HEAVENLY INCLINED...: CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS; MY JOY CANNOT BE DIMINISHED...

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...

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS; MY JOY CANNOT BE DIMINISHED...

CHRISTmas is a time when we PRAISE *GOD* for HIS LOVING GIFT OF LIFE, via CHRIST JESUS. It is a season of reflection, of soul searching, of acknowledgement, of gratitude, of increasing ones humility, and devotion---

There are SO many arguments against this magnificent season, even in the Christian faith! It IS true that it began as a pagan holiday, and there are many practices which have been altered, or even hi-jacked through the desire to make it impactful for all, STILL, I believe it is a WORTHY celebration of the GREATEST SHOW OF LOVE EVER KNOW to mankind, and despite CHRIST JESUS NOT being born in December, or other incorporated details, December has been chosen for various reasons, one of which is that the darkest season cries for LIGHT, for LOVE, for HOPE, for PEACE, and for A WAY forward!!!

I won't be chastised into NOT celebrating THE LORD *GOD*, our SAVIOUR, because regardless of the humanness which overlaps, THE MESSAGE, and THE GIFT PREVAIL, and ARE CRUCIAL!!!

THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY SO LOVES us, despite our many problems, character flaws, behavioural issues, and our rebellious natures, HE LOVES us; HE CREATED us! HE MADE us to be IN HIS IMAGE, for HIS own reasons, and purposes, and HE HOPES we will turn to HIM, LOVE HIM as HE LOVES us, THAT we might enjoy eternity WITH HIM, and HIS ABUNDANT PROMISES...

What lies between HIM and us has come about through pride; an arrogance which convinces many that they are all that matters, and that they have no need for guidance, direction, protection, or anything which goes against what they imagine themselves to be! This came about early on when the first humans were brought forth, and has been embedded into the psyche ever since; it is the work of the enemy of *GOD*, for the intention of separating what belongs to HIM, FROM HIM! You see, the evil foe of THE LORD, has ambitions to prove himself as an equal of *GOD*, thus, he aspires to steal souls that he can one day, show just how weak, and unworthy humans are, since in great numbers, they fell from glory in the same way he did; working relentlessly to deceive, delude, and distract us enough to destroy us...

WHY THE LORD has granted this evil shrew the time to do this, we may never know, yet, it PROVES whom is OF *GOD*, and whom is not; for those OF HIM WILL be awakened, and then, will align, plus, it will be sincere, and honest, which IS the onset of the process of THE HOLY SPIRIT'S work to perfect them, and lead them safely, albeit not without challenges, TO THE KINGDOM! The rest of humanity, well, they have made their choices, and shall meet their end...

IN HIS LOVE for us, HIS PLAN IS/WAS that HE PROVIDE for us in EVERY aspect, INCLUDING HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, CHRIST JESUS, AS our SAVIOUR from ourselves, and the wicked world in which we journey! We CANNOT manage, or maneuver this realm successfully, or optimally, by ourselves; we are prone to many dangers, failings, and misconceptions which take us far into even greater crises! It IS A MOST BEAUTIFUL and TOUCHING GIFT of LOVE; one which offers EVERLASTING benevolence, such as TRUE LIFE, TRUE LOVE, HOPE, and PEACE, NEVER to be opposed or corrupted again!!!

The MIRACLE OF CHRIST JESUS IS THE MOST ASTOUNDING PROOF OF LOVE EVER shown, or known, AND IS our invitation TO THE KINGDOM which *GOD* INTENDED for us to exist in from the beginning, but which was imperiled with the fall of mankind in the garden!!!

We NEED THE LORD *GOD*, our SAVIOUR, MORE than ANYTHING else, and I suspect even the most callous heart knows this, but still refuses, or refutes, based on lies, self-affection, and desire to exist as is, instead LIVING for REAL, and that profusely!!!

I LOVE the CHRISTmas season as it RENEWS my LOVE FOR *GOD*, my HOPE, and my WILL TO advance to my TRUE home! THE LORD *GOD* IS, WAS, and EVERMORE SHALL BE, and HIS WILL IS that ALL shall share in eternity with HIM, FREE from the negative sufferings of this world!!!

Regardless of how far over the top humans have taken this celebration, with the commercialism, the pagan roots, and so forth, THE TRUTH OF HIS LOVE IS VISIBLE TO ALL now, and forever, BECAUSE CHRIST JESUS CAME to Earth, FULLY *GOD*, and FULLY Man, TO SAVE us, and TO LEAD us, and that IS definitely deserving of my attention, of my allegiance, of my devotion, and of my lauding HIM, indeed! Ah, the BRILLIANT GENIUS, and DAZZLING SUPERNATURAL WORKS OF THE LORD *GOD* affect me, and carry me forth in PRAISE, WORSHIP, and REJOICING!!!