HEAVENLY INCLINED...: A CHRISTMAS UNLIKE ANY BEFORE...

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...

A CHRISTMAS UNLIKE ANY BEFORE...

I just got out of the hospital today. On CHRISTmas Eve morning, about 4:30 a. m., I lost the ability to breathe, which got worse, worse, and worse, and had to be rushed to ER---

I had congestive heart failure, but, THANKS BE TO THE LORD CHRIST JESUS, though CHRISTmas Eve day was full of hanging on the edge of death, and terror; an emergency like I never knew could exist, by CHRISTmas Day, I was up and walking around, though stunned, scared, and awed...

The hospitals, you know, are VERY short staffed, and well, there are LOTS of problems in that, but the people at the hospital I was at ARE phenomenally meeting every challenge, WHILE still providing compassion, care, and believe me, they go over and above to make you comfortable, despite their own sufferings; they ARE exceptional, and DESERVE to be appreciated, truly...

Yesterday they went in by wrist with catheters, to see how bad of blockage I have, as they were prepared to put a stent in, but I have little to no blockage, and so, they are treating me, at this point with medications designed to increase the blood flow, but this is just the onset of what is to come, and whew!, it is scary, frightening, and SO strange...

I am afraid, of course, but *GOD* has kept me around to this point, and so, HALLELUJAH, AMEN!!!

There is a LOT to get used to with this, like not being able to eat MANY things, limit liquids, and avoid fat, and salt; none of which I over indulged in anyway, but for some reason, am endangered by now...

I am just grateful to be here, and hopefully, will be for some time! I have taken nothing for granted, and now won't for sure...

To me what is most astounding is that it happened on CHRISTmas Eve morning, when I was expecting about 20 people in the afternoon to celebrate! We pushed it too hard, and over did almost everything, which probably contributed to it, but we pretty much always have; we LOVE CHRISTmas...

Time on Earth is amazingly short, and unpredictable, yet we act for years as if we are invincible, special, and other such. We don't quite grow up, me thinks...

I PRAY you and yours had a lovely HOLYday celebration, and that miracles were brought into your existence, whether you notice them or not! Let's PRAY for the New Year; we are overwhelmed with many disasters, in nearly every facet of our existence, and people are NOT becoming wiser for the wear, nor are more seeking *GOD* as they should. My HOPE for 2022 is that we acknowledge the TRUE POWERS of THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and step deeper into HIS WILL, and WAYS, as we SHINE of HIM for this very rapidly, darkening world to take notice of, THAT even some might be brought HIGHER! We are NOTHING without THE LORD, and until we realize, and accept this, and keep doing what works against us, we are going to face challenges, and suffering...

THANK YOU LORD *GOD*, I PRAISE YOU ALWAYS, and WORSHIP YOU WHOLLY with my heart, and being! I REJOICE IN YOUR LOVING CARE for us, and HONOUR YOU for YOUR HOLINESS! Help us to grow LORD; help us to know, dear *GOD*; help us to sow YOU throughout the globe!!!

BLESS you all, much LOVE to you; back soon, *GOD* WILLING!!! OXO