VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: PRAYER: The Year Is New And God's Word Remains True!

Father! 

My God In Heaven!

Holy Is Your Name! 

I Sincerely Beseech You To Help Me To Remain Faithful 

So That You Will Always Be Father To, And Holy For, Me! 

May You Thus Be For All Who Are Committed 

To The Cause Of Jesus Christ! 

I Have No Known Reason To Doubt You Or Your Word 

And By Your Saving Grace, I Plead, Lord, That 

The Day Will Never Come 

When I Know Who For, What With, Where, Which Way

And When I Will Choose To Betray My Savior For Comfort And Cash 

Which Are Mere Illusions 

In The Eternal Scheme Of Things! 

It Is My Soul's Desire To: 

H ave A Regular Talk With My Jesus

A ppreciate That I Am Truly Blessed

P ray For Friends And Enemies

P ut My Spiritual House In Order

Y ield Not To Temptation

N ever Depart From The Savior's Side 

E ncourage Others On Their Journey To Joy

W atch, Work, And Wait For The Great Day

Y ield My Will To My Savior

E ndure All Things For My Lord

A llow The Holy Spirit To Work

R ejoice That The Lord Christ Is The King! 

In The Name That Is Above All Names

The Only Name By Which We Are Saved

I Pray For The Brethren The World Around 

Who Are Seeking For, And Coming To, Faith That 

Their Heart's Desire Will Be Met 

While It Is Yet Day! 

Remind Us That Our Happiness

Is Only Found In The Lord Jesus Christ

And Bless Us To Find Our Contentment In Him!

Please Protect, Provide For, Correct

And Direct Us All Who Are Willing 

On The Narrow Way Home! 

Remember Us All In Your Great Mercy As Only You Are Able 

For We Love You More Than Life Itself! 

Please Come For Us Soon! 

AMEN!!!

IN THE GARDEN OF DESPAIR: Living With Hope!

In The Realm Of Affliction

In The Garden Of Despair

I ... A Christian Faithful

To My Savior Will Repair!

In My Heart 
I Have Faith, Hope, Patience
Love, Resolve, And Sweet Joy

For I Am Determined To Live For Him

Whose Love For Me Has No Alloy!

I Am Not Alone ... Nor Lonely! 

He Who Calls Me Cares!

I Am Not Rejected: I Am Being Restored

And 
The Great Physician Is The Gardener

Who Tends Me 
And 
Over Me Sheds Great Tears!

I Am Encouraged!

I Have Hope That What Is

Is 
Not What Shall Be!

I Am Resolved To Remain Faithful

For In The Savior's Care I Am Blessed

Sheltered, Protected: What I Feel, He Feels!

Pruning Shears Are Not Comfortable!

Grafting Cuts Do Hurt!

Cleansing 
Is 
Often Embarrassing ... Awkward

Exposing The Hidden

Digging At The Roots Of My Sin

Sloughing Off The Drying, Dying, Dead Leaves Of 
Past Affections And Untoward Associations

Picking Off The Worms Of Willfulness

Waywardness, Wildness, Gainsaying
And 
Greed, Doubt, And Deceit

To Nurture Me To Enduring Faith

Willing Obedience

Heartfelt Prayer 
And
Humble Trust

To Reach For The Sun Of Righteousness

To Drink In The Rain ... The Water Of Wisdom

From The Sweet Spirit Of Truth

So That I Will Bear Fruit ... Sweet Fruit

And 
Not Be Fruitless ... Unproductive

Unprofitable

Useless!

I Have Free Will: I Choose To Submit To Him!

I Have Free Choice: I Choose To Let Him Fix Me

Heal Me, Save Me, Succor Me 
Seal Me And Secure Me Against The Storm Of Sin

The Quick-Sand Of Self

And
The Raging Sea That Is Satan! 

I Am ... I Have ... Resigned Myself From Being Own-Way:

Own-Sin Self-Pay 
Is 
Not The Profitable Way! 

I Have Accepted That I Am Profited 
By Being In His Holy, Sacrificial, Grace-Filled Care

For I Know By Experience That 
The Day Of Transplantation

Is 
Soon Here

And

My Soul's Desire Is To Go Where

He Has Said There Is A Place Personally Prepared For Me

Where All Is Love, Joy, Rest And Peace! 

I Shall Lie Down By The River Side:

No More Tears

No More Sorrow

No More Death

I Shall Forever Live

Immortal

Incorruptible

Glorified

At His Glorious Side

I Shall Abide! 

I Live In Hope ... With Hope ... Which Springs Eternal! 

Brethren,

It Is Because Of Known Sin That 
We Are Pilgrims And Strangers 

In A Strange Land

Exiled From The Holy Congregation Of 
The Family Of The Eternal God! 

Even Though We Are Away From Home

The God Of All Grace Has Given Us Something:
Something To Dream About

Something To Yearn For

Something Beautiful To Look Forward To 

And

His Blessed Promise Of Care And Conveyance 

To Get Us Safely There! 

Beloved, 

Keep Hope Alive! 

Be Faithful And Obedient! 

Look Up To The Hills

And 

Pray The Word: 

My Help

Comes From The Lord Jesus

My Shepherd

My God And My King! 

I Shall Walk Through This Valley

In His Care

And 

I Shall Reach Hill Zion Safety

And 

I Shall There And Rejoice ... Forever! 

Heaven Is My Home! 

The Lord Is On His Throne

And 

All Is Well! 

My Jesus Saves! 

TIRED OF RUNNING: The Soul's Desire!

Intellect, Emotions And Will
Were In The Midday Sermon At

The Christian Ministry Mission Int'l, Inc.
Ready Some Sweet Soul To Fill
Either As Individuals, A Duet Or A Trio! 

The Menu Was Hearer's Choice!

Some Parishioners Came Only To Be Thrilled!

Maxi Peace-Meal Was An Intellectual Fraud!
He Loved To Say "Book-It!"
But
He Was An Ephraim!
He Was Into False Gods!

Merlene Mansour Was Excitable
Loving Bells And Whistles

Thrills And The Feels
But
Was Searching For A Good And Strong Tree
And 

Was In The Preacher's Hand
So Much Malleable Putty!

She Seemed Not To Realize That It Is Jesus Christ

Who Saves

And

Not The Tree!!

Milton Burly
Had Kissed The World And Liked It
And
Had Driven Too And Fro Around It
An Amazing Time Or Two
But
He Had Had His Fill

- He Had Learned From Wise King Solomon -
And
Was Seriously Looking To Put To Better Use His Will
So, He Was Decidedly Open That Day 

To The Holy Spirit's Call
Ready
Before The Lord Of Life
In Total Surrender To Fall
If ...!

What's That!?!

The Lord Of Life
Our Creator
Our Redeemer
Our One True Friend Says:
Come ... Let Us Reason Together!

Wait A Minute!

I Can Actually Have A Back And Forth Conversation

With The God Of The Universe!?!!

He Is Saying To You, Oh, Searching Soul:
Call On Me And I Will Answer You
And Show You Great And Mighty Things
About Which You Know Nothing!

What!?! 

The Lord GOD Eternal Is Willing

To Teach Me Personally!?!!

The Holy God
Is Asking All You Who Labor
And Are Heavy Laden With Sorrow
With Needs
Cultivated Tendencies
Inherited Tendencies
You Who Need Unfailing Love
Hope
Blessings
Peace ... And Rest
And Forgiveness
And Cleansing From Cherished Sins
To Come Unto Him ... As You Are!

He Will Wash You Of Your Scarlet Sins
And He Will Make Them White As Snow!
If Your Sins Are Red Like Crimson
He Will Make Them As Wool!
He Will Make You Anew!
He Will Accept You Into His Heart
Into His Family
And He Has Promised To Provide A Place
Personally ... For You
In One Of The Mansions
In His Father's House!

Eh! Eh! 

A Personal God

Means He Knows My Name!

It Makes Sense! 

It Feels Right!

I Can Hear His Voice Calling My Name!

He Knows Me!

Jesus Christ Says To You, Sinner
And That Means Me, Too:

It Is Not His Desire That Any One Of You Should Be Lost
And He Has Plainly Indicated His Will
By Adding This Promise:

All That The Father Hath Given To Me

Shall Come To Me

And He That Cometh To Me

I Will In No Wise Cast Out!

But, Beloved

There Is A Proviso!

Rats!

There's Always A Catch!

Confess Your Sin!

Repent Of The Past!

Do A U-Turn!

See That You Turn To Christ!

Now!

Today!

Tomorrow Is Not Promised!

Hello!!

I Can Do This!

If I Confess My Sin

He Is Faithful And Just

To Forgive ... Me ... Of My Sin

And To Cleanse Me Of

All ... All ... All Unrighteousness!

He Will Give You His Character For Your Stained One!
Give Up Your Sin!
Be Bold!
The Door Of Mercy Is Here And Now
Open Wide! 

Take The First Step
And With Him, Forevermore
He Invites You To Abide!

Abiding Love!
Amazing Grace!
Mercy Is Free
For Me, For Thee! 

Do Not Look Back
Nor Turn Side To Side!
From Sin Turn Around
And Through All The Changing Scenes Of 

Your Life
Almighty God's Grace And Mercy
Will Abound!

Don't Lie To Yourself!
Don't Hide!

... And I Get Faith For Free! 

Mercy For Free! 

There's Provision!
There's Protection!
There's Power ...!

... I Must Give Praise!

Lord, 

I Make The Transaction! 

I Am Yours! 

Please Fill My Heart! 

Help Me To Change My Ways!

 

I Give You My Will!

I Long To Belong To You! 

I Desire Everlasting Days!

Draw Me Nearer, Lord! 

Do Not Pass Me By! 

I See Your Hand Extended! 

Help Me To Hold On To You! 

I Do Not Want Ever Again 

To Believe Satan's Pretty Lies!

I Want Around Zion One Great Day To Fly!

I Desire To Drink Of The Water Of The River Of Life!

I Desire To Eat Of The Tree Of Life!

Lord, Please Help Me!

I Surrender! 

I Desire The Lord Christ!

PRAYER: We Need Our Jesus, Dear Father!

I Come Before You, Father

Because

I Believe All Of The Word

And That

The Given Promises Are True!

Please Cleanse Me Of Any Unbelief!

Thank You, Father

For The Blessings You Bestow:

The Love

The Joy

The Grace

The Mercy

The Truth

The Good Seeds To Sow!

Thank You, Father

For Making Plain The Way To Walk

And

The Light That Shines

That Shows The Way Clear! 

Thank You For Being The Holy God

That

A Repentant Sinner Can Intimately Know!

The Raging Lion Is Prowling

Seeking To Make Meals Out Of Men

And

So I Bow Before You, My Father

Pleading

Beseeching You, Lord God Holy:

Help Us! 

Please Defend!

We Do Not Know How To Pray As We Ought

But

We, Of The Household Of Faith

Know Him

- Jesus Christ Our Creator -

Our Redeemer

Who For Our Salvation Fought! 

He Is Not A Comic Book Hero! 

He Did Not On His Earthly Mission Fail! 

There Is Nothing That He Can Learn

From Any Sun Man

And

It Is Abundantly Made Clear

That

The Way To His Sure Salvation

Is No Mixed-Way Walking-According-To-Self Trail!

The Preserved Holy Word Tells Us Plainly

The Only Way To You, Father

Is

Through The Lord Christ

Your Only Begotten Son

And

I Plead, My Father

Please Help Us To See The Living Light

So That We Do Not Fall For Any Of Satan's

Soul-Costing

Life-Destroying

Christ-Denying

Loathsome Delights!

Personal Experience Strongly Declares

That

The Way Of Sin Is Not Fun!

Without The Lord Christ 

We Are Twice-Dead Men! 

Without The Lord Christ

We Cannot Against Satan Defend! 

Without The Lord Christ

Our Beginning Is Our End

As There Will Never Be Any Other Being

Any Other Opportunity

The Slide To Damnation To End!

Pity Us, And Help Us! 

Pity Us, And On Living Truth Help Us To Feed! 

Pity Us, And Lead Us Safely Home

Because

It Is Our Souls' True Desire

The Water Of Life To Drink

And

On The Fruit Of The Tree

In Eternity

Always To Feed!

Bless Us With Spiritual Eyesight

Insight

Foresight

And

The Wisdom Of The Wise

And

Guide Us On The Path To Glory

As In Jesus Christ's Faith

We Believe, Love, Trust

And

Propagate 

The Good News Gospel Story!

Help Us To Reject

Satan's Sophistries And Bold Lies!

We Love You! 

We Bless You! 

Please Help Us, Dear Father

By The Working Of The Holy Spirit

To Glorify The True Name

And

By Remaking Us

- Our Characters -

In The Likeness Of Jesus Christ

The Spotless Lamb

Who Bore Our Punishment

Our Pain

And

Our Shame! 

We Need The Lord

And

In His Matchless Name

We Pray And Humbly Plead!

You Said, Ask

In Faith

Nothing Wavering 

And

It Shall Be Given:

Our Desire Is Here Laid Bare! 

Please Come Soon! 

AMEN.

FIRE-POWER: Surrendered To Christ! + PRAYER: Love, Please Do Not Let Me Go!

Weakness Was Walking
Stalking
AND
Self
Was In A Bind!

Assailed-By-Temptation
AND
Looking-At-Circumstances
- In Grand And Gripping Array -
Were Doing The Devil's Best
To Cause Self To Forget
That He Had Surrendered
- Fully Surrendered Himself -
To The True And Living
Able
Available
God Of The Unchangeable
- Aka Sealed And Settled In Heaven -
WORD!

"Wait A Minute!" 
Said Self-Reflection
In A Rumination Furor.

Of Course ...!

There Is Power
In The Blood
In Belief
In Love
In Faith
In Grace 
In Hope 
AND
In Obedience!
I Know
For
In God I Trust
BUT
What I Need Most Now

Is
The Power Of The Word
Which I Do Not
Deny!

PRAYER:

Father, Oh Father

I Trust You!

I Believe!

The Blood Of Jesus Cleanses Me

And

Jesus' Sacrifice Saves Me

For I Accepted The Gift Of Sure Salvation!

Please, 

In Jesus' Holy Name

Hear, Oh, Hear My Plea

And Do, Lord

For Me

What Only The Eternal Can Do!

I Praise You

And

Give You Thanks

For Yesterday's Blessing 

- They Were Many -

But
I Now Utter The Call Of Faith

And
 Beseech You For One Blessing More!

I Need

I Need

The Power Of The word

To

- With The Angels -

Attend Me!

Let Not Knowledge Of The Word

Be - To Me - 

Just

An Intellectual Exercise!

Let Me Not Claim The Word 

But

Deny The Power Thereof!

Let Knowledge Of The Word

Fill Me

AND

The Power Of The Word

Conform My Heart To Christ

By The High Power Of The Holy Spirit!

Cover Me!

Let Me Ever Feel Your Abiding Love!

Love ... Do Not Let Go!

Grace ... In My Life Please Show!

Favor ... Let Me Hold Your Hand!

For

At The Cross Of Christ

I Take My Stand

For It Is My Soul's Desire

To Live

In Beulah Land!

AMEN.

Life! Life!
Do Your Worse
The Lord Of Life
Died To Save Me!

In Him, I Am Not Cursed!

Circumstance
You Shall Not Phase Me!
The Accursed Of Calvary
Is The Blessed Of Heaven
AND
Thank God

Even Now
He Is Interceding For Me!

Weakness
You May Sleep On Now!
He Who Is My Peace
Gives Me Rest
AND
In Him
I Am Strong!

I Will Not Be Smoozed By You!
In My Heart
Is A Sweet I-Know-Jesus Song!

Temptation
I Am Not Yielding!
Go Back To The Devil Who Sent You!
Go Back Where You Belong
For I Look To Jesus Christ
The Author
The Finisher 
Of My Faith
AND
In His Abiding Love
I Shall Not
Make Shipwreck
Of My Faith!

S'Long!

My Soul's Desire

I Am Striving

To Receive The Commendation

From

The Saints' Commander In Chief!

AND

I Desire

With My Whole Heart

To Meet The One Who Died

So That My Soul

Could Have Eternal Peace And Relief!

I Think Often

About The Lord Christ

AND

Today

My Thoughts Took To Walking A Different Way

AND

I Wondered ...

What Is There In Mankind

That Made The Godhead Decide

Before Man Even Had A Mind

That Jesus Christ Would Die

In Their Stead

AND

Before They Had Even Sinned

To Return Them

To The Bosom Of The Divine King?!

This Is Lofty Thinking

 Outside Of My Realm

Outside Of My Pay Grade

Outside Of My Operating Brief

Outside Of My Understanding

But

Totally Inside Of Jesus' Faith

Of Which

In This Hour

I Have A Measured Piece!

The Answer Is God's To Give In His Time

AND

 If ... He So Chooses!

I Am Made

In God's Likeness

In God's Image

AND

Within Me

Is God's Breath Of Life

AND

If That Does Not

Make Me Special

Then

I Don't Understand Anything

About Christ's Devoted-To-Me Dying Love!

I Say My Prayers!

God Hears Them!

I Tell Of Worries And Woes!

I Tell Of Fears

Frets

AND

Family

AND

I Even Complain Of

Un-opening

Non-Locking Doors!

I Tell Of My Hope For Salvation!

I Give Utterance To Pleasures Of Delight

That Are Wrought

At The Hand Of My Master

AND

Given To Me

Before

For It

I Had Even Given A Faint Thought Sunlight!

I Love The God-Man Jesus!

I Believe

That Christ The Lord

Is My Shepherd Divine!

AND

Through The Struggle

I Am Striving To Walk In His Way!

AND

I Humbly Recognize

That Mere Man Am I

AND

Plead

For Godly Illumination

To Shine In

From

My Dim Clouded Eyes!

I Cannot Wake Myself

Come The Morning!

I Can't Shield Myself

From Things That Terrorize The Night!

I Can't Get Victory Over Sin

WITHOUT

King Jesus

AND

I Can't Utter A Single Earnest Faithful Prayer

WITHOUT

The Holy Spirit Leading The Way To The Light!

I Know

AND

I Accept That

There Is Nothing That I Can Do

That I Can Do Without My Lord

Save

Refuse Sure Salvation

To Run Wild

With The Wily Wicked Fraud

AND

I Am Grateful To God

That Full Disclosure Is Mine

AND

No One Can Make The Decision For Me

To Worship The Great God

AND

To Do It Gladly

Answering The Sounding Salvation Call!

I Desire To See

The Lover Of My Soul

In All His Majesty

AND

As My King

AND

To Worship Before Him

AND

Handle Him

AND

To Have That Face-To-Face

Personal Interview With Him!

That ... Is My Soul's Goal!

What Is YOUR Soul's Desire?

What Is Your Soul's Goal?