HEAVENLY INCLINED...: VIRTUES, AND, MARRIAGE...

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...

VIRTUES, AND, MARRIAGE...

Marriage is a Covenant – so God is Part of Every Marriage
“… the LORD hath been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously: yet is she your companion, and the wife of your covenant.” Malachi 2:14...

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24...

“Let us encourage one another —and all the more as you see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:25...

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21...

VIRTUES SHOULD apply to EVERY area of our lives, ESPECIALLY, in MARRIAGE, as, MARRIAGE is the GIFT *GOD* gave to us, to supplement HIS LOVE, to multiply, to share, to exemplify LOVE, and, to KEEP us WITHIN HIS WAYS!!!

IF we were TAUGHT, correctly, from birth, we would NOT struggle so in this life!!!

VIRTUES are IMPERATIVE to life, to growth, to manifesting happiness, HOPE, FAITH, PEACE, and, LOVE, plus, all that falls in between!!! Imagine how wonderful life would be, IF people embraced, and, utilized VIRTUES, not partially, but, fully, as each works to UP the spirit!!!

The 7 greatest VIRTUES are: CHASTITY, TEMPERANCE, CHARITY, DILIGENCE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, and, HUMILITY! Each of these has multiple definitions, and, implications, as, each covers ground in our character foundation, to build upon, and, to perfect! EACH is endorsed, and, commanded by our CREATOR, FOR the purpose of FULFILLING the WHOLESOMENESS/GOOD of HIS WILL, and, LOVE'S existence!!!

Life was NEVER meant to be so contrary, nor, filled with confusion, delusion, and, deception; that came of the jealousy of the fallen angel! *GOD'S* PRECEPTS are PERFECT for MAINTAINING a WHOLESOMELY GOOD LIFE, but, it takes constant, and, deliberate EFFORT, and then, understanding, to begin to pattern ourselves AFTER HIS PERFECTION, ONLY because the evil one interferes at EVERY opportunity, even creating such to trip us up, bore us to tears, and, confound us to almost walking away from what we MOST need, THE TRUTH!!!

MARRIAGE IS *GOD* ENDORSED, SANCTIFIED, and, INSPIRED, and, was NOT intended to be what it has become! VIRTUES serve MARRIAGE well, for they create in EACH person, the characteristics which SUPPORT, NURTURE, and, ENCOURAGE, the UNION of two, which spills OVER into the rest of life, for the GOOD of ALL in the paths of these two, from offspring to the world as a whole!!!

Problems, and, troubles, are TO bring about the CONSCIOUSNESS of GOOD vs. bad, RIGHT vs. wrong, and, to STRENGTHEN us with Wisdom, and, Understanding, that we GROW, not stagnate! Yes, when two become one, there is often, a struggle of wills, a difference in opinion, and, other factors, HOWEVER, the Understanding, WILL be able to see these obstacles in a LIGHT of LOVE, VOID of the negatives of the wicked schemer; as, TRULY, this is the source of most of the opposition we face!!!

MARRIAGE takes WORK, and, when it seems that LOVE is fleeting, because of the obstacles, changes, afflictions, inflictions, and, so forth, that is WHEN it is NECESSARY to DIG down, and, pull UP MORE LOVE, because, HONESTLY, LOVE cannot die, UNLESS we allow it to, but, even then, it lives on, we just did not tend to it anymore...

No matter what point you are at NOW, it is NEVER too late to understand, then, rebuild upon the original foundation; LOVE!!!

*GOD* will NOT forsake the diligent, the FAITHFUL, the HOPEFUL, the LOVING:)))

REV. LWINSOR © 2011
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BIBLICAL, and/or, other references MARKED BOLDLY IN COLOURS