Take Up Thy Cross ...!?!

What's Going On?!
What's The Meaning Of All These Wooden Crosses?!
Since When Do You Wear A Silver Cross?!

I Have A Gold One!

What Is This?!

Pastor Said That Everybody Must Bear Their Cross!

What!?!

He Asked The Question:

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone  ...?!

... And You All Believed He Meant Bearing
Wearing
A Literal Cross!?!

Sure!

He Plain As Day Said:

Now Is The Appointed Time!

Now Is The Day Of Salvation!

Take Up Your Cross

Your Burden

And Faithfully Follow 

Follow After The Lord Jesus Christ!

What's Wrong With You People?!

What Do You Mean?!

Do Any Of You Ever Crack Open A Bible?!
I Quote:

You Obviously
Are Not 
RIGHTLY DIVIDING 
The Word!
AND
You All Ought To Be Ashamed Of Yourselves!

Ashamed For What?!
I Didn't Kill Anybody!

Come On!
What Are You Talking About?!

Didn't Your Pastor Explain What
Taking Up Your Cross And Following Christ Means?!

Sure! That's Why We Are Carrying These Crosses!

Lord, Make Peace!
Let Me Ask You A Question:

What Kind Of Life Did Jesus Live?!

A Life Of Self-Abnegation
Caring For Others
Teaching Others
Healing Others
And Ultimately Dying For Others!

Excuse Me?!
What Is Self-Abegnation?!

Self-Ab-Ne-Ga-Tion!

Jesus Christ
In Self-Abnegation
AND
As Written In Scripture
Was
Meek And Lowly ... Of Heart
Not Proud
Submissive ... In Giving His Will
To His Father
AND
Obedient ... Unto Death
On The Physical Cross!

Jesus Set Aside His Self
AND
In Despising The Shame We Placed Upon Him
Died On The Cross
For Us
Whom He Was Not Ashamed To Call Brethren!

Self-Abnegation Is The Cross 
That Man Should Bear
IF
We Will To Be Like Christ!

This Pile Of Wood 
That You All Are Toting Around Means Nothing!
Those Gold And Silver Crosses You're Wearing
Are ... Are ... Just Decorations
Meaningless
Useless
Good For Nothing But Getting Jewelers Rich!

Whose Character Are You Wearing!
Can The World See Christ In You!
Are You Selfless!
Or Are You
- True To Human Nature -
Totally Selfish?!

Well, Ahhh ...

Ummm ...

Exactly!

Outward Adorning!
White Washed Tombs
Filled With Dead Men's Bones!

You Don't Have To Be So Cruel!

I Am Not Being Cruel!
Somebody Has To Tell You All The Truth!
Who Are You Really Serving?!

Pastor Says ...!

Oh, Lord, In Heaven
Save Us From
Another "Pastor Says!"

Can The Pastor Save You?!

No! Of Course Not!

Then Who Can Save You?!

Jesus Saves!

So What Does Jesus Say?!

To Obey Is Better Than To Sacrifice!

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth!

Wisdom Is The Principal Thing!

Let No Man Steal Your Crown!

In All Your Getting, Get Understanding!

If You Know All That
What's With This Pastor Say That And That?!

Chagrined, They Held Their Heads Down.

One Voice
Speaking To Their Shame, Said:

I Guess We're Just Lazy Thinkers!

Another Voice:

Brethren,
We Really Should Be Ashamed Of Ourselves!

We Are The Hearers And Not The Doers Of The Word!

Ohhhh!
If I Had My Way
I Would Beat All Of You At The Bottom Of Your Feet!

How Mean!
That Would Really Hurt!

Yes!
But I'd Never Have To Teach You
The Same Lesson Again!

You Do Have A Point!

Lazy Thinking In A Christian
Is A Vile And Abhorrent Thing!
Let's Not Have This Conversation Again, Okay?!

For Real!

Wow! I Feel Better!

I Feel As Though A Burden Has Been Lifted!

It Was!
No More Toting Around This Fire Wood!

AMEN!

Time To Set Aside Self!

Oh, Dear!
THAT, My Friend
Is Hard Work!

Lord, Help Us!

He Will, My Friend! 
You Can Trust Him!

Like Char-Burnt Toast, Doubt Is Out!!

My Life Was In The Toilet
I Had ... No Way Out!
But, Then
I Recognized
That I Was Seeing My Life
Through Eyes That Could Not See Out!

I Stopped
AND
I Thought ... For A Moment:

Am I Not A Child Of God?!
Why Am I Thinking ... Hopeless
When
My Father Is The Eternal God?!

I Took A Step
AND
Then I Took Another
AND
I Stopped ... In The Valley Of Decision
AND
That Is When I Finally Realized That
Jesus' Faith
AND
My Very Human Human Doubt
Were About To Have A Cataclysmic Collision!

Did I Believe God?
Did I Trust The Lord?
Did I Hope In The Eternal God
BECAUSE OF
Living Faith
OR
Was I A Doubting Man
Turbulently Tossed
Double-Minded
Wavering In The Crushing Wind
At Sea
Weak
Worried
Wondering
What, Lord, Is To Be Come Of Me?!

I Breathed Deeply!
Air Filled My Trembling Chest
AND
That Is When I Firmed My Resolve
AND
Decided To Give The Eternal God
- My Everlasting Father -
Control Of My Needing-Healing Head

AND

The Lying Heart In My Chest!

Father,

You Are Faithful!

Father,

I Am Weak!

Father,

Please Take Care Of Me

For

I Cannot The Plain Way See That I Seek!

I Let Go, Lord, Of These Problems!

My Shoulders Are Not Big Enough!

I Give To You My Burden - I Love You

Please Guide Me

Through Changing-Life's Roundabout!

I Thank You, Lord

For My Blessing!

I Thank You, Lord

For The Word Of Truth!

I Thank You, Lord

For The Certain Hope Of Tomorrow!

Bless Me Again

For

I Am Totally Dependent Upon You!

I Laid Me Down

AND

I Slept In Peace

AND

In The Morning

I Awakened

AND

Praise Be To The God Most High

My Heavy Burden

From What Used To Be A Heavy Heavy Heart

Had Unmistakably

Been Taken!

I Shouted:

Glory! Hallelujah!

Praise To The God Above!

Thank You, Lord

For The Soul Comfort!

Thank You, Lord

For Everlasting Love!

I Do Not Claim
That Life Is Perfect!
I Do Claim Kinship
To The Perfect God Above
AND
I Choose
To Remember Each Day
That The God Above
To Whom My Life I Gave
Laid Down His Life For Me
AND
Still
Got Up From The Dead Man's Cold Grave
AND
I Now Walk
No More A Prisoner
No More A Doubter
No More To Self
A Mindless Slave!

I'm Free
Of All The Burdens
That Drain Away Man's Life!
I Am Free
Of All The Burdens
That Bog Man Down In Strife!
I Am Free
To Walk
In Faith
By Grace
AND
I Am Free
The Praises Of The Glorious King
To Mouth And Shout About!

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Upon Fallen Man
On This Earth Below!
Praise Father
Son
AND
Holy Ghost
Doubt ... In My Life
Is Thrown Down
Cast Out
Not Good For Anything
Just Like So Much Char-Burnt Toast!

Human Eyes See What Is Was!

God's Eyes

See What Shall Be

- For Us -

A Prosperously Glorious Eternity

**--** WHEN **--**

We 

Trust Him

To Lead Us

Out Of

Doubt's ... Raging Sea!

Finally ... I Was Listening!

The Rock Of Ages
Cleft For Me
When I Beheld The Lamb Of God
Crucified
Riven
Broken
On Calvary!

I Looked
AND
I Saw
Jesus ... Besmirched
Looking Like Me
AND
Saving Me
By Taking My Place
AND
Hanging
Accursed
On That Cruel Death-Tree!

"Faith Changes Things!"
I Heard My Own Voice Say
As I Acknowledged
AND
Accepted That
The Lamb Of God Died
To Take My Sin Away!

Glory Came Down
To Give Me And My Kind Glory
BUT
- Instead -
By My Sinful Kind
Ended Up
All Beaten
Spat Upon
Nailed Up
Pierced Through
Lifted Up
AND
Vile-Looking Gory!

What A Fellowship!
What A Joy
Now
Is Mine
That I Am Leaning
On The Everlasting Arms!

My Lord Arose!
My Lord Rose Up!
My Lord Is In The Most Holy Place
Of The Heavenly Sanctuary
Reconciling Me To The Father God
Fixing My Title
For I Am Redeemed
AND
That Makes Me
- In Jesus -
Clear
On The Father's Books!
In Jesus
I Have No Devil-Attached Hooks!

I Caused The Holy Christ Pain!
I Brought To His Heart Shame!
For I Long Before
Had Ignored His Call
To Take Hold Of The Lifeline
Needed For Salvation
Because Of Satanic Deception
AND
Willful Sin
AND
Willful Sinning Man's ... Fall!

I Had Looked Back!
I Had Fallen Behind!
I Had Turned Away From Light!
I Had Chosen
Satan
And
Had Gotten Carried Away
Until
That Great And Glorious Day
On The Dusty Road
When I Heard That Voice ...

How Long Has It Been

Since You Talked With The Lord?

How Far From Home Will You Run

Hoping

To Break The Ties-That-Bind Cord?

When Will You Acknowledge

That You Are One Weary?

When Will You Call The Father

And

Beseech Him

To Let You Come Home

Even As You

Acknowledge That

You Are A Child Of The Dust

Rolling Around In

And

Covered With Sin

As A Hard-Shell Crust?

Why Don't You Call Out

To Him Now

And

Plead With Him

To Save You

From You Own Self?

I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say:

Come Unto Me ... And Rest!

I Cried:

Father, Lead Me
Day By Day
For
This Land Is Not My Land
And
I Do Not Want
For My Own Sin
At The Appointed Time
To Have To Personally Pay!

Furthermore,

I Reached Out My Hand
AND
I Touched The Hand Of The Man
Who Stilled Waters
Who Healed Disease
Who Raised The Dead
AND
Who Prayed Daily
Constantly
- On His Knees -
- To His Own Father -
For Strength
In The Garden
Alone!

Suddenly ...

It Was Heaven In My Heart
For I Found Jesus
Who Had Been Calling For
Seeking After
Wayward Me!

In The Sorrow Of My Weary Soul
I Cried ...

Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind
Forgive My Foolish Ways!
Please, I Beseech You
Henceforth And Forever
Help Me To Give Of My Best
To My Master!

AND ...

Standing On The Promises
Which Cannot Fail
I Shouted ...

I Am Delivered!
No More Night!
Praise The Lord!

I Heard My Jesus Say ...

Hold The Fort

For I Am Coming To Earth Again!

Cast Now Away Your Confidence!

Give Your Burdens Unto Me

And Leave Them There

For

I Am Just A Prayer Away!

Brethren ...

I Walk Through Life's Storms
AND
I Hold My Head Up High!
I Am No Longer Afraid
Of Sin's Dark
For
The Light Of The World
IS
The Light Of My Life
AND
The Lies Of The Devil
No Longer Have Power
To Make Me Want
My Eternal Holy God
To Flagrantly Defy!

I Walk Today Where Jesus Walked!
I Am Tempted
AND
I Am Tried
BUT
The Promise Is Given
To All Who Believe
To All Who By Sin Are Oppressed
AND
Still Love
AND
Still Trust
AND
Are Still Looking For The Coming
Of The King Of Love
Who Jesus Christ My Shepherd Is
That
There Is Glory In The Cross!

The Marvellous Grace
Of
The Loving Lord
IS
Sufficient For Me
- No Matter What -
For I Am Running This Race
For The Win
Confident
Of The Great Day Of God's Reward
For
All Day
AND
All Night
God's Angels Are Watching Over Me!

I Have A Mansion!
I Have A Crown!
I Have A New Name
For
I Know That He Who Has Promised
Will
With The Glory Of The Father
The Angels
AND
Himself
From Heaven
- Split Open -
For Me And All The Faithful
Soon To Earth
Be Coming Down!

I Sing ...!
I Raise The Song Of Jubilee ...

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

For
I Have Laid My Burden Down!

I Sing Praises To God!
I See The Promise
In The Flowers That Grow!
I See Renewal
In All The Changing Scenes Of Life
AND
I Say ...

When He Cometh!
When HE Cometh
To Take Up His Jewels
By God's Grace
I'll Be A Bright One
For I Am Beloved
AND
I Am His Own!

I Will See Jesus
Just As He Is
For
The Strife Is O'er
All To The Formalities
When Christ Comes To Claim His Own!

I Have Victory In Jesus!
I Have The Blessed Assurance!
I Have Hope For Today
AND
Faith
To Face Tomorrow!

I Say To My Soul
Be Still And Know
That He Is God!
He Is The God That Feedeth Thee!
He Holds The Whole World Is His Hand
AND, YET
He Lives In The Heart Of Me
For
His Indwelling Spirit
Comforts Guides And Chides
AND
Because I Am Listening
He In Me Abides!

All My Other Helpers Failed
AND
All My Creature Comforts Did Flee
BUT
Faith First
The Lord ... Being My Vision
I Am Telling The World
That
Jesus My Savior
Now Pilots Me!

I Know That My Redeemer Lives
AND
For This
I Utter
A Joyful Allelujah!
AND
The Seven-Fold

Amen! Amen! Amen!
Amen! Amen! Amen!
AMEN!

PRAYER: I Am Yours, Lord!

Father,

I Lift My Heart To You

In An Attitude Of Prayer!

On My Own I Know I Am Nothing, Lord

And I Give To You My Burdens Of Care!

Let Me Not Neglect Our Morning Meetings

Wherein I Find Grace For The Day!

Let Me Not Neglect Our Blessed Time Together

Where I Receive The Blessings You Lovingly Share!

Father,

In Those Days When I Am Feeling All Prayed Out

And I Feel I Have Nothing To Say

Let This Heart Find Strength From Your Spirit

So That Satan Cannot Stick Me With His Darts!

I Am Yours, Dear Lord!

Your Voice I Obey!

Help Me This Day And Always

In Faith And Belief

For Love

And For Right Doing

Ever With Alacrity

To Act Upon All That You Say!

I Love You!

AMEN

Prayer for When Hearts are Burdened

Father,

Sadness is all around

For the burdened, the bothered, and the bullied

Who are searching for a way to find rest from these earthly woes.

Please provide a balm to soothe their troubled minds

And

Help them to find Your Blessed Peace.

Father, sickness is all around

And

Were it not for Your Living Word

We would be scared indeed.

Please help us to always keep in our minds that

You are the Great Physician,

And

There is always a Balm in Gilead.

Father,

Death is all around

And

Were it not for Your Holy Word

We would be sorrowful

But, blessedly, You have taught us

Not to mourn as the heathen do, and to comfort each other

With the knowledge that the Dead in Christ shall rise first

And

We Who are alive, and remain

Shall be caught up together with them

To meet our Lord in the air.

What a blessed assurance!

Oh, Father, draw us nearer to You

As we reach for You in our distresses.

Please open our eyes

To see You clearer and clearer still

With every passing hour.

Please help us to stand upon the Blessed Words of 

Life and Comfort

As we live our lives as Strangers for a Holy Cause.

Father, 

We humbly beseech You for a glimpse of Glory

For just a fleeting moment.

Give us strength to stand upon The Shore today.

Oh, come soon, Great Lord

And

Take us to our Eternal Home in Glory

Where the Old Order is forever gone

And

All is Peace. 

Until then, please guard, guide, and protect us from 

The Wiles of The Devil

And

Please provide us with Care and Comfort

And

Help and Healing

All according to Your Will and in Your Holy Way.

These Mercies we humbly ask

In The Matchless Name of King Jesus

And

We Thank You for hearing and answering our Heartfelt Prayers.

We love You.

AMEN

PRAYER 

IS 

THE KEY

IN 

THE HAND OF FAITH

TO

UNLOCK 

HEAVEN'S STOREHOUSE!

Father, Forgive Me!

Heavenly Father,

I come to You  today with a contrite heart and beseech Your forgiveness.

I ask you, Lord, to forgive me for all the times I did not trust You to make 

a way for me; for all the times I ignored Your wise counsel not to make 

a move and paid a heavy price for disobedience; for all those times that 

I have been willful, and hard-headed and chose to walk in my own wisdom; 

for all those times I chose to ignore  conscience and knowingly did what 

I knew to be  wrong in Your sight. Oh, Father, forgive me! Father, I beseech

You to forgive me for my often lack of faith in You, my Almighty God.

I beseech You, Father, to forgive me for the many times I have given

You my burdens only to take them back and made matters worse.

Father, I am sorry for being an often wayward child, and I ask You to help

me to stay on the straight and narrow path, and to always 

do right even in the face of rabid opposition.  Father, I love You, and I ask

these mercies in the name of Jesus Christ, the Righteous, and I thank You for

hearing and answering prayer. AMEN.