HAPPY SABBATH + Yes, It Is All Jesus!

They Stood Before The Master
Nothing Could Turn Them Back
They Were Standing In The Holy Faith
And
Because Of Their Faith In His Sacrifice For Them
They Will Withstand Any Of Satan's 
Unmerciful, Cruel, Bold Attacks!

These Three Were Not Popular Amongst The Populace
Because
They Chose To Enjoy Heavenly Grace
And
Live The Life Completely Committed To Christ
Even Though It Opened Them Up 
To The Machinations Of That Demon Not Nice!

They Were Simple, Humble, Kind And True
Giving Of Their Best
Even If It Meant Walking About In Last Year's Shoes
So That Some Dear One May Have A Meal
A Good Word Or Some Kindly Deed:
They Have Committed The Lord's Sheep And Lambs
Daily To Feed!

They Were In Charity With The Lord!
They Had Refused The Overtures Of The Fraud
And
They Looked Up
To The Author And Finisher Of Their Faith
Determined
His Name Never To Bring To Shameful Disgrace!
They Wanted Their Promised 
Personally Prepared-By-Him Place!

They Knew What Had Been Sacrificed
Their Sinful Gainsaying Lives To Save
And 
They, Repentant, Having Confessed Known Sin
Were Now In Accord With Him 
Who, To Them, Is King, Friend, Redeemer, Creator, Lord 

And

Just As Those Three Men, Wise, From The East
Had Brought To The New Born King
Meaningful Gifts
These Three, Looking To The Consummation
Have Brought Gifts That Would Surely Anger
Enrage, Offend 
And 
Definitely Denigrate The Bold Fraud!

They Each Had All The Same Gifts In Personal Possession
But
Each One Had Chosen One Particular Gift For The Lord!
What They Are Doing
Is Not 
Work To Gain Heavenly Rewards:
All The Heavenly Gifts Are Free!

Tabitha Brought Recognition ... Of Christ's Sacrifice!
Abijah Brought Sympathy ... For The Pain That He Bears
And
Avani Brought Love ... For Him Whose Love Is Daily Showered
Upon All Mankind
Whether A Person Is High-Born, Base
Free, Bond, Or Rich Or Poor!

Their Grace-Filled Affection For The Savior
Will Not Open For Them
Any Of Carnal Mankind's Self-Satisfied
Self-Aggrandized 
Self-Actualized
Technicolor, Oiled, Swinging Both Ways Doors!

They Were In The World ... Not Of It!

Their Practiced Attributes Were Simple:
Self-Sacrifice ... Self Is A Rabid Sinner
Honesty And Humility ... God Does Not Abide Pride
Kindness ... No Carnal Agility
Faith ... No Carnal, Blind-To-Truth, Eyesight
Service ... No Greed For Gain
And Most Assuredly
No Unprofitable Indulgence In The Old Blame Game!

The Lord Loves Them First And Always!
They Love Him Back ... Let His Great Name Be Praised!
They Were Born Under The Curse
But
They Are Living The Modeled Righteous Life
That Shall See In Them
The Cruel Curse Of Death By Him Reversed!

Oh, How He Loves Us ...

Love ... Became A Man!
Love Has Their Names Written In His Scarred Hands!
Love Is Eternal, Holy, Almighty, True, And Wise
And
With The Wind Of Love Under Their Wings
- At The Appointed Time -
They Shall Range With Saints And Angels
Through The Universe's Immense Skies!

They Know They Have Nothing ... By Earth's Standards
Worthwhile To Give
To Him Who They Call Lord
So They Choose To Give Him Something That
Is 
Valuable In The Economy Of The Holy God
And
That Is Why They Give Unto Him All That Is Theirs To Give:
Recognition, Sympathy, Love
And
Obedience, Trust, Worship 
And 
Unfeigned Praise!

Hope Springs Eternal ...

They Are Looking With Longing
Unto The Great And Long Promised
Glorious Glory Days!

And 

By Faithful Endurance
With The Help Of The Comforter
The Holy Spirit That Leads Into All Truth
In Perfect Peace
They Shall See The Face Of The Ancient Of Days!

At The Welcome Home Table
They Shall Be Seated, By Right, In Their Place!

PRAYER Of A Contrite Heart

Thou God Seest Me

Not As I Am

But How In Christ Jesus I Can Be!

Oh, Holy God

Which Inhabitest Light

Because Of Thy Grace

Through Jesus Christ

I Can Forsake The Night!

Most Glorious God

Who Didst Sacrifice Thy All

So That I -  A Vile Sinner

May Be Cleansed Of The Stench Of The Fall

I Bless You!

I Love You!

I Honor The Great Name

And Seek Not For My Self

Power

Riches

Nor Fame!

I Come, Dear Father

Confessing

Repenting Of Known Sin

For

I Know That You Who Inhabit All Ages

Will Never Permit The Unrepentant

Your Holy Presence To Enter In!

I Know,  Dear Lord

That To The Public

I May Pretend To Be All Holy And Clean

Because

They Don't Know 

Of My Committing Public Sin

And

Because Of The Lying Impression

People Will Believe That I Will

Your Glory Enter In

But, Lord

You Don't Look At My Externals

You Look Deep

Into The Heart Of Me

And If My Heart

Is Not In Line With Your Word, Lord

Marooned

From Your Presence

Is What I Will Be

For Ever

For Eternity!

So, Lord

Accept This Offering

As My Prayer Of Confession!

Accept, Dear Lord

My Repentance For My Sin

As My Contrite Heart's Mournful Apology!

I Beseech You, Dear Lord

In The Name Of Jesus Christ The Righteous King

Whose Eternal Merits I Claim

To Help Me To No More To Walk

In The Ways Of The Wicked And Vain

And

To Help Me To Disclaim The Ways

Of Presumptuous Self-righteous Humanity!

Pity Me, Dear Lord

- For I Can Never Pity Myself Enough -

And Help Me To Do Right

To Live Right

And

To Walk Right

So That In The Great Day

I Will Be Well Rid

Of This Moldering

Tabernacle Of Dust

And Put On Your Promised Gift

Of Incorruptible Immortality!

Help Me, Dear Lord

To Always Keep The Life Of My Lord Christ

In Clear And Unobstructed Plain View

That I May Be Changed Into The Divine Likeness

So That

At The Appointed Time

I May Reside 

In The Heavens And The Earth Made New 

Eternally With You!

Lord, I Give You Praise!

AMEN