HEAVENLY INCLINED...: THIS REALM IS DIFFICULT FOR HOLY REASONS...

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...

THIS REALM IS DIFFICULT FOR HOLY REASONS...

Just listened to a man tell the story of how he became more connected to THE LORD *GOD*, and it is interesting because he said he was lamenting about how difficult life is, and THE LORD put into him that it is supposed to be difficult! I agree with this 100%---

WHY? Because we are born into a world of enticement, of evil, of pure struggle, and ONLY those of *GOD* are able to SEE this, and to work diligently to overcome it! MANY are those that imagine that this IS a rose garden, and we are to pursue carnal happiness, which most find out, is empty, and is NEVER fully realized...

You see, people are LOST in the worlds lures, and in their own limited mentalities, desires, passions, and so forth, and rarely does ANYONE find what they are looking for, or need, or want, AWAY from THE LORD! Of course the arguments against this statement are loud, and strong, but really?, have you never sat back and mused on why things of the world don't quite fulfill you???

There are people that are so rich they can do anything they want, have anything they want, go anywhere they want, and in the end, they are STILL searching for something more! And this, also, IS one of the points where they fall into traps of what is wrong, and bad, simply because NOTHING on Earth has been able to fill a void they might not have even suspected they have, but do!!!

Happiness is NOT material, nor physical, nor purchased; instead, it is cultivated through what is good, just, and right, and through LOVE, and of course, primarily, via *GOD*! WITHOUT HIM, there is deficit of being, dysfunction, and cravings which just don't quite accomplish being sated!!!

IF you examine yourself, you will find that throughout time this far, the greatest moments have been simple, and grounded, NOT of, or in worldly means! Granted, we have need and use for worldly means in order to exist, and to thrive, but NOT in the sense of pursuing more, more, and more, ever hungry, and dissatisfied as we are left empty each time, and puzzled by why...

UNDERSTAND the world IS a dragnet for souls! It IS intended to delude, confuse, disorient, and leave us longing for more, and extra, which we DON'T have to be caught up in, ESPECIALLY IF we ARE of CHRIST JESUS, our LORD *GOD*!!!

We HAVE been duped, and therefore, stooped, as we are always seeking the opposite of what provides for well-being, though we have little idea of that TRUTH, since we have been raised backwards FROM our REALITY! We think based on carnal knowledge; so often we forget spiritual knowledge, even if we have tapped into it, since we assume, and perceive based on what our 5 senses encourage us to dabble in!!!

People get angry that it IS difficult in this realm, blame *GOD*, then refuse to acknowledge HIM, or to try to understand that WE made this world harder BY existing in opposition TO HIM, and IN the oppressing snares laid before us...

NEVER FORGET, the struggle is real, and DOES develop character, perseverance, strength, FAITH, maturity, and ALL which LIFTS us UP to our POTENTIAL and REALITY!!!

I don't know what it takes for people to understand their role in all of this; it is like, is there even a way(?) BESIDES the sudden and awesome arrival of THE LORD *GOD*, and then, it will be too late for far too many that MIGHT have grown into their TRUTH, IF someone with knowledge HAD been able to reach them!!!