HEAVENLY INCLINED...: TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: PUTTING DIFFERENCES ASIDE; LOVE & MERCY...

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...

TUESDAY'S THOUGHTS: PUTTING DIFFERENCES ASIDE; LOVE & MERCY...

In *GODLY* LOVE, which, we are to exist in, we put our differences aside, and, come together, for the building UP of LOVE, and, *GOD*/CHRIST, at all times! We are supposed to be travelling the HIGH road to perfection, not yet, on unsure, unsteady routes, taking our time to get off on the right exit to the narrow path!!!

Ah, people! We have to LEARN the kind of LOVE HE COMMANDS of us! The LOVE that is purely motivated FOR, and, TO HIS GLORY, not for self! We have to LEARN to let go of the snares of the world, and, sail forth IN LOVE!!!

We are a Chosen people, we were called to be a Royal Priesthood (1 PETER 2:9), LOVING, forgiving, merciful, kind, peaceful, compassionate, caring, and, forbearing one another; as HE is with us!!!

Families, and, those who are close, ought to, for sure, put differences aside, especially, if these differences are creating more troubles than necessary, and, spilling over into other people's lives; for instance, if someone close to you, is getting Married, and, people are not attending because so, and, so, was invited to! This is really WRONG behaviour for those who claim *GOD*/CHRIST! Why should the innocent person be put to the test because some can't find it in their hearts to LOVE as they should???

MATTHEW 18: 21-22, and, LUKE 17: 3-6, say this...

21/ Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

22/ Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

3/ Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

4/ And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him."

We live in a tough world; we have to deal with MANY attitudes, behaviours, and, constant aggression from others, but, we are being taught to LOVE no matter what! It ISN'T easy, by any means, though, like all else from HIM, with heartfelt practice, becomes second nature, AND, we begin to SEE the sound principles involved!!!

I have been learning some serious lessons, for a while now, in LOVING no matter what! Some people are like thorns in your side, but, you have to LEARN to LOVE them, forgive them, and, be merciful unto them, while remembering this, LOTS of people do NOT know what they are doing, or causing, because they are NOT in *GOD*/CHRIST, or, have not been taught the whole of THE TRUTH! I used to respond to troublesome people, now, I KNOW I have to BLESS them, forgive them, and, LOVE them, anyway, then, PRAY with ALL my might, for them, and, myself, because of the stumbling blocks they placed in my path! Hard as it is, I AM UP to it, and, have had some tremendous victories, in remaining IN LOVE!!!