Church Change Came

Church Change Came

Phil A. Dephia and Lao Dicea were two Christians

Who each received letters from The Master today

They were excited for they knew Him personally

And couldn't wait for His words additionally!

Phil and Lao sat down their letters to read

Oh how both their hearts did speed

To hear from The Master – what a thrill

For both knew their hearts He would definitely fill!

They knew that The Master knew them inside and out

They knew a letter from The Master was something to shout about

So with shaky hands, and foreheads gathered

They opened their letters, and read the words tethered!

Phil read his letter and started to cry

For The Master said His Faith Phil had not denied

Even living amongst those who would him kill

He'd kept his garments white and His garden did till!

What made Phil cry and hug the letter to his heart

Was the part where The Master said, in part:

Because thou has kept the word of my patience,

I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation,

Which shall come upon all the world,

To try them that dwell upon the earth ^{(Rev. 3:10)}

By now, Lao had finished his letter reading

And knew in his heart he deserved the beating

That he felt he'd received by reading those words

That had become back-belaboring boards!

With tears of contrition, his heart laid bare

Lao re-read the letter, the condemning words to hear:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:

I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm,

And neither cold nor hot,

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich,

And increased with goods,

And have need of nothing;

And knowest not that thou art wretched,

And miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,

That thou mayest be rich;

And white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,

And that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;

And anoint thine eyes with eye-salve,

That thou mayest see. ^{Rev. 3:15-18}

It was then that Lao truly saw the encouraging words

He felt his beloved Master had sent to him

Lao savored those words time and again

And felt renewal of spirit rear up in his soul!

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:

Be zealous therefore, and repent ^{Rev. 3:19}

Became Lao's reason for loving and living

And encouraging self and others from complacency to take flight!

All was not lost! There was still a kingdom to gain

Plus a seat at His banqueting table!

So it was from that day, that with the Spirit Lao performed

As befitting a child of The Glorious Kingdom!

No more self-serving

No more in corporeal wealth a-gloating

No more wearing one's own garment of state

No more blindness of eye

No more trusting in pie

For The Master had removed the stye from his eye!

Lao now constantly blesses his Master

Thankful for averted disaster

For the chance to clean up his act, and to change

Into a garment of His Righteousness

After casting away the eyeglasses

And becoming the possessor of real and tried gold!

Holy Sabbath Day Prayer and Blessing

Another six days' work is done

Another Sabbath is begun

Around our table take our seat

And to our Lord we sing a treat

Accept our sorrowing for sin

Accept our offering of  prayer

Accept our offering of praise

Accept our souls to You we raise

Again, Dear Lord, we meekly seek

Another blessing, another week

Always in worship, we with love

Before Your Throne, we here bow down

Heavenly Father, we, Your believing children, thank You for Your watch-care through the week that is now passed from time into eternity.

We thank You for our food, our shelter, our clothing, eyes that can still see The Book, ears that can still hear The Word through which our faith comes, hands, Lord, that can still do a good work for The Kingdom, and feet that are still able to go on missions of mercy.

Father, we ask You to shore up our reserves of strength for the battle still ahead. We beseech You to cement Your Holy Word deep into our hearts where only that two-edged sword wielded by Our Master can divide, and grant us Your continued Grace, and Sweet Peace.

We ask, Father, for the surrounding and protection of the Holy Angels, and the blessing of the sleep of the Just.

Hear and answer our prayer, in the matchless name of Jesus, and for His sake. Lord, we love You. AMEN.