HEAVENLY INCLINED...: 'SIDES': THE COMMON DIVIDER...

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...

'SIDES': THE COMMON DIVIDER...

UNITED we stand, divided we fall; age old adage, full of practical sense, and honest empowerment! UNITED IS HOW the USA became one of the youngest super powers in the world; DIVIDED IS how many super powers of the past fell---

Sides; right now, there is much discussion about sides! WHENEVER there are sides, there is potential for problems, as sides indicate opposition, and where there is opposition, there is oppression! Sides EQUATE division, and the greater the rift between sides, the more concerning is the division...

Since the beginning of BEING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, we have had political parties, and only rarely, have they had conflict of the nature we are witnessing, and existing in today, because throughout, it was understood that 'parties' did NOT indicate enmity, instead varied inclinations, BUT which ULTIMATELY was WORKED through FOR the good of the country, and it's people! IF there had been the kind of 'sides' we have right now, there would have been MANY civil wars, and we most likely, would have not made it as a country this far! Problems up to recently, were dealt with WISELY, MATURELY, as well as premised on what was optimal for ALL!!!

I DON'T want to exist in a world where I am forced to take 'sides'; I don't want to be known as 'right', or 'left', or none of the above, BECAUSE such leads to fueling fires that DON'T need to exist IN a DEMOCRACY! I DON'T want someone telling me I HAVE to lean this way, or that way, otherwise I am in danger, rejected, or worse! That is NOT AMERICAN to me, and it surely isn't FREEDOM! I am capable of making my own choices based upon particulars, especially that which is right, just, or good, and I DON'T follow anyone but THE LORD *GOD*!!!

Resistance/hindrance is a game of chance, and like most games of chance, finds few winners! Such DESTROYS DIALOGUE, as it IS based upon STUBBORNNESS, and UNWILLINGNESS to work with anyone who is not of the same mindset! It is foolhardy, and it creates conditions which not only take too long to resolve, it's consequences have far-reaching, and rippling effects...

Time on Earth is NOT about having everything we like; it is about dealing with the mix of good, bad, right, wrong, AND utilizing INTELLECTUALLY, what we can take from said mix, FOR THE GOOD of our own existence, and that of others! OFTEN we are thrown into circumstances which are not favourable, and so, we LEARN HOW to manage it all, FOR the best outcome! We DON'T just throw what we don't like aside, or ignore it, or run from it, because it will yet be there, and we will be all the farther behind in doing so, and perhaps it will work more against us!!!

MATURITY IS part of growing up, as it aids us in securing that which will better mark our time on this planet, and serve others in the process! MATURITY DOESN'T DENY others, it listens, it gathers, it discerns, it COMPROMISES, it LEADS TO THE BEST results feasible!!!

EXTREMISM IS DANGEROUS TO ALL; it DESTROYS everything in it's path, and in the very least sense, damages relationships which NEED to be fostered FOR the betterment of self, and others! FRENZY, FURY, VIOLENCE, ADAMANCY, and ABANDONMENT of OPEN MINDEDNESS, EACH, and even more, represent extremism which has NO place IN this country, for we ARE a civilized Nation!!!

FREEDOM is NOT something we should USE in adverse ways; it IS a privilege; it IS what has defined us, and advantaged us this far, and when 'sides' become the norm, then that freedom tilts, and IS denied to those who do not take sides, or are on opposite sides! WHERE IS THE LOGIC, or SENSE in this???

We CANNOT expect *GOD*, though we should seek HIM always, or our leaders to 'FIX' this mess we are in; it IS up to EACH of us to examine ourselves, to be honest in assessment, acknowledge our flaws, faults, errs, and other such, and then REALIZE that we are ALL in this TOGETHER, WHILE putting away those mentalities, actions, and reactions which WILL further rip us apart, and destroy this great country! WE THE PEOPLE NEED TO GROW UP, and TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR the troubles we HAVE created, and KNOW THAT WE MOST DEFINITELY CAN UNITE again, once and for all!!!

*GOD* BLESS and BE with us, and may we understand we HAVE to BLESS HIM and BE with HIM, FOR THE GOOD OF ALL!!!

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