FAITH AND HOPE: Self-Exaltation Versus Self-Examination + PRAYER: Remind Us To Always Pray, Dear Father!

It Came To Pass On A Certain Day 
In The Midst Of The Congregation That

Self-Examination Was Attacked By Self-Exaltation

Who Had Self-Sufficiency

And

Self-Indulgence 

Both Standing Close By

One On The Left Hand And The Other At His Right Hand!

For His Part ... In His Right Hand

Self-Examination Was Gently Holding 
Constant, Heartfelt, Prayer!

It Was An Uneven Match-Up From The Get-Go

And

Know-It-All Self-Exaltation

Did Not Fear ... Nor Neglect

To Tell Self-Examination So!

You Can't Even Think For Yourself!
You Are A Loser!

Look At Those Cheap Shoes On Your Feet! 

You're A Loser Always Having To "The Savior" To Creep! 

Self-Examination

In The Quiet Of His Heart

Said To Himself:

There But For Your Grace, My Lord, I Go! 

Help Me, Dear Father
My-Wise-In-His-Own-Eyes Brother To Reach! 

Please Lay On My Heart Words Of Consideration

So That I Do Not Get Into A Tongue And Teeth Collision
And Send Him Off, Indignant, To The Wily King Fraud! 

To Self-Exaltation
Self-Examination Calmly, Carefully, Deliberately, Said:

Self-Exaltation, 

I'm Sorry That You Feel That Way

But I Creep To My Lord And Savior Boldly 

So That I Do Not Indulge In Own-Sin Self-Pay! 

I Accept The Lord's Checks And Balances

And I Pray Constantly As Protection Against The Known Foe

And I Invite You To Get To Know Him Personally

So That Of Willing Sinning

You Will Choose To Let Go! 

I Was Born A Sinner

But In Sin, I Shall Not Die

Because Jesus Christ My Savior ... For Me, Personally 

On Mount Calvary Did Die! 

We Walk Together Because With Him I Do Agree

And I Choose To Humble Myself Before Him

Instead Of Exalting My Self

And Pretending To The World At Large

That I'm What, Without Him, I Can Never Be! 

I'm A Child, A Student

A Servant And A Saint! 

I've Taken Jesus Christ As My Captain

So That In The Road To Mount Zion

I Shall Not Hunger, Get Lost

Or Under The Buffeting Of The Adversary

Ignominiously Faint!

The Lord Is My Shepherd

My Rock And My Sure Refuge

And By My Following Him Faithfully

Enduringly

I Have Heaven To Gain 

And The Burning Hell To Refuse!

Every One Of Us

Be Ye Self-Exalting

Or Self-Examining

Will Have An Account To Settle

Which Will Clearly Show Our Mettle!

Your Works Will Either Stand And Prosper

Or They Will Fall To The Ground And Perish

And I Tell You Truly

The Reward Of All You Self-Indulgent Ones

Is Not Something That I Would Relish Or Cherish!

I Pray For You With All Sincerity!

I Speak To With Love ... In Christian Charity 

And Beg You, Please

Reform Your Ways Because Before Very Long

We Shall Stand Before The Lord, The King

The Ancient Of Days

Who Knows, Who Sees, Who Feels

And Is In All Things!
We Created Beings ... His Creatures

Cannot Hide From Him

A Single, Solitary Thing!

I Examine Myself

To Know My Every Weakness

And I Repair Unto Him

Who Strengthens Me To Be Like He Is!

I Cannot Be Like You

For I Choose To Be Like

Who Is The Author And Finisher Of My Faith

And The Very One Who Forgives My Sin

And Who Showers Me With Unmerited Favor 

Which Is His Gift Of Moment By Moment

Free Grace!

Remember This, My Misguided Friend 

When You Love The Lord Of Life

You Truly Love Your Self! 

When You Put Your Self 

Before The Lord Of Life 

You Are Your Own God 

And You Earn For Your Own Self

The False God's Reward! 

Worship The Living, Holy, God! 

Humble Your Self

And Stop Being Proud! 

Satan Is Proud! 

Satan Loves Self! 

Satan Is The Father Of Lies! 

Get Him Out Of Your Bosom 

And Get Off Of His Reserved-For-Damnation Shelf! 

Reach For The Extended Hand Of Hope

And Stop Letting Satan Choke You

With Your Own Self-Made Cherished-Sin Rope!

Self-Exaltation Could Not Utter
A Single, Solitary, Note! 

To Strike While The Iron Was Still Hot
Self-Examination Then Said:

 

Self-Exaltation,
Please Take Comfort In The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Of Life And Light 
Who Promises Us His Fatness ... His Abundant Blessings 

Both Now And Forevermore! 

To The Gathered Brethren, He Said:
 
Brethren,

What We See With Our Blind Eyes 

Is 

Narrow And Finite 

So Let Us By The Strength Of Faith 

And 

The Courage Of The Blessed Hope

Take Jesus At His Living Word 

So That We Will Enjoy All That Is In 

His River Of Pleasure! 

Trust, Obey, Pray

Give Praise

Do Good

Endure Through The Fight Of Faith

Be Faithful

Learn All Things From The Lord Jesus

And

We Can All Be Sure That We Will Be Gloriously Blessed! 

Eternity Awaits Us!

PRAYER:

Dear Father,

Please Grant Me

The Strength Of Faith

And
The Courage Of Hope!!

Increase Our Love For Our Lord Jesus

And
Bless Us To Be Tied Up

In Salvation

So That The Life's Work
That Is Sanctification
Does Not Become For Us

A Wink And A Nod

Popular Conversational Trope!

Remind Us Always, Father
That Men Should Pray
And
Not Faint
And
Keep Us In Your Holy Care!

Please Bless Us To Continually Hear
The Sweet Spirit Of Truth
And
To Obey The Gospel Call
So That We Shall Indeed Be Blessed
For It Is In Jesus Christ's Holy Name
That We Sincerely Pray And Humbly Plead!
Please Come For Us Soon!
AMEN!

 

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Enduring Faith Will Be Rewarded + PRAYER!

One Day
My Faith Will Be Rewarded
IF
By Trust Obedience And Love
With Endurance
I ... To The Promises Of The Eternal God
Hold On!

The Promises Are Written
AND
They Shall Be Performed
For The Blood Of The Guarantor Was Ink
AND
The Paper Was The Life Of The Son
The Spotless Lamb Of God!

The Words Of The Promises
Spell Out The Character Of God
As Eternal
Pure
Loving
Kind Faithful
Merciful
Grace-Filled
Spotless
Divine
Truthful
Saving
Healing
Life-Giving
AND
Light-Bearing!
My Heart Is To Him Decidedly Inclined!

Believing In The Word
Is Food
Which Brings Health To My Bones
AND
Anchors My Soul
To The Only One
Who Knows My Unknowns
The Only One
Who Safe-Guards My Soul
The Only One From Whom
I Can Purchase Imperishable Gold!

The God
- The Living God -
On Whom I Fix My Mind Daily
Daily
Offers Me A Faith-Bolstering Glimpse
Of The Life
That Shall Be Mine!

It Is 
Glorious
Immortal
Eternal
Wonderful
Joy-Filled
Wrapped In Righteousness
AND
I Shall Be Singing True Praise
AND
Worshipping Prayerfully
Before Him!

For Him

I Can Step Out On Any Limb! 

By My Faith
With Believing Hopeful Trust
On The Great Day Of Appointment
I Shall In Peace Behold Him
For Whom I Give Up Carnal Lusts
AND
I Shall See
- Even As I Am Seen -
Him Who My Soul Desires
Him Who Made Me
Out Of Earth's Dust!

I Hope!
I Pray!
I Love!
I Share!

AND
I Am Daily Developing The Character
That Holds The Lord
In Godly Fear
AND
As Long As I Walk In Faith

Foreswearing Blind Eyesight
I Shall Live In The Land Where
There Is No Night! 

PRAYER:

Father,

I Believe That You Are God!

Without You, Lord

I Am But Fodder

For The Vile Fraud!

I Love You!

I Trust You!

I Worship Your Name!

Help Me, I Beseech You

To Despise That That Is Unholy

That That This Profane

And

Bless Me, Lord,  Bless Me

Of Your Word

Never, Ever

To Be Ashamed!

To You, My Master

To You, My King

I Owe My Life

My Everything!

Lift Me Up - I'll Sing Your Praises!

Hold Me Up - I'll Declare Your Grace!

Guide Me - I'll Follow Your Leading

Teach Me - I'll Humbly Walk In Your Ways!

I'll Praise You - My Blessings Flow!

I'll Praise You - I'm A Creature On The Earth Below!

I'll Praise You

Father!

Son!

Holy Ghost!

For

My Heart For You

Beats

With Hope-Filled Love!

In Jesus' Name, I Humbly Pray!

AMEN. 

POWER, ADORATION & PRAISE: Serving The Eternal God!

Give Me Power!
Give Me Praise!
Give Me Adoration
Until My Eyes Glaze!

Brethren,

Let Us Serve God!

God Did Not Call Us To Be Served!

Power Belongs To The Almighty

AND

Prayers, Praise, Adoration And Worship

We Shall Offer Him

Until By Death

Our Eyes Glaze!

Two Different Schools!
Two Students In The Class!
One Longs For The Cloak Of Power!
One Longs For The Cloak Of Righteousness
From The Almighty Power!

Two Classes Of Men!
One Willing To Purchase Class!
One Trusting In The Merits Of Him Who
Died 
To Give Fallen Men Permanent Seats
In The Eternal Class!

Two Men!
Two Conclusions!
Only One Can Be The Right!
Will You
Brother Sister
Naysayer Friend
Choose The Conclusion
That Brings Eternal Peace
From The Forever Friend
Who Gives Life
And That
Without End?!

I Will Serve The God Of Heaven
AND
Honor The Christ Who Died For Me!
I Will Do Service
For The Salvation Of My Fellow Man
For
My Lord And My God
So Commissions Me!

Let Us Not Do An End-Run 
For The Corporeal Soon-To-Die  Power!
Let Us Do 
The Believing Man's Committed-To-Christ Walk-Of-Faith
On The Straight And Narrow Way!
Let Us Serve With Hope
Him Who Is Forever Faithful
AND
Get Out From Under The Thrall Of
The Glory-Hungry Goat!

Let The Lord Christ Cut The Choking Rope! 
Power Belongs To The Living God!
Praising God Is Faith's Reward!
Adoration Is The Gift
That Our Faith Willingly Gives To Our God
AND
Service Brings To Us
The Enduring Overcomer's Reward!

If Jesus Christ Does Not Give

IT

To You

IT

Is Not Worth Having!

A Prayer To Start The Day!

Lord,

You Have Awakened Me

From A Peaceful Night's Sleep!

Through The Dark Night

My Soul, You Did Keep!

Now That I Rise

To Face The Unknown Day

I Pray You, Please

Keep Me

Lead Me Safely Along 

The Straight And Narrow Way

So That I

From Your Side

Will Not Ever Look To Stray!

I Thank You, Lord

For The Good Things I Will Receive!

I Thank You For Teaching Me

So Satan Can't Me Deceive!

I Thank You For The Gifts

Of

Dear Mercy

And

Blessed Grace

And

I Thank You, Lord

For The Promise

That Gives Me Faith's Look

Upon My Beloved Savior's Face!

Father,

Forgive Me

For The Mistakes Of Yesterday!

Forgive Me For Any Unkind Words Spoken

That My Brethren May Have Heard Me Say!

Forgive Me, Lord

And

Correct Me

If I

To Any Fellow

Display An Uncaring Attitude

And

Help Me To Display Good Fruit

For In Christ I Know

My Tree Has Good Roots!

Help Me, Dear Lord

Not To Covet

What Another Person Has!

Help Me To Be Ever Content

To Dwell Within My Savior's Love

For He Who Saves

Feeds

Helps

Shelters And Protects

And

Provides For Daily Needs

Including

Necessary Shoes And Clothes!

Lord,

Help Over Mere Things Not To Fret!

Help Me, Lord

To Appreciate Your Artist's Hand!

Help Me To Appreciate

The Visible Proofs Of Your Blessings

No Matter Where

- House, Hovel

Cave, Street Corner, Barn -

I May Find Myself

If I Become A Victim

Of A Cruel Circumstance!

Lord, I Trust You!

Help Me, Lord

Not To Credit My Eye

My Feelings

Nor The Noise Of The Clamoring World

But Help Me To Continue 

To Faithfully Trust

In The Living Word

Of

The Giving God

So That I May Reach The End Of My Life

- Or The End Of Fleeting Time -

Anchored By Ever-Increasing Faith

So That I May Gain

Your Precious

And

Great

And

Unthought-Of Reward!

Oh, Father!

My Father!

Keep Me Faithful

For I Am Truly Blessed!

Help Me Not To Lean

To The Fallen-Away Left

And

Help To Walk

Upward

And

Onward, Lord

Depending On You

Who - Alone -

Is Faithful, Kind, Comforting

And

Ever True!

Thank You For Listening, Lord!

Keep Me Talking To You!

Keep Me Listening To 

And

Obeying You

And

Help Me To Hold Fast Unto You

For

I Do Indeed Love You!

Remember The Faithful!

Humble The Proud!

Lift Up The Fallen!

And

Bless All Who Are Looking For

The Real Lord Christ's True Transport Cloud

With Overcomer's Eyesight

And

Endurance!

I Pray All In The Name

Of

Jesus Christ The Righteous!

Have Mercy, Lord!

AMEN.

Serving The Lord With Gladness?!

In Saul
Israel Received A King
After Their Own Heart
Stiff-Necked
Refusing To Follow God's Leading!

In David
Israel Received A King
After God's Own Heart
Penitent
Trusting
Following After The Lord
Hopeful
Pleading!

In Eli
Israel Had A High Priest
Corpulent
Satisfied With Benefits Of
Ill-gotten Worldly Gain
Unwilling To Chastise Those Who 
Willingly Do
God's Holy Name
Profane!

In Samuel
Israel Had A Prophet And A Priest
A True Type Of Christ
Willing
Obedient
Caring For The Souls Of Men
Careful Not To The Holy God
In Any Way
To Offend!

In Judas The Betrayer
We See A Churchman
A Thief
Unconverted
Though Feeding Daily 
Upon The Living Bread Of
The Visible Holy Word
- A Man Self-Deceived!

In John The Revelator
We See A Soul Beloved
Returning The Dear Love
Of His Master
His Teacher
His Lord
Fully Fed
Fully Converted
Choosing
By The King Of Life
To Be Faithfully Lead!

I Am Christian!
You Claim Christianity, Too!
Are We Good Witnesses For Christ
Or
Are We Unto The World
A Plague Of Lice
AND
Locusts
Of Demonic Device?

Are We As Those Faithful
Kind
Loving
Obedient
Walking Holy
Ever True
Or
Are We As Those
Boldly Self-Righteous
Of Corrupting Influence
Liard
AND
Licentious, Too?

Those Who Love
AND
Serve The Lord
Be Not Hardhearted
Presumptious
Nor Obdurate
I Here 
AND
Now 
Warn You!
God Is No Respecter
Of Men
Nor Their Trifling Vanities
AND
Just Because
We Outwardly Appear To Serve Him
He Is Not Swayed By Appearances
For
God Knows How Our Innards Are Working
AND
He Is Not Swayed By Our Inanities!

Obedience Is Better
Than The Burning Of Sacrifice!
Faithfulness Trump's Deceit!
AND
Truth Has No Better In This Life
For With It
We Will That Old Wicked Devil
Truly
Thoroughly
Defeat!

Walk Wholly Holy!
Walk Fearlessly Faithfully!
Be Wisely Hopeful!
AND
Living By Heartbreaking Honesty
AND
Live Right But Not By Sight
AND
God Will Bless You
With Strength For Each Day 
So That You May
Valiantly Fight!

So ...

Do Not Let Love For 
Elevated Positions
Pulsating Power
Heady Praise
AND
Fleeting Worldly Promotion
Scuttle Your Walk With Jesus Christ
AND
Thereby Permit
Lion The Liar
To Glory In Your Overthrow
With Haughtily Proud
Self-Satisfied
Putrifying Gaze!

Put No Idol 
Upon The Throne Of The Living Holy God
For
In So Doing
You Shall Reap
The Reward Of The Fraud!

God Does Not Change
BUT
Fickle Humans Do
So, Please
Live For The Lord Christ
AND
Let His Holy Spirit
Through Living Faith 
Reform 
AND
Uplift You!

Dump Satan 

And

His Pifflers

On His Base Rump

AND

Grow In God's Grace

Even As You Take

Life's Solidly Malicious Thumps
For

Our Almighty God
Always
Lovingly Restores!