Two Weighty Questions And ... A Heartfelt Prayer!

How Many Of Us
Who Call Ourselves Christians
Have Previously Gone
To The Fleshpots Of The Earth
AND
Have Found
(Real Or Imagined):

The Food ... A Gastronomic Delight
The Company ... Amenable
The Atmosphere ... Salubrious
The Light ... Suitably Dark
The Mood ... Indulgently Mellow
The Conversation ... Enrapturing ... Enthralling
The Drink ... Such That Intoxicated A Soul
AND
The Honor And Majesty
Of The Glorious Holy God
Turned Into A Plush Mat For Testy Feet
A Floor Runner
A Soiled Sheet?

How Many Of Us
Have Committed Sin Vile
AND
Thought:

I Cannot Go Home To God!
I Did His Holy Name Revile
Forgetting
Misremembering
Been Misinformed
Been Misguided
On The Fact That God
Our God
Our Father
Our Shepherd
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Friend To Life's End
Says:

Return Unto Me  ...!
Come Unto Me ...!
Come Let Us Reason Together ...!
Follow Me  ...!
Take My Yolk  ...!
Learn Of Me  ...!
Trust In The Lord  ...!
Believe On The Lord
AND
Be Saved
... Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet
... Though Your Sins Be Red Like Crimson
... They Shall Be Whiter Than Snow
... They Shall Be As Wool!?!

Sin Stains
BUT
Jesus Christ's Blood
Is The Only Blood That 
WASHES
AND
CLEANS COMPLETELY!

Sooo ...

Go To Jesus
Now ... TODAY
AND
Honestly
AND
With Contriteness Of Heart
AND
Brokenness Of Spirit
Unreservedly
AND
In Your Own Way
Say:

PRAYER:

Father,

Forgive Me

I Knew What I Was Doing!

The World Of Sin Delighted My Senses

And

I Knew What-Upon I Was Chewing!

I Sniffed The Pleasant Fragrance!

I Tasted The Bountifully Spread Food!

I Drank Deep Of Hell's Libation

But

With The Passage Of Time

Hell's Angels To Me

Were Shown Maliciously Cruel!

Living In Sin Is Not Cool!

They Upped The Ante

And

I Knew The Score

But

Overconfidence

On One Great Can't-Lose Play

Had Me Prostrate

Bent

Unto Broken!

Breathing For Life

Became A Mere Token

Until

Fully Aware

- Finally -

I Can Hear

What It Is The Holy Spirit Is Speaking

Had Spoken

And Now ...

Now!

I Am Here

Ready To Made Clean

Anxious For A Clean Scene

Willing Now

To Do What You Say

No Longer Eager

For My Own Sins

To Pay!

Forgive Me, I Pray!

Father,

My Father,

Thank You For Plain Revelation

That Shows Clearly

That Satan Is A Total Liar

A Biting Fraud

A Destructive Devil

The Opposer Of The Holy

The Living

The Eternal God

Who Takes Pleasure

In Rack And Ruin

And

Joys In Man's Disgrace

Uplifting Self-Gratification

And

Belligerently

Goading Weakened Ones

To Dismiss

Shameness Of Face!

Father,

Please Forgive Me!

I Acknowledge All That I Did!

I Humbly Confess

And

Repent

In Jesus' Name!

Please Reform Me

And

Remake Me

For I

- Now Truly Broken -

Desire

With My Whole Heart

To Take Up My Ignored Cross

And

Daily

Follow After You!

Please, Lord

Teach Me New Music

A New Traveling Song

A New And Healthful Diet

With No Intoxicating Mixed Beverages

To Cast Me Prostrate

On The Wide Street Long!

Lead Me, Lord

Along The Straight And Narrow Path

For

Walking On The Broadway

Encourages My Indulgence In Gross Greed

And

My Dependence

Upon Practicing Craft

And

Using It For Fast Steed!

Help Me, Lord

To Secure Godly Companions

To Encourage Me

- And I, Them -

To Cheer Me On

Along The Holy Way

And

Help Me, Lord

Not To Pick Of The Wild-Fruit Fruit Trees

Amply Spread Out

And

Disgracing

The High And Holy Way!

Oh, Lord

Let Not Self-Satisfaction Beguile Me!

Let Not Own-Way Control Me!

And

Let Not Tomorrow-Can-Wait

Stone Me

For

Arrival And Residence  

In The Holy Kingdom

Now Motivates Me!

I Now Am Thine!

You Are Holy And Divine!

In Your Loving Arms, Lord

Please Confine Me

And

Help Me Thereby

In The Great Day

To Cross The Separating Line!

Draw Me Nearer

And

Haste The Glorious Day

For This, Lord

Is My Heartfelt Prayer!

I Believe!

Help Thou My Unbelief!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, I Plead!

AMEN.

HAPPY SABBATH: BUTTONS : Self! ... Self-Destruct! + PRAYER: Father, Grant Us Your Grace!

Self
Selfish
Self-Willed
Self-Serving
Self-Satisfied
AND
Self-Deceived
Are One!
One Family!
One Mistake!
One Matter!
One Mission
Pointing
That One Someone
To Mate
With The Master Of Disaster
To End Up Either
Dead Now
AND
Permanently Dead Later
Eternally Separated From The Holy God
OR
Now
In Traction
Humiliated
Jailed
Disgraced
Shamefaced
Despairing
OR
Legs Or Arms Broken
Encased In Plaster
Spirit Broken
Love Lost
Hope Lost
A Token Of What Is A Lost Life!
It's A Crap Shoot!

All This
Is Caused
Because
Satan Is The Liar
AND
He Loves To Expose Man's Flaws
By Having Them Denigrate God's Laws
AND
He Knows That There Is No Better Way To Do It
Than To Cause Man
To Lift Up Self 
With Satan's Own Original Song:

I Will Be Like ...!

I Will Elevate My ...!

I Will Sit Upon ...!

I Will Ascend ...!

I Will Ascend Also ...!

You Will Note ...

That Nowhere
In This Putrid Soliloquy
Is Ever Uttered Words Like:

"If God Allows ...!"

For The Simple Reason That

Self
Is Its Own God
AND
To That Known
AND
Exposed Fraud Satan
- The Self-Serving One -
Jesus Christ
- The ONLY Begotten Son Of Almighty God -
Was The Usurper!
The Fraud!
This Is Self-Deception At Its Known Best!

I Charge You Today
To Know And Understand That
Self 
Writes Post-Dated Checks
AND
Also Indulges In
Check Kiting!

Self Also Always Borrows
AND
Always Expects
The Human To Pay
Saying Unconcernedly:

"Man's Gotta Pay For His Play!"

Self's Selfish Desires
AND
Self-Centeredness
Lack Self-Control
AND
Lavishly Indulge In
Self-Righteousness
While
Feigning Self-Respect
AND
Ignoring Self-Reflect
All The While Well Knowing
That It Is Best
For Self 
To Destroy
The Self-Made-Man Mirror
AND
Look Toward Man's Maker
While Determinedly Dismissing
Satan
The Benighting Faker!
Don't Deal With Bad Fruit!
Cut Down The Tree!
Destroy The Root!

But ...

Vanity Of Vanities
Self
- Utilizing Lies As Self-Confidence's Working Device
While Its Self-Assurance Is Lacking True Self-Assessment -
Sells
Self
Self-Service On
Choice Bread
Cut Up Like Sliced!
Life May Just Happen!
Choice Does Not!

To Live For Self
By Self
Through Self
In Self
With Self
Because Of Self
Is Silly Unto Sordid
AND
Leads To
Leaving One In
Satanic Captivity!

So ...

STOP
Looking In!
STOP
Looking At!
STOP
Looking Around!
AND
Look Up!
Unto Jesus
Our Author
Our Finisher
The Lord Of All Creation
The Holder Of Man's Shaking Hand
The Sacrificed Lamb
Of
The Save-Man Salvation Plan!

I Beseech You, Dear Ones
Please
Drop Your Plans
AND
Follow God's Plan
AND
Know
Trust 
AND
BELIEVE
That At The Day Appointed
You Will Be
- By Almighty God -
Eternally Elevated
Eternally Saved
Eternally Safe In Heaven
Nevermore To Self A Slave!
Will You Stand Up For Jesus?

If We Are In

God's Service

We Cannot Use The Words

"I Always Put Myself First!"

AND

"God Must Save Me!"

To Make A Good Sentence!

*********

Self-Service

And

Self-Destruct

Always Start

With Self!

*********

Self-Denial Is Elevating!

*********

PRAYER:

Father,

Please Rid Us Of Self

Today

And

Help Us

Ever To Say:

Father,

It Will Always Be You First

Every Single Day!

Help To Look To You

For All That We Need

And

Kill In Us

The Desire

To Float With Flounderers

Since We Know

That We Can Have

The Wings Of Angels

And

Fly Around The Universe

In Your Appointed Way

On Your Appointed Day!

Grant Us Your Grace!

Lift Up Our Faith!

Help Us To Trust

In Your Provision

Living Our Lives

By The Light

That By You

Has Been Given!

Father,

Please Remember The Brethren

The Children

The Friends

The Naysayers

And

Yes, Lord

Even Wicked Men!

Remember In Mercy

Those Who Work In Your Vineyard

And

Those Who Are Awaiting

Their Call-Up To Serve!

Bless Those Who Bless Us!

Pity Those Who Curse!

Lift Up The Fallen

And

Help Us Never To Your Living Word

To Be Adverse!

You Are God Holy!
You Are God True!

We Are The Believing Brethren

And

Lord,

We Thank, Praise, Worship

And

Bless You!

In Jesus Holy Name We Pray!

AMEN.

CHRISTIANITY: Know-Do and No-Do

Know-Do And No-Do Are Both Christians
Working For The Lord!
Know-Do And No-Do Are Both Christians
Seeking Heavenly Rewards!

Know-do And No-Do Are Both Christians
Who Say:

Good Is Good!

God Is Great!

He Blesses Obedient Man

Each And Every Day!

And There The Similarities End, My Friend
For
Their Work Products Speak
To Their Differing Attitudes
And Says:

Very Good!

And ... 

Why, Man?

How Could You?!

Know-Do
Is A Calm Chaste Personality
Striving For:

"The Well Done!"

From The Holy God
BUT
No-Do Is All For Appearances
AND
Stuck On:

What Monkey See Monkey Do!
If It's Good For Them
It's Good For Me, Too!

Brethren -  YES!
Companions -  NO!
One Is For The Lord!
AND
One Is For The Dough!

One Is For The Praise Of GOD!
One Is For The Glow Of MAN!
One Is Living To HIMSELF
On The Carnal Elevation Stand
AND
One Is Ever Searching His Heart
Pleading For The Cleansing
From The Holy Son Of Man
AND
The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit
That Teaches The Way And Calms!

We Are Instructed To ...

Search The Scriptures!
AND
Walk The Line!
Seek After Our Own Soul's Salvation
AND
Get Our Selves Attached To
The True Vine!

We Each Have A Cup
So That We Can
Pour In Jesus
AND
Empty Out Self!
We Must Increase 
The Godly Inputs
AND
Our Own Way Diminish
For The Lord Christ's Sake
AND
The True And Living Faith 
Embrace With Relish!

NOW ...

No-Do
Was Into Smoke And Mirrors!
He - Like Balaam
Worked For A Balak
AND
Just Like Balaam Did To The Israelites
At Baal-Peor
No-Do Allows Self
AND
Encourages Others
To Drink Deep Of The World's Licentious Stew!

If We Will Remember

The Outcome Of The Particular Stand

The Israelites Went On To Lose God's Blessing 

AND

Protection

Just At The Border Of The Promised Land!

There Is No Harm!  Balaam Said
It Is To Make Friends For The Road Ahead!

So ...

The People Drank Of The Wine
AND
Nubile Women Started To Gyrate By Design
AND
Before Long
Before False Gods All Around
Sex And  Sacrifice
AND
Wild Women And Wild Song
Had God's People
With The Very Devil
Going Along!

Knowing To Do Good
AND
Not Doing It Is Sin
Just Like Working For God
AND
Playing With Satan
Is God's Law Breaking!

Do You Know The Word?
Do The Word!
Do You Know The Word?
Walk Away From The Herd!
For
God Is Not Mocked
AND
His Command
Will Be The Last By Mankind Heard!

So ...

Be
A Know-Do
AND
Not
A No-Do
AND
The Living God
Will Have
A Bright Mansion Resplendent
Waiting 
For You!

Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide!

Jesus Christ Is Our Captain

And

In Him We May Freely Confide!

Don't Be A Servant

A Servant Of Sin

Just Ingest The Word Of Truth

And Pray

And Cast 

A "Thus Saith The Lord!"

At That Devil

Who Is Daily You Stalking!

TRUSTING IN SELF: Brewing Your Own Storm

Trusting In Your Own Self

Is Like Riding In A Clown Car

Packed With A Myriad Opinions

Driving

But Going Nowhere

Storm Blowing

Windows Ajar

People Speaking

Words Blown By The Wind

Soaked To The Bone

Heavenly Warmth Faking

Throat Parched

Dry Wind Thirst Slaking

Back Bent

Bulrush Walking-Stick Breaking

Walking Up A Hill

Feet In Quicksand

Bully Boys

One's Teeth Breaking

Paying For A Free Ticket

And

Buying Free Food

And Still Trusting In Self

Even As One's Soul Is

Crying

Dying!

Trusting In Self

Is The Act Of A Desperate Man

Drinking The Juice Of The Damned

Instead Of Trusting

In The Only One Who Can

Deliver 

Peace 

By The Eternal Hand!

If You Are Trusting To Self

STOP!

If You Have Not Yet Done It

DON'T START!

If You Are Contemplating Doing It

STEP AWAY

And

BE DONE WITH THAT!

**********

Self Is The Sin

That Caused Satan's Falling

Into The Belief

That He Was Entitled

To Be In The Know

Of What The Godhead Was Doing!

Self Stopped Satan

From Recognising

That He Could Have Been Forgiven

Before He Went Too Far

And Was From Heaven Driven!

Love Of Self Caused Satan

To Tempt His Own Creator

To Bow Down To His Self

And Thence

To Kill His Lord, Later!

Self Strips Sinners Of Sense

Self Styles Itself As Sane

Self Of Itself Is Known Vain

AND

Self Causes The Judge To Anoint One With Commonsense

Via A Rapidly Applied Cane!

*********

DROP Self

AND

Lift Up The Lord!