HEAVENLY INCLINED...: JOY IS PERPETUAL...

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...

JOY IS PERPETUAL...

In this HOLY season there IS LOTS of sorrow, HOWEVER it IS YET a BLESSED time when JOY IS PRESENT, and renewed in the spirits of those WILLING---

HOPE EVER EXISTS for it is derived OF CHRIST JESUS, and OF LOVE, therefore, we HAVE reason to celebrate, and have PEACE!!!

Believe me, we have had a heavy load in the past few years ourselves, STILL every single day there is REJOICING in my heart, thanks BE TO THE LORD *GOD*! As long as HE IS IN THE FOREFRONT, things ARE OPTIMAL!!!

Many LIKE to be victims, or victimized, it seems, and even more appear to like clinging to what is wrong, bad, and unjust in this old troubled world! That is SO easy, and SO self-defeating, AND definitely NOT how we were designed to be, especially those who are OF HIM! Woes of the world are common to this realm, YET GOOD TIDINGS PERSIST when we REMAIN IN THE LORD, THAT HE REMAINS in us!!!

I am having problems in this season like many others, though I forge forward and SEEK *GOD* every step I take, for I NEED HIM, and the STRENGTH HE GIVES! I NEED the ASSURANCE of HIS PROMISES, and I NEED to know that NOTHING is in vain, IN HIS NAME! I WILL endure, and persevere, and FIND THE LIGHT in the dark, and I WILL SING HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, ALLELUIA, indeed!!!

Instead of focusing on what is hindering around us, we focus ON CHRIST JESUS, and HIS GIFT OF LIFE ETERNAL, and the WONDROUS BEAUTY OF HIS NATURE, and HIS LOVE FOR US! It DOESN'T take much more than a simple PRAYER TO FEEL HIS PRESENCE, and HIS POWERFUL WORKING in, and around us!!!

Let us SHINE OF HIM; this IS HIS GLORY that we DO! Let us BE TRUE REFLECTIONS OF HIM, HIS WILL, and HIS LOVE! Let us CENTER our beings ON HIM, and ALL which is right, just, and good, AND let us PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and HONOUR HIM, not only during this CHRISTmas season, but FOREVER!!!