HEAVENLY INCLINED...: WE EXIST IN EVERY FACET OF 'SELF' EXCEPT SELF-CONTROL!!!

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...

WE EXIST IN EVERY FACET OF 'SELF' EXCEPT SELF-CONTROL!!!

OOOOWHEEE; things are getting stranger by the day in this contentious, wicked world! It IS disturbing, and well, makes one wonder WHAT THE HECK happened?!---

There IS ONLY ONE resolution to all of this, and HIS NAME IS THE LORD *GOD*! Of course this statement alone, WILL bring forth LOTS of scorn, and disdain, HOWEVER TRUTH PREVAILS FOREVER, and EVER!!!

Now, for sure, humans have brought on this state themselves, and so, OUGHT to acknowledge the fact that WE ARE the reason for ALL of the troubles we face, and endure, YET, *GOD* IS RIGHT HERE, and IS ACCESSIBLE FOR those who BELIEVE, and REMAIN IN HIM; NOT that we won't be subject to the madness around us, instead that we CAN RELY ON HIM for what we need to have safe passage through it!!!

The past decade, or two, HAS SHOWN just how far we HAVE GONE ASTRAY; not only from THE LORD, but from what is right, just, and good! People are spoiled, selfish, arrogant, mean, nasty, and absolutely embedded in the mire of self-deception! Principles, standards, and age old directives HAVE been replaced with silly, foolish, and ignorant ideals, MOST of which have NO substantiation, NOR any POSITIVE end! People just exist for themselves, and their urges, VOID of the skills, or wisdom to consider the details, or the whole of what they convince themselves of! They might THINK something sounds good, but they do NOT stop to explore the components of the thought/idea BEFORE they put it into action, thus, chaotic results, and damaging effects; the thought process IS incomplete, AND INCOMPATIBLE with REALITY!!!

TRUTH AND REALITY ARE NOT NEGOTIABLE; they STAND regardless of the attempts to alter them, BECAUSE there is NO upgrading, or updating what IS PERFECT, but which FEW recognize as so, or are willing to discover!!!

Human perfection is FAR beneath TRUE PERFECTION, hence the NEED OF THE LORD *GOD*, and HIS WILL! HE MADE us to exist IN perfection, but it didn't take long before Mankind RUINED that opportunity BY ignoring HIM, and IT! And so, the battle between the flesh, and what is OF *GOD* rages on! And that IS exacerbated BY the influences of the world, thus, HOW we were reared!!!

Those who THINK they are something when they are NOTHING, IS A FOOL (GALATIANS 6), ESPECIALLY IF they claim CHRIST JESUS as their LORD! The rest, well, they know NOT what they do, since they REFUSE to hear, or see TRUTH! People IMAGINE they are wiser, smarter, better, and all sorts of idiotic fantasies, leading them to think, say, or do what serves no one, nor anything, besides being a nuisance, and causing problems! It is very common for a man to look upon himself as wiser and better than other men, and as fit to dictate to them. Such a one deceives himself; by pretending to what he has not, he puts a cheat upon himself, and sooner or later will find the sad effects. This will never gain esteem, either with God or men. Every one is advised to prove his own work. The better we know our own hearts and ways, the less shall we despise others, and the more be disposed to help them under infirmities and afflictions. How light soever men's sins seem to them when committed, yet they will be found a heavy burden, when they come to reckon with God about them. No man can pay a ransom for his brother; and sin is a burden to the soul. It is a spiritual burden; and the less a man feels it to be such, the more cause has he to suspect himself. Most men are dead in their sins, and therefore have no sight or sense of the spiritual burden of sin. Feeling the weight and burden of our sins, we must seek to be eased thereof by the Saviour, and be warned against every sin.

2 TIMOTHY 3: 2-5...

2+++For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3+++unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,

4+++traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5+++having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

Even in gospel times there would be perilous times; on account of persecution from without, still more on account of corruptions within. Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man. When children are disobedient to their parents, that makes the times perilous. Men are unholy and without the fear of God, because they are unthankful for the mercies of God. We abuse God's gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts. Times are perilous also, when parents are without natural affection to children. And when men have no rule over their own spirits, but despise that which is good and to be honoured. God is to be loved above all; but a carnal mind, full of enmity against him, prefers any thing before him, especially carnal pleasure. A form of godliness is very different from the power; from such as are found to be hypocrites, real Christians must withdraw.

ALL of this IS evident in this hour; we ARE lost in the self, therefore denying THE LORD *GOD*, and the soul! The current climate of humanity IS FULLY TUNED to self; self-importance, self-inclination, selfishness, and every egocentric facet of carnality! Though TRUTH IS obvious, and known, it is disregarded on purpose FOR the sake of fulfilling the self! This opens up to a world amok, and errs of every kind...

NOTHING will get better UNTIL we desire what is wholesome, good, right, and just; and that, NOT premised upon emotions, or ideologies, or opinions, instead on TRUTH, STANDARDS, ETHICS, and PRINCIPLES which HAVE STOOD throughout time, despite the inclination to avoid them, and the attempt to shape them according to human precepts, or perceptions! Believe it, these WILL REMAIN though humanity falls!!!

Today there is excessive self-centeredness, and self-worship, due to influence, wrong-minded instruction, and absolute disregard for THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY, in which case, be prepared for the consequences, which HAVE begun, and WILL worsen, UNLESS more and more acknowledge themselves, repent, and humble themselves before THE LORD!!!

The handbasket is overfilled! TOO many are heading towards eternal troubles; none that they will be ready for! It is a shame BECAUSE there IS A WAY, but it involves denouncing the self, and for too many that is NOT an option! PRAY for them!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

STUDY, LEARN, UTILIZE! HONOUR THE LORD *GOD*! PRAISE HIM ALWAYS! WORSHIP HIM! EXALT HIM! And DO GOOD ALL OF YOUR DAYS, IN ALL OF YOUR WAYS! LOVE AS HE LOVES!!!