HEAVENLY INCLINED...: LEARNING TO IMITATE THE LORD: BALANCING LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF BALANCED RELATIONSHIPS OF EVERY KIND...

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...

LEARNING TO IMITATE THE LORD: BALANCING LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF BALANCED RELATIONSHIPS OF EVERY KIND...

Being non-denominational, I have a decent collection of *GODLY* WISDOM books lying around, which I find stimulating for the mind, spirit, and heart. I would like to share an excerpt from one such book---

GOOD JUDGEMENT IN *GOD'S* SERVICE...
My Child, never be completely idle. Try to have enough interests and activities to keep you reasonably occupied at all times.

Beware, however, of overactivity. No matter what you do, be sure to consider the limits of your strength. Different people have different talents, abilities, and strength. You cannot keep up with everyone in everything.

Bodily exercises should be practiced with good judgement. They are not to be equally undertaken by all. Each person should match their exercises with his strength and daily occupation. The extreme love of bodily exercises is frequently another form of pride or vanity. Eventually it will injure your health.

In every activity, be it physical or mental, you must be your own master. Do not let any interest gain too strong a hold on you. Otherwise it will gradually paralyze your better judgement, and make you it's slave. You will no longer be able to do what is best for yourself. Your thoughts and desires will be controlled by this strong interest.

Always strive to maintain your interior freedom from all things. Only then will you be able to think straight, and choose what is right and truly good for you.

In your external activity, do not try to appear better, or even different from the ordinary good people around you In your public actions beware of putting on a show. One who is really better than others tries to be better in MY presence and for MY sake, and not for the admiration, and praise of men

Your first obligation at all times, is to fulfill the ordinary duties of daily life. Do these as perfectly as you can for MY sake. After having fulfilled these obligations you may follow your own personal inclinations away from the eyes of men. Fulfill your public devotions without unnecessary show. If you want to do extraordinary things for ME, do them privately where I alone will see you and praise you.

Again and again, I am faced with the fact that my worst enemy is this silly self-love of mine. It is silly because it seeks such flimsy glory and with shallow satisfaction, while it should be striving for the eternal glory and perfect satisfaction of HEAVEN. Even in seeking to become better and HOLIER, I often have the wrong motives. I seek it for my own glory instead of GOD'S GLORY. HE wants me to better myself, so as to be more like HIM in my daily life; but I keep wanting to appear better than those around me. As a result of this blindness my spiritual life remains weak and unsteady. My improvement must begin from within, in my thinking, in my intentions, and in my purpose. When I have made GOD my main goal, I shall begin to show balance and good judgement in my external actions...

This is merely one part of the process; I will share more in days to come... *GOD* BLESS, and BE with us, and may WE BLESS HIM, and BE WITH HIM!!!