HAPPY SABBATH + The Door To Forever!

The door was ... wide open
Inviting who would to ... enter in!
Everybody before him had just ... walked in
But he ... knocked?!

My response was immediate
My pulse began to race
And if you would believe this
There was a blush upon my face!

Hmmm
This is different ... but why
This is strange ... and how
Memory is ... awakened
I know him ... somehow
I have met him before but ... where
Were we lovers ... before
I should know.

I look at his face and ...
Oh, yes!
I know Him ... Immanuel a/k/a Jesus
He is the One I truly loved ... but
He is the One I truly needed ... but
He will give me tomorrow ... but
He erases the past ... but
He gives ... peace ... but
He provides ... rest, but
He wanted
Oh, how He wanted ...!
He wanted me!
ALL ... OF ... ME!

When we had been together ... before
He had wanted me ... not my offered 99%
He wanted all ... for that is what He had spent
No half measures
No momentary shares
Not just tonight
Not maybe tomorrow
He wanted my all
He caused me much sorrow
Yet gave me such joy!
With my soul in His heart
My heart in His hand
My body in His keeping
The world I was defeating and ... yet
I gave Him up and ... regretted it
Every ... day ... since ... then!
Now ... He ... is .... HERE ... again!?!
In my personal, private, room
We are alone
No interruptions
We can talk ... freely
Of life
Of LOVE
Of longing
Of neglect
Of regret
Of sorrows
Of shame
Of changes
Of SECOND CHANCES
Of HOPE
Of ... FORGIVENESS
Of ... ACCEPTANCE
Of ... union ... reunion
Of ... COMMUNION
Of ... narrow roads
Of ... wide travels
Of ... trials
Of ... tribulations
Of ... TEMPTATIONS
Of ... GUARANTEES
Of ... HOME
Together
Forever
In  ... rapturous ... Bliss
He asked for ... my heart
I gave Him ... my hand
He asked ... for my hand
And I gave Him ... My Hurts
My Hopes
My Fears
My Dreams ... and My Heart!
My ALL ... for His ALL and ALL ... FOREVER!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Painting Jesus

I am painting a picture of Jesus
I am using brush strokes little but big
I am painting great swathes of color
With a palette knife broad but a twig

There is a touch of black that is bright red
There is a touch of green that is the mustard of grief
There is a touch of yellow that is heavenly sunshine
And a bit of gold that is faith and relief

My painting has infinite borders
The mountains so high are really low
The rivers that flow are solid crystal
That refresh and give life but not cold

The meadows soft green are body comforting
The central tree a death cross that brings life
The main road the only road to the town of Crucifixion
That pass through  hamlets of Trouble, Oppression and Strife

And, now, the piece de resistance:

The central figure of my personal painting is the King
Jesus Christ - Immanuel
The hair on his head is as white wool
The eyes are filled with compassion
As deep as infinite time mixed with moon and
Multiplied with sun and stars shining with fire bright light

The brow is high and marred, dignified and royal
The cheeks are stately offering space for a touch from this child
The mouth is tilted up, firm, strong, gentle
With a shape called Word Everlasting
The nose makes the face look, well, like a face
All in all, the face itself is not even close to comely to the worldly eye
But its depth of presence draws one in, pace by pace

Try all I will, I can't paint Eternal Peace
I can't paint Burden for the Human Soul
I can't paint Depth of Divine Sacrifice
I can't paint Essence of The Holy God
I can't paint Sold For Thirty - Betrayed By My Familiar Friend
I can't paint Sin of All Ages burned into His Human God Being
I can paint what it personally means to accept His Gracious Offering
But I can't paint what it means "Heaven's the Goal!"

I've changed my mind - I no longer need a canvas
To place a picture of my Jesus - perpetual - upon
I will just read my Bible - John 3:16
And walk around each and every day singing Redemption's song
For God IS LOVE!

Mine, mine, mine

Jesus is mine

Today, every day

I might die - but one great day

The trumpet will sound

I'll put off the mortal night's gown

And will wing my way - I'll be immortal - to Jesus

With the Heaven-bound throng!

VESPERS at The End Of The Sabbath: You Can't Change God's Mind!

Thank You

Father

for the Blessed Sabbath Rest!

Our Call To Remembrance:

God is The Lord and He loves us, and
You can’t change His Mind!

God sacrificed His Son to save us, and
Nothing you would do could change His Mind!

God loves to bless us, and
You can’t change His Mind!

God loves us sinners, and
You can’t change His Mind!

God is The Lord, and He hates sin, and
Changing its name won’t change His Mind!

God’s  Holy Spirit chides and comforts us, and
You can’t change His Mind!

God is coming for His Children, and
Satan can’t change His Mind!

God will punish the evil-doers, and
They can’t change His Mind!

God is kind, and makes daily provision for us, and
New World Orders can't change His Mind!

God has made a home in Pleasant Pastures for us, and
You can’t change His Mind, for
We - who love Him - are nestled in the Heart of the Divine!

and,

please - I beseech you of the Household of Faith -

Don't let

Love, life, nor living
Loss nor cross
Situation nor circumstance
Father nor Mother
Brother nor Sister
Predator nor President
King nor culture

Close your mind off from, or cause you to forget, the fact that:

God Almighty is coming for His Children, and
Not one will be left behind, for
God is The Lord, and He loves us, and
He can't change His Mind!

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the Sabbath

for we have been bountifully blessed,

 and gloriously refreshed! 

And now we ask You, Father, 

to bless and keep us during the coming new week 

until we come again before You 

to worship and bow down in humility and gladness. 

We thank You for Your Grace and Hand of Provision, 

and Your Mercy towards us,

 and we offer You our praise. 

We love You, Lord, 

and we look with hope and assurance 

to that Great Day 

when we shall see You, 

face to face. 

Amen.