HEAVENLY INCLINED...: STEPPING UP IN HIS NAME...

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...

STEPPING UP IN HIS NAME...

We are being tested in endless ways; trials and tribulations have just begun, yet, for the FAITHFUL, there is HOPE, and there IS A WAY---

During this tumultuous duration, we HAVE to CLING TO THE LORD *GOD*, AND HIS WILL! We MUST FULFILL what we might OF HIS WILL, and HOLD FAST TO HIM, and FAITH...

WILL we help another? Will we step up and GIVE of our soul? Will we provide what care, and material goods that we are able to as everything gets worse, and people find themselves without? Will we SHINE OF HIM, and BE HIS HANDS, FEET, and ARMS during the times ahead when many will lose FAITH, and the will TO WITHSTAND these trying days???

WILL we embrace the broken? Will we offer encouragement? Will we DO AS HE WILLS we do???

At this very moment of time, we must look PAST OURSELVES, and TOWARDS others. In doing so there is endless reward, and PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED! For every effort of ours, there IS RECOMPENSE A HUNDRED FOLD, ESPECIALLY when most will grow cold, callous, and more self-absorbed! NOW IS THE HOUR OF REFLECTING CHRIST JESUS, our LORD *GOD* in EVERY feasible way; sincerely, and with generosity of spirit, which DOES make a world of difference when suffering is prevalent...

We MUST take of care of each other, and STAND STRONG IN THE LORD *GOD*; the evil IS raging all around us!!!

Let us PRAY, and not like we have so complacently in the past, but like the greats in THE BIBLE did; think Moses, Joshua, and all the way through to CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF! Each PRAYED WITH HEART, MIND, BODY, and SOUL and *GOD* answered them in astounding ways! We have SO much to learn, and NOW IS a great moment to begin anew, as we move forward from the ways of the world, and yesterdays...

I will be back soon! Let us KEEP *GOD* AND HIS LIGHT VISIBLE as the darkness closes in on much of the world, and let us TOUCH others WITH HIS LOVE, GRACE, and MERCY, because you see, besides being born to PRAISE, and WORSHIP HIM, LOVING OTHERS, and HAVING GRACE and MERCY ARE also intrinsic TO OUR EXISTENCE!!!

*GOD* BE WITH US, and may we BE WITH HIM!!!