Using The L.O.D.E: Changing Hurry Into Hurray!

When Man-Generated Hope Is Gone

Christ-Gifted Holy Faith Working 

And

Enduring 

Allows Us To Change 

"Please Hurry, Lord!" 

To "Thank You, Lord! Hurray!" 

Beloved, 

Our Depending Upon Self In Matters Of Faith 

Is 

Akin To Running Behind A Fuel-Less, Driver-Less

Engine-Less, Moth-Balled Vehicle! 

It Ain't Going Nowhere And Neither Are We! 

Our God Alive, The Lord Jesus Christ

Is 

The True Strong-Hold

Our Impenetrable Shelter

Our Perfect Refuge 

And

He Gives To Each Of Us 

A Measure Of His Faith Each And Every Day 

To Use To Trust Him At His Eternal Aka Can't-Fail Word! 

Dear Ones, 

The Day That We Truly Understand That Self 

Is 

A Willing Sinner 

And

Accept With Unadulterated Joy That 

Jesus Christ The King 

Is 

Our Only Savior 

Is

The Day That There Shall Be Our Joyful Celebration 

In Recognition Of The Fact That 

It Is Indeed The Mighty God That We Serve! 

All Of Us Who Choose To Trust The Lord 

And

Wait Upon Him 

Shall Surely Renew Our Strength! 

We Will Be Like Those Who

- With Prayer And Supplication With Thanksgiving - 

Will Light The Fire

And 

Place A Pot Of Water On To Simmer 

With The Full Expectation That 

Soon The Ingredients Necessary To Cook A Substantial Meal 

Which Will Do A Body Good 

Shall Surely Appear! 

Remember, Remember

Don't Ever Forget ...

Sinful-Self Is Destructively Used By Satan

But

The Faith-Fuelled Saint Aka Sinner-Saved 

Willingly, Wisely, Serves The Eternal God 

Lovingly, Obediently, Devotedly, And  Enduringly! 

Let Us Daringly Endeavor Today 

To Fully Let Jesus Christ's Gift Of Unfailing Faith 

Lubricate Our Lives! 

Peace!

Mercy ... For Me And Thee!

The First Facet Of Almighty God's Character 
As Revealed To Moses
As He Abode Safely In The Cleft Of The Rock 
Secured By God's Own Hand
Was Mercy! 

Just So You Know
Mercy Includes Loving-Kindness
Grace, Compassion
And 
Forgiveness
And 
No Human Born Of A Woman Has Any Right 
To The Great And Known-Immense
Known-Infinite Mercy Of The Eternal God! 

Mercy 
Is 
A Gift Freely Given To Us Bold, Brash Sinners 
Who Deserve God's Justice! 

Beloved, 

Think On This: 
We Cry Out To The Lord To Hear Our Prayers 
And 
We Ask Him To Also Have Mercy On Us! 

Also Is Interesting In That It Means That 
We Have Hope ... Expectation ... That 
This Great God Will Add The Blessing Sought 
Because 
He Is Well Able! 

Be Wise ...

There Is The Day Coming 
When All Who Refuse The Free Gift Of Mercy-Now 
Will Plead For Mercy-Then 
But
Almighty God's Justice
Unmixed With Almighty God's Mercy
Will Be Thoroughly Poured Out! 

Soooo ...

Let's Not Be Amongst Those 
Who Know Not The Lord Christ ... The Truth,
Who Made Peace With The Father For Us 
So That We May Enter His Gates With Thanksgiving 
And 
His Courts With Joy-Filled Praise! 

Mercy 
Is 
A Rare Quality Which 
Is 
Found Only In Our God Almighty
Mighty To Save Us! 

Be Ye Armed And Thrilled ...

Humble Yourself And Pray
And 
Also Plead For The Forgiving God's Free Mercy 
To Bountifully Rest Upon You Today!  
Peace With Almighty God Is Free!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: PRAYING: The Way To Life

Preparing For Duty

And

Marked For Trial

- Being Informed Of The Dire Necessity Of Prayer -

Sought Assistance At Divine Support

A Subsidiary Of Amazing Grace Now

And

Surpassing Glory To Come! 

Wanting To Become Aka To Be Transformed Into 

Braced For Duty

And

Prepared For Trial

These Two Humbled Themselves

Watching And Praying

Praying Without Ceasing

And

In All Things By Prayer And Supplication

They Made Their Requests Unto

The True And Living God

In Their Lord Christ's Holy Name!

They Wanted The Benefits Of 
The Close, Personal, Relationship With Savior Of Man 

So They Adhered To 
And 
Met The Conditions Publicly Enumerated

And

With Working Faith

And

Living Hope 

They Fully Expect To Reap 
The Promised Immeasurable, Known-Eternal, Benefits!

Truth Be Told ... 

The Road Is Long, Narrow, Strait Aka Difficult

But

Glory Be To Jesus

That Same Road Is Straight

Because

The Map-Maker Is True, Faithful, Kind, Blessing, Giving

And

Forgiving!

He Is The All-Knowing One

And

He Is The Forever Friend

Who Heals Hurts

And

Mends Hearts And Lives!

With Him, They Choose To Abide!

Abide ... That's A Pretty Strong Word!

Indeed!

It's The Perfect Word!

To Abide, To Rest, To Be Safe

Sheltered, Protected, Provided For!

I Like It!

Along The Way, They Met Pray So Little

And

So Little Faith!

It Did Not Go Well!
They Refused To Let Prideful Self Get In Their Way
Of Moving From Certain Hope
To Assured Glory!
They Preferred Profitable Prayer To Unprofitable Pride!
They Understood ... Understand That 
To Live With Pride
Is 
To Live A Bold
And
Their Faith In Lord Christ Was Not Having It!

Amazing, Isn't It

When We Want What The Lord Has To Give

But Have No Pressing Desire

To Humbly Pray So That We May Receive 

The Available-For-The-Asking Blessing!

Don't Forget Being Stuck On Self The Sinner ...!

... And Don't Forget The Attitude Of

It'll Be There If ... Or When ... I Need It!

Been There, Done That, Foolish Indeed!

All I'm Saying Is That

We All Could Learn A Thing Or Three

From Good King David! 

I Hear That! 

He Knew How To Pray And ...! 

... He Also Knew How To Confess And Repent 
And 
To Give His God His Due And Necessary Praise! 

Listen To This:

King David Knew His Prayers Were Accepted
Because 

He Knew He Met The Conditions
And
In Gratitude, For Faith, In Need
And
To Give Worshipful Praise

He Prayed Continually! 

Brethren, 

Praying Is Not A Panic Button 

To Be Used Only In Cases Of Emergency! 

To The Committed-To-Christ Christian

Praying Is To Be The Reason For Living

The Way To Life

The Umbilical Cord That Connects Us To Our Lord

Our Creator-God, Our Redeemer, Our Provider

And 

Is To Be A Constant

Our Go-To ... Our Default Position

In All Things In Our Sojourn In This Life! 

Pray Without Ceasing 
Is Not 
A Challenge: It Is A Command! 

Pray, Beloved! 

Roundly Reject Sin! 

Utter Honest Praise! 

Give Heartfelt Thanks

And 

Be Truly Grateful! 

To Remember How To Pray To Our Father In Heaven

Remember The ACTS: 

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication Aka Ask For What You Need

And 

Do All In Jesus Christ's Holy Name! 
Our Almighty God Is The God Holy:
Take Your Faith To The Throne!

PRAYER: I Will Not Rob You, Lord!

Father,

I Desire To Do Right!

I Desire To Be Blessed

And

I Will Do All That You Ask

Through Grace 

And

In Faith

So That In Making Requests

For Your Favor, Lord

I May Always Be Bold!

Keep Me Humble, Lord!

You Have Said

Do Not Rob You

In Offerings And Tithes!

You Have Said

Freely I Have Received

Freely I Should Give! 

You Have Said

Prove You! 

Test You

To See What For Me You Will Do!

You Have Said

Give!

And

It Will Come Back To Me

Full Measure

Pressed Down

Shaken Together

And

Running Over!

You Have Said

When I Give

I Give To You, My God!

You Have Said

You Will Open The Windows Of Heaven

The Very Floodgates Of Blessing

And

Pour Out For Me, Personally

A Personal Blessing

That There Will Not Be Enough Room

To Receive It!

Father,

All That I Have Is From You

And

By Paying The Tenth Of My Increase

By Giving A Gift Of Offering Into Your Hand

I Am Returning Unto You

What Is Rightfully Yours!

Help Me Not Begrudge You Your Due!

Lord,

I Believe You Are Faithful

That Your Word Is True

That My Temporal Prosperity

Is Tied Up In Fidelity To You

And

Since You Have Also Said

That The Righteous Are Never Forsaken

That Our Seed Will Not Beg For Bread

I Cast My Care

My Lot

Upon You, Lord

And

I Do That Without Fear!

Father,

You Have Promised To Fulfill

The Desire Of My Heart

When I Do That Which Pleases Your Heart!

Please Bless Me, I Beseech You

To Ever Do Your Will!

Please Bless Me With All Blessing

And

Let Not My Heart For You

Ever Be Lukewarm!

Let It Ever Be Hot

Doing That Which Will Tell The World

That You Are In The Blessing Business, Still

And

Faithful, Still!

I Will Pay Your Tithe, Lord

For It Proves That I Believe 

That You Are The Almighty God

And

That I Trust You At Your Good Word!

I Will Give To You My Freewill-Offering, Lord

For It Proves

That I Believe That You Are Good

That Your Gifts Are Real

And

That My Heart Is Grateful!

I Am Trusting You, Lord

For I Love You

And

I Know That You Are The God Of Love

The God Giving

The God Able

The Holy God Real

The Only God Not A Fable!

Thank You, Lord

For Your Blessings Upon Me!

Thank You For Hearing

And

Answering My Prayers So Readily!

Thank You For Provision

For Peace

For The Ability To Sing Praise

And

To Say Heartfelt Prayers!

Thank You For Your Gifts Of Life

Liberty And Consuming Love!

Thank You For Length Of Days!

Thank For Your Sacrifice

That Has Changed Tomorrow For Me

To Be An Eternity Without Sorrow!

I Am Grateful That You Are The Eternal Power!

Please Hear My Prayer, Lord

And

Remember Those

Who Do Not Yet Know The Benefits 

That Come Of Truly Knowing

Obeying

Worshipping

Honoring

Glorifying 

And

Faithfully Following Thee!

In Jesus Christ's Name

I'm Calling, Father

For These Few Blessings

And

I Am Asking Also 

That I May Never Have So Much

That With You I Lose Touch

Forgetting

That All My Help

Comes From You

Almighty God

Faithful, Loving And Ever True!

Please Grant Me The Victory

Over Sin Death And Hell!

AMEN.

Doctor, Doctor: The Great Physician

I Went To The Soul Doctor!
He Said I Needed A Self Exam!
He Said I Needed A Dose Of Self-Discipline
AND
That Thereby
My Self-Respect Would Get A Shot In The Arm!

I Did Not Like The Sound Of That!

I Did Not Like Where This Was Headed!
I Could Feel A Head Ache Coming On
For I Had To Do Me Some Head Scratching
Which Was Going To Leave
My Big Pig-Headedness
Exposed
ANDMy Wilful Head
Quite Shorn!

If I Thought
That This Was All
Of My Denouement
I Was Operating Under A Misconception
- That Was Soon Made Plain -
For
Dr. Jesus H. Christ
- The Great Physician Himself -
Was In My Eyes
Shining The Bright Light!

And ...

It Became Obvious

That There Was Going To Be
A Struggle To The Death
IF
I Desired To Attain
The Everlasting Life!

Dr. Jesus ...

Some People Called Him

Lord Christ!

Dr. Jesus Said:

Raise Your Daily Intake Of Self-Sacrifice!
Remove Self-Aggrandizement From Your Diet!
Add At Least Three Servings Of Prayer To Your Plate Every Day
AND
Keep In Constant Communion
With The Holy Spirit -
He Will Your Tried Spirit Cheer!

I Was Saying To Myself ...

Goody! No New Medicine Today!

When ...

Here Is Your Prescription
For Daily Therapy!
Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs
Help To Make Your Walk Through The Vale Of Tears
Tolerable
Even Unto Easier!
Keep A Zion Song In Your Heart
As You Go On God's Errands
Each Day
AND
In The Name
- My Name -

That Is Your Hope For Surpassing Glory
Go To The Father
Without Ceasing
AND
You Will
In Eternity
Before The Great Throne Sing!

Cling To The Living God!

Cling?!

CLING.

... And Rest Easy!

The Holy Spirit, Here
Will Assist You! - Just Ask!
The Holy Angels Will Surround You -
This Labor Of Love
Is Their Beloved Task!
I Am Always Available! -
Just Say The Name!
Just Think On Me!
Just Reach Out To Me
AND
Get Up From In Front Of 

That Benighted Silent Teacher
You Call Must-See TV!

I Adjure You
To Help Somebody
To Give A Good Word
Point A Soul To Salvation
Get Out Amongst The Obedient Sheep
Walk Away From The Goat Herd!

You Are Known By The Company You Keep
If You Walk Together
You Agree
So
Choose Elevating Companions
AND
Don't Give Idle Words
Not Even A Single Moment
Of Game Play
AND
Do That That Is To The Good
Today!

Today?!

TODAY.

Much, Much, More Was Said

BUT

Sufficed To Say

I Left Dr. Jesus' Office

Committed

To Straight Walking

Faithful Working

Constant Fervent Praying

Joyful Thanksgiving

AND

Persistent Praising Of The Holy God

Each 

AND

Every Day!

Let Me Tell You ...

You Should Visit Dr. Jesus!

He Is Truly

A ... No!

The Great Physician!

I Love Him!

HAPPY SABBATH + Where Is The Everyday Thanks?!

Confession

Is Good For The Soul!

Unrepentance

Makes The Sinner Most Bold!

Comeuppance

Has For Herself A Lofty Place

AND

Life

Has An Uncanny Knack

For Dealing Disgrace 

To Those With Pride

Sowed

In Their Heart

And

Marked

On Their Face!

Food Shelter
Clothing Peace
Happy Children Health
License Land Lease
Work Water
No Sorrow To Bear!
Walks Through Willfulness!
Of Pettiness
AND
Foolishness
I Even Had A Substantial Share!

Thoughtlessness
Stinginess
Wildness
Waywardness
Faultlessness
Of Recklessness
I Can Tell You
I Spared Not A Tear!

You Could Have Been Dead!

Dead?! Me?!
You Must Be Kidding!
The World Was My Oyster!
My Life Was My Pearl
AND
I Wore It On A Gold Chain
AND
I Treated The Living God
As One Does A Churl!

But ...

The Day Came ...

...  And Someone Said:

It Would Be Better 

If People Would Try To Give God "Thanks!" 

On A Daily Basis 

Rather Than Waiting 

Until There Is Food Involved!

And Then ...

Contrary 
To My Perfect Conception Of My Life 
Comeuppance Was Glorified ...!

And I ...!

You Should Have Heard Me Praying:

Dear Lord,

Let Me Give You

Thanks And Praise Today

For I Don't Have Tomorrow

Far Less Next Week!

I Don't Know 

How The Tide Of My Life Will Turn

Or That I Will Be Able To Utter 

Even A Tired Mouse Squeak!

Father, My Heart In Me Burns!
Forgive Me For Taking The Life You Gave

And Doing As I Well Pleased!

Forgive Me For Eating My Daily Bread

Without Feeling The Desire To Say In Gratitude:

Thank You, Lord, For Filling My Need!

Lord,

I Have Been A Total Ingrate

Taking Your Bounty For Granted As I Overfilled

My Overflowing Plate!

Please

Accept My Contrite Heart's Apology!

Please Forgive My Descent Into The Realm Of Satan

That Greedy Reprobate

And Help Me To Walk

According To Your Calling

And Doing It Now

Rather Than When It Is Too Late

And

I Am Forced To Say:

Lord, Please Save Me Now!

Thank You For The Tears That Flow!

Thank You For The Grace You Bestow!

Thank You For The Mercies

Seen And Unseen
Known And Unknown
Unexpected And Unappreciated

And

Thank You For Christ's Sacrifice

That Makes This Wretch

By Confession

And Repentance

Forgiven

And

Clean!

It Is Good To Give A Gift 
Of Heartfelt Thanks
And Glorious Praise 
Unto Our Almighty God!
Amen!

Indeed!

Let Us, In Heartfelt Appreciation

- Today And Every Day -

Thoughtfully Say To Him 

Who Daily Provides:

"Father,

I Give Unto You My Heartfelt Thanks 

For All My Blessings

Even Though Your Giving

Is Not Dependent Upon My Thanks!"

GIVING: Thanks!

I Could Live In The Elements!

I Could Live Out To Sea!

I Could Walk With That Damned Devil

AND

I Could Be Dead

Spiritually!

I Could Be Wise In My Own Eyes!

I Could Be Living Lavish By Lies!

I Could Be Working For Free For The Devil

AND

I Could Be Energetically

Denying Jesus Christ!

I Could Be Dancing With The Devil

I Could Have Shoes and No Legs

I Could Have Food But No Water

AND

I Could Be On The Street Corner Doing A Beg!

I Could Be On A Known Death Bed!

I Could Not Have Two Nickles To Rub Together

To Make A Thin Dime!

I Could Be Walking Forward Looking Backward

AND

Through Lack Of Faith

Be Ultimately Unable

To Cross The Separating Line!

I Could Be A Willing Sinner

I Could Be A Fake Saint

I Could Be Building Falling Bridges

AND

I Could Be A Self-Righteous Miscreant!

BUT ...

By God's Great Grace

AND

Jesus Christ's Sacrifice

AND

The Blessing

That Permitted Me

To Hear

AND

Heed

The Holy Spirit's Call

I Can

Give Heartfelt Thanks

Unto My Father In Heaven

By Whose Mercy

Today

I Have

Stomach-Filling Grub!

I Have Clean Water To Quench My Thirst!

I Have A Solid Roof Over My Head!

I Have Whole Shoes Upon My Two Able Feet

AND

A Clean Bed Upon Which I May Lie 

Without Fear Or Dread!

I Have Friends

AND

Family To Love Me!

I Have Faithful Friends

In The Body Of Jesus Christ!

I Have Work To Challenge My Mind

AND

I Have No Reason To Ever Behave

Like A Wild Horse's Behind!

I Am In Good Health

Which Is - Indeed - Great Wealth!

I Pray

AND

I Proselytize

AND

God Willing

No Matter How Much Christian-Killing

My Faith Will Never Be Placed

On An Old-Glory Shelf

AND

For This All

Almighty God Who Does

For Now

The Winds Of Strife Restrain

I Give You Thanks

With A Grateful Heart

Today

AND

I Beseech You

Please

Help Me To Never

Over Trivialities

Again

To Complain

AND

No Matter How Much I'm Goaded

Help Me To Never Jesus Christ's Holy Name

Profane!

Lord,

I Give You Praise

AND

I Give You Thanks

For

I Am Truly Blessed!

AMEN.