HEAVENLY INCLINED...: RAISE THIS DECEMBER TO THE HEAVENS: LIGHT UP THE WORLD!!!

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...

RAISE THIS DECEMBER TO THE HEAVENS: LIGHT UP THE WORLD!!!

It is December 2020! I PRAY that this month sees a drop in Covid19 cases worldwide, and that CHRIST is celebrated more passionately than ever! We have LOTS of problems going on, with possibly, more in the wings, but with perseverance, and FAITH we CAN make it back to THE LIGHT---

What we NEED to do is to turn to THE LORD *GOD*, and to embrace LOVE enough to bring good to this world of woes! We should be encouraging, uplifting, and empowering each other! MANY have suffered greatly this year, and most of us has had the opportunity to get back to the basics, as well as put priorities in place, yet, there are great numbers among us whose attitudes have gone from bad to worse, in which case, more added to the already increasing load we endure...

The number of people going hungry, or facing homelessness, or the loss of a business, and other factors are contributing to the darkness which is closing in on us, HOWEVER, WE HAVE THE LIGHT; HIS NAME IS THE LORD, and IF we CHOOSE to TRUST HIM, HE WILL LEAD us past, and through all this! Some of what is happening IS to teach us, and to reach us, and to remind us that we are only human...

HOPE IS EVER PRESENT IF we refuse to be taken in by the falsehoods of this crazy world; if we refuse to be entrapped by the evil, wicked forces at work! EVERY single day there IS something good in the mix, we must simply, seek it, and NOT be sucked in by the rest!!!

ALL of us ARE perplexed by this strange virus, by the hostility around us, by the unrest, and the idiocy! We ARE reeling, yet, we mustn't be consumed by any of it, at least what we can control, because this is NOT the finals just yet, though it IS late enough that IF we keep heading into the shroud of delusion, we might be nearer than we think! Since we ARE afflicted, it IS TIME to make better CHOICES, and decisions, both for ourselves, and concerning others! I KNOW that it has become passe to care about others, but REALLY?, it can NEVER work without others, in which case, if they are treated well, and kindly, they are better as allies; adding TO existence instead of denigrating it!!!

December IS a month of celebration, NOT a month of being ensnared in the throes of terrible trends! In other words, MAKE this month memorable, and HONOUR THE LORD *GOD*, as you BLESS others, and share HIS LOVE, as opposed to giving the adversaries power they WOULDN'T have IF no one caved to them, or cowered to them, or complacently allowed them!!!

STAND STRONG IN THE LORD; in VIRTUE; in INTEGRITY; and BE an EXAMPLE of what is right, just, and good, EVEN though the opponents attempt to stifle you! From Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, to Daniel, David, Elijah, Elisha, and so many more whom were challenged by the evil of their times, we OUGHT to KNOW that WITH *GOD*, there IS POWER UNLIMITED, and DELIVERANCE MIRACULOUS! The thieves of souls COUNT on weakness, doubt, and fear to cause us to waver, fall, trip, and be trapped! We don't HAVE to give in to them; they are NOTHING more than obstacles, and annoyances IF we ARE OF *GOD*!!!

Children OF THE LORD, put on your armour and be STEADFAST! PRAISE THE LORD *GOD*, WORSHIP HIM WHOLLY, and REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE, and LOVING KINDNESS, for us, and towards us, and FIND THE BLESSINGS OF THE DAY, and OF THIS HOLY SEASON; they ARE there, FOR HIS GLORY, and FOR our sake!!! HALLELUJAH, AMEN!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS