HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE LORD *GOD* FIRST, THEN ALL ELSE WORKS ACCORDINGLY...

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...

THE LORD GOD FIRST, THEN ALL ELSE WORKS ACCORDINGLY...

THE LORD *GOD* FIRST! Over ALL else, *GOD* FIRST! NOTHING is more imperative than placing THE LORD FIRST before everything, for in doing so, all else works according to HIS LOVE, WISDOM, WILL, and GOOD---

In acknowledging, and allowing HIM HIS PREEMINENCE, we find THE WAY which LEADS us, PROTECTS us, ENABLES us, ENRICHES us, ENDOWS us, ENLIGHTENS us, ENCOURAGES us, and EMPOWERS us! HE IS *GOD*, forever, without end, and IN HIM IS ALL we are, need, and should seek!!!

It is more than a mindset, but it BEGINS there, then branches into every aspect of our existence! HE IS our FATHER, our LORD, our SAVIOUR, our ROCK, our FORTRESS, our HOLY SPIRIT, our absolute DELIVERER! Thus, regardless of the state of the world around us, we are LED by POWER INFINITE, and that, INCOMPARABLE! There is NO other answer or probability; THE LORD *GOD* IS our SOLE HOPE, and PROVIDER!!!

In these contentious, volatile, darkening days, HOPE is flickering for a LOT of people, partly because they have NOT sought *GOD*, nor believed HE IS THE WAY, THE LIGHT, THE LIFE! Times are becoming more wicked, more aggressive, and there isn't a let up in the tension, hence, it IS now the hour to SEEK THE LORD, and to align to what WILL conquer evil, at last, and always!!!

Not a danged thing thrives, and flourishes away from HIM; this is important to realize, and adhere to! HE ALONE IS THE antidote, and MIGHTY SHEPHERD as we navigate this troubled realm; HE ALONE SHALL bring those willing through, and SHALL lavish these FOREVER!!!

In the meantime, we NEED HIM for endless assistance, guidance, direction, protection, instruction, and on it goes, ESPECIALLY as evil shrouds TRUTH, and distracts through every means feasible, that we are lost, confused, and forlorn! And the more who are lost, the more difficulty in reaching them, and snatching them from the traps of deadly intention! We MUST look TO THE LORD, and TURN TO HIM THAT we are FREE of the constant threats, and onslaught of trickery devised to blind, deafen, and ensnare the masses!!!

We are witnessing universal corruption; endless perversion; constant degeneration, and it isn't going to get better on it's own, for humans have CHOSEN sin/err OVER *GOD*, LOVE, and what is right, just, and good; OVER ALL which works FOR us! It is disheartening to observe, and to feel the effects of, but which OUGHT to make it more apparent our NEED to SEEK THE LORD, and that OF HIM! In this hour, few are even considering the youth, and what is being created for their future, should there be one for them. SELFISHNESS IS PREVALENT in ways one doesn't imagine as most are battling for the sole purpose of sating themselves! Rare is the MATURITY which comes in Adulthood, and so, a horizon full of the dust of dissension, discord, and displeasure...

MICAH 7: 1-7...

1+++Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, Or a first-ripe fig which I crave.

2+++The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men. All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net.

3+++Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together.

4+++The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur.

5+++Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips.

6+++For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.

7+++But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.

MATTHEW 6: 33...

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS