VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Buffet Station

I Visited The Buffet Table

At The Restaurant Called "Life Is A Beach"

Where The Sands Of Time Were Everywhere

And

The Shells Of Fallen Men

Were Being Sun Bleached!

The Ebb And Flow Of Life And Time

Was Evidenced Upon Form And Face

Of All Who Ate At Life Is A Beach

Because

There Was No Other Food Establishment That

Could Beat The Choices Or Atmosphere 
In That Very Popular Place!

When A Business Has No Competition

It Does Exactly What It Wants:

It Can Sell Pig Swill

And

Make You Purchase It

Because

They Convince You That

It Is What You Need

It Is A Must-Have Want

And Because

Some Soul With A Little Claim To Fame

Has Endorsed The Swill For A Sweet ... Check

And
Everybody Who Wants To Be Considered

To Be A Part Of The Inside Crew

Eats And Tells A Friend, A Sister, A Brother 

And Soon

People Who Should Know Better

Are Eating Sweet Bread That Is Burnt And Bitter!

The Prices Are Changed Every Day

And 

Sometimes Even After You've Checked The Price 
And 
Eaten 
And 
Before You've Paid For Your Order! 
Talk About Bold-Faced Cheats!

But ... 

Having Sold The Citizens On

"Seldom Comes A Better!"

And

Having Achieved A Cornered Market

By Bold And Brazen Deceit

Life Is A Beach Restaurant's Proprietor

Shameless Duffy

Front-Man For Baseman B'Old

That Decepti-Conman Of Ages Old

Arrived At His Establishment

To Find That Another Establishment Had Opened 

And 
Was Actively Doing Good Business

Right. Next. Door!

Who!?!

How!?!

When!?!

Why!?!

He Called His Boss

To Find That His Boss

His Intrepid, Fearless, Feisty, Facing, Boss 

Is 
Already In Fear

For The New Enterprise Had Long Been Expected

Even Though The B'Old One Had Long Tried

The Event To Proscribe!

The Handwriting That Has Long Been On The Wall

Is Being Explained Inside 
And On
The New Establishment's Clean And White Walls!

The Menu Is Written In Big, Bold, Letters!

The Ingredients' List Is Plain, Easy To Read!

The Servers Are Stars, Strong, Willing To Serve

Practitioners Of The Defensive Arts

And

Influencers Of No Mean Impact

And

Most Dreadful Of All To Baseman B'Old Of The Heart Cold

Is That 
The Price Of Everything On The Menu

Is, To The Eater, Cost-Free

With Not Even A Transaction Fee!

The New Establishment Is Called

Bread Of Heaven!

The Invitation To Eat Says: 

Come As You Are!

Eat Free
And
Leave Refreshed, Reformed, Renewed

In Original, One-Of-A-Kind Free Robes

From The Line Clean And White

From The Collection A La King

From The House Of Love And Righteousness!

Eat All You Want!

Come For The Food
And
Stay For The Companionship!

The Proprietor 
Is

The Concierge

The Cook

The Chef

The Caterer

The Cleaner

And

He Has The Most Shocking Back-Story!
He Is The Soul-Healer
And
The Against-Damnation Sealer!

I Was Wowed!

I Visited

And

At The Bread Of Life's Buffet Station

I Saw Food In Abundance

But

According To Tradition

And

My Gluttonous Expectation

Limited Choice!
I Wanted To Raise An Indignant Voice
But

I Was Intrigued:

EAT IT ALL BUFFET!

You Eat: He Paid!

• Faith Not Feeling
• Blessings
• Peace, Joy, Rest, Refreshed
• Hope, Help, Healing
• Truth, Light, Life
• Repentance: Contrite Heart
• Forgiveness
• Grace, Mercy, Righteousness
• Home, Holiness, Hallelujah
• Sing, Prayer And Preach
• Endurance
• Accept Salvation
• Deliverance From Death
• Joy In The Lord
• Purchase Of Blood
• Saved By Grace

Staggered, I Stopped 

And 
The Wheels Of The Bus ... My Brain

Started To Turn!

This Menu Was Different, Different

Tame

With No In Your Face Excitement

No Underhanded Explosions 

No Pepper In Your Eyes

No Salt In Your Wounds 

No Self-Actualization

No Self-Exaltation

No Hidden Sin

No Sorrow

No Shame
No Fake-It Until You Make-It

No Buy-In To Blight 

No Cause Division
No Do What Pleases You 
No Live Fast Die Young
And
No Run About And Run Around
As Is Found On Baseman B'Old's
All You Can Eat Buffet!

Suddenly ...

I Noticed The Quiet!

I Felt The Peace ... The Calm

And Then

Strange To Changing Ears

I Heard The Sound:

Peace Be Upon You!

Glory, Glory!

Hallelujah, Jesus!

My Eyes Flared And My Ears 
And 
Forehead Raised In Shock!

Jesus!?!

Jesus Was Here!?!

Here At Last!?!

I, Uncaring Of My Observers

Raised My Hands And Shouted:

Glory To God Most High!

Lord, I Love You!

Please Draw Near!

I Have Long Had A Need

And For You, My Heart Does Bleed!

Please, Lord, Draw Near

For From You I Must Feed!
Please Take My Sinner's Life
And Take Me Under Your Control!
I Will Follow You, Lord: Please Lead!

Bossman B'Old Had Just Lost Himself Another Client! 

KJV Romans 8

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
 

Clean Before The Lord
And 
Without Shame Or Remorse Before The Law
Is 
The Life Of Those 
Who Chose Christ's Free Salvation And Cleansing
Over Sin And The Sinfulness Of Self! 

Sin ... The Flesh Life
Carries Us Where We Don't Want To Go
But 
Salvation ... The Life Of Christ
Directed By The Holy Spirit Of Truth
Takes Us To The Land Of Hope ... To Glory
Where All Is Rest, Peace, And Everlasting Joy! 

Remember, Remember
Don't Ever Forget ...

Sin Is For A Time 
But 
Salvation Is For Eternity
So Choose Salvation 
And 
Almighty God's Amazing Grace Today! 
Glory Awaits The Enduring Faithful! 
 

FAITH AND HOPE: Self-Exaltation Versus Self-Examination + PRAYER: Remind Us To Always Pray, Dear Father!

It Came To Pass On A Certain Day 
In The Midst Of The Congregation That

Self-Examination Was Attacked By Self-Exaltation

Who Had Self-Sufficiency

And

Self-Indulgence 

Both Standing Close By

One On The Left Hand And The Other At His Right Hand!

For His Part ... In His Right Hand

Self-Examination Was Gently Holding 
Constant, Heartfelt, Prayer!

It Was An Uneven Match-Up From The Get-Go

And

Know-It-All Self-Exaltation

Did Not Fear ... Nor Neglect

To Tell Self-Examination So!

You Can't Even Think For Yourself!
You Are A Loser!

Look At Those Cheap Shoes On Your Feet! 

You're A Loser Always Having To "The Savior" To Creep! 

Self-Examination

In The Quiet Of His Heart

Said To Himself:

There But For Your Grace, My Lord, I Go! 

Help Me, Dear Father
My-Wise-In-His-Own-Eyes Brother To Reach! 

Please Lay On My Heart Words Of Consideration

So That I Do Not Get Into A Tongue And Teeth Collision
And Send Him Off, Indignant, To The Wily King Fraud! 

To Self-Exaltation
Self-Examination Calmly, Carefully, Deliberately, Said:

Self-Exaltation, 

I'm Sorry That You Feel That Way

But I Creep To My Lord And Savior Boldly 

So That I Do Not Indulge In Own-Sin Self-Pay! 

I Accept The Lord's Checks And Balances

And I Pray Constantly As Protection Against The Known Foe

And I Invite You To Get To Know Him Personally

So That Of Willing Sinning

You Will Choose To Let Go! 

I Was Born A Sinner

But In Sin, I Shall Not Die

Because Jesus Christ My Savior ... For Me, Personally 

On Mount Calvary Did Die! 

We Walk Together Because With Him I Do Agree

And I Choose To Humble Myself Before Him

Instead Of Exalting My Self

And Pretending To The World At Large

That I'm What, Without Him, I Can Never Be! 

I'm A Child, A Student

A Servant And A Saint! 

I've Taken Jesus Christ As My Captain

So That In The Road To Mount Zion

I Shall Not Hunger, Get Lost

Or Under The Buffeting Of The Adversary

Ignominiously Faint!

The Lord Is My Shepherd

My Rock And My Sure Refuge

And By My Following Him Faithfully

Enduringly

I Have Heaven To Gain 

And The Burning Hell To Refuse!

Every One Of Us

Be Ye Self-Exalting

Or Self-Examining

Will Have An Account To Settle

Which Will Clearly Show Our Mettle!

Your Works Will Either Stand And Prosper

Or They Will Fall To The Ground And Perish

And I Tell You Truly

The Reward Of All You Self-Indulgent Ones

Is Not Something That I Would Relish Or Cherish!

I Pray For You With All Sincerity!

I Speak To With Love ... In Christian Charity 

And Beg You, Please

Reform Your Ways Because Before Very Long

We Shall Stand Before The Lord, The King

The Ancient Of Days

Who Knows, Who Sees, Who Feels

And Is In All Things!
We Created Beings ... His Creatures

Cannot Hide From Him

A Single, Solitary Thing!

I Examine Myself

To Know My Every Weakness

And I Repair Unto Him

Who Strengthens Me To Be Like He Is!

I Cannot Be Like You

For I Choose To Be Like

Who Is The Author And Finisher Of My Faith

And The Very One Who Forgives My Sin

And Who Showers Me With Unmerited Favor 

Which Is His Gift Of Moment By Moment

Free Grace!

Remember This, My Misguided Friend 

When You Love The Lord Of Life

You Truly Love Your Self! 

When You Put Your Self 

Before The Lord Of Life 

You Are Your Own God 

And You Earn For Your Own Self

The False God's Reward! 

Worship The Living, Holy, God! 

Humble Your Self

And Stop Being Proud! 

Satan Is Proud! 

Satan Loves Self! 

Satan Is The Father Of Lies! 

Get Him Out Of Your Bosom 

And Get Off Of His Reserved-For-Damnation Shelf! 

Reach For The Extended Hand Of Hope

And Stop Letting Satan Choke You

With Your Own Self-Made Cherished-Sin Rope!

Self-Exaltation Could Not Utter
A Single, Solitary, Note! 

To Strike While The Iron Was Still Hot
Self-Examination Then Said:

 

Self-Exaltation,
Please Take Comfort In The Lord Jesus Christ

The Lord Of Life And Light 
Who Promises Us His Fatness ... His Abundant Blessings 

Both Now And Forevermore! 

To The Gathered Brethren, He Said:
 
Brethren,

What We See With Our Blind Eyes 

Is 

Narrow And Finite 

So Let Us By The Strength Of Faith 

And 

The Courage Of The Blessed Hope

Take Jesus At His Living Word 

So That We Will Enjoy All That Is In 

His River Of Pleasure! 

Trust, Obey, Pray

Give Praise

Do Good

Endure Through The Fight Of Faith

Be Faithful

Learn All Things From The Lord Jesus

And

We Can All Be Sure That We Will Be Gloriously Blessed! 

Eternity Awaits Us!

PRAYER:

Dear Father,

Please Grant Me

The Strength Of Faith

And
The Courage Of Hope!!

Increase Our Love For Our Lord Jesus

And
Bless Us To Be Tied Up

In Salvation

So That The Life's Work
That Is Sanctification
Does Not Become For Us

A Wink And A Nod

Popular Conversational Trope!

Remind Us Always, Father
That Men Should Pray
And
Not Faint
And
Keep Us In Your Holy Care!

Please Bless Us To Continually Hear
The Sweet Spirit Of Truth
And
To Obey The Gospel Call
So That We Shall Indeed Be Blessed
For It Is In Jesus Christ's Holy Name
That We Sincerely Pray And Humbly Plead!
Please Come For Us Soon!
AMEN!

 

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Truth Is The Warm Embrace! + PRAYER: Father, We Know Not What Tomorrow Holds!

Truth Is Unpopular!
Self-Exaltation 

Is 

Rampant Among The People Of God
And
The Spirit Of Independence 

Is 

Actively Holding Sway!
If Only We Would Accept The Truth
And
Know, Of A Surety That
It Is Dependence On
And
Humility Before The Lord Christ
That Will Carry Us, Saved And Clean
To The Glorious Kingdom
In That Great And Awful Day!

There Is No Justification
Why A Fallen Man
Known Called To Repentance
To Receive Sure And Secure Salvation
Should Indulge Own-Sin Self-Pay!

The Facts Are Plain ...

Self Is A Sinner!
Truth Is A Sword
And
Faith Is A Shield For Us Who Walk With 

Jesus Christ The Lord!

Pride Is Slow Poison!
Freedom In Sin Is A Lie!
Grace Is A Gift To All Of Us
And
Christ's Death For Us Did Free Mercy Buy!

Do Not Indulge The Sin Of Presumption!
Do Not Embrace Hate!
Do Not Despise Chastisement!
Do Not Let Willful Disobedience
Design
Determine
Distribute For You
Your Eternal Fate!

Jesus Christ Was Humble
Prayerful
Obedient
Spirit-Filled!
On Calvary, His Will Was One With The Father's
And
In Mount Zion, It Is Still!

Let Us Will To Be Humble!
Let Us Choose To Set Aside Pride!
Let Us Follow Faithfully The Master
Permitting Him Our Lives To Guide!

Turn Away, Turn Away, From The Liar!
Turn, Turn, To The Light That Gives Life!
Turn Over Your Walk To King Jesus
And
His Spirit, Holy, Will Guide You And Teach You 

All That You Need To Learn!

Do Not Your Call To Soul-Salvation Spurn!
To Eternal Life, I Beseech You, Brethren
Turn! Turn! TURN!

PRAYER:

Jesus Is The Joy Of Living

And

His Call To Soul Salvation, Father

I Willingly Accept!

I Ask A Boon, A Blessing, Lord

A Benefit Sublime!

Please Help Me, I Beseech You

Not To Believe Or Act Upon The Lie

That Says That

Having Earthly Treasures

Will Mark Me As Among Those Who, By You

Are Blessed And Spiritually Fine!

Help Me, Daily, The Liar To Defy!

Help Me, Please, My Beloved Father

To Live As Jesus Christ Lived

To Pray And With You

To Constantly Commune

And

To Keep You Always Near!

Help Me, Dear Father

To Hold You Up In Godly Fear!

I Know Not What Tomorrow Holds

So Please Help Me To Live Abundantly Today

Doing All The Good That I Can

And

Willingly Doing All That You Say!

I Desire On The Mount Zion

By Right

To One Day, Triumphant, Stand!

Please Remember My Brethren, Father

Those Near And Those Far Away!

Please Provide For Them Out Of Your Bounty

Protection

Provision

Power

Grace

Faith

Love

Light

And

Those Things

Of Which We Presently Know Nothing

As The Need Arises

Every Moment Of Every Day!

Help Them Ever, In Working Faith

Constantly To Pray!

And, Dear Father

When Our Lives Shall Come To A Close

I Pray That It Will Be With Us

Found Wearing The Clothing

That Speak To The Character

Built On The Lord Christ

And

Absent Any Demonic Device

That Bespeaks A Character Not Regenerated

By The Laws That Speak Life!

Please Help Us To Give You All The Glory

All The Praise

And

All The Honor That Is Your Due

For We Ask These Few Mercies

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name!

Oh, Father, We Do Love You!

AMEN.