HEAVENLY INCLINED...: ESCALATION WAY...

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...

ESCALATION WAY...

THE LORD has led EACH of HIS own to this particular time, and this place in time, with GREAT purpose, and reason! HE HAS led us through the valley, UP through the craggy, rocky hills, into the HOLY mountain ranges, that we might PEER into the PROMISED land, and leave all the baggage of the journey this far, behind, little by little, so that ELEVATION might be all the easier!

Nothing of the past is worth carrying any further, save for the reminder that we have SURVIVED this far, BY THE GRACE, and HAND of THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, and HAVE OVERCOME extreme situations, circumstances, and conditions this far! Therefore, we look AHEAD, and we REJOICE, as we PRAISE HIM, WORSHIP HIM, and commune with HIM at all times!!!

There ARE dangers on the inclined paths of elevation, therefore, we DON'T lose sight of HIM for one second, as to do so, places us in the potential of said dangers! To step away from HIS lead puts us at risk of having to endure the onslaught of the enemy whom is always nearby, and so, we RELY ON *GOD* at all times, with ALL FAITH, and FAITHFULLY, FOLLOW HIM through where HE is leading us!!!

As we TRAVEL WITH THE LORD, we are enlightened, we are PEACEFUL, we are ever thankful, and grateful, for HAVING survived so much, we KNOW that we have been rid of that which would weigh us down, and make the passage all the more difficult! We RELINQUISH self-reliance, and step into COMPLIANCE, UNDERSTANDING that FOLLOWING HIM IS THE SAFETY net we need, at all times, and the WISE benevolence of HIS LOVING KINDNESS! Our fears are diminished, our strength is renewed, and the excess baggage remains behind, as we gaze at THE LIGHT, and pattern our directions in HIS own footsteps!!!

HE BRINGS HIS own through the valley, and cleanses them along the way, while Sanctifying, and Consecrating them, having set them apart FROM the valley below, FOR HIS GLORY, and the sharing of HIS KINGDOM!!!

We learn to drop off, at certain plateaus, the weights of regret, remorse, and sorrow, as we take on more, more, and more of HIS PRESENCE, HIS WILL, HIS WAY! We go through STAGES of growth, and development, as we liken our steps to HIS! We become freer, and freer OF the awfulness which accompanied us BEFORE HIS LEAD!!!

HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, whom HAS carved in stone, THE WAY, and HAS millions of means to LEAD us AWAY from the valley, we ARE DIVINELY BLESSED! Let us WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS, and let us REJOICE in HIS PLAN, HIS LOVE, and HIS care of us! Let us then, HONOUR HIM with rock solid FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, as we KEEP our sights honed ON HIM, and adapt TO HIS LEAD!!!