VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Settling Down With Jesus ...!!

A-form O' Godliness
Intellectual Religion
Supposed Hope
AND
Facing Ruin
Used To Be My Perfect Companions
BUT
That Was Back When My Name Was
Heart Not Cleansed!

I Used To Talk The Talk
BUT
I Didn't
Couldn't
Walk The Talk!

Pray Tell, Why Not?!

Well ... It Is Like ... Well ...

Oh ... .

He Couldn't Walk And Chew Gum!

His Walk Was A Lie!

His Talk Was All Head Space!

He Was Going To Fry!

Oh, My!

Surely, You Lie!

What He Said Was True!
I Was Going To Hell!
I Held A Season Of Life's One-Way Ticket
Until The Day
I Landed On My Butt
AND
Struck Hard
My Hard Head  -
It Was A Very Bad Day!
I Cried! I Cried!

We Can Well Imagine!

Having Always Had The Inclination
To
- With Brain Capacity -
Intensely
Everything Intellectualize
I Found Myself
Incapacitated
Barely Able
To Move More Than My Eyes!

You Had been Given Right Proper Time To Think!

Trying To Talk Hurt!
Thinking Hurt More!
My Mind Had Struck Me!
It Was Being A Gully-Bore!

My Mind Kept Hitting A Particular Grove
AND
Refused To Let Me
- In Peace -
To Have A Good Snore!

Peace?! What Peace?!

Exactly!
Of Peace I Had None!
Then
The Dear Savior Came A-Calling
AND
That Interview
Was
- Of Necessity -
Not Fun!

There Were Statements Like:

• Deal Truly With Your Own Soul!
• Be Earnest!
• Be Persistent In Prayer!
• Ask For The Renewal To A Right Spirit!
• How Long Are You Going To Keep Running Away?!

I Was In A Straight Betwixt Two!
I Was Between A Rock
AND
A Very Hard Place!

Flesh And Eyes?!

Yup ... Flesh And Eyes!
AND
Don't Forget
I Was Also Warring
With ...

 ... THE PRIDE OF LIFE!

We Know!
We've All Been There!
It's The Great Test
That All Men Must Face!

Jesus Faced It
And So Will We
And With Grace
- The Power To Face It -
We Shall Overcome
As Valiantly Did He!

I Wrestled!
I Fussed!
I Waffled!
I Cried!
Life's Things Were So Nice
AND
Shiny
AND

To Give Them Up
- THEORETICALLY -
I Thought Without Them
I Would Die!

DING, DING, DING!!

Theory vs. Practice!

12 Rounds For The Win!

Mash-up And Buy-Back
Were Ghoulishly Cheering
BUT
I Saw The Sacrificed
AND
Still Living Jesus
On My Right Wing!

Yeahhhhhhh!

The Faithful Wing Man
Is Our Lord Christ!
His Life Death Living
Tells Us That
By Obeying And Trusting God
We Will Survive The Bitter Strife!

Well ...

My Life Depended On The Win!

I Was Not Going Down
By Default!

In Wrestling With Jesus
I Had Read The Back Of The Book
So
For Life Through Self-Death
Was The Only Way For This Fight To Be Fought!

Isn't It Wonderful?!

It Is!
When You Know You Can't Lose
When You Know That Holy Blood
Earned For You
The Great Win
You Will Put Your Head
On The Life Line
Knowing That
If In Christ You Die
In Him
You Again Will Live!

That Fight Was Brutal!

Satan Threw Everything At Me ...

Sinner

Liar

Thief

Cheat

Faithless

Useless

Unclean

Unwanted By The Lamb

Unworthy

Disgraceful

Lost

Rejector Of Grace

Selfish

AND

A Few Horrible Ones More!

Tears Were Running Down My Face!
I Was Blubbering!
Then I Saw Jesus!!
Love Is In His Face
He Held Up His Hands!
Light Shone Through The Holes
AND
For New Love Of My Now Master
In His Power
Through Love Returned
I Cried:

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Oh, God

Renew A Right Spirit Within Me!

Satan Of My Life Let Go!

Then ...

I Heard My Self Saying
What I Was In My Spirit Hearing ...

Jesus, I Come!

You Promised Not To Cast Me Out!

Bless Me To Do Thy Will!

The Lord IS My Shepherd!

I Shall Not Know Want!

Father, I Cast My Cares On You

For I Know You Care For Me!

Lord, I Confess My Sin!

You Are Faithful And Just -

Forgive Me

And Cleanse Me From All Unrighteousness!

Lord, I'm Coming Home!

Draw Me Nearer!

Jesus,
I, My Cross Have Taken!

I Am Thine, Oh Lord!

Guide Me, Oh, Thou Great Redeemer!

No Turning Back!

Lord Jesus, Plead For Me!

Mine, Mine, Mine!

Jesus Is Mine!

Suddenly ...

I Realized
The Adversary Was

- For The Moment -

Gone!
The Accuser Of My Brethren
Had Been Vanquished
By The Word Of The Holy God On The Throne!

I Rejoiced In My Redeemer
AND, THEN
He Firmly Cautioned Me:

Be Sober! 

Be Vigilant! 

This Is Not Time For Sleep! 

Your Adversary The Devil

- As The Roaring Lion - 

Is Ever Looking

For A Straying Sheep To Eat!

Be Instant

And

Constant

Ever Be In Prayer! 

Call On Me!

Call On Me!

Call On Me!
 I - For You - Care!

Do Not Doubt! 

Do Not Be Double-Minded

And

The Devil Won't Be Able

To Put You In His Mouth!

The Holy Spirit Is Here

To Comfort Guide

Teach And Chide

And

The Holy Angels

To Influence You For Good

And

To Protect!

Call My Name

When You Petition The Father! 

Remember

I Have Paid Your Eternal Expense!

Friends,
I Do Not Say
That Since Then
Life Has Been Easy
For That Would Telling An Untruth
BUT
The Lord
My Savior Redeemer
Is
From Me
Just A Prayer Away!

Temptation Is Rife!
Deceits Flow Like Spice!
Evil Is A War Horse
BUT
I Ever See My Jesus
Branded
With The Marks Of The Cross

That Gave Me New Life!

I Am Satisfied
With My Jesus!
I Am Trusting Him
Day By Day!
I Am Determined To Arrive
At The Gates Of The City
AND
To Hear MY Beautiful Savior Say:

Welcome Home, My Child!

Welcome Home! 

Enter In!

The Feast Is Prepared!

Many Times
Satan Has Had Me On The Ropes!
Many Times
He Butt Me Like A Wild Goat! 

Many Times
Many Times
I Felt A Goat Horn In My Rear
BUT
Thank God Almighty
I Trusted In Christ Jesus!
I Obeyed What He Said
AND
I Did Not Walk In Fear!

Jesus Had Given Me
A Lil' Some'ing Some'ing
That Is Called Daily Grace

AND

Daily Faith

Plus The Good Word Of Truth
AND
Thank God For Jesus
I Threw It Often
In Old Satan's Face!

I Hold On To My Jesus
For Dear, Dear Life
AND
Come Hell And High Water
Jesus Christ IS Mine

AND
I Have In My Grasp The New Life!

I Feel Like Praising
Praising, Praising Him!

Thank You, Jesus!                                             
Glory To God In The Highest!                 
We're Fighting The Good Fight!

By God's Grace

We Shall Attain The Reward!

In The Fulness Of Time

We Shall Be Forever Shuck

Of

That Decimating Old Fraud!

Amen, Lord!
AMEN.

VICTORY: Walking In Faith!

God Tests Our Faith
To Strengthen Our Trust
Not Because He Is Sadistic
Or Plain Cruel
But Because
Our Refinement Is A Must!

Let Us Not Curse The Tree
Because We Do Not Like Its Fruit
When
In The Day Of Famine
We Would Gladly Eat Its Roots!

Let Us Keep Faith With Our Father
Our Father From Whom Comes Our Faith!
Let Us Reason To Be Wise!
Let Us Trust God's Faith
Not Our Feelings
AND
Surely Not Our Eyes
AND
Let Us Let Our Faith Do Our Walking So
That In The Great Day
Christ's Call
Will Carry Us To New Life!

Faith Gives Us The Victories!
Faith Overcomes The World!
Faith Is A Golden Thread
Without Which
A Believer Would Be A Paid-Up Member
Of The Clan Marked For Destruction
Those Known As Unrepentant Offenders!

Walk In Faith
With The Faithful Jesus!
Walk In Christ's Light
For It Illuminates The Dark Night!
Trust In God's Grace
For
Grace And Faith
Are A Winning Combination
Upon Which 
Trust Gloriously Rides
Darkness To Fight!

Trust In God
Is Not Dead
For
Bad Pay Cannot Kill It!
Trust In The Lord
For Then
Satan Cannot You Ride
Into The Blackness Of Darkness
Where Hope Cannot Abide!

Tests Don't Last Forever
BUT
Tried And Tested
Enduring
Overcoming People Do!
Hold On
To The Blessed Hope
- Christ In You The Hope Of Glory -
AND
Put Your Shoulder To The Gospel Plow
For
He Who Tests You
Is The Same God
Who Daily Provides For
Loves
Blesses
Comforts
AND
Abidingly
Carries You
AND
Me, Too!

Satan Is The Liar

AND

Our Victory 

Is In

Jesus Christ!

How Do You Stand?

Jesus Christ
Is Our Only Hope
If We Are To Get Out From Under Sin
That Devil's Dope
AND
If We Are
With This World To Cope
So That We May Achieve
The Blessed Hope!

Christ In Us
The Hope Of Glory!
Christ Crucified
BUT

Alive
- The Gospel Story -

Interceding For Man
Who Has Given Over Himself
To God
- The Other Side Of The Story -
AND
Awaiting
The Trumpet Sound
Heralding
The Grand Voyage
To Behold
AND
Be A Partaker
In The Great God's Glory!

Let Us Pray
AND
Believe
AND
Do
What God Calls Us To Do!
Let Us Love 
Trust
Honor
Worship And Obey
AND
Thrive
Under Christ's Stewardship
Inviting Others
AND
Telling Them Of The Great God
Holy
Loving Faithful
Blessing
AND
True
Who Gives Light
For He IS Life
AND
He Will Save
The Repentant Sinner's
Seeking-After-Righteousness
Soul!

Let Us Be Faithful
To Our Forever Friend
The One
- Him Beloved -
Who
- For Our Sake -
Shrouded
His Divinity
In The Garb Of Mere Man!

Let Us Trust The Promise!
Let Us Grab Hold Of
Living Hope!
Let Us Unto Christ Be Faithful
For Our Exercised Faith
Bolstered
By Constant Pray
Is
Metaphorically Speaking
Satan's Choking Rope!

Believe And Live!
Receive And Give!
Walk In
AND
Live For Christ
AND
Don't In Speech
Nor Practice
Be Glib
AND
In The Fulness Of Time
With Christ Jesus
You Will
- Forever -
Live!

Time Is Longer Than Twine!
Truth Has No Stench
To Leave Behind
AND
No Matter How Satan Slices It
He Will Never Be The Living God
NOR
Holy
Divine!

Truth Walks A Straight Line!
Lies Always Bob And Weave!
Truth Does Not Look Back
BUT
Lies 
- All Around -
Must Take A Look-See Peek!

God's Name 
Tells Of God's Character
Holy Divine
A Loving Judge
Savior
True
AND
All Of Christ's Followers
Must Live Holy Lives
So That Their Characters
Speak True, Too!

The Author Of The Book
Always
Puts A Period
At The End Of The Story
AND
Jesus Christ
Is Coming To Do That, Too
To This Living Story
When He Comes
For Believing Me
AND

For Believing You!

How Do YOU Stand?

Will He Carry YOU To The Mansion

Of

The Blessed Holy And True?!

THE BLESSED HOPE: We Shall Be Changed!

I Have Peace In The Holy God!
I Have Rest In The Faithful God!
I Have Hope In The Giving God
AND
I Am Blessed By The Gracious God!

When Peace Meets Rest
Hope Is Blessed!
The Holy God
Eternal
Faithful
Loving
Giving
Gracious
AND
True
- In Mercy -
Longs To Bless Men More
If
They Would But Walk True, Too!

Our Present Daily Blessings
Are But Pedestrian
For They Will Be So Much More
When
- In The Light That Gives Life -
We Walk Along 
The Beautiful Shore!

Oh, That Men Would Praise The Lord
For His Goodness
Towards Men!
Oh, That Men Would Praise The Lord
Who
- Though Offended -
Does Not His Goodness To Men Suspend!
Oh, That Men Would Praise The Lord
Giving Unto Him
His Glory
AND
That Without End
So That We May Go Home
To Glory
To Glory
In Him
For Eternity Which Knows No End!

With Jesus Himself
As Our
Leader Feeder
Teacher Preacher
Hope Revealed
Salvation Unsealed
We Shall Do  ...!
We Shall Be  ...!
We Shall See  ...!
We Shall Go  ...!
We Shall Know  ...!
We Shall Adore  ...!
AND
What Else
Our God Himself
Will
- To Us -
Delightedly Show!

It Is Not Even Amazing
How Inept Are Our Attempts
- Mine And Yours -
At Describing
The Impossible
The Unknowable
The Unthinkable
The Unfathomable
The Unimaginable
The Strange
The Wonderful
Glories
Awaiting
Our Unpackaging!
Why Do We Waste The Time?

I Shall
You Shall
We Shall
See All The Glories
Of God's Amazing Kingdom
Of Love
IF
We Are Enduringly Faithful
Unswervingly Obedient
Unyieldingly Honest
Unbendingly True
To Him Who
Has Prepared His Possible
To Delight
Our Now Impossible
Point Of View!

God's Peace Is
Perfect
Precious
Practicable!

God's Grace Is
Grand
Gratifying
AND
Infallible!

God's Blessing Is
Beautiful
Bright
AND
Bountiful!

God's Love For Us

• Accepted
• Returned
• Cherished
• Celebrated

Shall See Us
If Faithful
Go From Mortal
To Immortal
AND
From Corruption
To Incorruption!

Brethren, I Beseech You ...
Turn - In Faith - To Jesus Christ!
Accept The Gift!
Accept That There Is No Risk!
AND
Quickly Of Sin Divest
AND
You Shall Live
From The Glad AND Glorious Day
In Eternal Bliss!

Grace Minus Faith Equals Dust!

Faith Plus Hope Plus Trust

Will See Man

Rising Up

- Made Anew -

Out Of Dead Men's Dust!

**--**--**--**

Choice Is A Man Thing!

Make The Choice For Christ

AND

Before The King Of Glory

- Face To Face -

In Adoration Sing!

PRAYER : Open My Eyes, Lord!

Oh, Lord,

You Fill My Eyes

And

I Beseech You, Please

To Let Me Not Be Impressed By

The Vaunted Temporal Prosperity

That Causes Its Recipients

To Believe That

They're Godlike

And

True Divinity!

Let Me Not To Be Impressed By

Possession Of Prized Things

That Will Surely Like Thin Paper

Fabulously Burn

And

Help Me, Loving Father

Help Me

Your Blessed Grace

Not To Spurn!

When I Awaken

On The New Day

Help Me Ever To Thank You

For The Blessings

For Which I Cannot Pay!

For The Love That You Bestow

For The Protections

Against The Evil

That I, Facing

Do Not Know!

When I Rest, Lord

Let Me Rest Humbly

Quietly

In Your Fear

Knowing

That The Eternal God

My True Father 

Is Ever Near

And 

Gives Ear To My Prayers!

Help Me Speak My Heart To You

Knowing That You Are Both

God And Friend, True!

Help Me Not To Indulge

In The Useless Thought

That I Can Myself Save

In Life

Nor After Death

In The Arising From The Grave

And

Help Me Not To Fall

For High Flung Base-Born Fallacies

Comforting Myself

With Very Real Lost-Men Lies

And

Denying Eternally Real Saving Truths!

Open My Eyes, Lord

To See My True Condition

And

Help To Understand

And

Accept That

Without Jesus

I'm Facing A Collision

Of

What Is

And

What Almighty God Says Is To Be

And

Help Me To Firmly Decide

In Heavenly Love

Forever To Abide!

Father,

Help Me Not To Be Ashamed

Or

Afraid

To Share My Faith - It's Real

And

Help Me To Stand Up For Truth And Right

Even If My Temporary Temporal Standing

It Does Well And Truly Blight!

You Promised Never To Leave Me

Nor Forsake Me!

I Am Depending On You, Lord!

Father,

You Promised

That You Have For Believers

A Thousand Ways To Save

Ways That We Know Of

And

Thank God

We Know You

And

That Is Enough!

Help Us To Hold Up

So That We May Stand Up!

Help Me And The Brethren

To Hold Fast To The Blessed Hope

And

Help Us By Grace

Through Dear Mercy

With This Life To Daily Cope!

Father,

Gross Wickedness Abounds!

So, As You Have Promised

Let Grace Multiply

And

Help Us Who Truly Believe

To Make Our Calling

And

Election

Sure

So That In The Great Day

Unto Jesus Christ 

We Shall Go

To Live With Him Forevermore!

Grant Us The Victory

Over Sin

So That Through The Pearly Gates

We Shall Have The Right To Walk In!

Save The Beloved

For With These Petitions

In Jesus' Name I Plea!

I Love You, Lord!

AMEN.