VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Order Our Steps, Lord! + Prayer: Lord Almighty, Lead Us ...!

If I Would To God Be Honest
AND
Tell God's Honest Truth
I Would To The World
Acknowledge Without Fear
That's God's Hand Has Been Upon Me
AND
I Could Recognize It
For It Has Been
Since I Was A Youth!

I Would Tell Of
Spills And Chills
Fun And Frolic
Sadness And Quietness, Too
BUT
No Matter
Sunshine Or Squall
My Heavenly Father
Ever Directing
- Saving Me From Myself -
Was In The Midst Of It All!

Today, As Any Other Day
I Had Not To Ask If I Was Alive!
I Awakened!
I Got Up!
There Was Light In My Eyes!
I Could Hear!
I Could Feel!
I Know That I Know!
I Could Sneeze
AND
Thank God For Grace And Glory
I Had Not Done My Sleeping
In The Elements With Dogs
Avidly Acquiring Biting Fleas!

And, So ...
Here I Pray ...

Father,

In Holy Heaven

I Thank You Today

For The Blessings Innumerable

You Give

No Matter If I Say

"Thank You!"

In Gratitude

Or Just Accept Them

As I Would My Received Pay!

Please Forgive Me

My Bad Manners

My Bad Attitude
For Behaving As Though

I Am Receiving Something

That You To Me Owe!

I Hang My Head In Shame

Because I Know Better!

Lord God, I Beseech You

Help Me

In Blessed Grace To Grow!

I Remember

When I Was A Child Growing Up

Hearing My Old Grandfather Say His Prayers!

We Would Hear Him Say

To The Lord:

"Father, Same As Yesterday!"

We Never Knew What Yesterday's Prayer Was

But It Seemed To Work For Him

But

I Am Plainly Saying To You, Father

Today

What It Is

For What I Am Asking -

I Shall Clearly Enunciate My Prayers 

Day By Day!
Help Me Also To Listen Quietly
For What You Have To Say!

Please, Lord

Bless The Holy People!

Bless Those Who Are Seeking After You!

Have Pity On Our Leaders Of Government!

Father, Open Their Eyes And Hearts!

Help Us, And Them, To Honor You!

Remember Our Mothers And Fathers

Brothers And Sisters

Children, Grandchildren

In-Laws, Friends

And Other Relations, Too!

Visit Each And Everyone, Dear Lord

And Provide 
- According To Your Wisdom -

The Need For Which They Are Asking!

Bless The Church Fellowship

And

Help The Ministers Of The Gospel

To Call Sin By Its True Name

And

Ever In Faithfulness

Speak Your Life-Giving Truth

So That They Will Appropriate 

None Of Your Prerogatives To Themselves

Giving Glory Always To You!

Help Them To Live For Jesus Christ

And

Not For The Praise Of Men

Not For Filthy Lucre

And

Not By Lying Prophesying!

Soften Hard Hearts!

Make Choice The Barren Land!

Provide For The People All
Water

Food

Clothing And Shelter

And

A Plain, Loving, Touch From 

A Holy Spirit-Inspired Kind Hand!
Let There Be Peace In Our Hearts
Even If There Is None In Our Lands
And
Help Us, Lord, Help Us
To Bow In Heartfelt Devotion
To The Holy Son Of Man!

And, Father

If For Some Reason

Some Soul Is Treading The Water Of Doubt

Whisper A Word To Us

Giving Us A Heads-Up

So That A Word Of Truth

May Be Fitly Spoken

So That The Brethren

Would Not From The Coming Kingdom

Be Cut Loose!
Lord, Let Our Prayers Of Faith Rise Up To You!

Lord Almighty,

Order Our Steps!

Pave Our Path!

Lead Us As Promised

With The Shepherd's Staff!

Teach Us Your Ways!

Help Us To Number Our Days

So That We Will Not Be Counted Foolish

Believing 

That We Are Holding Control

On The Reins Of This Life!

Show Us That We Are Mere Men

Who Can't Genuinely Change Our Hair Color

Nor

Extend Our Height

And

Humble Us To Stand Up

To Be In Jesus Christ's Faith Bold

Making Heavenly Salvation
Our One And Only Goal!

Father,

Help To Trust And Obey

To Give Freely Out
Of Our Blessings Each Day

To Walk As Those Wise

Not As Those Who Evil Devise!

Help Us To Watch And To Ever Pray!

Help Us To Look Up

For Heaven Is On The Way!

Help Us To Accept And Hold Firm

To Our Soul's Freely Offered Salvation

Never Accepting

Satan's Gifts

Which Surely Eternally Cost

But Can Never Eternally Pay!

I Love You, Lord

And

I Honor, Bless And Worship You

For

I Know And Accept That

To Live

There Is No Other Profitable Way!

Please Accept These My Petitions

From A Lowly, Trembling Heart

For

In Jesus' Name I Make My Plea

And Stand!

AMEN!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Church:- Professing! Processing! Progressing!?!

Bacchanal Was In Progress
AND
The Wicked
The Wild
The Wasted
The Wanton
Were Out And About In Full Force
AND
So Were The Other Creatures ...!

Church Was In Progress
AND
The Bold
The Beautiful
The Bought
The Blessed
The Bright
The Brainy
The Believing
AND
Those Other Creatures
Be-Angry
Let's-Sin
Constant Carping
Vile Affections
AND
Give-Place-To-The-Devil
Were In Attendance
AND
At Full And Attentive Alert
Readily
Boldly
Constantly Whispering
Not At All Sweet
Somethings
Into The Ears Of  

• Those With Chips On Their Shoulders
• Those Angry At God
• Those Bitter At Life
• Those Willing To Be Aggrieved
• Those Stressed
• Those Soul-Weary
• Those Tired Weary Wanderers
• Those Hopeless
• Those Helpless
• Those Prone To Sin
• Those Striving For The  Mastery Of Self
• Those Burdened For The People Of God
• Those Who Refused To Submit To God
• Those Frightened To Submit To God
• Those Longing For A Closer Walk With God
• Those Walking Toward The Kingdom Of God
• Those Who Pray Prettily
• Those Who Plead Piously

AND

• Those Who Humble Themselves Before God By Prayer And Supplication Nothing Wavering

AND

• The Pastor And The Church Board

In The Midst Were The Excellent Spirits
Peace
Hope
Help
Healing
Love
Humble-Thyself-Before-God
Sin-Not
AND
Give-No-Place-To-The-Devil
Along With Angel's Excelling In Strength
Pushing Back Those Wicked Spirits
Hate
Envy
Greed
Lust
Lies
Wasting
AND
Others As Previously Mentioned
And Many More Of The Horde!

It Must Be Said
That The Host Of Heaven
Is More Than The Horde Of Hell
AND
The Fact That
That There Were Many Times The Two Or Three
Gathered In The Lord's Name
Meant That The Holy Spirit Was There In Attendance
AND
Blessing
Comforting
Chiding
Abiding
Correcting
Teaching
AND
Leading
Those Who Would
By Personal Choice
Be Lead Of The Living God!

If Only The Congregation
Could See Beyond The Veil!

It Is A Good Thing

That They Cannot!

This Congregation Has Two Pastors:

One Is Ancient
Acknowledging
AND
Acceding To The Old Way Marks
Passionate For God
Pleading For Souls
Sacrificial By Spirit
Long-Winded
AND
King James All The Way!
"Thus Saith The Lord!"
Is Ever His Play!

The Second Pastor
Is Young
AND
A Risen Star
At The Top Of The Game
With The Set Car
The Entourage
AND
The Bodyguards
AND
Is A Best-Selling Author
Humanistic In Spirit
Ecumenical In Deed
Activated By Greed
Never Had A Need
That A Special Offering Couldn't Feed
Never Sang A Hymn That A Rock Guitar
Couldn't Make Into A Reel
AND
Always Preaches Sermons Given Over To Earthly Goals
AND
Constant Feels
To The Point Where
If You Were A Stranger In The Midst
You Were Given The Impression That
Constant Feels Was His Kept Mistress!

The Congregation Is In Turmoil
Because Of The Constant
Haul And Pull Of
The Desire For The Gains Of
The Hauler For Hell
AND
The Desire For The Pleasures Forevermore Of
The Pull Of The Paradise Of The Peace-Giver!

It Is Because Of This
Halting Betwixt Two Opinions
That The Sounds Of War In The Camp
Can Be By All Heard!

Today
Both Ministers Are Scheduled To Speak!

The Young And Sharp Minister
Spoke First
And Did So
Swiftly
Smoothly AND Sweetly
AND
He Got A Standing Ovation!
Truth Be Told
It Was As Though Jesus Christ
Himself
Had Been In That Very Room
AND
The Emotional Had Been Energized!
Only Problem, Though
Not A Call To Worship The King Had Been Uttered
OR
Utilized!

It Is Now Time
For The Pastor
Old And Stable To Speak
AND
He Chose Joshua's Words
Elijah's Expedition
Jeremiah's Lament
AND
The Whoredom's In Hosea
AND
King David's Prayers And Songs Of Praise
To Paint The Picture
Of
AND
FOR
The Church!

He Said:

Joshua Said: "Choose!"
And He, Himself
Chose God
For His Portion
AND
He Rested 
In God!

Elijah Was Valiant
In The Service
AND
For The Word
Of The Living God
AND
At The End Of It All
Almighty God
Ordained
That He Would Not Taste Death
AND
The Very Chariots Of God
Descended The Heights
AND
Took Him Bodily To God's Home
As The Great Reward
For His Faithfulness!
Elijah Represents Those Of Us
Who Shall Never Taste Death
For They Will Be Still Alive
When The Lord Comes!

He Spoke Of ...

Jeremiah's Lamentations
For The Church-Nation In Apostasy
Serving The Useless Gods
Of The Heathen-Unbelieving Nations
Warning
Ever Warning
Of The Judgment
For Apostasy Against God
AND
The Subsequent Delivery
Into Exile
Separation From God!

He Proceeded To Stress Heavily
That There Is Restoration
To Almighty God
To Be Found
By Confession 
AND
Repentance Of Known Sin!

The Faithful Steward
That Faithful Under-Shepherd
Of The Lord's Flock
Spoke Of
The Commission Given
To The Prophet Hosea
To Enter Into A Marriage
Of Fidelity
To A Whoring Woman
Who
Though Loved
Protected
AND
Provided For
By The Ever-Faithful Husband
Sought The Forbidden Pleasures Of Stolen Fruit
AND
Foolishly Gave Erroneous Credit To The Practice Of Sin
For Her Daily Provision!

That Kindly Shepherd 
Spoke 
Of Love - Himself
Readily Going After His Wife
Who Had Chosen The Life Of Whoredom
Over The Life Of Peace And Rest
AND
Loving Companion!

He Further Spoke Of
The Hand Of Care And Comfort
Being Despised
For The Love Of
Heady Emotionalism
AND
Still
God aka Love Going After
The Bride Of His Heart
The Beloved
Buying Her Out Of Her Slavery To Sin
Imploring Her
To Return To Him
To Be Faithful To Him
That Her Children
May Be Called
God's Children
Beloved
AND
Blessed
To Live In Eternal Peace!

In Tears ...

The Faithful Old Preacher
Spoke
Of The Nation-Church
United Under The One God
Worshiping
Praying
Praising
As Under
David The Shepherd King
- The Type Of Christ -
Able
- Even In Persecution -
To Give God Praise
Believing
Knowing
Trusting
The King Of Heaven
In All Ages AND Stages Of Life
AND
Finally
Stating Clearly AND Carefully
Of And For Himself
That:

As For Me

I Will Behold God's Face In Righteousness

I Will Be Satisfied When I Awake

With God's Likeness!

There Was
A Great Quiet In That Place
For The Very Presence 
Of The Lord
Could Be Viscerally Felt There!

Souls Were Convicted!
Hearts Were Convinced
AND
Converted
AND
Hard Faces Were Made Soft
By The Moving Of The Spirit Of Truth
From The Court Of Light!

An Awakening Had Revealed Itself!

Suddenly ...

Unexpectedly ...

A Voice
Newly Confident
Clearly Sang Out:

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

I Am Delivered!

Glory To His Name!

I Was Lost In Sin

In The Valley Of Death

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

As The Old Pastor Moved To Re-take His Seat
He Could Be Heard Saying:

Even So, Come
Lord Jesus!

The Young Pastor Loudly Cried:

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!