HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THE ABSOLUTE & CONCLUSIVE SOURCE OF LOVE...

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...

THE ABSOLUTE & CONCLUSIVE SOURCE OF LOVE...

LOVE provides deep into the soul, advantaging it with warmth, comfort, PEACE; brings it past dormancy, granting new LIFE; increasing action on the part of those who know it, grasp it, and take it to heart...

ALL humans NEED LOVE, albeit we seek LOVE from the world, it's ways, and in too many places where it is faulty to say the least, and unable to give us what we are lacking...

We chase down LOVE, we pursue it with wild abandon, we desperately desire it, and yet, we don't find it in the many faces, or places of this time; which sees many falling in LOVE, repeatedly, despite the disappointments encountered along the way...

Fall IN LOVE WITH *GOD*, and ALL other LOVE will be BLESSED, at one point, then another! ONLY THE LORD HAS THE LOVE WE NEED, and so desire, which SATISFIES THE ENTIRE BEING!!!

Many people mistake stirrings of the body with LOVE; many people imagine that what their mind, emotions, or desires seek will lead to LOVE, and KEEP them in LOVE! Such has NO SOLID foundation, therefore HOW could it endure the tests, and trials of time???

ONLY *GOD* HAS the sort of LOVE which flourishes, enables, enriches, endows, empowers, encourages, and teaches us! IN HIS LOVE we see that what we THOUGHT we knew about LOVE is so elementary, thus, we have great difficulties in finding, enjoying, and securing it! One thing we SHOULD remember always is that we are mere Children in this journey, not to say that we won't grow UP, or mature along the way, but again, without *GOD*, and HIS LOVE, it will be more than challenging!!!

Human LOVE is based on, well, it is based on the flesh; *GODLY* LOVE is of SPIRIT, and so, one can begin to recognize the vast differences between LOVING in the flesh, or in the spirit! First of all, while our fleshy being has needs, it IS the spirit which has the greater, and more lasting needs, as this IS our TRUTH, and that which will see eternity! WHEN our spirit is FREED from the flesh, ALL which is wholesome, healthy, and right, begins to heal the entire being, in which case, LOVE IS the balm which PROVIDES in every good, and just way! It begins with *GOD*, and lasts with HIM!!!

We have to KNOW our LORD, and HIS LOVE in order for the LOVE HE bids, and COMMANDS of us to make sense in our jumbled, confused ideals of the LOVE we have learned of the world! We have to KNOW HIM in order to FEEL HIS hand of LOVE at work in our existence in this realm! We have to KNOW HIM FOR all we need, and lack!!!

Throughout the entire BIBLE, we are TAUGHT of HIS LOVE, and HOW it works FOR our good, as we embrace, and exist in it! It is there for the seeking, and IS as POWERFUL as IS HE, yet, we WILL find snags as we meld with it; for one thing, the enemy is NOT going to let us leave behind the world so easily, and for another, our previous ways CONFLICT with what is OF THE LORD! Still, HE HAS in place, ALL resources, tools, advocacy, and whatever else we might need TO GROW INTO the LOVE which IS GRACE, and MERCY, AS we, who are OF HIM, ARE crucial instruments TO HIS WILL being fulfilled, and to INSPIRING others who belong to HIM, but are under the cover of darkness! IN HIS LOVE we begin to GLOW, as HIS LIGHT in this dark, troubled world, which also, enhances us in every way!!!

The LOVE which *GOD* bids us to become ONE with, IS POSITIVELY ALIVE, and EVER working goodness! As HE CANNOT FAIL, neither can LOVE, and as HE IS ETERNAL, therefore IS LOVE! To step into this LOVE is challenging, yet, IS the most intelligent, and productive action we could take in this short journey through this plane! LOVE works BRILLIANTLY through HIS GENIUS, and is NOT subject to anything which opposes, or attempts to oppress it, DESPITE the endless efforts of the enemy, and his many cohorts! LOVE IS FOREVER QUALIFIED, and EMPOWERED TO LEAD, PROVIDE, RESTORE, RENEW, and REGENERATE what is OF THE LORD *GOD*!!! AMEN!!!