Monday, July 31, 2017

HONEST MEN: Guilty ... As Charged!




If The Load Of Sin
Is Off Your Back
Why Are You Still Bending?!



I Have A Friend
Who Is My Companion!
I Have For A Champion
He Who Is My God!
I Have The Savior
Who Is My Redeemer
AND
The Giver Of My Life
Is My Rock
Against My Accuser
The Foul-Minded Fraud!

IF
We, As Honest Men
Would Daily Think Upon The Divine Sacrifice
We Would Not Walk Around Behaving
Like Angry Bloodsucking Hog Lice!

We Would Say 
- Without Fear Of Contradiction -
With All Power And Might
That We Are Legitimate Children
Of The Great King
BUT
Sorry To Say
It Is Oft Quite Plain
That We Do Not Know
The One
Of Whom We Are Speaking!

I, Myself
IF 
I Am Honest 
This Day Must Utter:

Guilty ... As Charged!

For I, Too
Have Often Forgotten My New Pedigree
AND
Have Gladly Permitted
The Old Man
To Triumphantly Lead 
AND
Squeeze Me
Making Feel Yesterday's Shed Load!

I Agree With You
For I Am Guilty Of That, Too
But What Do You Offer Up
For A Solution?!

In All Honesty
I Say That We Could All Do
With A Daily Dose Of
I Am Thine, Oh, Lord! 
And A Daily Dose
Of Confess And Repent
BUT
All Done Without It Being A Hair Shirt
AND
Walking About Looking Grieved
AND
Being Morose!

Really?!
Why Do You Say That!

If You Are Happy
For Free Salvation
Praise The Lord!

Hallelujah!

If You Have Accepted
The Gift
Walk About In The Wrapping!

Thank You, Jesus!

The Living Word Says ...!
The Living Word Says
That All Men Sin
AND
All Men Sin
By Thought
By Word
By Deed
AND
Paul The Apostle
Said That He
- A Totally Surrendered
Soldier For Christ -
Died Daily
For He Wanted Nothing Between His Soul
AND
His Savior!
He Lived For His Lord
AND
Everything Else
Was ... Dung!

I Hear That!

Can You Imagine
A Man Like That
Who Had Met The Savior
AND
Had Committed His Life
Saying:

The Thing I Should Do I Don't
And The Thing I Shouldn't Do I Do?!

And Exclaiming:

Oh, Wretched Man That I Am!

Believe You Me
I Can Totally Relate!

I Am Right There With You!
You Know
There Was Much
- And Still Is -
In The Idea Of
The Daily Sacrifice
BUT
Without All The Blood
AND
The Burnings!

Type Met Antitype
In The Ultimate Sacrifice 
On The Cruel Cross
Which Sacrifice
Pays
For Our Confession And Repentance
Giving Us The Free Offer Of Salvation!

I Don't Understand ...!

Okay!
Would You Crucify Christ Afresh?!

Whaaat?!
What For?!
No!
Who Would Do Such A Thing?!

You!
Me?!

Me!
You?!Yes ... Us!

But, How?!

You Are Forgetting Already!
By Thought!
By Word!
By Deed!

Let's Come From A Different Direction:

What Is Sin?

Sin Is The Transgression Of God's Law!

What Did Jesus Come To Do?!

To Die For Our Sin - Once For All!
To Reconcile Us To The Father!

What Put Christ On The Cross?

God's Love For Sinners!

Who Is A Sinner?

I I Am Am!!

Man, We Really Need To Change!

Yes, We Do!
We Really, Really, Need To Up Our Game!

We Need To Look Up!

IF
Salvation Is Free!
Pardon For Sin Is Free!
Faith Is Free!
Grace Is Free!
Mercy Is Free!
And
Heaven Is Free!
And
You Have Accepted The Gift
DROP THE EXCESS BAGGAGE
And
Walk In The Confidence Of Christ
For
You Are Free Indeed!



Sunday, July 30, 2017

PRAYER : Lord, We Are Waiting ...!

Father,
I Desire To Daily Rely Upon You!
In My Heart
I Rely On You

And
In My Living
I Am Relying On You
For
This World Is Not The Place Called Safe!
I Need You, Lord!


I Am Thankful
That I Know You, Lord
And

I Thank You For The Grace Provided
Through Faith
That Causes Me Not To Fear!

I Am Grateful For This
For I Could Be Staring At The Walls
Afraid To Close My Eyes In Sleep

But, Instead

I Am Able To Rest
In Perfect Peace
Safe
In The Arms Of The Good Shepherd
The Faithful Keeper Of Humble Sheep!

I Know That I Am Blessed!

Lord, I Give You Your Praise!


Father, 
I Beseech You

That In Mercy
You Pity The Poor
Continue To Love The Lost

And
Comfort The Crying
And
Discipline The Lying!


Please Teach Those
That Are Of Tender Years
Be It In Mind Or Body
And
Humble The Brash And The Bold

And Care For The Dying
And Seal The Saved Soul!

Father,
Please Lift Thou Up The Fallen
And Call The Wanderer Home
And Bless The Believer
And Let Our Faithful Prayers
In Your Heart
Be At Home!


I Pray For The Peaceful
I Pray For The Proud
I Pray For Those Persons
Who Know Not The Comforting Shade
Of The Day Cloud
Nor The Comforting Light Of 

The Pillar Of Fire
And

Those Who Walk In The Desert Of Sin
Alone Attacked
Molested Tormented 
Weary
Wandering Wondering
Worrying
Defenseless
Afraid
Asking
Is There No One To Save?
Is There No Comfort Before The Grave?
Is There No Water Of Life?
Who Will Save?
Who Will Save...?!!


I Pray For These Afflicted Ones
That You Will Bless Them With
Opened Eyes
Unstopped Ears
Willing-To-Be-Lead Spirits

And
New Hearts
That In The Love Of The Holy Beat!
Please Bless Them With Restful Sleep!


Please Grant Them Hands That Reach Up
Eyes That Look Up
Feet That Walk The Straight Path
Onward And Up
And Senses Tuned Up
By The Spirit That Gives Life
So That These, Too
Can Be Safe
In Him Who Is Ever Able
In This Life Of Strife!


Lord, 
Let Not Our Strivings
On The Upward Way Cease

Even When We Are in Deepest Grief!
Let Us Catch The Faith-Glance
Of The Heavenly Land
So That Our Souls
By You Are Bolstered
Comforted
Even As That Wicked Satan
Over Our Supposed Terrors
Trials And Troubles
Do The Devil-Dance!


Father, 
In The Name Of Jesus
With You
We Sue For Peace!
Please Keep Your Blooded Promise
And, By Appointment
Grant Us Relief And Release!


Father, Beloved
Faithful
Kind Just True
Thank You For Your Sufficiency!
Thou Art Holy
And
We Honor
Bless
And Worship You
Who Is The One God Eternal
Blessing
Unfailingly True!


In Mercy, Lord
Please Haste The Great Day

For
We Are Waiting For Our Redemption
So That We May Forever
In Triumph
Worshipfully
Celebrate You!
We Love You
And
Plead All In The Name Of
Jesus Christ The Righteous! 
AMEN.




Saturday, July 29, 2017

VESPER AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Statue And The Stone



IF ONLY
We Could
Would
Understand The Difference Between
Protection For All Mankind
AND
Protection For Them That Love God
AND
Protection For Those Called According To
GOD'S Purpose!

This Is Deep Water Fishing
BUT
I Believe
That It Is Backed By Truth
AND
I Propose To Show, Brethren
That It Behooves Us
To The Will Of God
To Be Kindly Disposed!
You Can't, Thereby
In The Battle For Eternal Life
Lose!  

Abraham Isaac Jacob
Chosen
AND 
Called
Provide Examples Of
Willing Obedience
AND
Complete Cooperation
With The Majesty Of Heaven!
In Them Was Not Found The World's Leaven! 

Abraham The Father-Type
Against Nature
BUT
In Faithful Obedience
Gave Up The Only Beloved Son! 

Isaac The Sacrificed Son-Type
Against Nature
BUT
In Faithful Obedience
Willingly Became The Willing Sacrifice
AND 
Jacob The Savior Christ-Type
The Striver With God
For The Mastery
Over Sin And The Fraud
Birthed
Those Who Will Attain The Heavenly Inheritance
Because Of
Graceful Faithfulness
After Perfection
In The Crucible That Tries Each Man
For Enduring Faith! 

Job The Righteous
Saw And Lived Light
BUT
Experienced Night
AND
Gained Insight
AND
Received Enormous Blessing
After Devil-inspired Blight! 

Jonah
Was Called
Was Chosen
BUT
In Fear
Cut And Ran
BUT
Soon Found Out That
Running Couldn't Hide Him
AND
A Whale He Had A Ride In
AND
The Errand As Messager Sent On
He Ended Up Delivering
As Chosen
As Upon Called
Showing Clearly
Doing As You Are Called Upon
From The Very Beginning
Always Leads To A Wise End
AND
Not To Ending Up In Whale Guts
Curled Up In A Frightened Ball!

AND, THEN ...

There Is Baptist John!
The Fore Runner
The Greatest
The Least
Set Apart
Faithful
True
Clean Before God
AND
Asking Christ For A Clue:
Are You The One?!
He Fell Short By A Head!

Jailed
In Herodias' Sights
Baptist John Was A Berry Delicious 
Good
For The Picking
AND
Plucked From The Sight Of Men
By The Evil
Whose Night Was Coming 
Shortly
To The Certain
AND
Sure End!
Great Is His Reward
In The Sight Of His Lord!

Well, You May Ask
What Good Is Faithfulness
If You Are Going To Lose A Whole Head?!

Don't Worry!
God Is Carrying The World
AND
He Sees Man
One And All
AND
He Gets The Final Say!
Okay?!

Then There Is ...

Hadassah
- Called For The Time -
Queen Esther 
AND
Uncle Mordecai 
Chosen
Faithful
Directed
AND 
Protected
By The Covering Hand
Of The Divine!
Haman - Against These 
Obedient Ones
Got .. For His Trouble
His Neck Popped
By His Own Specially Prepared By Malice
Lofty Closed Line!
Trust God! 
Let His Will Be Thine!

Moses, Moses, Moses! 
Who Puts A Defenseless Infant 
In A Basket
On A River
Where Crocodiles Be
AND
Sends It Downstream
Unless You
- Believing The Living Word Sent - 
On The Holy God Leans?!

Though He Lost The Earthly Promised Land
BUT
With Tears 
Prayers
AND
Petitions
Delivered Many To Therein Enter
Saved Is He
AND
Even Now Is
In God's Heaven Seen! 

Shepherd David
Turned King
Who Killed Lion
Bear
AND
Goliath The Giant
AND
In The Lust Of The Flesh
Committed Murder Most Foul
Which Crime Called
For His Death
Was Pulled Up Really Short
BUT
Charged
Convicted
AND
Condemned
- By True Repentance -
Was Gloriously Redeemed
AND
Has The Savior
For His Root
His Branch
AND
Epitomizes
The Grace Of God
The Mercy Of The Lord
AND
The Faithfulness
AND
The Reward Of The Saints
For
Committed Faithfulness To The Eternal God
Which Brings
Its Own Peculiar Reward!
Trust
AND 
Hope Thou In God
When You See The Death Angel!
Jesus Christ Is Your Advance And Rear Guard
AND
Your True Reward!  

Saul Apostle Paul
Of Shipwreck And Viper-Bite Fame
Opposed God First
BUT, THEN
Challenged
Converted
AND
Commissioned
Championed Christ
AND
Was Hounded And Harassed
Tormented
BUT
Unmoved
To The Point That He Called
The Things Of This World Dung
AND
Was
Is
A True Witness To The Truth
That Faithfulness Brings
Eternal Bliss! 

John The Beloved Disciple
The Revelator
Of
Boiled-In-Oil Fame
Exiled On Isle Patmos
Who
- In Vision - 
Saw Glorious Heaven
AND
The Faithful Ones' Grand End
AND
Immortalized This Word
For
The Comfort Of The Saints!
He Is The Only Disciple Apostle
That Died In Peace! 

Now ... 

Compare By Contrast
Nimrod And Noah
Belteshazzar (Prophet Daniel) And King Belshazzar
King Ahab And Prophet Elijah 
Joshua And Judas The Betrayer
King Eglon And Judge Ehud
The Widow Of Zarephath And Queen Jezebel
General Sierra And Simon Peter
Shadrach The Hebrew Worthy
AND
Disobedient King Saul
AND
Take For Your Witness
That There Are More
Than Two Or Three
AND
Accept The Truth For The Ages
That
Our God King Eternal
Is Real
Ready
AND
Revealing
AND
Reveals That His
Is The Only Ship
AND 
His People
Are The People
Under Specific Heavenly Protection
AND
That They Will Safely Sail
To Arrive In Safe Harbor
On The Heavenly Shore!

So ... 

Please Choose Wise Your Banner
AND
Walk Into The Safe Ark's Sure Door!
Jesus Answers Our Questions
AND
Is Himself The Answer
That Is Sure!

Jesus Is At Our Heart's Door
Knocking
AND
He Is The Only Door
Whereby We May Enter
The Gate Of The Eternal City
AND
Eat At The Table
Set
For The Faithful Few
The Christ-Purified Pure! 

In The Life Of Every Man
Is
The Statue
Is
The Stone!

We May Bow Before The Statue
AND
In So Doing
Be Broken By The Stone
AND
Ground Down Like The Chaff
Of The Summer Threshing Floor
AND
Be Blown Away 
Never Again To Be Found
OR
We Can Go To The Stone
The Corner Stone
To Be Consciously By It 
Perfectly Broken
AND
Fashioned
To Purpose
For Service
AND
To Eternally Stand!

In-Service Stones
Are Shielded
AND
Protected
Through 
AND 
In
Never 
FROM
The Strife!

In Service
... For Service
By Service ...
Is Life!


See The Difference! 
Know The Difference!
AND
Wisely Accept ... Willingly
That There Is Always
- For The Faithful -
Going To Be Deliverance
Even If That Deliverance
Is Death
For That Death
Is Mere Sleep
For
The Promise Is Given
That All Shall Not Sleep
BUT

All Who Are In Jesus Christ
Shall ... Be Changed
To Be As He Is
And
We Shall See Him
As He Is! 
This Is Our Bliss!


Don't, Don't, Don't 
Give Christ ... Again
The Judas Kiss!

I Know
You Know
We All Know How The Story Ends
So 
Let's Live Triumphantly
In Our Blood-Purchased Victory
Knowing That There Is Nothing
That Can Make Us Fall Or Fail
As Long As 
We Stand Up
In The Name Of The Holy God!
Don't Waffle In The Wind!

Let Us Valiantly
In The Truth
Endeavor On
By Endurance
For The Faith
With Faith
AND SOON
With The Wings Of Eagle
With The Redeemed Of All Ages
To Heaven
With Christ The King
We Shall Sail!