HAPPY SABBATH + Feats And Counterfeits!

I Met A Man!
He Thought He Was Super!
I Met A Woman!
She Thought Herself A Wonder!
I Met Myself In The Old Mirror
AND
I Thought
Oh, Lord
How Much Longer?!

A Hamanesque He-Man Knocked At My Door!
He Was Assuredly A Marvel!
A She-Ra-Like Jezebel Was At His Right Hand
AND
On The Issue Of Faith
AND
Sight
They Did Much
Supposedly To Make Me Want On Jesus To Cavil

 - To No Avail -

AND
To Say To My Soul's Salvation
"Good Night!"BUT
I Remembered The Words Of Love
From My Father Above:

I Love You, My Beloved Child!

You Are The Apple Of My Eye! 

Say Your Prayers

In The Gift Of Your Measure Of 

The Faith Of Jesus 

And

Face The Day With Your Portion Of 

The Readily Available Grace Of God

For Untold Blessings Await The Faithful!

There Followed A Battle
For In The Midst
Entered Boldly The Dragon
Obviously Trusting Might And Power
To Make Me In Fear
- Resigned To My Inevitable Loss -
Cower!

I, Then, Traveled The Well-Worn
Brightly Marked
Path Of Prayer
AND
In The Name Of Jesus
Said:

Oh, Lord

Pilot Me

For In Godly Fear I Come To Thee

Blessed

Assured Of Victory

For The King Of Love

The Shepherd Of Rest

The God Of My Salvation

Gives Good Gifts

Ever Always The Best!

Nothing Wavering
- For Doubt Was Out -
I Looked Up
AND
I Now Live To Tell The Truth Of My Salvation
At The Hand Of Heavenly Love!

The Dogs Of Damnation
AND
The False God Who On Faith Makes War
Move Like A Flood
Creating A Pall In The Atmosphere
Attempting
To Block The Light Of Life
The Lamp That Shows The Way For Faithful Feet To Go
The Light That Discloses
AND
Illuminates The Narrow Path
Upon Which Only Those Living The Life Of The Saved
Will Intimately Know!

My Maker, The King

Opened My Eyes
AND
I Looked
AND
I Saw
That Those That Were With Me
Were More Than Those That Were With Them
AND IWith Renewed Strength
AND
Absolutely Knowing
That The Battle Was The Lord's
Shouted The Battle Cry:

Jesus Christ IS Lord!

He By Death Ransomed Me!

Truth Is In My Inward Parts! 

I Have Tasted Heaven

And

Heaven Is In My Heart!

Hell Huffed And Puffed
BUT
The Hounds Couldn't Tear My House Down
AND I ...I Was Standing
Grounded
Firm And Deep
In My Savior's Love!

Prayer Had Changed Things

AND
I Was Holding The Fort
For Jesus, Himself, Had Signaled
That He Was Coming Again
To
- For Eternity -
Redeem Me!

I Sent Back My Signal:

I Am Thine, Oh, Lord! 

Draw Me Nearer

Nearer, My God, To Thee

Nearer Still Nearer

Close To Thy Heart!

Lord, Lift Me Up! 

Revive Me Again! 

I Give You My All

For In You

I Know I Shall Stand

Redeemed

For

I Have A Home In Glory Land!

I Have A House Not Built With Hands

Close To The Tree Of Life

Where Living Waters Flow!

Brethren, Listen Carefully
For I Will Tell You True
That Life's Dungeons Always Have Dragons
That Comic Book Characters Are
Decepticons
Sold
To Make Men Think That They Can
Overcome Sin
Overcome Self
By Vain Imaginings
BUTWhich Are Sure To Make Enquiring Minds
Seeking Into Things
Not Given To Man To Know
To Make Shipwreck Of Faith!

Man Will Never Walk Through Walls!
Spirits Do! 

Man Is Not Immortal!
The Godhead
- Father Son Holy Ghost - 

Is!

Satan Cannot Read Your Mind!
The All-Knowing God Can And Does!

AND

Neither Satan Nor His Angels
Nor Devil-Possessed Men Can Give Life!
The Almighty God Does!

Please Refer To The Plagues Of Egypt
For
In These You Will See
Just How Far The Devil's Sorcerers Can Go
AND
Therein You Shall Also See
That The Mighty Power Of God
Cannot Be Counterfeited
That God's Glory
Will Not Be Shared With Another
That The Rod Of God
Will Consume The Illusory Snakes
Those Staffs Of The Devil
The Offscourings Of
The Workers Of Planned Sin
Those Workers Of Iniquity!

Stay Out Of The Devil's Playground

For
Smoke And Mirrors Are Stock and Trade!
Bells And Whistles Are Calling Card!
AND
Mash-Up No Buy-back Is The Way Of The Damned
BUT
Wise UP! Look UP! Go UP!
Is The Way Of
The Son Of God
The Sun Of Righteous
The Son Of Man!

Let No One Deceive YOU!
Let No One Steal YOUR Crown!
Let No One Steal YOUR Joy In The Lord
For ... Soon
He Is To Earth
Coming Back  Down
For A People Prepared To Meet Their God
AND
To Forever Destroy
Death Hell
AND
Satan The Fraud!

Don't Look Back! 

And

Don't Turn Around

But

In The Name Of Christ Jesus 

Stand Firm On ... Faith's Ground!

PRAYER: Oh, Lord, Haste The Day!

Father,
As A Child
I Come Before Thee
Confessing And Repentant
And Beseech You, Please

Pardon Me From My Sin!

Please Give Unto Me

The Power To Deny The Liar
And
In The Name Of Jesus, Lord
Please Grant Me Your Peace Today

Even Though At My Poor Feet

Satan Lit Himself

A Raging Bonfire!

Father,

I Have Been Foolish!

Teach Me To Be Wise!

Grant Me Wisdom's Understanding

To Use The Knowledge

That For Me

You Did Provide!

Help Me To Not Yield
To The Terror Seen Of My Eyes
So That I
From You In Fleshly Fear
Do Not Backslide!
Blind My Carnal Eyesight
And Grant Unto Me
True, Seeing, Spiritual Eyes!

Father,

Please Let My Knowledge Of You

Be Not Theoretic!

Teach Me
And

Grant Me The Telling Experience, Lord

So That I Can Truly Testify
Without Fear Of Contradiction

That I Personally Know You!

Father,

I Desire To Walk

In The Faith Of My Jesus!

I Eagerly Accept Daily Grace And Faith!

Grant Me Courage

For My Long Journey

And

Strength

So That I Will Go The Distance

And

Not Turn Back

Half Way
Nor Almost There!

Oh, Lord
With The Believer's Heart
Christ's Faith
And
Hope For Your Glory

I Fully Expect The Holy Angels

To Be My Cherished Companions
And

I Totally Look To The Holy Spirit

In Me To Abide!

I Am Mere Dust

Prone

To Falls Into Folly

But

In The Name Of Jesus

With My Mustard Seed In My Heart

With Hope For Glory My Tide

With Joy In The Lord

My Marching Song

Oh, God, Most Holy

Haste The Day

For

I Long To See My Jesus

With My Own Two

No Longer Cloudy

But Bright

Eyes!

I Love You, Lord!

AMEN.

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Christian Lightweight: The Exercise Class

I Had Gotten Fat By Being Lazy!
I Had Become Lazy
By Being Selfish And Own Way
AND, NOW
Christian Was I
In Name Only
- Not By Nature -
AND
I Wasn't Worth A Hill Of Beans
Nor A Row Of Yams
On The To-Jesus High Way!

My Prayers Were Of The Diet-Light Version!
I'll Give You An Example!
Let's See If You Agree
AND
If These Ideas As Prayers Sound Familiar
You'll Know That You Should At Exercise Class Be Joining Me!

• "Thank You, Lord!"
• "I Love You, Lord!"
• "Thanks For My Food, My Head, And My Bed!"
• "I Am Glad That I Am Not Like Those Other Christians, Lord!"
• "Lord, I Need A ...!"
• Lord, Could You Send Me A ...!"

The Handwriting On The Wall Of My Soul
Was Clear
When It Said:

In Tribulation

You Are Going To Fold!

You Have No Stored Resources!

Your Battle-Muscles In Jesus Christ

Are Flabby And Weak

AND

At The First Sign Of Real Trouble

You Are Going To

Blubber

AND

Fold Up

AND

Against God

AND

His People

Speak!

I Was Seriously Shocked!
I Was Grossly Humiliated!
I Was Damnably Ashamed!
I Was Revoltingly Distressed!

I Really Love My Jesus!
I Really Really Do!
I Thought My Self A Success
But
Seriously?
Has My Life Been All A Christian-like Jest?!

You Know It!!

Lord Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!

I Have Been Indulging

In A Round Of Gross Folly!

Take Me!

Teach Me!

Turn Me To The Right Way!

I Desire Your Leading!

I DO NOT Wish You To Be By Me Betrayed!

NOW ...

That Is A Prayer From Your Heart!

Go One More Step!

Think Jacob - Not Esau

And

Ultimately

All-Out

Wrestle With Your Lord!

Confess Your Sins!

Of Known Sins You Must Repent!

Go Boldly To The Throne Of Grace

AND

Your Gross Heart Rent!

Commune With Your Savior!

Lock Arms Against The Adversary Of Your Soul!

Indulge Yourself In Mortal Conflict

AND

Don't Let Go Of The Master

Until You Get A New Name

AND

The Blessing

As Reward!

Well ... Long Story Short ...

I Found My Self In The Bunny Class!
I Had To Learn All About Exercising Hope:

I Hope!
I Know How Hope Feels!
I Know Hope Somewhat Well!
I Have No Hope!
I Am Hopeless!
I Am Somewhat Hopeful!
AND
I Have Hope!
AND
I Am Hoping!
In That Class
I Learned
What It Means To Wheeze!

My Next Class
The Intermediate Workout
Aka Iron Man -  To The World
But
To The Believing Christian
"Hold To God's Unchanging Hand!"
Brought Me To My Knees!

In That Class
I Really Learned To Pray!
I Went From:

What Faith?
Inherited Faith!?
Faithless!
Mustard Seed Growing!
Faith Almost Full!
Faithful!
Happy Heart Overflowing And Full!

I Had Arrived At
Faith And Works!
That Is No Bull!

I Was Getting Happy!
I Was Singing!
I Even Pulled Off A Happy Dance

WHEN ...

The Drill Sargeant
Life Kicker
Buckled On His
"Life Is A Bastard!"
Weighted
Burden-Carrying Pants!

I Was In Total Shock!
I Couldn't Decide
Whether To Cry
Wheeze
OR
Just Pray

SO ...

I Called On Jesus Christ
The Holy Sacrifice
My Lord And My God
The Payer Of My Fee

My Shepherd And The One Like Whom I Want To Be

AND
I Learned Of
AND
Leaned On The Holy Spirit
Instead Of Inanely Crying:

"Why Me, Lord?! "

Patience?!?

Patience!!

Lord, I Need You!
Wait On Me.

Lord, I Am Weak! Help Me!
Wait On Me, Child.

Lord, I Don't Know What To Do!
I Am Calling, Lord!
I Am Trusting ...
LORD! I TRUST YOU!

Wait On Your Lord!
In Him Is Your Reward!
Wait Meekly And Pray!
Your Lord Won't Cast Your Hope Away!
Wait
Watch And Pray!
His Living Word Obey
And
At The Appointed Time
You Will Have Nothing For Which To Repine!

I Learned Of Patience
Whose Root Says Pay!
I Paid Pay My Dues Daily!
I Pay!
I Don't Play
With
Faith
Hope
Nor Prayer!

I Know That If I'm Not Prayed Up
That I Will Preyed Upon
AND
I Choose
To Wrestle With Jesus
AND
Peniel
Stand Upon!

I Have Patience ... With My Lord
Not Because I Want To
BUT
Because I Must!
I Don't Envy The World's Traffic!
I Don't At Delay Make A Fuss!
I Hope!
I Pray!
I Have Faith
And
In Patience Wait
For
In The Living Loving
Holy
All Seeing
All Knowing
Ever Present
Always Available To The Believing Child
Holy God
I Trust!

Lord, I Want To Be

A Bleeding Heart

Believing Christian

Not A "Christian"

With A Callused Heart

Because

A Hard-hearted Christian

Is One For Whom

Heaven's Light Is Dark!