VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: FICTION FRUIT 'N FACTS: Sin Has A Cost + PRAYER: Forgive Me, Lord

I Was Looking At Myself
And One Day I Saw
Me
Bargaining
With The Lord
And When
Through The Spirit
I Realized What It Was I Had Been Doing
I Knew That I Was Going
Down
The Wrong Path!

In Shame
I Asked My Self:

How Do You Bargain
With The One Who Made 
You
AND
Who Maintains You 
As A Soul Living?

How Do You Bargain
With The One Who Gives 
To You Highest Heaven
As The Blessed Attainment 
For Your Soul?

How Can You Bargain
With The One Who Holds 
The Planet 
Your Home
In The Palm Of His Hand?

How Do You Bargain
With The God Who Knows
The Numbers 
Of Every Beach's Grains Of Sand?

How Do You Bargain
With The God Who Numbered 
The Strands Of Hair On The Head
That You Are Now Holding In Your Hand?

How Do Your Bargain 
With The God Who Knew 
You
Before You First Gripped A Finger
On Your Mother's Hand?

Ashamed
I Turned To My Father
The God Of Heaven And Earth
AND
With Tears Of Contrition
I Said To My Lord:

Father,

I Was Bold

And I Fearlessly Believed

That I Could Bargain With Thee!

I Was Foolish, Dear Father!

I Spoke Arrogantly!

I Indulged Myself In Presumption

Behaving As Though

We Were Mates!

I Was Behaving Like The Very Devil

Whose Sin You Surely Hate!

Father, I Am Sorry!

Forgive Me, I Pray!

Turn My Heart

From That Consuming Broad Way

And Guide Me

Along Your Straight And Narrow Way!

Father, Help Me

To Accept

What I Receive From You

In The Reading Of Your Word

And Help Me To Stop Trying 

To Be A Big Head

Acting Like The Intelligent

Know-It-All's Of The World

Who Are By Satan Fed!

Father, I Desire To Walk 

As Your Compliant Child

No Longer Willing

To Walk On The Wicked And Wild Side!

Lord,

When You Give Me A Biscuit

Instead Of The Loaf Of Bread

For Which I Did Plead

Help Me To Accept 

My Biscuit With Gratitude

Realizing That There Are Others

Who Will Be Grateful

For What I Upon

Daily Freely Feed!

Forgive Me, Lord

For My Presumption

For My Willingness

To Believe I Can Walk

By My Self

And Still Turn To You For Direction

So Humbly 

Yet Lyingly

As I Once Prayed!

Help Me, Dear Father

I Don't Want To Earn Satan's Pay!

Forgive Me, Dear Father

For Heeding Self

And Walking Proud

And Acting The Fool!

I Love You, Lord

Please Continue To Feed Me

With Your Blessed Food!

AMEN

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: I Surrender The Nails!

Why should I look in The Mirror?
What is there so special that I must see?
Why is it important to look there?
Is there something there to revere?

I look in the mirror!
What do I see
Nothing but an Old Sooner
Looking back at me!

I see a pimple, a bump, a bruise!
I see an Image holding a loose screw!
I will not look deeply!
You can't make me!
I refuse!

Looking too deeply
Brings up bad news!
Of being immoral, willful, even unwise
Of #PlayingWithGod
Of half truths and white lies
Of lusting and listing
Lampooning and Gaffes
And worshiping at altars
Laid for Golden Calves!

Naked!
Most giddy!
Drunk on #NewWine!
Bowing to Jesus but showing my behind!

Teasing the Tawdry!
Twisting to taunt!
Showing myself Righteous!
Kissing The Scamp!

Telling The Old Story
From The Profiteering View
Praising I-God
And snuffing out The Truth!

Alright!
Enough already!
I don't like this Review
Either get away from me or me renew!

This state of constant conflict is wearing me down!
Either you fix me up or put me, lay me down!
I need to rest!
Enough is on my chest!
I can feel it swelling!
Oh, God, give me Blessed, Sweet Rest
For I am at the end
Of  My Rope and My Chain!

This is The #DayofDecision!
Lord, You I now claim
For my Eternal Portion
For my Peaceful Plot
Untie, Lord, untie me
Before me my Blood clots
Chop You, Lord, Satan's Dread Knots!

Put Life's Blood on my Skin
Run The Water through my Veins
Give me #RighteousGarments for
I humbly surrender The Cruel Nails!