HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ENTERING 2021 WITH HOPES FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE & MAY IT BE A YEAR OF COMPASSION!!!

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...

ENTERING 2021 WITH HOPES FOR A SMOOTHER RIDE & MAY IT BE A YEAR OF COMPASSION!!!

As we say farewell to 2020, let us keep HOPE, and COMPASSION in our hearts, and aim to find what good there is in every new day of the new year, while LIFTING UP to THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, PRAISING HIM, WORSHIPING HIM, HONOURING HIM, and REJOICING IN HIM---

Looking ahead, let us ALWAYS be kind, considerate, and helpful towards others! We have had enough arrogance, and aggression to last several decades, so, let us turn the page...

And let us PRAY! SO many have gone away from THE LORD, along with what is right, just, and good, in which there is an opening for worse problems than we already have, HENCE, the need for PRAYER; for everyone, and everything!!!

Too, let us be more FORGIVING; this IS crucial for many reasons, and IS good for the soul! As THE LORD FORGIVES, so shall we, EVEN WHEN it seems the most unlikely thing we might do, we totally, should! There is health, and more in doing so, plus, it IS a COMMANDMENT OF LOVE!!!

COME, O COME EMMANUEL! We have GREAT need of THE LORD in these uncertain times! We surely do! The way to invoke HIM, and to keep HIM near IS to humble oneself, to repent, and to align to HIS WILL, and WAYS! MANY worldly minded people view this as a downer, or a hindrance, but WITH *GOD* ALL IS POSSIBLE, and what is wrong IS made right THROUGH HIM! The world will lead us right to the slippery slope, but THE LORD WILL DELIVER us, PROTECT us, and PERFECT us! Few ARE those who understand the benevolence HE brings into our existence, instead they see it as a deterrent of their chosen ways, which it might be, especially with that kind of attitude, but which else wise, IS WONDERFULLY beneficial to EVERY aspect of our time!!!

No one can say what 2021 will bring; we have LOTS to contend with, YET, we MUST keep THE LORD *GOD*, LOVE, HOPE, PEACE, and COURAGE alive, and centered! We SHOULD be as optimistic as is feasible, and as strong as *GOD* HAS MADE US TO BE! We CANNOT battle the unknown, or unseen in any way, save for RELIANCE, and TRUST IN *GOD*, and REMAINING IN HIM; SUCH IS THE WAY!!!

MAY *GOD* BE WITH US, BUT MAY WE BE WITH HIM in the first place, and that, HONESTLY! May the days, and months down the road find improvement, health, safety, comfort, and more, and may we MAKE everyone who comes in contact with us feel better, more confident, and HIS LOVE through our actions, words, and concern!!!

I wish you LOVE! I wish you COMPASSION! I wish you a year of RESTORATION, and RENEWAL!!! OXOXOXO