HEAVENLY INCLINED...: IT IS THANKSGIVING!!!

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...

IT IS THANKSGIVING!!!

Even in the worst of times, there is reason to be thankful! I know as I have endured some terrible times, which I never forget! In each day there is reason to give thanks, to be grateful, and appreciative! It may not seem true, especially if suffering, but I stand in solid belief of there always being something to be thankful for---

Often we are so wrapped up in what we want, that we ignore what we have, or that we are, by the GRACE OF *GOD* provided for, even if that seems less than what we long for...

Gratitude is necessary in order to be content, and contentment is crucial to well-being, although what we consider reason for contentment is sometimes far beyond the reality of the matter. There are certain disciplines we HAVE to develop that we can SEE when we have enough, and that enough IS worthy of giving thanks for!!!

For everything you lack, there are millions of others who lack even more! For everything we imagine to be wrong with our existence, there are endless people who have it even worse! For all the pains, agonies, and injustices we face, others are in way more dire circumstances, conditions, or situations, and so, it is an egocentric response when we feel slighted, because we are thinking only of what we would like to have, to be, or that utopia we fantasize about...

Little consideration do we give to having enough! For some strange reason, enough is NEVER enough for most people! I assume that is due to the forces of the world in a relentless effort to entice us, that we are never satisfied, nor raise our thanks to HIM ABOVE! Forward we go in quest of more, more, and more, which at the end, is nothing, as it cannot be taken with us, and is weight in the final days!!!

In placing THE LORD FIRST, we learn, and accept that *GOD'S* works are all good, HE provides for every need in it's own time:

Chief of all need for human life are water, fire, iron, and salt,

The heart of the wheat, milk, and honey;

The blood of the grape, and oil, and clothing...

Therefore, there is no need to question what is the purpose of this?

EVERYTHING is chosen to satisfy a need...

Something else we SHOULD begin to understand is that THE LORD GIVES us what we need THAT we might aid others, and provide relief for those most suffering! It IS a chain reaction borne of LOVE, and of compassion; first from HIM, to us, to others! MANY people have a problem with accepting this TRUTH; they imagine that with their own hands, and labours they manifested what they have, and that is true, yet, *GOD* caused it to happen, and so, there is NO need to be selfish, and withhold what others might need...

The smallest of things prompt gratitude, at least with the sincere, and the understanding. Yah, there are those who NEVER consider small matters important enough at all, as their 'goals' are lofty, in which case until they are realized, they aren't happy, yet, they miss some beautiful gauges along the way, by ignoring just how many small things lead to bigger, and better!!!

It is Thanksgiving, which has NOTHING to do with a turkey, or the trimmings (these are the result), instead, EVERYTHING to do with PRAISING THE LORD *GOD* FOR ALL HE IS, and HAS DONE FOR us! It is NOT about football, or any of the rituals we have decided fit the Holiday! True, the Indians brought forth, and taught the Pilgrims much about planting, nurturing, and harvesting, then, celebrated its bounties, but FIRST THEY GAVE THANKS! They had been through an amazing amount of challenges, still, they bowed their heads, and GAVE THANKS TO *GOD*!!!

SOME generations LEARN from their troubles, others make MORE problems, and complain all the while because there are consequences, which we are experiencing more, more, and more! THE GOOD LORD IS angry at us for MANY of our choices, especially that HE has been cast aside, and that lies have replaced TRUTH! We are in for worse IF we don't humble ourselves, and turn TO HIM, BUT IF we do, HE IS THERE TO FORGIVE, and TO BLESS us in ALL HIS GLORIOUS LOVE!!!

Those who know, let us PRAY without end, and let us set the example, regardless! Let us HONOUR THE LORD, PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, and BLESS HIM BY BEING a BLESSING for others! Let us THANK HIM, BE GRATEFUL, and APPRECIATIVE, and then, let us SHINE OF HIM, THAT all who are lost in the darkness might notice HIM, seek HIM, find HIM, and FOLLOW HIM!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS