HEAVENLY INCLINED...: SUNDAY SCRUTINY: HAYWIRE COMPASS; RUNNING AMOK...

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...

SUNDAY SCRUTINY: HAYWIRE COMPASS; RUNNING AMOK...

The world NEEDS a moral compass; a conscience; a heart; an embracing of what is right, just, and good, otherwise, there is not much in the way of advancement, or progress FOR the people, instead, there would be little but survival of the fittest, which to some, seems like a great idea, but they have not considered such a state, let alone in full---

Perhaps I have never honestly assessed the notion that numbers of people hate so strongly, or so many others, that they wish that most humans would vanish, and cease to exist! It was never a thought for me to ponder before, partly because I believe that ALL are endowed with the ability to LOVE, and to rise from the negatives which separate them from *GOD*, and LOVE! Naive, maybe, but I stand convinced that, in TRUTH, all are able to overcome the battle between what is right, and wrong...

Too, I was not fully aware that lots of people are against existing according to morals, virtues, and what makes for peace, and comfort! WHY would I be?, when I KNOW that such IS HOW it was intended to be, and IS feasible, IF only humanity would SEE through the shroud of the lies we have been reared in! I was out there IN the thick of the wrongs of this world, and never once imagined that this MIGHT be how scores like it! Hmmn, not once, BECAUSE it didn't occur to me, as LOGICALLY, HOW could they like it?! Seriously, until just recently, I was clueless to the concept of WANTING to spend time in discord, dissension, woes, and troubles. Silly me?!!

I have witnessed, and experienced the raging battles between good, and bad; I have come UP from the valley of strife, and I am extremely thankful to have done so, yet, now, I am being taught from a whole new angle, that the warring HAS intensified, and spread, due to the affinity for rivalry, by more than a few, AND that the good IS being ever challenged, only because it is good! I am perplexed, as I always figured that most people sought to spend their short time on this Earth in quality, excellence, and well-being! Here again, I suspect I am Childlike in my belief that more than not, seek contentment...

Right now, in this point of time, I am being slapped around by contrasts to what I thought I knew about humanity, but one thing I still hold onto, IS that there REMAINS HOPE FOR ALL TO discover, acknowledge, and utilize that which IS most valuable OVER everything else, meaning that which is right, just, and good!!!

WE FUNCTION better, longer, and more productively WHEN we exist in morality, integrity, ethics, and the virtuous! We ARE dysfunctional when we exist amorally, deceitfully, corrupted, disregarding, disrespecting, in our vices, and the rest of the negatives that we learn, or take to, or choose to adapt to! From the beginning of time, until now, it HAS been PROVEN, and that mostly, THROUGH the wretched state of the world!!!

WITHIN EACH IS the POWER to change our lives, and the world, though it appears that too many either deny, or defy it, or just don't care!!!

I tell you what; the more amok the world, the more I embrace the POSITIVE, and the wholesome good! I have NO desire whatsoever, to spend my days in animosity, conflict, and despair! NONE!, and so, I CHOOSE to improve myself, and to REMAIN IN THE LORD *GOD*, and LOVE, as NOTHING else in this realm can match it!!!

Hourly, we are reading, hearing, and seeing more complacency, callousness, and even approval of what destroys us! As the days progress, humanity seems to be regressing into a vortex of barbarianism, roughness, wildness, and mercilessness! We SHOULD BE CONCERNED, and find ways to curb this trend of calamitous behaviours! The MATURE MUST begin to point to THE WAY, and GUIDE as many as is feasible FROM the edge of the slippery slope that a great number ARE on!!!

Many claim that free will ALLOWS them to think, speak, and act ANYWAY they choose, but does this lead to gain, or comfort?! Let's consider this:
1 CORINTHIANS 6:12...
“Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

Some among the Corinthians seem to have been ready to say, All things are lawful for me. This dangerous conceit St. Paul opposes. There is a liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, in which we must stand fast. But surely a Christian would never put himself into the power of any bodily appetite. The body is for the Lord; is to be an instrument of righteousness to holiness, therefore is never to be made an instrument of sin. It is an honour to the body, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead; and it will be an honour to our bodies, that they will be raised. The hope of a resurrection to glory, should keep Christians from dishonouring their bodies by fleshly lusts. And if the soul be united to Christ by faith, the whole man is become a member of his spiritual body. Other vices may be conquered in fight; that here cautioned against, only by flight. And vast multitudes are cut off by this vice in its various forms and consequences. Its effects fall not only directly upon the body, but often upon the mind. Our bodies have been redeemed from deserved condemnation and hopeless slavery by the atoning sacrifice of Christ. We are to be clean, as vessels fitted for our Master's use. Being united to Christ as one spirit, and bought with a price of unspeakable value, the believer should consider himself as wholly the Lord's, by the strongest ties. May we make it our business, to the latest day and hour of our lives, to glorify God with our bodies, and with our spirits which are his.

You see? At the core is conceit, self-inclination, and pride which take us far from the REALITY of whom, and what we ARE, and introduces us, then chains us to an existence BENEATH our TRUTH; one of CONSTANT struggle, and dissatisfaction, indeed, which THEN, spirals forward into the masses, until we experience what we are in this very moment!!!

What more can I say? Your choices are the same as anyone's; to live aright, in health, and abundance, or, to not! I still cannot grasp the idea of WANTING to exist in perpetual conflict, and combat, and I LOVE enough to care that so many do! THINK of the future! THINK of your souls, and those of others! THINK of the GIFT OF LIFE which *GOD* OFFERS TO ALL WHOM are willing to discover THE TRUTH of our existence, which IS benevolent, peaceful, and marvelous, but which ISN'T about us, not at all!!!

LWINSOR © 2018
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS