HEAVENLY INCLINED...: PEACE IS EVER NEAR, AMEN!!!

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...

PEACE IS EVER NEAR, AMEN!!!

For our PEACE comes from CHRIST JESUS, our LORD *GOD*, and SAVIOUR! It is not a PEACE that we can fully relate to, for it is NOT of this world; a PEACE which TAKES us HIGHER than what aspires to take us down! It CARRIES us through afflictions, sufferings, and even death; for what IS OF THE LORD IS FAR GREATER, FAR MORE POWERFUL than ANYTHING on this Earth, even the worst it has to throw at us---

HIS HOLY PEACE IS A GIFT unlike any! It is MIGHTY, it is HEALING, it is simply, GOOD! Each time we lose hope, or strength, or fortitude, or the will to move forward, IF we TURN TO HIM FOR THIS PEACE, we find it, and IF we cling to HIM, it will sustain us regardless of the turmoil which surrounds us! It is AMAZING GRACE INDEED!!!

This is available to us via FAITH, and utilized through FAITHFULNESS, as we REMAIN IN HIM OVER all else, even when it feels as if the walls are closing in on us. As with many aspects, or GIFTS OF THE LORD, we have a difficult time embracing them, and their usefulness in carrying us through the raging storms of time, but as we mature in our ONENESS WITH HIM, we more readily reach for them, and rely on them...

PEACE in the HOLY context is speaking of CHRIST JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR our souls, which when received by us, brings us INTO HIM, SANCTIFYING/CONSECRATING us, and which PROTECTS us during the TRANSFORMATION of our spirits, in ALL aspects, and regards! So, we ought not fear, be terrified, nor troubled, as we LOOK TO HIM WHEN woes slam against us!!!

We bungle in our acceptance that our stirrings, and anxieties are unnecessary IF we ARE ONE WITH HIM, still, as we LEARN to, and COME CLOSER TO HIM, we begin to SEE, albeit never quite perfectly, so we continue to struggle to tame the terrors, and that is alright, it IS part of the process!!!

LOVELY is the actual feeling after seeking HIS PEACE, and finding it; it is nearly indescribable, and SO wondrously good for the being! TOO OFTEN we miss out on this PEACE in our turmoil, or better yet, our allowing ourselves to be enmeshed in that turmoil! The conflict is REAL, which SHOWS us to check our FAITH, and to STAND IN IT, and HIM!!!

'PEACE BE WITH YOU' IS a GREAT encouragement TO LIFT UP TO THE LORD, and TO AFFIRM HIM HIS WORK(S) in us, through us, and around us!!!

IN ALL TIMES, *GOD* IS GOOD, and SO ARE HIS PROMISES; there is NOTHING but our own disbelief to separate us from HIM, or them, therefore, let us be more aware every time another anguish appears, for HE ALONE, HOLDS THE DELIVERY FROM all which afflicts us, and INTO HIS LOVING GRACE, and POWERS!!!

BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS

PRAISE THE LORD ALWAYS! WORSHIP HIS HOLINESS EVERMORE! REJOICE IN HIS LOVING CARE FOR us! HONOUR HIM in ALL your ways, ALL of your days; DO GOOD, and BE GOOD! LOVE AS HE LOVES us! PRAY ALL THE WHILE, for EVERYONE! ACCEPT THE GIFTS HE GIVES IN HIS LOVE, and USE them for growth, well-being, and for the good of others! GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY FOR HE IS WORTHY OF our EVERY PRAISE!!!