Suffering Loss ... + PRAYER: Father, I Don't Know How To Pray

How Do You Live
When You Are Going To Die?

How Do You Laugh
When You Are Going To Cry?

How Do You Sing
When There Is No Song Within
AND
Loving Ain't So Easy When Your Heart Is Aching?

How Do You Care
When You Have Nothing To Share?

How Do You Lie
When The Truth Has You Quaking?

How Do Believe
When Your Faith Has No Seed
AND
Appearing To Stand Tall
Seems Like You're The World Trying To Deceive?

How Do You Pray?
How Do You Say
Father, Dear Father
Is There No Other Way?

Oh, Lord,

I Don't Know How To Pray!

Father,

Are You Even There?

Help Me

My Life Has Lost Its Song

And It Seems As Though

Everything Is Going Wrong!

Lord,

I Don't Feel Like Trusting You

But

Trusting You, I Surely Do!

I Don't Feel Like Praising You

But

Praise You Lord, Is What I Do!

I Don't Feel Like Going On

But

I Am Going On, Lord

For I Have Proved

Time And Again

That You Are Never Wrong!

Father,

Pity Me

In My Dread Plight!

Father

Pity Me

For My Eyes Have No Sight!

Father,

Bless Me

Despite This Dark Day's Night

And

Carry Me On

To Delight In Your Holy Light!

Have Mercy, Dear Lord

On Me!

I Love You, Father!

AMEN

Sitting On The Ladder!?

I Was Climbing The Ladder
Up To The Kingdom Of God!
Each Rung Was Equidistant!
Each Rung Anchored By The Word!

Each Day I Learned A New Lesson!
Each Week I Gleaned New Rewards
For
I Was Doing Right In The Name Of The Master
AND
I Wasn't Playing Games With The Fraud!

Some Days Were Filled With Laughter!
Some Days Were Filled With Tears!
Some Days There Were Disappointments
AND
Some Days Were Filled With Cheers

AND ...

Through It All
My Heart Was Rested 
Contented
FOR
I Was Totally Dependent 
Upon The Lord

UNTIL ...

The Day
I Started  Resting More
AND
Climbing Less!

I Really Felt Like A Champion
For
My Cheering Squad
Was Carrying Me

So ... I Felt

There Was No Reason To Walk 
On My Own Feet
When
In Jesus Christ
I Was Blessed And Replete!

This Continued For A While
Until I Noticed Something Strange
I Was On Jacob's Ladder
BUT
I Was Feeling The Heat
From Beelzebub's Flames!

I Had Forgotten
That Faith Without Work Is Dead
Just Like A Body Without A Spirit
Is Nothing More Than Lead!

I Stopped!
I Really Really Stopped
And Took Inventory Of My Self
AND
I Realized
That Instead Of The Ladder
I Was On A Shelf
Surrounded By
Sin Shame
Self Blame
Defection Dejection
Base Hoards
AND
Binding Chains!

My Eyes Flared!
My Heart Raced!
My Voice Croaked!
My Will Waned
AND
I Was In Peril
For I Had Wandered Away
From My God
AND
I Had Become The Perfect Magnet
For
The Decimating Lord!

I Cried!
I Confessed!
I Repented
AND
I Left The Shelf
By The Grace Of The Living God
AND
I Am Again Moving
Toward
The Home Of The Blessed!

I Acknowledge
AND
I Accept
That
In The Service Of The Lord
One Must Keep Moving
Oiled By The Spirit
OR
Like Old Iron
Get Rusty ... But In The Chest!

Iron Needs Lubricating
To Maintain Its Efficacy!
The Worker For The Master
Must Make Him Their Spirit Soul Body-Buddy!
No Connection - No Warmth!
No Heart - Soul Cold!
No Love - Great Lost!
Self-Reassigned To The Goat Host!

If I Should Climb Higher
I Must Keep Away From The Fire!
I Must Keep Looking To The Son
AND
Set Aside That Which Is Modernity's 
Treats And Pleasures
Popularly Called Fun!

No Man Can Serve Two Masters!
A Body Cannot Straddle A Fence
For
A Single Slip
Cuts One Down The Middle
AND
Someone Soon Plays "Taps!"
On The Mourner's Fiddle!

By Pleasing God
I Am Pleased With Myself!
It Will Offend The Other
BUT
I Will Gain The Heavenly Reward
From The Holy One Who Matters!!

Saints Don't Sit!

*********

There Is No Sitting On The Ladder

For

Ladders Are Made For Climbing
So

Get Moving With Jesus

AND

By Faith

Climb!

CLIMB!

CLIMB!!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Bill Of Bad! Gift Of Gladness!

At Self-Serving Shoppe
I Bought Me A Sin!
It Looked So Delicious
I Couldn't Wait To Delve In
BUT
Such Was My Shock
When
After I Had Eaten
AND
Cleaned My Mouth With Much Pride
My Sought After Self-Satisfaction
Was To Me Oh So Grossly Denied!

What Where Had I Done Gone Wrong?
Not A Thing That I Could See!
The Sin That I With Deliberation Purchased
Was Totally All 
It Was Billed To Me To Be
BUT
The Pleasure I Had Going In The Door
Was So Far Removed 
On The Swing Of The Door Coming Back
That I Quailed
As I Wondered 
If I Could Get My Investment Back!

Before I Could Say: "REGRET!"
Unintended Consequence Arrived
To Pick Up Its Pay
AND
I Had Time And Enough
To Recognize
"Disobedience Does Not Pay!"
AND
That All Who Encourage Us
To Walk In Our Own Way
Are Always Amongst The First
To Have Much To Say
When
For The Sin Of Presumption
We Most Decidedly Direly Pay!

Why Did I Do It?
How Do I Now Carry This Cross?
Is There A Life Undo Redo?
How Do I Stop Presumption 
From Letting Sin Be My Slave-Driver Boss?
Lord, How Do I Get Myself
Rid Of This Cumbersome Cross?!

"Take Jesus!"

Whaaat!?! Who Said That?!

"I Did!"

Who Are You?

Your Very Best Friend!

So Why Don't I Know You!
My Life Is So Fouled!
I Need A Way Out ...!

Hope Thou In God!

Why Should I?
He Doesn't Care What I Do!

I Asked Him
To Make Me 
Not Do What I Wanted To Do
AND
He Maliciously Let Me
Get Mess All Over 
My Brand New Church Meeting Dress Shoes!

Is That The Truth?

Well ...

When Are You Going To Stop Tempting God?

Ahmmm ...

How Many More Near Escapes Must You Endure 
Before You Do What You Know To Be The Right Things?

But He ...

No more BUTS!

How Long Are You Going To Keep Running Away From God?

He Should ...

... Make You Stop Running?!

Beloved, You Know The Truth
AND
You Know God Will Not Force You To Do Anything.

You Know You Need Almighty God!

Why Won't You Cooperate With His Will and Be Free?

Set Aside Your Self!
Tell The Father The Truth!
Ask For His Help
For
By Blood He Proved
He Totally Loves You!
He Spirit Is Knocking!
Don't Harden Your Heart!
Let Him In!
He Is Calling!
Let Him Into Your Heart!<>

We Would Not Know Sin

Without The Law!

We Would Have No Sin

Without The Flaw!

We'll Not Pay For Our Own Sin

If We Accept Jesus Christ

Whose Spilt Blood

AND

Nailed Body

Give Us A Hammer And A Saw

To Cut Out Sin

And

Hammer Self 

Into Hell's Wide Open Maw!

*********

Get To Really Know 

The Real Jesus

AND

Give Your Real Burdens 

To

The Real Holy God!

*********

Wanna CALL ... THE LIVING GOD?

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

TODAY!

and

EVERY DAY!

*********

Don't Step Out

Without

Sending Pray Up

To

Almighty God!

Hiding Sin!?!

I Hid

AND

I Bought

A Fair Piece O' Land!

I Hid

AND

I Planted

My Land Full Of

Potatoes And Yams

BUT

When The Day Of Harvest Arrived

Let Me Truthfully Tell You

Every Body And 'e Bruddah Knew

Who Them Yam And Potatoes Grew!

Let No Man Deceive You

About

Hiding Your Sin!

Sin's Penalty Will Catch

Pope President

Prince King

Peasant Police

Children Parents

You Kith

Me Kin

For

The Debt Collector

Is He Who Made Us All

He Who Made A Way Of Redemption

For Those Children Of The Fall!

Man Sins!

Sins' Payout Is Assured Death!

Jesus Conquered Death

For Us Who Choose By Repentance 

To Accept

The Grace Of Salvation's Saving!

Do Not Be Presumptuous!

Your Sin Will Find You Out!

Please Take A Hold Of King Jesus

AND

By Faith

In That Same King Jesus

Deal

- Big Little Insignificant Unimportant To You -

Sin

A "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan!" Rout!

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!

HIS END

IS

BRIMSTONE and FIRE

SO

HE ENDEAVORS

TO GET

FRESH

and

CONSTANT

UNINFORMED

RETURN BUYERS!

DENY THE LIAR!!

HAPPY SABBATH: The Message In The Grave Clothes

The Savior Was Dead
BUT
The Sheep Had Been Fed
AND
It Is Now The First Day Of The Week!

Mary Has Spoken
To Hearts Not Long Broken
AND
Off
Ran Simon And The Beloved John
To The Tomb ... Unsealed Opened
To See If Mary Has Truth Indeed Spoken!

John Has Run Ahead
At The Entrance He Is ... Stopped Dead
BUT
Peter ... Coming From Behind
Went Inside
To See The Grave Clothes That Had 
Wrapped Their Jesus
Set Aside!

John
Now Grew ... Brave
AND
After Simon
He Entered The Tomb
Grave
AND
Saw The Grave Clothes
Just So Arranged
AND ... At Last
Heart Lifted In Joy
Did Believe
The Words Of His Lord
That He Would Come Again
His Faithful To Himself Receive!

In Those
Carefully Folded Grave Clothes
The Message Delivered
Is The Message Joyously Received
For
The Believer
- By His Dead Living Beloved Master -
Has Not Been Deceived!

Death

Is Swallowed Up

In Jesus Christ's Victory!

Death

Is Finished!

The Lord Of Life 
With Grave Clothes
Is Eternally Finished! 
Death And Grave Clothes
For God's People
Hold No Fear
For Him Who Is Their Master
Is Alive -  That Is Clear! 

Jesus Christ 

Is 

Coming Again!

So, Tell This True Story
To
This World Made Up Of Sinful 
Unbelieving Men!


King Judge Jesus
One And The Other Must Face!
One By The King ... Elevated!
The Other By The Judge - Through Righteous Judgment
In Mortal Disgrace
Eternally From The Presence Of The Great God Displaced!

So ...

Dearest Believer
No Matter What 
The Desperate Deceiver
At You Throws
Please Don't Let Go Of Your Grace
That Jesus Christ's Death Bought 
So That Heaven Can On You
Freely Bestow
Joys Unimaginable ... FOREVERMORE!

Friend!

Are You A Part 

Of 

The Brotherhood

Of

The Message
In
The Carefully Folded Grave Clothes?

One Voice

I Was Noisily Going About My Life's Business
Feeling Stressed Out
Put Upon
Spirit Almost Bankrupt
Wondering
What Else
Is Going To Come Out
AND
Press Me Up Against The Revolving Door
When I Heard
A Still Small Voice Saying:

Come Unto Me!
I Will Show You That There Is To Life Much More!

I Wasn't Into Still Small Voices!
Give Me A Bass-man Any Day!
I Wished It Would From Me Walk Away!
I Dismissed It!
I Continued Walking
BUT
That Voice
Wouldn't Go Away!

Come Unto Me!
You Are Burdened And Weary
But I Will Give You Rest!

I Said To My Despairing Self:

Don't Look At For It!
Just Steadfastly Walk Away!

My Strategy Didn't Work
For
I Soon Heard It Saying:

Call Unto Me!
I Will Answer You!
I Will Teach You Of Treasures Much Better Than Perishing Gold.

I Stopped!
I Vacillated!
I Turned!
I Said Asked Thought
With Fearing Authority :

I Don't Know You!
Who Are You?
Why Are You Talking To Me?
Please Go Away!
Lord, Help Me!

Jenis ...

How Do You Know My Name?Who Told You My Name?Lord,Where Are You?Lord Jesus Have Mercy!

Jenis, You Called Me!

Why Would I Call YOU!
I Don't Even Know You!
Lord, If You Are Really Real, Please Help Me!

Jenis. You Called Me Again!

No,  I DIDN'T,  So Go Away!
Lord, Have Mercy! I Need You Now!

Jenis, I AM Here!

Lord?!?

Yes,  My Child.

But ...  But ...
What Are You Doing Down Here?! 
You Are Supposed To Be UpUpUp THERE!

Beloved,  I AM Everywhere!
I AM Wherever My Children
Are Surely To Be Found!
You Call Me By Faith!
I Answer In Truth!

For Long You Have Been Suffering
Under A False Theology
That A Personal Relationship With Me, Jesus
Is Ill-advised
And
A Decided Impossibility!

Beloved
A Personal Relationship
With You I Long For!
A Personal Relationship
With Me
Is The Only Kind That Can Work!
Welcome Me Into Your Heart's Door
And
Your Life's Living
Will Be No More
A Burdensome Chore!

I Stood ... AMAZED!!

My Lord And I
Walked On In Sweet Communion!
I Questioned!
He Answered!
My Heart Is Blessed!

Since Then
There Have Been Times
When
I Must Confess
I Fell Back Into Old Ways
Becoming Complacent
AND
Immediately Becoming Stressed
BUT
The Master
- He Who Before My Parents
Knew Me And Created Me -
Instructs Me

Speaking So Softly Gently:

You May Just Talk To Me
Tell Me About Your Day
Even If You Don't Need Anything
You May Just Say: "Hi! Friend!"
As You Pray!

I AM Not A Broker!
I AM Not A Banker!
I AM Not Just A Fixer Of Things!
I AM Your Soul's Savior
The Lord Of Everything!

Call Me! - I Will Answer!
I Am The Rock - Your Fortress
By Me The Gates Of Heaven
To You Will Be Unlocked!

Tell Me Your Troubles!
Give Me Your Cares!
Walk With Me
In Faith
By Belief In My Written Holy Word!

I Make You This Promise
Your Life Because Of Me Will Be Made Hard
But Keep Walking In My Ways
For The Day Of Redemption Is Coming
When
In Triumph
You Will Laugh
Long
Hearty
And Hard
At Your Short Tribulation
Your Forced Descent Into The Dark Night
But Your "Glory!"
"Hallelujah!"
Will Burst Forth
In My Gloriously
Bright Light!

Beloved
Let No One Kill Your Hope In Me
Trust Me Completely
For I Don't Save Incompletely!
And Your Faith
Will Let You See Me As Your King
In Real Time
Reality!

Prayer: I Thank You

I Thank You
For The Bounty On My Table, Lord!

May My Spirit
With Yours 
Be In One Accord!

May My Heart
Ever Long
For My Loving Lord

So That I May
With The Saints
Sit At Your Table 

In The Great Reward!

AMEN