HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOVE; LOVE ALL THE MORE...

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...

WHEN IT'S DIFFICULT TO LOVE; LOVE ALL THE MORE...

As difficult as it is; as much as it hurts; when someone treats you badly, wrongly, or is downright mean, LOVE them all the more---

Wanna talk about nearly impossible lessons? LOVING when you have been unfairly treated, or abused, or other such, IS punishing to the psyche, and the emotions, but I promise you there is *GODLY*, and healthy reasoning involved! LOVE WINS OVER all else, although the human response is to hate, or be angry, or be negative, but, as Christians we LOVE anyway, and even more; then LOVE comes back to us, heals us, and carries us, as well as we are all the more enabled for the next time we have to deal with those who want to damage us! In this LOVE IS the forgiveness we ARE to forward to others, as *GOD* HAS forgiven us...

We are existing in some nasty times; people are unhinged in many ways; very vocal; very convinced that their ways are the right ways; very aggressive; very rude; and on the list of negative behaviours go! It IS easy to fall into the snares, and to think, speak, act, and react according to the situation, HOWEVER that is NOT optimal, NOR does it make anything better, and in fact, has the potential to escalate what is wrong, hence prolong it! Despite it taking ALL our strength, and baffling us when we are in the line of fire; we tap into our resources; that is *GOD*, LOVE, and our gained knowledge, THAT we might leave HIM, LOVE, and GOOD in our footsteps, EVEN though we might be seething, shaking, or are ready to take aim, BECAUSE doing so aids in diminishing the false power that person, or that situation thinks they have! Not only this, but IF we ARE OF CHRIST JESUS, our LORD, we HAVE been taught to be humble, gentle, kind, and on the virtuous behaviours go!!!

Our feelings get hurt, then our egos jump into fight mode, but I tell you what, seriously, that is simply adding fuel to the fire, and resolving NOTHING! Instantly, we should resort to THE LORD, PRAYER, and LOVE all the more, UNDERSTANDING that to contribute to what is wrong, bad, or unjust IS to increase it! So, we bite our tongue, we step back, we walk away, and we PRAY! We PRAY for these people, we PRAY for strength and courage, we PRAY for *GOD* to touch their hearts according to HIS WILL, and we PRAY for resolve! Sometimes it is especially difficult, like when it is with people we are forced to be around at times, or often, but again, LOVING all the more WILL rectify the situation, if not immediately, it WILL eventually, AND these just might learn something...

Once upon a time I was outspoken, and reactive; I never let anyone do me wrong without them hearing about it before I walked away, however, I grew up, and embraced the SOUNDNESS of REMAINING IN *GOD* enough to hold my emotions in check, and walk away! NOT easy to learn, or to do, as certain circumstances ARE intense, and SEEM to require a response! We CAN respond IF we keep it aligned to HIS WILL, and LOVE, and understanding of the human condition, but we CANNOT retaliate, or act in ways which PULL us down, into the world! Hard to explain, and even harder to practice, yet I HAVE been BLESSED with a change in some of these people afterwards, though not always! I BELIEVE THE LORD WILL fight for us, and IS our ADVOCATE, and our AVENGER, so, I must put that belief to work when tested, and tried...

There is one person I want to hate, but LOVE WON'T ALLOW me to, SO, there IS a constant battle of will when I am around them! This is a serious, and ongoing problem, and challenge to me, in which case I get the most upset because I have to repent and ask forgiveness when it is NOT my fault in any way that there is such a problem between us! So, I get nervous before I have to see this person, and don't act quite right, all the while asking *GOD* to forgive me, because nothing is right about this situation, and my emotions lead me to think, act, and react in ways I KNOW are wrong, even if I never really say anything, instead, I keep my distance, and try to maintain composure! I PRAY for this person daily, and I forgive them, but to me they are evil, and the things they do to provoke me are uncalled for, so despite my TRYING to be good, there is always bad to come of being around them. It sucks, and I wish it would end, but they are like a permanent thorn in my side, thus, I have no choice but to aim to mature more, and control myself, though it cuts deep into the logic, and heart...

I CHOOSE TO LOVE ALL the more, and understand this, we don't have to like someone to LOVE them, except for Family, and other close associates! I would still give them the shirt off my back if they need it! I will ever forgive them, and strive to be at peace around them, which sounds silly to say, but the root of the soundness of standing IN LOVE IS the correct, and prevailing path to VICTORY, indeed!!!

EVERY day we ARE confronted by the world, and it's ways, BUT we are NOT of the world, we ARE OF *GOD*, and so, we BECOME *GODLY*, FOR HIS GLORY, for the good of others, and for the optimization of time in this realm! LOVE OVERRIDES what is against it, as DOES THE LIGHT OVERTAKE the darkness! It IS easy to exist away from LOVE because that is what this world does, BUT that is NOT the way of *GOD*, and HIS Children!!!

The individuals SOUL is what matters most, and all this discord WILL fade away WHEN THE LORD RETURNS, SO, existing in what is pleasing TO HIM MATTERS FAR more than evening the score with adversaries! See???

OH YAH, it IS challenging, and tiring, but it IS temporary, AND WE ARE ENABLED, and EMPOWERED BY THE MOST HIGH LORD, WHOM WILL lead us past, and through all the turmoil! HANG ON! KEEP THE FAITH, and BE FAITHFUL! LOVE FOR REAL, and leave LOVE in your footsteps! Remember always, many, many, many people 'know NOT what they do', which ISN'T an excuse for them, instead it is a fact of those who can't, or won't SEE THE LIGHT! PRAY for these, and give them an example whether they ever notice it or not; who knows???

LOVE IS WHAT IS LACKING in this world, and FOR SURE, *GOD'S* people OUGHT to be spreading it, sharing it, standing steadfast in it, and GLORIFYING HIM therewithin!!!

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