HEAVENLY INCLINED...: FROM THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF LENT...

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...

FROM THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF LENT...

LUKE 13: 2-3...
2/ He said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
3/ By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!

I'm not used to hearing JESUS talk this way.
Usually, HE is telling me about second chances, about THE FATHER'S forgiveness, about patience, and long suffering.
Not today.
*GOD* is patient with me, *GOD* can put up with a lot of my mistakes. But, *GOD* will not treat me as a little Child, letting meander any which way through life. *GOD* has given me freedom, and the capacity to make adult decisions.
*GOD* will be patient ... but not doting.
*GOD* will be forgiving ... but not wishy-washy.
So, how do I balance out the mercy, patience, and forgiveness of *GOD* with the finality of *GOD'S* judgement?
I can start by taking responsibility for the choices I make today....

It's just like that! Such messages ARE imperative; it matters not my Denomination, somewhere in the thread of Doctrines, and Dogmas, this exact message lies; in fact, IS the CORE of CHRIST'S teachings; REPENT, for the KINGDOM is come!!!

To repent is a change of heart towards sin! What does this mean to us? Does it mean that through FAITH alone, we can continue to try, and test THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY by living in ways CONTRARY to HIS WILL, and HOLINESS? It certainly doesn't mean that we will become perfect, or HOLY, but that we understand the NEED to step INTO HIM, with a changed heart, thus, altered, improved ways of living in this world! It means we SEE HIM clearly, and of LOVE for HIM, HONESTLY CHOOSE to follow HIM, in mind, body, and spirit, which entails a change of ways, and CONSCIOUS deliberation BEFORE we speak, act, or react, ALIGNED TO HIS WILL, and WAYS...

It ISN'T easy; HE NEVER said, or promised it would be! We are Children of THE MOST HIGH *GOD*, who is PURE, and HOLY, thus, as we reflect HIM, our FATHER, what is evident SHOULD be worthy of HIM! Not only this, we are to be LIGHTS SHINING in the darkness, and so, if we are yet living in the ways of darkness, in the ways of the world, HOW can we SHINE, and inspire, and guide???

This HOLY season is an optimal time to consider HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, HIS EXAMPLE, HIS teachings, and search the being, the spirit, to see IF we have made progress FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of all...

PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, REJOICE IN HIM, and GLORIFY HIM OVER ALL, for HE, HIS GIFT, and HIS LOVE ARE the pulse of LIFE, of ALL that matters! AMEN!!!