My Hope Is In The Lord!

The Lion Is Roaring!
The Snake Does Hiss
AND
Sin ...
Sin Desires Me
Its Face To Slobberingly Kiss
BUT
If I Do That
Ignoring
The Lord Of Bliss
I Shall
Eternity
 - With Faithful Of Almighty God -
In The Touching Sight Of
Jesus Christ The Lord
Totally, Totally, Miss!

I Cannot
I Will Not
- By The Grace Of The Living God -
Do This

BECAUSE

The Lord Of Life

Shines Holy Light On Me!

It Is His Gift!

The Lord Of Darkness
Is 

Actively Striving To Destroy Me
BUT
The Living God I Worship
Is Eternal
Is Real

Is Blessing

Is Giving

Is Forgiving
Is Reigning
Is Sovereign
AND
By My Living
According To His Will
In The Battle For Salvation
I Will Not

I Cannot

Fail!

Devils May Assail
BUT
Because I ... In Sorrow For Known Sin
To The Holy God Do Wail
In The Fullness Of Time
I Shall Join The Redeemed
AND
To Heaven
- In The Redeemer Christ's Glory -
I Shall

Incorruptible

Immortalized

Sail!

I, Repentant

 Recognize

And

Accept

The Blessing Given To Me

By

The Sacrifice!

Do YOU?!

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

Jesus Christ The Righteous

Was Pinned To The Cross

By Roman Nails

But

It Was His Sacrificial Love

For Me

For You

That Kept Him There!

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!

FIRE-POWER: Surrendered To Christ! + PRAYER: Love, Please Do Not Let Me Go!

Weakness Was Walking
Stalking
AND
Self
Was In A Bind!

Assailed-By-Temptation
AND
Looking-At-Circumstances
- In Grand And Gripping Array -
Were Doing The Devil's Best
To Cause Self To Forget
That He Had Surrendered
- Fully Surrendered Himself -
To The True And Living
Able
Available
God Of The Unchangeable
- Aka Sealed And Settled In Heaven -
WORD!

"Wait A Minute!" 
Said Self-Reflection
In A Rumination Furor.

Of Course ...!

There Is Power
In The Blood
In Belief
In Love
In Faith
In Grace 
In Hope 
AND
In Obedience!
I Know
For
In God I Trust
BUT
What I Need Most Now

Is
The Power Of The Word
Which I Do Not
Deny!

PRAYER:

Father, Oh Father

I Trust You!

I Believe!

The Blood Of Jesus Cleanses Me

And

Jesus' Sacrifice Saves Me

For I Accepted The Gift Of Sure Salvation!

Please, 

In Jesus' Holy Name

Hear, Oh, Hear My Plea

And Do, Lord

For Me

What Only The Eternal Can Do!

I Praise You

And

Give You Thanks

For Yesterday's Blessing 

- They Were Many -

But
I Now Utter The Call Of Faith

And
 Beseech You For One Blessing More!

I Need

I Need

The Power Of The word

To

- With The Angels -

Attend Me!

Let Not Knowledge Of The Word

Be - To Me - 

Just

An Intellectual Exercise!

Let Me Not Claim The Word 

But

Deny The Power Thereof!

Let Knowledge Of The Word

Fill Me

AND

The Power Of The Word

Conform My Heart To Christ

By The High Power Of The Holy Spirit!

Cover Me!

Let Me Ever Feel Your Abiding Love!

Love ... Do Not Let Go!

Grace ... In My Life Please Show!

Favor ... Let Me Hold Your Hand!

For

At The Cross Of Christ

I Take My Stand

For It Is My Soul's Desire

To Live

In Beulah Land!

AMEN.

Life! Life!
Do Your Worse
The Lord Of Life
Died To Save Me!

In Him, I Am Not Cursed!

Circumstance
You Shall Not Phase Me!
The Accursed Of Calvary
Is The Blessed Of Heaven
AND
Thank God

Even Now
He Is Interceding For Me!

Weakness
You May Sleep On Now!
He Who Is My Peace
Gives Me Rest
AND
In Him
I Am Strong!

I Will Not Be Smoozed By You!
In My Heart
Is A Sweet I-Know-Jesus Song!

Temptation
I Am Not Yielding!
Go Back To The Devil Who Sent You!
Go Back Where You Belong
For I Look To Jesus Christ
The Author
The Finisher 
Of My Faith
AND
In His Abiding Love
I Shall Not
Make Shipwreck
Of My Faith!

S'Long!

Looking Back ...!

Sin Tried To Kill Me!
I Cried Out In Despair
AND
Salvation Intervened
AND
Love Aka Life
Poured Out
Grace And Mercy
AND
Made Me Alive!
Jesus Christ Saved Me!

I Had To Take Medication!
It Was The Bitter Pill!
It Drew Out The Offal In My Life
AND
Confession
AND
Repentance
I Did Spill!

I Had Walked Right
In My Own Sight!
For Correction
I Gave Neither A Ripe

Nor

A Green Fig!
I Lived For The Dance!
The Party!

The Prance!

AND
If You'd Looked Closely
You Would've Seen Me
Doing The Jig!

That's An Old Word ...!!

... And It Suitably Describes 

My Old Life!
I Did The Hop
The Skip

AND
The Jump

AND
I Did The Bossa Nova

AND
I Energetically Shook My Rump
AND
I Ignored
Family
Friends
AND
Dear Faith
AND
As For The Lord Christ
If I Had Been A Smoking Person Then
I Would Have Blown Smoke Right In "His Face!"

Goodness!?!

You May As Well Say
"Gracious!"
For That Is What Christ Is
For
When My Fun-Bubble Broke
He Did Not Leave Me
On The Disbursed Rubber
To Choke!

Lord, Have Mercy!

Oh, Yes!
God Did Have Mercy
In The Person Of
The Lord Christ
Who
In Love
AND
With Great Compassion
Disclosed
The Way I Was Walking
AND
Revealed
The Working Of Sin
That Satanic Device!

Only Jesus ...!

... Only Jesus
Could Save Me From Self ...!

... That False God!

Only Jesus Could Save Me
From Receiving
My Share In The Devil's Reward
For
I Was Bent On Destruction!
I Was In Self-Destruct Mode!
I Was Moving Full Speed Ahead
I Was Heading For
The Mother Lode
Condemnation
Damnation
Lake Of Fire
Eternal Separation
From GOD ...!

But ... GOD?!

But, God
Placed
Before My Very Face
Answers
To Questions
I Wouldn't Articulate!

Don't You Mean Couldn't?!

No, I Don't!

If I Had Asked "The Questions!"
I Would Have Had To Stop
Playing
With The Devil
But, Man
That Party Was Hip!
That Party Was A Hit!
That Party Is Hot!
There I Was Spinning Like A Top!

Oh, My!

Oh, My Life Was In Toilet!
I Was In The Personal Stall!
I Was Handling My Business
AND

I Was Brooking No Intervention
At All
Until
The Results Wouldn't Flush
AND

The Engineer Of Life
Came In
AND

I Had To Regurgitate
The Refuse Of My Life!

Believe Me

When I Tell You That
My Head
My Heart
My Hands
Even My Heels
By Then
Were Seriously Hurting

BUT

The Engineer
Was Not Unkind!

He Offered Me Hope!

He Said I Was Amongst
The Blessed
That My Cup Had Not Overflowed
Else
When I Flushed
I
AND
My Mess
Would Have Gone Down
Into The Pool Called Cess!

Dear Lord!!

The Dear Lord
Who Is The Father
Of My Kind
Forgave Me Of My Seriously Foolish

AND

Grossly Complacent Ways!
He Reclothed Me
In My Rightful Mind
AND
I
- Now In His Service -
A Purer Life Did Find
AND
In His Presence
I Offer Deep Praise!

Gloryyy!

Glory Be
To The Father
And To The Son
And To The Holy Ghost
Which Spirit
Fell Upon Me!

I Am Satisfied With Jesus!
I Have Little
BUT, GOD!Is In It!

I Recognize
That There Was One
Who Was Willing
To Die
In MY Stead
So That I
So Unworthy
Might Live ...!

... Nailed To The Cross!

My Sins Are Nailed
To His Cross
AND
He Fills Me Now!

I've Got Joy!
I've Got Peace!
I've Got My Jesus
Since From Sinning
I've Been Released
For Jesus Came Into My Heart!

I Trust Him
For
He Throws Out ...

... THE LIFE LINE!

Amen, Amen, Amen!!

Be Still My Soul

The Lord Is On Your Side!

The Cross Of Christ

How Is It
That Pre-Jesus
The Roman Cross
WAS
Just An Instrument Of Torture
AND
Death
BUT
Present-Jesus

- The Life ... Of The World -
It Is A Lamp-Post
- Shedding Eternal Light -

To Those Who Will

To Be Blessed?!

The Cross Of Christ
IS
A Transport
A Transport Of Delight
Lifting High
The Repentant Sinner
Sending Him
Into The Land Of Truth
Beauty
AND
Right!

The Wood
Is Not The Thing Important!
The Man Who Hung There
Was A Body Veiling
Divinity!
Divinity
Which Chose Fallen Man's Position
So That In Life's Death
Satan - He Who Is Death To Human Life -

- Thenceforth -
Would Be In His Own Certain

Unremitting Death Throes!
No More Woes!

Life Died To Overcome Death!
Life Arose
To Give His Life
To Man - The True Walking Dead!
Life Willingly Laid Down For Us
His Life
AND
To Give New Life To Men
His Life
He Surely Took Up Again!

He Reigns!

Life Won In The Bitter Strife!

Because Of Life's Death
I Have A Way To Go To The Father!
Because Life Lives
I Can
- One-On-One -
Talk To My Father God!
Because Life Reigns
I Can Walk Through
The Gates Of Glory
For
It Is My Right
Because
The Life Enlightens

AND
Enlivens
The New-In-Christ Life

I Gained!

I Rejoice
In Life's Death
Because
- In Acceptance -
I Get Life's Life
As He Took My Sure Death!

I View The Cross
As The Sign Post
Of Salvation
AND
I Rejoice
For
By Its Light
I Can See The Way
The Way To Get Back Home

Today!

It Is The Only Way There!

I Thank God
For Grace And Glory!
I Thank God
For Truth And Light!
I Thank God
For The Faith
That Believes The Gospel
The Good News Story
AND The Mercy
That Removes Me
From The State Of Disgrace
To The Glorious Place!

The Cross Of The Word

The Life Of The World
Is The Light To My Path
The Lamp To My Feet
The Lifter Up Of My Head!
I Will Not Deny The Lord
Who Died To Save Me
BUT

I Will Lift Him Up Daily
As I Do My Own Cross
AND
Follow Him
As I Am Led To Safety!

Taking The Holy Life

For A Sinner's Life

Leads To Eternal Life

For The Repentant Sinner

Who To Willful-Sin

Is Now Cold!

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

Cross-Carrying

Christ-Following

Caring

Committed-To-Christ

Comforter-Converted Christians

Cannot

Continue Committing

Christ-Killed-Afresh Crimes Called Sin!

IMMORTAL: Mortal!

If I

Were Now Immortal

I Would Have No Need

For A Holy God!

I Would Have No Need For Salvation

AND

Would Have No Fear Of

God's Chastening Rod!

I Would Walk

As Though I Am Law

Unto My Blighted Self!

I Would Walk The Earth

Not Giving A Tinker's Damn

About Any Other Person Save

My Own Delightsome Self

For I

Being Perfect

Not Admitting

Of Any Flaw

Would Have No Fear

Of Showing Mere Men

My Sharp

Shiny

Scything

Raptor's Claw!

I Would Do

As I Very Well Please!

I Would Mash Up

AND

Buy Back

Because I Would Have

Unwearied Knees!

I Would Cut Down

AND

Dig Up

Confident In My Self

AND

Having No Fear

Of The Real God

Nor The Damned Devil

Who

Having To Defer To Me

Is Beside Himself!

I Would Burn Bridges!

I Would Fly Close To The Sun

AND

Fly In The Face Of The Son!

I Would Walk Into Oncoming Motor Traffic

AND

Rejoice

For I Would Have No More Need

For Hacked Internet

Meme Traffic!

I Would Be

Mean

AND

Unkind

For I Will Have

Nothing To Regret!

I Would Be Fast AND

Still Slow

For I Will Have No Place

To Hurriedly Go!

I Would Sup

On Whatever Food Taste's Good

And Sip

On Whichever Drinks Waste's Hard!

I Would Not Rest

For I Will Not Be Sleeping

For My Own Unwearied Soul

Will Be In My Own Safe Keeping!

But ...

Alas

'Tis All A Satanic Lie

A Deception

To Make Satan Laugh

As We

Riding The Raging Tide

Volubly Bitter

Die!

Misery Likes Company

Just As Candy Likes Sugar

To Be Sweet

AND

SIN

Likes Willful Sinners

To Play Chicken

As They Wait Eagerly

-Supposedly -

Death To Riotously Cheat!

***-***-***

Believing To Receive

NOT

Conceiving To Deceive

Is The Man

That Says His Prayers

To The God Of Heaven

Who For Him Cares!

***-***-***

Money

Cannot Buy

Eternal Security

BUT

It Can Rid One

Of An Earthly Cross, 'Tis True

BUT

What If That Cross

- Wisely Appreciated -

Was The Means Whereby

To Eternally

Save You?!

The Question Applies To Me, Too!

Obviously, Then ...

Your Rubbishing Your Cross

For A Sinful Life Of Ease

Would Be Sad Indeed

When For You

The Cross Was The Cure

For The Sin Disease!

***-***-***

Nothing Is As It Appears!

Look Deeper

AND

Talk To The God Of Heaven

Who Created

Wind!

AND

Air!

That You Can Breathe In

AND

Feel On Your Skin

BUT

Cannot Keep On A Seat

Marked

Comfortable Chair!

***-***-***

Men Are Mortal!

Accept It!

Mortal Men Die

AND

Mortal Men

Who Choose To Believe

In Almighty God

AND

Follow After

Jesus Christ The Lord

WILL

With The Angels

One Soon-Coming Day

Adroitly Fly!

***-***-***

Lord, Please Draw Nigh!