HEAVENLY INCLINED...: REALITY...

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...

REALITY...

Reality is a curious word, as reality can be altered by thought, action, reaction, belief, egocentricity, influence, or emotions; YET, there IS ONE REALITY into which we were CREATED, and in which we shall die! The reality of THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS WILL IS THE foundation that we are intended to build, strengthen, and grow on---

The reality of the world is premised upon carnality, woes, conflict, and destruction, and is NEVER sating for the being, and in fact, eats away at the being! This reality is constantly changing according to the world, events, circumstances, conditions, perception, mentality, behaviours, and so on, thus, there is NOTHING to cling to IF one has no regard for THE LORD *GOD*...

REALITY IS SPIRITUAL IN EVERY ASPECT, BUT which affects wholly, the physical! When the heart, and soul are knowledgeable in THE WAY of THE LORD, there is a different standard for existing in this realm; one that LEADS us past, and through what is the falsehoods of this fleshy world; meaning we THINK, ACT, and REACT ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, and what is right, just, and good, as well as we RELY ON HIM for whatever is necessary to survival, growth, development, and comfort!!!

I am an American, so, I am going to speak of my country, and its current, sad state of affairs for a moment, as an example! We HAVE taken an off road, full of detrimental detours, and dangerous terrain, when ONCE UPON A TIME, we WERE ON THE HIGH ROAD! We COULD come back to THE HIGH ROAD, but alas, the traipse through the lower ones has become a 'norm', plus, in the process, many have decided against models of the past; they no longer revere *GOD*, nor what is proven optimizing by age old axioms! Gone are the days of virtue, ethics, integrity, and so forth; they have been side-stepped for personal convictions, desires, wants, and passions, be they wrong, or not! Lost are the principles that guided society, and allowed for co-existence! This is important to understanding WHY there is SO much division, animosity, violence, out right hatred, and damaging conduct! Fewer, and fewer ARE those who accept that others should be treated with respect, regard, and compassion, AND more, and more ARE those who believe that people have to EARN whatever they might grant, or give them, hence, less REAL interaction, acceptance, or valuing with/of others...

1 CORINTHIANS 2: 14-15...

14+++But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

15+++But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.

16+++For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

The natural man, the wise man of the world, receives not the things of the Spirit of God. The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to spirituality, as the basest sensuality.

The sanctified mind discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of discerning and judging about common and natural things is not lost.

But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and pleasures, and acting's of the Divine life. The spiritual man only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will.

How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power! And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make known his mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind of God in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their lives.

There are at least 100 BIBLE references to REALITY, ALL of which determine REALITY exists in *GOD*, and *GOD*LINESS! We are TAUGHT BY HIM FOR our own GOOD, and for the ABUNDANCE of LIFE!!!

When we abandon THE TRUE REALITY OF SPIRIT, we exist in the harshness of the darkness, the evil, the wickedness, and the discomforts therein found, and they are constant! In this case, MANY of those so existing LONG to be freed from the consistent discomforts, yet are either unknowing that there IS a CHOICE, or have refuted it, and so it goes...

ALL I KNOW IS that I CHOOSE to REMAIN IN THE LORD because the world has SHOWN me that it has NOTHING solid, just, or optimal TO my journey through this valley of contention, and death! I WISH that EVERYONE could SEE, or UNDERSTAND THE CHOICE IS EVER there, and IS SOLELY up to the individual to embrace, and utilize! Right now, the hand-basket IS OVER FILLED with LOST souls, and SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, which begins with *GOD'S* PEOPLE DOING their duties and responsibilities by snatching as many from the fires as is feasible; honestly, and sincerely in THE NAME OF THE LORD, FOR the GOOD of souls!!!

Make your own reality, but when all you face is dilemma, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, problems, and worse, KNOW that a CHOICE IS available!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS