be taken to heart, and utilized, AS they DO lead us affirmatively, as they sustain, and add to our welfare!!!

HEBREWS 4: 12...
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully. It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to. The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart. Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives.

More and more are saying that it is not necessary to read THE BIBLE, especially daily, and many think that reading it once, or twice is sufficient! NOT! As we study, and devour THE WORD OF *GOD*, there IS ALWAYS something new, and unnoticed that we did not see, or perceive before! THE WORD IS ALIVE, and IS GUIDING us, DIRECTING us, TEACHING us, and IMPROVING our beings, FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of ALL! MORE than most basics, such as food, and water, we NEED the sustenance of HIS WORD, for within there IS SUPERNATURAL benevolence, and empowerment...

My country, in particular, WAS founded upon THE WORD, and the principles, and standards therein, but today, more than half of this nation has cast aside the necessary, and crucial guidelines which PROVIDE for our welfare, for our PEACE, for our HOPE, and for our continuance in a BLESSED, thriving environment, and let it be known, the farther people move away from THE LORD *GOD*, and what is right, just, and good, the greater the increase of suffering, and woes!!!

Christians, especially, OUGHT to KNOW THE POWERS IN THE WORD, and how *GOD*, IN SPIRIT, LEADS us out of the dangers, and darkness through them! *GOD* IS HOLY, therefore, HIS people SHALL be MADE HOLY, and IN this, they HAVE responsibility, duties, and involvement IN the PROCESS. What sense does it make to believe that as CO-PARTNERS to THE COVENANT, HIS WILL, and HIS PLAN, we have NONE???

NEVER follow the world, NEVER listen to the whispering, or the chatter of this realm, INSTEAD, FOLLOW CHRIST JESUS, our LORD *GOD*, and SAVIOUR, and LEARN to hear HIS voice over all the noise of the world, which you can ONLY do THROUGH what is gained FROM THE BIBLE, devotion, diligence, and desire to PLEASE HIM!!!

LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS