Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Should I Let The Savior In?!





I Sat
AND 
I Thought
AND 
I Thought Some More!
Should I Ask The Lord To Search Me?
Should I Let Him Enter
Into My Personal Heart's Door?
Should I Really Bid Him Enter?
Should I Give Him The Grand Tour?
Should I ... Should I Let My Savior Enter?
Should I Let Him Through My Most Private Door?

Should I Let The Savior Try Me?
Should I Make Him Privy To My Thoughts?
Should I Let Him See The Darkness?
Should I Let Him View The Ugly Truth Distorts?
Should I Let Him See My Treasured Hopes?
My Hidden Desires Of The Night?
Should I Let Him See The Passions
Against Which I Constantly Fight?

Should I Let Him See The Real Me?
Insecurities And All?
Should I Let Him See Those Things 
That By Satan I Did Fall?
Should I Bare My Own Soul
To My Maker And My King
AND
Give Him A Carte Blanche
To Fix Me Up
For Once And For All?

I Thought Me A Little Thought
AND
I Got Tired Of The Thinks
So
I Uttered A Simple Prayer
AND
Opened The Door - 
No More High Jinks!

The Master Quietly Entered In
AND
I Longingly Looked At Him
AND
In His Face
I Saw The Blessing
For Which I Had Been Avidly 
Instinctively
Seeking!

In His Beautiful
Marred Face
I Saw Plainly 
His Bold Love
AND
In His Hand Was Marked:

"Come Home To Me, My Love!"

In His Warm Embrace
I Encountered
Perfect Peace 
AND
Sweet Rest
AND
In His Ear
I - Bestirred -
Uttered
Everything
That Had To Be Confessed!

When It Was All Over
I Could Not Let Him Go
AND
In Loving Affinity
He Held Me Close
Asking Me
To Love
AND
Trust Him
AND
Walk With Him Ever
Even Unto Eternity!

With My Heart Strongly Beating
AND
Seemingly
Floating On The Air
I Said:

"Lead Me, Dear Master
Into The Everlasting Way
For Yours Is The Only Voice
My Heart Desires To Hear
AND
Your Presence
Is All
My Soul Desires
To Be Near!"


In Truth
I Here Acknowledge
My Soul Has Found Its Resting Place
Perfect 
For All My Need
I Lean On That Amazing Love
AND
Daily Safely Feed!


What About You?!
Have You 
Opened Your Heart 
To The Master?





Tuesday, August 30, 2016

TELLING THE FUTURE: No Crystal Ball Required!





If I Could Tell The Future
As Some Would Have Us Believe
I Would Purchase Me Stock In
Eternity
AND NOT IN
Beautify Me!
Charm Me!
Nor
Do Whatever I Please!

I Would Look Around
And Take Notice
Of All The Sorrows Caused By
Love Of Self!

I Would Be Very Careful
Not To Play With
A Fallen Cherub
Masquerading As
Solicitous
Best Friend
Provider
Stray Maker
Rub Me Belly 
Treats Are Free
Rascally Satan
Wannabe God Holy!

I Would Make It My Business
To Go  Into The World
AND PREACH
The Gospel Of The Eternal God
Teaching
Pleading
Warning
Every Single Soul
I Would Meet
Telling Them
- With Sincerity Of Heart -
To Look Up
For
The Sky Is About To
- Like A Scroll -
Roll
Wide Apart
Revealing
The Creator God
The Builder By Trade
Coming To Collect
The Pillars 
For The Temple So Fair!

I Would Tell Of The God
To Whom
Confession
AND
Repentance
Make One
For Heaven 
Firmly Stand!

I Would Tell
The World
About The God Of All Grace
Who
For The Love Of Vile Sinners
By The Shedding
Of His Pure Blood
Took
Our Damnable Disgrace
AND
Place!

AND THEN ...

I Would Tell
The World
Of A Love So Profound
That Caused Divinity From Heaven
To Come Down
To The Cruel Earth
To Bless
To Teach
To Pray For
To Care
To Help
To Heal
To Give To All Men
A Solid Reason
Sin
To Forsake!

I Would Tell
Of The Book Ever New!

I Would Tell Of The Holy Spirit
Who Chides And Teaches, Too!

I Would Tell Of The Angels
Who Direct And Protect
AND
The Home
Near God's Throne
AND
Immortality
AND
True Prosperity
AND
Real Life Lived But Never Alone!

I Would Also Tell Of The Grace 
That Will Permit Us
To See God
Face To Face
AND
The Glorious Expanse
That We Will Traverse
At Eternity's Pace!

But ...

I Do Not Need
To Tell The Future
For
The Future
Has Already Been Told To Me
In The Book Inspired Of Heaven
Containing
History In Advance
Where I Can Turn A Page
AND
At A Glance
Know
Which Beast Is Making An Advance
AND
Recognize
How Close
We Are To
The Devil's Last Dance!

I Will Know The Season
- Never The Day -
When 
At The Sound Of The Trumpet
There Will Be
The Catching Away
To Glory
Of Those Who Lived By Faith Alone
Trusting In God Alone
Walking With Endurance
God's Way
To God's Eternal Home!

I Can Say
That None Will Be Left Behind
Hoping
For God To Come Back
And Take Them
- Second Chance Repentant -
To The Heavenly Way
For They Would Have Done Things
Their Own Special Way
And Will Have To
- For Their Own Sins -
Eternally Pay!

I Have No Need To "Create!"
A Spurious Vision Of The Future
For
God Himself
By Christ Himself
Has Crafted The Future
For Me
Which I Will Receive
IF
I Permit
The Holy Spirit
To Direct 
AND
Teach Me!

So, I Can Say ...

No, Thank You!
I have No Need Of A Crystal Ball
For
I Have The Holy Book
Of
The Eternal Living 
Glorious God Of All
AND
In The Reading
I Will Know
How For Temptation To Sin 
Not To Fall!

No!
I Do Not Need A Crystal Ball!




Monday, August 29, 2016

God's Word Is...!





God's Word Is So Grand
That The Lowly Accept It!

God's Word Is Thought To Be Too Seasoned
So The Lofty Remove The Measure Of Salt!

God's Word Is So Elevated
That The Educated
Eviscerate It As Unknowable
AND
God's Word Is So Plain
That A Child Taught
Will Take It On Board!

Why Is God's Word
So Many Things
To So Many Different People?

What Is It About God's Word
That Causes So Much Hate And Acrimony?

What Is It About God's Word
That Engenders Love In The Faithful Believer?

What Is It In God's Word 
That Makes The Trusting Believer
Wear It Like The Perfect Glove?

God's Word Of Truth
The Transcript Of God's Character
Calls Unto All
Who By Living Truth Choose To Be Led!
God's Word
Is
A Hospital
A Policeman
A Stop Light
A Walkway Light
A Skylight To See Heaven's Light
That Living
AND
Holy Sight!

God's Word Is
Food And Pasturage
Watering Hole And Honey Comb
Oil And Restorative
Curative And Elevator
Bed And Brace
Pillow And Purse
Meat And Milk
Manna
Love Letter
License And Liberty
Corrector And Director
Map And Meter
Measure
Wedding Manual And War Manual
Bridge And Banner
Voice And Victory
Wicket And Ticket
Treasure And Threat
Boot And Crown
Cape And Cause
Symbol
AND
Seal!

God's Word
IS
Enough For Today
Sufficient for Tomorrow
Comfort For Any Sorrow
A Footpath For The Way Narrow
AND
The Wood For Making
Perfect Truth Arrows!

God's Word 
IS 
Alive
But Is Kept Out Of The Dive!
It Is As Tasty As The Honey
AND
The Honeycomb
Of The Beehive
AND
When Avidly Used
Keeps The Soul
Living Right
AND
Daringly Alive!


God's Word Is True!
Get It!
Love It!
And
Live By It
So That Satan
And
His Minions
Cannot Confuse
And
Run And Board* You!

*Overcome









Sunday, August 28, 2016

THE LONELY ROAD: Jesus Saves!





I Walked Along The Lonely Road
Accosted  On All Sides
But
As I Came To The Great Divide
I Heard The Gentle Voice Speaking
Saying:

Be Faithful
Walk Assuredly To Me!
Look Up
And
In Me Abide!


NOW ...

I Had Heard That Voice Often
Sometimes I Heeded
Sometimes ... I Did Not
But
In Retrospect
I Can Safely Say
That In The Heeding
I Carried No Worry
I Tell You
Not A Single Drop!

The Lonely Road
Had Been Lonely Indeed
Every Soul Along The Way
Was Concerned With Self
AND
Speed
For The Way Is Fraught With Danger
Distraction
AND
Disease
AND
Satan's Minions
Acting As Rabid Fleas
Dressed As Wayside Aides
In Beautiful Brocades
Dispensing
Multicolored Tartly Sweet
Free 
Refreshingly Cold
Lemonade!

Miscues
Misdirection
Myriad Miscellany
AND
Minutiae Of Own Way
Self-satisfaction
AND
Glorious Inaction
Are Found
If One Makes A Left Turn
To Walk On Broadway
BUT
Having Heard Of
The Love Of Jesus
AND
Desperately Wanting
To Get To Him
AND
Have Him Guide Me
To The Golden Way
I Stopped
AND
With All The Courage
A Lonely Soul Can Muster
I Said:

If You Are The Holy Jesus
Reveal Yourself To Me
And
I Will Follow You
Faithfully
Unto The End!

Suddenly ...

I Was Out Of The Darkness!
I Was Walking In Light!
My Heart Felt Of Heaven Enraptured!
My Faith Was Giving Me Sight!
My Steps Were There Enlivened!
I Was Walking As One Of Sin Free
AND
I Was Looking At Jesus' Face
AND
Holey
Holy Hands
Were Wholly
Comforting
Carrying Me!

I Will Not Say
That The Rest Of The Journey Is Uneventful
For That Would Be Telling The Untruth
For The Journey Is Not Yet Finished
AND
Satan and His Minions
Are
Very Much Walking About
Lively And Loose!

BUT ...

Jesus Christ, The Lord
Is
My Shepherd
My Help
My Hope
AND
My Stay
AND
I Urge You
When You Hear Him
Your Name Calling
Answer Him
AND
Let Him Direct Every Aspect
Of Your Life Story
On
The Lonely Way
Because ...

Jesus Saves!






Saturday, August 27, 2016

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Mingling Praise With Petitions!!






Mindy Gottit
Grew Up
Grossly Gratified
Through The Gains Of Greed
Generously Granted To Her
By Grandfather Gottfried
AND
Granny Anne-Gel!

The Gottit's
Were Notorious
For Being Gross Grabbits!
"Thank You!"
Was Not A Phrase
Heard Used Amongst Them
Neither Did It Enter Into Their Minds
To Praise Anyone
For A Benefit That They Received
From Another's Hands!

Yet ...

Believe It Or Not
These Gottit Grabbits
Were Rabidly Insistent
That Every Single Person
- For Whom They Had Done
The Merest Favor -
Had To
Bow And Scrape
AND
Kiss Their Rings
AND
Sing Their Praises Profusely
Else They Be Called
"The Ingrate!"

One Fine Day ...

The Most Important Personage In The Public
D'Lordd
Opened Up His Castle
Stating That
He Would Be Granting Requests
To Those Who Willingly Made Petitions!

D'Lordd's Castle 
Had Twelve -  12 -  Gates
AND
A Note Was Affixed
To Every Single Gate!


The Note On The Castle Gate One Said:

Ask -  And It Shall Be Given!
Seek - And Ye Shall Find!
Knock - And The Door Shall Be Opened Unto You!

Gate TWO Said:
Give Thanks ... With A Grateful Heart!

Gate THREE Said:
By Prayer And Supplication 
Let Your Requests Be Made Known Unto God!

Gate FOUR Said: 
Oh, Give Thanks Unto The Lord For He Is Good!

Gate FIVE Said:
The Lord Bless You And Keep You!

Gate SIX Said:
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!

Gate SEVEN Said:
Praise Is Comely!

Gate EIGHT Said:
All Of Your Help Cometh From The Lord!

Gate NINE Said:
Thanks Be To God!

Gate TEN Said:
Hallelujah Is The Highest Praise!

Gate ELEVEN Said:
Oh, Give Thanks Unto The Lord 
For
His Mercy Endureth Forever!

Gate TWELVE Said:
No Good Gift Will Be Withheld!


No Surprise! No Shock ...

The First Petitions Received Came 
Wholesale
From Those Grabbits
The Gottit's!

They Had All Seen
Gate ONE
AND
Like A Ravening Locust Horde
The Grabbit Gottit's Got Their Got's On
AND
Grossly Gluttonous
They Made Their Greedy Requests Known!

Then ...
A Strange Thing Was Seen Occurring ...

The Poor
The Peaceful
The Polite
The Widows
The Oppressed
The Distressed
The Repressed
The Demoniacs
The Manic
A Lawyer
A Thief
A  Law School Teacher
A Tax Collector
The Town Whore
The Hungry
AND
The Needy
Were Seen
Steadfastly 
Walking Around The Castle!

Each Person 
Stopped
Stood Firmly
AND
Faithfully Read
Every Single Note
On Every Single Door
As If Life Itself
Rested 
In The Then Viewed Note
On The Current Door!

As Full Understanding Dawned
They Each Smiled
Raised Their Hands
AND
With Blessed Assurance
Each Went To The Door
AND
Made Their Petition
Unto D'Lordd!

As Time Passed
The Grabbit Gottit's 
Started Spreading Talk 
Around Town
That D'Lordd Was The Liar
That D'Lordd Never Answers Petitions
That D'Lordd Was Full Of Hot Air
AND
That They Wanted Nothing More To Do With 
D'Lordd!

There Was A Fine To-Do
Around The Town
As
Just About Every Body
Who Had Walked Around To D'Lordd's Way
Had Had Their Needs Met
AND
They Were Praising D'Lordd!

Gottfried Gottit
Washed Out His Mouth
On D'Lordd
Until ...
Like A Proverb
A Little Child
Led Him To The Truth!

That Little One Said
In Bell-like Tone:


"If D'Lordd's Words Resided In You
And You 
Had Resided In D'Lordd
Your Petitions 
Would Have Been Received!"

BUT ...

Said Gottfried:

"I Did What Gate ONE Said To Do 
And I Got Bupkiss!"

A Voice Was Heard Asking :

"If You Saw A Gate Marked ONE
What Should That Have Told You?"

"That There Was Another Gate!"
Those Assembled Cried In Unison!

BUT ...

Replied Gottfried:

Going Looking For Another Gate
Required Effort
And I Just Didn't See Why
I Should Walk Around!  
That Is Hard Work 
And I Pay People To Get My Work Done!
Furthermore
ONE Is My Favorite Number
AND
It Becomes My Station In Life!

"Man, You Need To Humble Yourself Before D'Lordd!"

"Did You Open The Door!"


"Door?! What Door?!"


"ALL Who Go To D'Lordd
Must Believe
That He Is 
And That He Is A Rewarder
Of Those Who Diligently Seek Him!"

"Huh?!
Believe!?
Who Said Anything About Believing?"

"I Read That D'Lordd Gives Good Gifts
AND
I Like Presents
AND
The Note Said: ASK!
AND
I Asked! Nothing To It!"


"Didn't You Ever Receive Anything From D'Lordd?"

Yeah! 
Sure!
But It Was Just Something Good That 
I Really, Really, Needed!

 A Voice Was Heard Saying:


He Just Wants The Bread And Fish!!

True!!  True!!

A Voice Asked:


Did You Give "Thanks!" 

And Praise To D'Lordd 
Just Like You 
DEMAND 
That Everybody Give You "Thanks!" 
And Praise For Everything ...


...  Including Their Paycheck 

That They More Than Earned!

Why Should I 
Gottfried Gottit
Say "Thanks!" 
For Something 
D'Lordd Asked Me 
To Ask Him For?!

Why Should I 
Praise D'Lordd 
For Giving Me Something 
That He Offered Me!


Raised In A Barn!!



Who Said That?

I Did!  Said Ma Rainey!
And I Cast Upon Your Head 
Your Charge Against Anybody 
Who Does Not Thank And Praise You 
According To Your Overblown Ideals!
You - Gottfried Gottit - Are An Ingrrraate!!

D'Lordd Gives Unto Us
What
In His Far-seeing Wisdom
Is Best For Us!
He Is Our Sovereign Lord
And
In Gratitude
For His Unmerited Favor Toward Us
We Give Willing Praise And Thanks!


That Gottfried Thinks He Is The Cat's Meow!



And He Believes His Requests Are Good Gifts To D'Lordd!

Suddenly ...

D'Lordd Is Noticed Walking Toward The Assembly!


D'Lordd! 

D'Lordd!


Gottfried! Walk With Me!
But, But, But, I Didn't Do Anything!

Exactly!
Now, Walk With Me!

We May Never Know What D'Lordd Said To Gottfried
BUT
He Is A Changed Man
AND
A Real Change Is Being Seen 
Among The Former Grabbit Gottit's!

They Are Turning Into The Gottit Givvitt's!

They Give Praise!
They Give Thanks!
They Are 
- Out Of Thankful Hearts -
Even Giving Gifts To Others
AND
Doing Missionary Work
AND
(No Need To Gasp)
They Are Exuberantly Giving Glory
To D'Lordd!

As For The Princess
Mindy Gottit
She Is A Work In Progress
For
Old Habits 
- Just Like Bad Attitudes -
Die Hard!



Pssst!
Are You 
Continually Giving 
Unto The Lord
YOUR Personal 
"Thanks!" 
And 
Praise?!