FAITH: Wrestling Presumption!

Miss Faith Was Building Her House!
She Claimed For Her House Name
Genuine Faith
AND
Ordered Her Bricks
And Other Supplies
And Set About Her Business
Following After God's Goodness!

For The Foundation Of Genuine Faith
Faith Had
The Promises
AND
Provisions Of The Scriptures!
It Was A Mighty Undertaking
AND
That Foundation Was Solid Rock!
Faith Was Happy In The Lord
AND
About Her Lot!

Things Were Moving Along Apace
AND
Faith Knew
Her House Would Never Show Itself A Disgrace
So
Brick By Brick
Genuine Faith
Was Being Built Up
Until The Ring Beam
Was The New Row In Sight:

• Agonizing Faith
• Saving Faith
• Trusting Faith
• Holy Faith
• Presumptuous Faith
• Wavering Faith
• Faith For Today
• Faith For The Way

Suddenly, A Shout Was Heard ...

Miss Faith!
Miss Faith!
There Is A Problem
With Two Of The Special Bricks
In Your Ring Beam!
They Are Exposing Cracks In Genuine Faith
AND
In Jesus' Name They Must Be Replaced
Or
Your Christian Faith
Will Become A Notable Disgrace!

Oh, Lord
What Shall I Do?!

Trust And Obey!

I Will Take Care Of You!

Trial Of Faith
Please Tell Me True
Which Are The Bricks
That I Must Replace
To Avoid The State Of Disgrace?

Miss Faith,
For One
You Must Replace That Presumptuous Faith!
Faith That Doesn't Lead To Obedience
Is Presumption
That Seed Of Satan
Which Claims The Promise
While Hiding Behind Sin
Excusing Bad Behavior
Daring God To Deliver Favor
When In Known Disfavor Walking!

Oh, Dear!
Oh, Dear!
Lord, Please Forgive!
I Am Sorry!
That Is Not How I Desire To Live!

Trial Of Faith
Is There Another Brick?!
I Desire A Strong House
So Tell Me, Please
So I Can Make My Necessary Changes Now!

Sorry To Say It
But
Say It
I Must
For
Wavering Faith
Is Wedged In Your Wall
AND
This Is The One Brick
Which Causes
The Deaf Ears Upon Which Such Prayers Fall!

If You Want Your House Called
Genuine Faith
To Truly 
Firmly Stand
Wavering Faith Must Be Dug Out
Or 
Your House Will Be
Like A Reed House
Solidly Built On Shifting
Sinking
Even
Quick Sand!

Oh, Lord
Most Glorious!
You Who Are Kind And True
Please Fix My Faith For
I Am Pleading
And
I Am Depending Upon You!
You Word Is My Lamp
Showing Me Where To Put My Feet
And
The Light Along My Pathway
Showing Me The Clear Way!
You Are My Shepherd!
I Am Your Sheep
You Are The King Of Love
You Guide Guard
And
Me
You Safely Keep!

I Desire To See The Mount Zion
That Beautiful City Of God
But 
I Know That I Shall Not Get There
If
I Indulge Wavering  Faith
That Messenger
Sent By Satan
The Cruel Fraud!

Lord,
You Are My Father
The Lover Of My Soul
And
My Very Best Friend!
Please, I Beseech You
Defend My Cause!
Defend!

I Am Leaning On You, Lord
Believing
Trusting
Walking The Holy Way
And
I Desire My Mustard Seed Of Faith To Grow
So Help Me, Lord
To Give Wavering Faith
The Holy Heave Ho!

I Am Thine, Dear Lord!
It's The Heavenly Voice That I Long Ever To Hear
Rid Me Of ThoseTraits
That Are Not Thine!
Remove From My Heart 
Doubt
Fear
And Indeed
That Wavering Faith
And
Replace It With Genuine Faith
The Name That My House Calls Out!
AMEN.

You Should Also Know That ...

Nominal Faith 
Also Tried 
To Get In
BUT
Exercised Faith
Threw Him Out!
Many Were Faith's Tests And Trials
AND
Enduring Faith
- Longing For Salvation -
Could Be Regularly Heard Shouting Out!

Faith's Faith Was Tested And Tried
AND
Proved To Be Bona Fide
BUT
She Does Not Rest Upon Her Laurels
AND
She Does Not Let Her Vigilance
Into Complacency
Slide!

Faith's House 
Called
Genuine Faith 
Was Built
AND
It Carries A Roof 
Called
Jesus' Faith
That Goes Under The Foundation
Upon Which Faith Leans
Before She Thinks To Exit Her Door
AND
Her Faith - Genuine Faith -
Is Now Hard-Core!

The Body Without The Spirit Is Dead

AND

So, Too

Genuine Faith

Without The Love Of The Lord

That Causes Faith To Work

Is Dead

AND

Is As Useful As

A Whole Soleless Shoe!

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

How Is YOUR Faith

Working Out For YOU?!

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

Upon What

Is

The House Of Your Faith

Built?

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: FAITH - Opinion OR Transaction?!

I Have Faith In The Lord Jesus Christ!

What "Faith!?!"
Faith Is Just An Opinion!

Not So My Friend!
My Faith Is No Opinion!
My Faith IS A Transaction!
Between Jesus And Me!
We Have A Covenant!
A Quid Pro Quo, If You Will!

He Says He Can
AND
I Believe That He Will
AND
In The Day
Of The Glorious Consummation
All My Eternity
Will Be
With Glorious Blessings
Filled!

In The Now
If I Request By Prayer
A Blessing
Which I Do Not Immediately Receive
Or
The Answer Is A Plain No
I Do End Up Crying
Hot Tears On My Shirt Sleeve!

I Accept That My Father Knows Best
AND
I Continue Walking
Trusting
Believing
That Jesus Is The Only Way
AND
I Hold On
In His Blessed Faith
On The Holy Word
AND
In Child-like Faith
I Keep Petitioning
AND
Praying
To Know And Do His Will!

I Know
Who It Is
That I Believe In!
I Believe
In The Promises Of God!
I Trust
In The Word Of My Creator
Savior
AND
Redeemer
AND
I Will Not Permit
The Lack Of Receipt
Of
Mere Corporeal Things
Make Me A Card-Carrying Member
Of
The Team Unbelieving!

I Love The Lord
AND
I Have Faith In The Lord
AND
Because Of My Love
For My Lord
My Faith Goes Out To Work!

You Don't Say!

I Do Say!
You Should Give It A Try!
Ask The Lord!
You Can Reason With Him!
He Listens
AND
He Truly Cares
AND
To Your Honest Query
You Can Be Sure
That He Will Answer
For He Really Does Listen 
To Our Every Earnest Prayer!

By The Way ...

Whatever You Do
Don't Go To God
Doubting
That He Is
Or
That He Can!
In Such A Circumstance
He Will Not Have Anything For You!

Remember ...

He That Comes To God
Must Believe That
He IS
AKA
That He IS Real
AND
A Rewarder Of Those
Who Diligently
Seek Him!

Faith Is Not A Joke
A Yoke
Or
A Toke!
Faith Is A Fair Transaction
Requiring
Of All Parties
Equal
AND
Agreed Upon
Suitably Weighted
Achievable Actions
Within Each Party's Power!

God Infinitely Blesses Me!
AND
I
Being Human
Finitely
Honor Worship
Obey And Praise Him!
God Made The Offer
AND
I Accepted
By Faith
The Conditions
AND
We Now Have 
A Life Unto Life
Binding Relationship!

Thanks For Enlightening Me!
I Really Thought That Faith Was An Abstraction
That Really Did Not Matter!
Now I Know The Truth!

You're Welcome!
When You Know The Truth
Then You Are Free!

Faith Is Real

And

Real Faith Really Matters!

Where Does Your Faith Point?

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Dangerous Ground

It Is A Dangerous Thing
To Willfully Choose
To Denigrate God 
AND
His Holy Word
Just Because
It Is An Intellectual Pursuit
AND
It Is Dangerous, I Tell You
To Believe
That You Are Protected
By Your Scientifically-Inspired
Engineer-Designed
Non-Stick aka Teflon
AND
Fire-Proof Suit!

Man Is Not Destroyed
For Not Believing The Truth!
Man Is Destroyed
For Choosing
To Believe The Lie
That Satan
- He Of Gross Malice -
Is Serving Up On A Gold Chalice
Surrounded By Incense Odors
Covering The Stench Of The Decaying Bodies
- Of The Souls Forever Lost To Jesus Christ -
That Build His Palace!

Truth Is Truth!
It Needs No Polish
No Color
No Spin!
All That Truth Requires
Is Faith 
AND
Belief 
In The Word
- The Character -
Of The Holy One Speaking!

Start From A Position Of Strength
Believe He Is
Trust That He Will
Walk As If He Is Doing
AND
Soon
In His Faithfulness
You Will Be Partaking!

I Beseech You, Dear Ones
Beloved Of The One Who Died!
Trust Not In Academics
Nor In Pastors, Preachers
Popes, Priests, Princes
Presidents Nor Parliamentarians
Merchants Nor Traders
Monied Storytelling Nor Illuminated Elite
Who For Mammon
Do Enthusiastically Lie!
Nor Mommy Nor Daddy
Neither Friend
Family Nor Foe
Who
Following The World
The Living God Decries!

God Said!
Believe It!
He Created Us!
Honor Him!
He Preserves Us!
Bow Before Him!
He Bought Us!
Walk To Him!
He Calls Your Name!
Don't Balk! Just Go!

Wickedness Is Easy To Do!
Righteousness Requires Strength
So Ask The Living God To Help You!
Live For The Lord
For He Is Returning To This Earth Very Soon
AND
Who Knows?
It Could Be A Bright Morning
A Dusky Evening
Or The Very High Noon!

Selling Your Soul

For Merchantable Goals

Is A Game

That Has Hands

That Always Will Fold

So ...

Trust Your Soul

To Him

Whose Breath Made You

A Living Soul

To Him

Who Has Fire-Tried Gold

That Will Never Turn Rancid

Nor Valueless-Old!

*********

Faith - Just Like Prayer

Changes Everything!

FREEDOM: The Shopping Spree!

I Was Invited To Free-Shop
And Thought To Myself:

Why Not?!

So I Took The Gee Train
To Olde Broadway
AND
Got Off 
At The Last Stop!

I Proceeded To Goode Time's Squared
AND
Joyously Went Wild
AND
For Things Off De Chaine
Hungry
I Shopped Quite A Lot
For A Long While!

Things Were Free
At The Penny Store
AND
At Know Scents
For Two Pounds
Not Dollars And No Cents
I Purchase Three Thrills
AND
Got Four Unwitting Spills
AND
Two Skinned Knees
For Free!

I Got A Giant Bottle Of Own-Way
AND
I Scored A Decanter Of Pay-For-Play
AND
I Had An All-You-Can-Eat
Now And Later Lunch
At Cheap Cash Chews And Forays!

I Danced Up A Storm
At Pop Rocks
AND
Bust A Rhyme
At Speak As Your Heart Is Inclined
Where After
I Fell To The Floor
Bumping My Head
Good And Hard
For Sure At
Go Low Low
AND
Score!

By The End Of My Shopping Spree
I Could Hardly Breathe
For
The Booty I Carried
Had Me Burdened For Sure
BUT
I Had Enjoyed The Excursion
AND
On The Customer Experience Survey
I Ticked Off That I Would Highly Recommend It
AND
Do It Myself Again
At Least
A Couple Couple Times More!

Well ...

Let Me Tell You
On The Way 
To Go Back To My Home
First ... I Couldn't Find The Gee Train
AND
When I Did
It Was Running On The See Line
AND
My Entrance Led Me To The Exit
For All The Common Core
AND
It Butted
AND
Bounded
On Wide Streets Weirdly Called
Hamster Wheel
AND
Perpetual Revolving Door!

By Now ...

I Was Tired
AND
Worried To Boot
AND
When I Reached Rabbit Warren
I Cried Out:

Oh,  Shoot!

For
A Distant Memory
Was Coming To The Fore
AND
At Its Explosion
I Knew I Was In Trouble For Real
For There Was For Me
At This Trying Time
Not A Single Visible
Open Door
AND
I  Became Trembly
AND
Turned Deathly Deathly Pale!

Oh, How I Did Hurt!
My Feet Felt Fat In Thin Man Shoes!
My Sore Eyes Burned Like I Was Salt-Water Swimming!
My Head Was Fair Spinning!
My Back Felt Ready To Break!
AND
My Heart In Fear Was Tripping
AND
My Hands Heavy
Were Surely Scraping The Floor
AND
My Mind In Total Turmoil
Startled
At The Harsh Sound
Of The Quiet Voice
Which
Oh, So Gently Said:

Lose That Load
Or You Will Be Forever Lost!

Who Are You?
Can You Help Me?
I Boarded The Wrong Train, I Think
AND
This Journey Is Proving
In My Nostrils 
To Be A Rank Stench!

I Want To Go Back
To The Beginning!
My Train Was On The Wrong Track
And I Feel Like I Am
Under Attack!

Dear One,
Calm Your Self!
Say A Prayer!
And Hear
And Do
Everything That I Say:

Lose The Load!
It Is Useless
For With It
You Will Never Get To Go Where
There Is Peace At Home!

Tell The Savior You Are Sorry
And Give Unto Him This Worry
And In His Great Compassion
He Will You Safely Carry!

Believe
And In Faith
Walk To The
The-Free Shop
Wherein You Will Find
Blessed Merchandise
From Him Who Is Ever Kind!

There Is

• Quiet Gentle Spirit
• Wisdom
• Knowledge
• Understanding
• Truth
• Light And Life
• Hope
• Help And Healing
• Strength For The Strife!

There's Conviction

• Faith For The Day
• Grace For To Stand
• Strength For Life's Journeys
• Oh Taste And See The Son Of Man
• On The Promises Of God You Will Stand!

And There Are
Blessings 
And
Hid Treasure
When You Walk The Narrow Way
In Obedience
Unto Salvation
And
The Master Is
Just A Prayer Away!

Do You Understand What I Am Saying?

Yes! Yes,  I DO!

Then, Walk Straight Ahead!
Do Not Look Right!
Do Not Look Left!
And
No Matter What Happens Around You
Don't Look Back!
Look Assuredly Ahead!

The Way Is Not Easy
And 
To Arrive Safely
You Must Take The Yoke Easy 
And 
Carry The Burden Light!

You Must Trust The Master
Even When You Can't Trace Him!
You Must Believe And Walk
Knowing That He Will Finish What In You He Started
And
That He Will Carry You Safely
All The Way Home
For
With His Blood And Body
He Purchased 
Precious Redemption
For His Beloved
And
That Means You!

Walk Wise!
Do Good!
Trust!
Obey!
And 
Pray!

There Is No Self In Salvation
For
With It Embraced
You Will Never See
The Everlasting Day!

Thank You!
Bless You!

Was All I Could Say!
I Then Turned Away 
AND
Toward The Savior
Started Walking
AND
I Prayed! How I Prayed!

The Way Is Not Easy
For
Temptations Are Rife
BUT
God's Great Grace Is Every Ready
As I Walk Toward Eternal Life!

Soon The Day Will Be Ended!
Soon Life's Strife Will Be O'er!
Soon The Trumpet Will Be Sounded
AND
By God's Grace
With Endurance
Soon I Will
With All Right
Walk Through
Heaven's Gate Door
Having Overcome
Sin And Satan
In What Was A Blistering Fight!

If Christianity

Was A

Cake-Walk

Life

Would Be Filled 

With

Sweet Treats

And

Christians

Would Have Cavities

Not

Calluses

And

Would Hear Choruses

Not Curses!!

I Believe In Miracles! + PRAYER: I Believe, Lord!

As Long As I DO What Is Right
God Will Do Right By Me!

As Long As I Live Right
Christ's Righteousness
Will Clothe Me
Luxuriously!

As Long As I Hold To Jesus
Neither Sin Nor Satan
Can Carry Me Away!

As Long As I Trust In Jesus Christ
Help
For Me
Is Only A Prayer Away!

I Expect Miracles!
God Expects Me To Obey!

I Expect Miracles!
God Expects Me To Do What He Says!

I Can't Do It Alone
BUT
There Is Help And Provision!
I Dial A Prayer
AND
It IS Routed
Rooted
In The Free Grace Division!

PRAYER:

Lord,

I Need A Miracle Today!

Just A Little One

To Help Me On Life's Way!

I Need No Special Wrapping!

You Know Just What To Do!

Please Open Heaven's Storehouse

For I Am Waiting
To Pickup

From You!

I Believe, Lord!

Help Me In My Unbelief!

For I Love

Trust

Honor

Bless

AND

Worship

Only

The Eternal You!

PRAYER: Lord, Help My Mustard Seed Grow

Help Me Lord,  To Hear Your Voice!

Help Me Lord, In You To Rejoice!

Help To Stand Firm In Your Faith

And Not Run Around

Singing In Sin-Strained

Pitiful Voice!

I Pray, Lord

That My Faith Will Stand

Though Satan Rattles My Bones!

Help Me To Stand Firm

Even As Satan Tries To Sift Me As Wheat And Sand!

Help Me To Be Faithful

Kind

Honest And True

And,  Lord

Help Me

To Keep My Eyes Heart

Fixed

And Focused On You!

Lord, My Faith Has Found Its Resting Place

In Christ Who Died For Me

I Cannot Least Count His Sacrifice

Least Jesus Christ Should Least Count Me!

I Have A Speck Of Mustard Seed!

Dear Lord, Please Help It To Grow!

Protect It From Root Rot

And Barrenness

And From Foraging Animals' Need

And The Strangling Tares That Satan Sows!

Lord,  Help My Seed

To Grow And Grow

To Fill Up My Soul

And Not For A Pappy Show

But To Prove

That I Am Not Self Deceiving

And That I Am Not

Another Gospel Receiving!

Have Mercy, Lord!

Help Me To Honor

Love

Trust You And Obey

And Help Me No More

With Sin To Play!

Keep Me Safe

Each And Every Day

For I Know That My Safety Is In You

And I Don't Want It Any Other Way

For I Will To Be True

To Only You!

AMEN