HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS? IT IS BEFORE YOU...

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...

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS? IT IS BEFORE YOU...

How true, eh? And isn't it ironic that nothing actually makes us happy, or fulfilled on this Earth, except maybe some of our relationships, but material things, and desires come to life, lose their luster, and off we go searching for something to replace them with---

*GOD* KNEW this when HE brought us forth, and gave us free will, and add to that the never ending ploys of the evil one in hopes of stealing our souls, thus THE LORD IS PATIENT, but not forever, and not when we have gone so far off course we are dangerous to ourselves, and our souls. Then HE disciplines us in ways that make us think about our state of affairs, and our behaviours, although some will never 'get it', as they are too busy TRYING to find something, someone on this planet that will make them elated, and content...

DON'T you understand that NOTHING here can bring us JOY, EXCEPT THE LORD? There IS reason for that, ya know!? Tangibles are NOTHING more than fillers in the space of time we are present on this globe, but afterwards, TRUE LIFE BEGINS, IF we ARE ONE WITH HIM! WE ARE HIS, HE MADE us, and LOVES us, and despite our ways, IS WILLING TO WAIT for us TO SEE, and TO MAKE PEACE WITH HIM, so that, we are ETERNALLY JOYFUL, and that, abundantly...

Passions, wants, desires, and fantasies take us high, then low! Riches, acquisitions, and all the world's wealth do NOT appease those whom have it; they are ever on the hunt for that one thing that will calm their spirit, and give them JOY, which IS ever near, yet not as easy to come by, it seems, as that will mean change, and not many are eager to change, as they are sure they are something...

There is NOTHING away from *GOD*, and we are NOTHING without HIM! The TRUTH hurts because it IS contrary to the bull the world has taught us, and convinced us of, even though it is that way THAT we are lost eternally!!!

THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY IS BEAUTIFUL; more so than all of the beauty in the world, and the universe combined, and this IS forever TRUE! HIS heart IS PURE, SURE, and THE CURE for what we lack, or miss! ONLY those whom have humbled themselves, and have TURNED TO HIM FOR REAL, KNOW just HOW BEAUTIFUL HE IS, and HOW DEEPLY HE FULFILLS US!!!

An endless search is conducted in the time span of one's time on this Earth for what no one can quite figure out, UNLESS THEY KNOW *GOD*! It is strange, and it is sad, because IT IS SO SIMPLISTIC, and SO RIGHT IN FRONT OF ALL, still, off we go, pursuing what IS RIGHT BEFORE US!!!

Ah, the world vs. *GOD*! Two opposites, which so many think can meld, and co-exist, and in a way, they might, IF *GOD* were FIRST in the being, but if not, then it is IMPOSSIBLE, because what is of the world, or worldly IS opposed TO THE LORD, and therefore, alienated!!!

We HAVE ALL the tools TO KNOW HIM, and TO REACH JOY, however, there is much confusion, delusion, and dawdling, as the egocentric being believes they have time to spare, NOT considering our days ARE counted, and go by SO fast, we barely begin to grow before they are gone, let alone PREPARE FOR THE LORD, and the soul...

LWINSOR © 2020