Love Hopes!!

Hope O'Reward
AND
Fear O'Punishment
Both Serve The Living God...!

... Somehow I Doubt That!

I'm With You On That
Because
What They Are Doing
Makes Them No Different
From An Open Idolater!

Them's Strong Words!!

You'd Better Believe Them!

Who Is The Living God?!

The Living God Is Love!

What Is Man?!

Man Is A Sinner
Separated From The Living God!

What Is Sin?!

Transgression Of The Living God's Law!

Lawlessness!

So What Is Love?!

Love Does!

Love Hopes!
Love Helps!
Love Gives!
Love Does Not Give To Get!
Love Does Not Hope It Will Help!
Love Does Not Fear!

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear!

Love Is Not Covetous!

The Living God Desires Our Love!

AND
Anything Less Is Contemptible!

We Love Almighty God 

Because Almighty God Loves Us, First
AND
We
- Seeing The Blessed Love Work In Our Behalf -
Love The Eternal God ... In Return
Without Thinking About What We Will Get Next

AND
Without Fear Of What We Will Lose
If The Love Is Not Adequately Returned!

Almighty God's Love
- Like Almighty God's Grace -
Is Ever Sufficient
AND
Because That Love, IS
We Rest In It
Being Joyful
Being Comforted
Being Blessed
Being Eager To Please
Wanting To Bless
Knowing Always That Everlasting Love Cares
That True Love Never Leaves The Beloved
Lonely Forsaken Afraid ... Alone!

I Agree!

What He Just Said!!

Understand This ...

Reward And Love Never Marry!
Love And Hope Don't Carry
Fear
Which Loves To Tarry
Putting One In The Position Of Having 

To Parry
The Thrusts And Blows Of Misguided Affection
Which Have Not Time To Note Direction
BUT

Walks Wild

AND
Thinks Vain
Offering Up Gifts Like Cain
AND

Thinking Nothing Of Destroying
The Pure Of Heart
Because
Their Offering Of Love
Makes You
- Of Your Offering -
Regrettably ... Ashamed!

What He Just Said!!

I Agree!

The Prayer-Hearing God Answers ... Prayers!

I Serve A Prayer-Hearing
Prayer-Answering God!
I Praise The All-Seeing
All-Knowing
Ever-Present God
- Not That Known Fraud!

I Honor The Mighty God
The Creator Of Heaven And Earth
The Sovereign King
And
I Present Myself Before Him
Because He Is My Everything!

I Love You, Lord

For You Are True!

You Say As You Will

And

You Do That Which Is Right And Best

For Mankind

Be He Faithful Unfaithful

Good Evil

Kind Unkind

Believer Or Doubter

Or Faithless And Clueless, Too!

I Bow Before You In Worship, Lord!

I Sing Your Power As Praise!

I Bless You For You Are The Holy God

And

I Accept Your Blessing On My Life

Giving Me Length Of Days!

How Can I Despise Your Great Salvation?

How Can I Deny Your Great Grace?

How Can I Reject Your Unfailing Mercy

And Still Call Myself A Believer

And Not End Up In Damnation's Conflagratory Blaze?

Lord,

By Your Word

I Will Answer My Own Questions:

I Can't Despise Your Bounty And Be Blessed!

I Can't Despise Your Grace And Get Gifts!

I Can't Despise The Merciful Power

By Whose  Breath I Live

And, So

Dear Lord

Thou Blessing Faithful God

I Take My Stand With The Righteous

And I Shall Mourn And Cry

For The Abominations In The Land!

I Shall Bow My Head

Break My Stony Heart

Bend My Knee

Wash My Sick Of Sin Eyes

Permit My Ears To Be Unstopped
And

Shop In Heaven's Storehouse

For A New Man Like Unto My Lord Christ
And

Call For And Accept The Leading

The Direction

The Correction

The Teaching Of

Your Holy Spirit

And

Accept The Influence And Protection Of Your Holy Angels

And

I Shall Worship

Pray

Plead

Petition

Praise

And

Place My All On The Altar Of Sacrifice

AND

I Shall Declare:

The Lord Is My Shepherd!

I Have Everything That I Need!

The Lord Is My Rock!

My Soul Is Anchored!

Faith Is My Steed!

The Lord Is My Strong Tower!

The Stone I Stand On Cannot Fall!

The Lord Is My Shield

That That Satan Cannot To Me Pass Beyond!

I Shall Not Live On The I-Feels!

Lord,

I Come!

Clean Me!

Make Me To You As One Holy!

Render Me As One Undefiled!

Bless Me, I Beseech You!

To You, My Stubborn Will I Humbly Give!

To You, My Way I Surrender!

To You, My Life I Give!

Oh, Lord

Your Word Is My Light!

You Are My Salvation!

You Are Food, Shelter, Rest!

You Are Peace, Comfort!

I Am The One Blessed!

Jesus Christ Is My Captain

My Ship

My Sea

My Wind

My Current

My Eyes That The Real World I May See!

Mold Me, Lord

Break Me

Make Me After Your Sovereign Will

For

I, Here, Now, Am Waiting

Father,

I Yield!

In Your Presence

I Am Still!

I Love You, Lord

And

You Are My Portion

For 

You Loved Me First

And So

I Ask All My Blessings

And Give Utterance To All My Prayers

And My Praise

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name!

AMEN.

My God Is The Rock!

The Troublers Of My Soul Are Many
So
In Godly Fear
I Cried Unto The Lord!
He Heard Me
From His Home In Zion
AND
I No Longer Had Anything To Fear
From That Seeking Roaring Ravening Lion!

I Laid Me Down!
I Slept ... In Peace
AND
I Awakened - What Sweet Relief
AND
Now, Sustained
By The Love Of Him
Who, To Me, Is All Gain
I Shall Not Be Afraid
Of Those Chain-Rattling Profane!

My God Is The Rock ... In The Weary Land!
My God Is The Shepherd
Who Guides And Comforts Me
With That Loving Gentle Hand!
My God Is The Life-Giver
Who Gives Me Food For Both Body And Soul
AND
My God Is Preparing Me The Perfect Place
The Taking Up Of Residence In Which
Motivates My Life
For It Is My Goal!

My God Is The Lover Of My Soul!
My God Bought Me A Second-Death Pardon
AND
I Can Approach Unto Him Bold
AND
In The Name Of Christ The Redeemer
I Can
I Do
I Will
Make My Requests Known Unto Him
AND
Today
My Request, Lord, Is:

Make Me Unto You, A Delight!

My God!
My Hope!
My Help!
My Salvation!
Even So ... Come, Lord Jesus
For

I Desire To Be With You

In The Forever Home!

There Is A Cross Through The "I" in PAIN!

All I Saw Was The Line
Which Said
"Pain Changes People!"
And Immediately
I Had To Write For I Could Relate!
Pain Has Been My Constant Companion
And,  At Times
It Appears That Pain And I Are On
An Acrimonious Date!

But ... I Digress!

Pain Changes People!
It Causes A Person To Do
One Of  Two Things:
Bow The Head In Supplication
Or
Raise The Fist In God Condemnation
Holler And Curse At God
And
Hide Between The Sheets!

Oops! That Was Actually Four Things!

One Person Holds The "Pity Me" Party!
Another Person Chooses Abandonment Of The  Word Of Truth!
Or,  Like Me
One Chooses
Resignation With Praise
Saying With Faith-Full Confidence:
"God Does Not Own A Lounger Call Chaise!"

There Is Ignore The Facts Of The Matter!
There Is Face The Facts And Relax!
There Is Swallow Every Pill In Town and Run Around
Or, Like Me
Swallow The Scheduled Pill 
AND
Turn To God For Succor!

There Is Put Pills With Alcohol
Spin The Bottle
AND
Hope To Sod Off

OR ...

Like Me
- With Time -
Realize That In That Pain 
There Is A Testimony
AND
In This A Period Of Time Out
AND 
Take The Time To Take Stock
AND 
Regroup
AND
Not Let Pain Be The Rabid Lion On The Loose
With God Sitting Like Scaredy Cat
Up On Your Crumbling Roof!

I Choose To Bow My Head!
I Choose To Talk To My God!
I Choose To Deny The Liar
That Ecumenical Fraud!
I Chose To Take The Medication Prescribed!
I Prayed!
I Even Cried
But ...
I Never Ever
The Living Holy God Denied!

In My Life With Pain
Is An Open Secret Called Truth
Of The Fact That
The Pain Was My Blessing For
The Alternative Was The Death Curse!

By God's Great Grace
AND
Having Had The Decision Made For Me
I Am Thankful For The Life I Lead
For Otherwise
I Would Be Stone Cold Dead
AND
Rotten
AND
Forgotten
Indeed!

Pain Says
Something Is Wrong!
Pain Says:
That Soul Can Barely Get Along!
Pain Says:
Go To Your Father
He Can Fix You
Make You Strong

Unless ...

Your Life Is To Be A Witness
That Grace Is Ever Sufficient
AND
Show That 
God Is The Author
Of The Believing Child's
"I Trust God!" Love Song!

Pain Can Change
From A Problem
Into A Calamity
From Physical
To Emotional
To Spiritual
IF 
There Is No Time Called Devotional!

Pain Changes People
For Good Or For Ill!
Pain Changes People!
Like It Or Not
When In Pain
You Cannot Be Still!
Pain Changes People
Whether Or Not
They've Had Their Fill
AND
The Creator
Healer
Sealer
Is There For Our Help
If We Choose
Through Our Pain
To Be Constant In Faith
AND
Ever Trust Him Still!

Pain Is A Posy
A Passion
A Prayer!
Pain Is Friend
AND
Enemy
AND
It Holds Our Stare!
Pain Is
Can Be 
Addicting
Benumbing -  It Is True
AND
Downright Evil To Boot
AND
It Is Up To Us To Decide
If Pain Is Going To Rob Us Also
Of Our Daily
Heavenly
Necessary Food!

I Choose To Trust The Lord
By Living Faith
Not Dying Eyesight!
I Choose To Bless The Lord
AND
By Grace
Daily Fight!
I Choose To Believe
That Pain
Is The Price We Pay For Living
But ...
I Refuse To Give Pain
A Blind Red Cent
For His Joy-killing Act Of Shilling For The Devil!

Pain Is A Thief!
The Father Desires Our Relief!
Jesus Christ Is The God Police Chief!
The Holy Spirit Is The Elite Comfort Force
AND
The Angels Minister Strength In The Bitter Discourse!

Pain Carried Me

• Chased Me
• Compelled Me To Get To
• To Get Closer To
• To Stick With
• To Hang On For Dear Life

To My Jesus!

I Have Jesus For Joy
AND
Pain Has No Authority
To Play Me Like A Puppy's Chew Toy!

My Pain IS My Blessing!
It Drove Me To Home
AND
That Is Where I Intend To Stay
In The Arms Of My Jesus
Until The Closing Of My Day
Where The Song Sung
- After The Life Story -
Will Be

"This Soul Experienced A Life Of Pain

AND

Still Gave Its God His Eternal Glory!"

*********

Which Book

Is Ordering YOUR Reaction 

To THAT Pain?!

The Life In Christ Book

OR

The Science Falsely So Called Book!?

The Song Writer Said:

"I've Got Confidence

God Is Going To See Me Through

No Matter What The Case May Be

I KNOW
That God Is Going To Fix It For Me!"

*********

Embrace Jesus' Peace 

Even Though Enduring Earthly Pain Now

And

Enjoy Immortal Life 

In God's Eternal Paradise Later!

*********

Joy In The Lord Now!

Enjoy Everlasting Joy In The Lord Later!

*********

Let Us Consider Our Pain As Our Crucible

For The Refinement Of Our Character

To Be Made Fit To Become A Jewel

In The Coming King's Glorious Crown!

*********

As Hard As It Is To Say

This Life Is Not About Me!

It Is About Uplifting Him 

Who Loves Me!!

I Get To Glory In Glory

AND

God Gets The Prayers

AND

The Praise!

Developing Calluses

I Had Acquired A Callus 
On My Left Index Finger
Which Made Me Think 
Wonder
About Getting A Callus On My Heart
OR
Worse
Perhaps Developing
A Calloused Heart!

Neither Prospect Comforted Me
For
The Nature of A Callus
Means
A Breach Has Been Made
AND
There,  Therefore
Is Now
A Disunity
AND
Because of That Breach On In My Skin
There Is Pain
Real Pain
AND
The Real Prospect
Of Real Infection
AND
Real Disease
Getting In!

I've Been Using A Nearly Invisible Head
Lace-making Crochet Hook
One That I Had Not Used For Many A Year!
The First Stitch
Ripped My Skin
I Said: "Aiiee!"
I Made Another Stitch
And Repeated The Sequence Again
Until The Point Of Contact
Was Ripped To Shreds
AND 
I Was Feeling The Pain!

Over The Next Couple Of Days
Stitch, Aiiee,  Stitch, Ouch, Stitch
Became
Stitch,  Hmm,  Stitch,  Stitch, Ahhm, Stitch, Motif Done!

THEN ...

On Day Three
My Index Finger
Had Made A Physical Change!
I'd Awakened That Morning
With My Finger Discolored
Hardened
Feeling Quite Strange
And The Crochet Needle
No Longer Caused Me To Wince,  Cringe or Exclaim!

My Body Had Accepted The Breach
AND
The Breach Had Become A Part Of Me!

I and The Breach Were Now One!

This Discovery Held Serious Implications For Me
AND
Opened My Eyes
To The Methodology Of Sin and Sinning!

It Also Showed Me
The True Meaning of Repentance For Sin!

It Also Showed Me Why Lust Of The Eye and
By Extension Lust Of The Flesh, and 
Pride Of Life 
Are Particularly Dangerous For Humans
AND
Destructive To Believers!

A Callus
When Hardened
Renders One Impervious
To The Darts
Rubs
Tears
Grinds
Of Wickedness ... Sin
Breaching The Heart Soul!

No Pain!
No Sorrow!
No Bother!

No Bother!
Sin Boasts!

Sin Boasts!
The Soul Becomes Toast!

If You Don't Want 

A Calloused Heart

Keep The Holy Word

As A Living Barrier!

Look Unto Jesus

and

Walk Work Right

to

Finish The Mission

 With Loving Eyes Holy Bright!

PRAYER: Lord, Preserve My Peace!

Lord,  Preserve My Peace

When The Clamor of The World Is Me Bombarding!

Lord,  Preserve My Peace

When The Devil's Henchmen 

Would Have Me Sin Against My Own Soul!

Lord,  Preserve My Peace

When My Search 

For My Soul's  Peace Initiates Conflict -

Bid Me Rest In Thee

For You Are My Comfort and My King!

Oh,  May The Peace Of God

Which Passes All Human Understanding

Fill My Heart With Joy

This Day, and Always!

In Jesus' Holy Name I Plead.

AMEN

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The White Lily and The Ship!

Her Advent came by Rape!
Her?  Her Mother Did Hate!
She Did Not Know Her Ultimate Fate
But
Thankfully, Each day
No Matter How Little or Late
Her Mother Fed Her
And
She Gratefully Ate!

She Spoke of A Life
Sorely Lacking In Love!
She Did Not Cry Nor Lament
For The Unloving Mother 
Taught Her of 
The Living Holy God's Eternal Love!

Strange -  This Combination!
The Unloving 
Teaching 
The Unloved of 
God's Love
But
This Jagged Circle Pointed
To Jesus Christ ... and His Eternal Love
And
Heavenly Rest Up Above!

In The Midst of The Muck
That Man Calls His Life
Is A Lily of Such Beauty
That One Asks: "How Come?!"
For Muck is Really Muddy
And
Muddy Water Is Really Unclean
Yet 

"Lily,  Oh,  Lily

Thy White Is Beautifully Pristine!"

The Bullied
The Bothered
The Hapless Lacking Hope
All Know That  - Even in War
White is The Eternal Symbol for Hope
And 
All That Walk Under That Banner So Clean
Know 
With A Certainly
That Their Freedom Is Keenly Seen!

Jesus Christ IS The White Lily!
The Visible Symbol for Hope!
Looking Unto Jesus
Sinner 
Savage
All Through Jesus Will Cope
With The "Accident"
Called Birth
The Circumstance 
Called Living Life 
And
The Situations in Daily Living's Strife!

All Will Survive Their "Humiliations"
IF ...
IF ... Jesus Christ 
IS
The Leader of Their Life!

Rapes!
Denigrations!
Whoredoms 
And
Idolatries!
All Will be Fixed
By Faith in The White Lily
Who Is
The Bright and
Morning Star
Who Left The Kingdom of His Light
To Bring Give Hope
To a Fallen People
On a Far Distant Shore
Where Life is Oft' Bogged Down
Where Friendship is Oft' Silver-Coined Death
Where Creatures Killed Creator
Where Seeking Hungry Souls Can Be Filled
Where The Fullness of Time was Fulfilled
Where Time Himself called "Time!"
Where The Sacrifice of Innocent for Guilty
Was Executed by The Guilty of Gross Sin!
BUT
Where, Also 
Despite The Downside Of Denials
There is The Upside 
The Upside Called Hope!

There Is Hope for 
All Who Believe
That That White Lily
Standing Out Over 
In The Dirty Dirt
IS
The Answer
The Means Whereby
Sinking Ships 
Overladen 
Anchored Heavily By Sin
Can By The Belief and Faith Offering
Rise Up and Gallant Float!

Only The Eternal Word

Can

Cause 

A White Lily 

to 

Emerge 

From 

Bilge Water!

Trust Him!

When We Let Him

He Will Make Us White, Too!