Winding Up As Two Nuts Short Of A Pack!?!

Handling Hardships With Almighty God's Gift Of Grace 

Makes One Hardy To Endure The Trials Of This Life! 

"Ohhh, Sure!" 

Says The One Who Desires To Live The Life Of Riley 

On Easy Street! 

Beloved, 

We All Know That There Is No Human 

Who Would Not Prefer Life On Easy Street! 

The Problem Is That The Introduction Of Sin 

Caused Our Maker, God, And King To Curse Humanity 

With Labor, Work, To Be Able To Eat His Daily Bread! 

Therefore, Anyone 

- From The Womb To The Tomb - 

Who Chooses To Work At Not-Working And Playing To Play

And In Essence

Choosing The Life Of The Hedonist

Constantly Seeking Pleasures Forevermore On This Earth

In This Vale Of Tears

Is 

Standing Up In His Self-Chosen Lot

Directly Against The Will Of Almighty God! 

How Do You Think That Is Going To End!?! 

How Often Have You Seen 

The Disasters Of Living The High Life 

When Its Practitioners Effectively And Efficiently 

Crash And Burn

Flame Out

Or Wind Up As Two Nuts Short Of A Pack!?! 

Dear Ones, 

Work ... As Ordained By The Holy God

Is 

For Our Blessing: 

Choosing To Live On The Party Boat Is Not! 

Choosing To Honor The Lord Is A Blessing: 

Choosing To Honor Ourselves Is Not! 

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Workshop! 

Be Wise And Work Now 

For Night Is Coming When No Man Can Work! 

Live With Love For The Lord 

And

Not For The Pride Of Life! 

Wha' Sweet'n Goat Mout' Does Bu'n 'e 'n 'e Tail! 

Take Heed! 

Jesus Christ Is Lord! 

Peace!

HUMBLE YOURSELF: Fix Your Face And Your Attitude!

Pride 

Is 

An Ugly Emotion To Display No Matter Who You Are 

Or 

What You Supposedly Have In Your Possession 

And

It Is An Even Uglier, Deadlier, Emotion 

To Display In The Presence Of The Holy God

To Whom We Are Indebted For The Very Air That 

We Breathe To Even Live One Single, Solitary Moment! 

Beloved, 

The Lord Of Life Says To Us: 

Come Boldly And Without Ceasing 

And

By Prayer And Supplication, Pleading

Make Your Requests For Care, Comfort

Food, Friendship And The Future Home

Hope, Help And Healing

Grace, Goodness And Relief From Grief! 

With Love

The Lord Chastises Those Who Are His Very Own

And 

Our Being Angry At Almighty God 

Does Not Negate His Love Nor His Provision 

So, Please, Do Permit Pride To Stop You 

From Letting Your Requests Be Made Known Unto God 

Who Provides For You According To His Riches In Glory 

And 

Not According To Your Need! 

Please Dare To Be Humble 

No Matter Who Calls You Stupid

And

Dare To Pray Passionately 

No Matter Who Calls Our Holy God A Fairy Tale! 

Our Enduring Faith Will Be Rewarded Above All Imagining: 

Humbly Pray, Willingly Obey

And 

Ardently Press On! 

Please Watch Your Mouth

Fix Your Face

And 

Correct Your Attitude

And 

Take Your Assigned Place! 

Jesus Christ 

Is 

Always The Answer: 

Humility Exalts!

Choose To Walk Through

This Vale Of Tears

In Perfect Peace

With

The Prince Of Peace

Lovingly Leading!

Stay Hungry To Reach The Heavenly Home!

No Matter What Is Visibly, Physically

Emotionally

Financially, Spiritually, Testing You, Beloved

Keep Your Eyes, Your Heart 

Your Hands 

And 

Your Hopes 

Firmly Fixed On The Lord Jesus 

Who, Alone, Knows The End From The Beginning 

And 

Is With Us At All Points In Between! 

Remember That Jesus Also Daily Gives Us The Faith 

To Have Faith In Him 

For Each Day That We Live In This Vale Of Tears 

Experiencing The Myriad Things That 

Try Our Purchased, Precious, Souls! 

Never Forget Whose Child You Are! 

Keep Uppermost In Your Thoughts 

The Destination To Which You Are Headed! 

Be Vigilant To Resist The Enemy Of Your Soul 

And

Stay Hungry To Reach The Heavenly Home! 

Remind Yourself That Getting Home 

Is 

Worth Whatever We Must Pay For Our Passage 

And 

Know That That Cost Is Cheap!

 

Almighty God ... In The Person Of Jesus Christ 

Gave His Best ... His All ... To Grant Us This Privilege 

So Let No Created Being

Seen Or Unseen

Known Or Unknown 

Rob You Of The Unspeakable Gift

Eternal Life In The Paradise Of God! 

Think About Going Home: 

Constantly Commune With Christ! 

**--**--**--**--**

Knowingly Experiencing

The Love Of Jesus Christ

Is

Sweet Peace

For The Longing Heart!

Rejoice! The Lord Is King ... Forever!

Today, I Deny My Eyes

I Rebuke My Ears
And

I Castigate My Skin

Because

I've Given My Fears To Christ Jesus

And

He Does My Every Burden Bear!

I Have The Holy Spirit For My Comfort

And

For My Walking Stick Importunate Prayer

And

Because I've Given My Heart To My Jesus

War Against Doubt And Disbelief Has Been Declared!

I Could Take The Low Road And Linger At 

"What If!?!" 

     And 
             "Maybe!?!" 
                  And 
                                  "Can He Do ...!?!"

But

I've Gone All In With The Source And Strength Of My Life

And

Dear One, I Suggest That You Do The Same Thing, Too!

Built On The Rock Of Ages

Standing Upon Truth

Sheltered By Grace For The Day

Attended By Mercy For Me And For You

I Listen To The Still Small Voice

I Harken To The Word 
And 
Obey The Call To Enduring Faith

And

The Call To Know And Understand 
That Jesus Is With Me All The Way To Home

That Holy Angels Guard And Influence Me

To Do The Good And The Right That 
Does Eternal Dividends Pay

That Pilgrims Have Travel Problems

That Sinners Must Become Saints

That Self Must Be Subdued
And

That Runners For The Crown Of Life

Pray And Don't Faint! 

I'm Passing Through This Vale Of Tears
And

I've Got A Friend Who Blesses Me 
And 
Willingly Does My Every Burden Bear!

I've Got A King Who Is Loving And Kind

And

I've Got At My Trembling Side

The God Of Glory Who Is All-Knowing

All-Seeing

Ever-Present 

Holy

Good

Divine
And

With Him By My Side, I Rise

Because

We Are To Highest Heaven Unfalteringly

Unswervingly

Unabashedly Inclined! 

Being Faithful To Him, Alone

Who For My Sin, By Blood, Did Atone

In The Fullness Of Time That

He, Alone, Knows 

I Shall Cross The Separating Line! 

My Faith In The Lord Christ, By His Grace
Through The Working Of The Holy Spirit
Is 
Squarely Fixed On Him! 

Where There Is Life, There Is Hope

And 
The Hope That Rests In Jesus Christ 
Does Not Cause Shame 
Because 
He Will Deliver On All Of The Promises Made 
To Us Who Choose To Believe In Him 
And 
Say: "Yes, Lord! AMEN!" 
And 
Patiently Await Their Fulfillment! 

Our God Is Gracious
And 
Ever-Present
And 
Participates In All That Concerns Us
And 
No Child Of This Great King 
Should Walk Around, Head Down ... Defeated
Despairing
Anxious About What A Lying Man 
Or A Murderous Fallen Angel Can Do To Him: 
We Are Not Alone! 

Boundaries Are Set By Our God Who Says: 

"So Far And No Farther!" 

The Lord Is With Us 
And 
There Is Nothing That He Brings Us To That 
He Cannot Carry Us Through! 

Beloved,

Dare To Believe The Promise!
Dare To Exercise Your Gift Of Faith!
Dare To Trust God's Love For You
And 
Confidently Rest In Hope! 
Joy Comes In The Morning! 

Harvest Celebration On The Great Day 
Is 
On The Way! 
Hold On: Unceasingly Pray! 

HAVING HOPE AND FINDING JOY: Seeking After Christ Jesus!

What's There To Be Happy About

When There Is Much About Which To Sad!?! 

What's There To Have Hope About 

When We See Nothing About Which To Be Glad!?! 

My Dear Friend

You Are Way Too Young To Be So Cynical ... So Jaded

And

Have Too Much To Look Forward To

To Have The Doings Of The Wicked World
The Happenings In This Vale Of Tears 

To Cause The Light In Your Life To Become Muted ... Faded! 

When We Look In

Look Around

Look About 

And

To The Ground Stare Down

We Neglect To See

The Bright Shining Light Of Holy Life

Who Is Even Now Calling 

Beckoning

To You And To Me! 

Our Lord Has Said:

Look Up! Your Redemption Draws Nigh!

He Has Also Said:

Trust Ye In The Lord Forever!

Buy The Truth And Sell It Now!

Don't Worry!

Don't Doubt!

Believe The "Thus Saith The Lord!

Your Redemption Is Coming Down!

Do You Believe Him

His Word

His Promises!?! 

Yes, I Do But ...! 

... Stop Yourself Right There! 

Butting Is For Own-Way, Hard-Ears, Goats!

You Are An Obedient Sheep ... Yes!?!

Yes ... Yes! I Am Being ... Striving To Be Obedient!

If That Is Indeed The Case
Please Hold Fast To The Cross Of Christ

And

Listen Very, Very, Carefully

As I Share Psalm 119 Verses 49 And 50:

We Have The Promise From The Lord That
He Will Never Forget Us
So Do Not Fear ... Do Not Indulge In Ungodly Fear!

Beloved, 

We Do Not Walk Alone

Nor Are Left Alone

To Strive And Survive On Our Own!

If We Were Truly Left On Our Own
We Would Be Left To Trust Clouded, Lying, Carnal Eyesight
But

We Have An Infinite God With Eternal Sight
And
We Have An Anchor, A Hope, For Our Souls

In Jesus Christ ... The Rock Of Ages! 

Please Consider That The Person Who Has No Hope 
Will Willingly Destroy Others ... And Themselves 

But 

We Who Choose To Believe The Living Word Of 
Jesus Christ The Righteous

- The Lord Of Earth And Glory - 

Have Our Patient Waiting Embossed With

And 

Embalmed By

Truth That Preserves The Believing Soul From Despair 

And 

Hopelessness! 

Beloved, You Are Greatly Beloved
And
Because Of The Sacrificial Love Poured Out On Us

We Wait On Our Lord Christ With Hope 
Because 

We Believe That He Is A Truth-Speaking

Promise-Keeping

Heart-Cleansing

Life-Preserving

Future-Holding

God Of Love Granting Grace 

Who Has Mercy For Each One Of Us Personally! 

Do You Believe This!?! 

Yes, I Do!

Do You Believe It In Your Head 

Or Your Heart!?!

Do You Believe It Intellectually, Emotionally
Philosophically 

Or Aspirationally For Love Of Our Lord!?! 

I ... I ... I Never Really Thought Deeply About It ...!

... And That, My Dear Friend, Is Where Trouble Starts!

Faith In Jesus Christ

Walks A Straight Line!

We, As Christians, Cannot Permit Man's Philosophising
And
Crass Emotionalism
And
Intellectual Gymnastics
To Dictate How We Feel Our The Living God!
Everything To With Our Holy God
Is
By Faith Which Comes From Trusting The Holy Word
Which Is A Transcript Of 
The Character Of The Eternal God Whom We Worship
And
By Our Choosing To Experience The Lord
According To The Preserved Word!

The Lord: The Same

Yesterday, Today And Forever!

By Jesus Christ ... Alone
We Live And Breathe 
And 

Have Our Being! 
Please Remember Whose Child You Are
And
Look Up!

Please Keep Hope For Health And Heaven Alive
By Keeping Your Heart Fixed On Christ Jesus 

Who Alone Heals, Saves, And Seals
And
Always Reveals His Way To His Believing Children!

Keep Your Holy Faith Bolstered: Pray On! 

For My Brother, Marvin, At The Interment Of His Beloved Wife, Cherri-Ann

I Remember, Well
When You Found My Heart!
And, Yet
Here, Today
In This Trying Hour
Your Flesh ... From This Vale Of Tears
Shall Forever Depart!

I Have Lost You From My Life And Time
But Memory, Memories
Beautiful Memories Of You
Of Us
Our Love
Our Life Together
From Me 
Shall Never Depart!

You Trusted Me With Your Heart!
I Trusted You With Mine
And Though We Shall Never Meet Again
In This Life
We Have Two Beautiful Daughters
Who Show To All The World
That Our Hearts, Lovingly
Did Entwine!

Of Knowing You, I Have No Regret!
Of Loving You, I Have No Pain!
Of Releasing You
That For Me Is Another Matter
But I Trust The Glorious Lord
Who Already Bore For Us Pain
And Great Shame!

Our Father Is In Heaven!
We Belong For A Short Time On The Earth
But Through The Shed Blood Of 
The Lord Jesus Christ
By Faith
We Have Promise Of The New Birth!

Whatever Is For Our Good
Is Ever For God's Glory
And
The Lord Christ Knows That
That Is For Our Peace
And, So, Beloved
You, From Mortal Strife
Gained Your Release!

I Was Not Ready To Let You Go!
I Am Not Ready ... Yet
But
The Eternal God Runs The Life Of Man Show
And, So
And, So, Cherri-Ann, Beloved
Bone Of My Bone
Flesh Of My Flesh
Till Death Was The Vow!
You Kept Your Word!
I Love You!
And Only God Knows How!
I Shall, With Love, Always
Remember You!

Rest Easy ... Until The Resurrection!

LOOKING BACK!?! Turn Around, Look Up And Look Forward!!

Look Forward 

Is 

Married To Look Back
And
They Have A Fair Child Called Livvin N. Expectancy
Whose Favorite Thing To Do In This Big Old World
Is 

To Pray By Faith
And 

Watch Daily

- Moment By Moment -
To See What The Dear Lord In Highest Heaven Will Do!

Livvin N. Expectancy Rubs Look Back The Wrong Way!

Look Forward Eagerly Joins Livvin N. Expectancy 

For Prayer And Praise
- Every Morning And Every Night -
And
These Two Rest Peacefully
Enjoying The Sleep Of The Just
While Dear Old Look Back
Is 

Bemoaning Yesterday's Faded Glories
And
Kicking Up Past Failures' Blinding And Choking 

Acrid Fetid Dust!

Regrets: He Has More Than A Few!
Sorrows: Myriad In All Dimensions!
As For Pain And Disappointment

On That Ship
He Is The Indentured Crew!

He Calls Himself A Christian!
He Knows All Of The Good Buzz Words
But
Ask Him About His Connection To The Way Of The Master
And
You May Very Well End Up
Like A Cold-Weather Wind-Blistered
Late-To-The-Annual-Migration
Left-Behind Bird!
You'll Not Be Edified!

Look Forward And Livvin N. Expectation
Willingly Have Their Steps Ordered By The Blessed Lord
And
They Avidly Indulge In Constant Communication
With The Forever Friend
And
They Look Not For Signs And Wonders
To Make Decisions
Or
For Unwitting Errors
To Have To The Good Lord

With Contrite Hearts To Make Amends!

Faith Is First
Is Last
Is Always!

Doubt Is Not Countenanced
Because
Doubt Is Sin

So Doubt Is Out!

These Two Take The Gracious Lord At His Holy Word
Even When Their Carnal Flesh 

Is 

Showing Resistance
And
For Their Faithfulness
Free Grace
- In Their Favor -
Is Bestirred!

Lest You Come To The Conclusion That 

Their Lives Are Picture Pretty 

And 

Positively Perfect
Let It Be Made Known That You'd Be Very Wrong!

They Have Set-Backs
Upsets 

Unexpected Denials 

And

Impossible-To-Plan-For Disasters
But
With Eyes Fixed And Focussed On The Kingdom Prize
They Trust The Lord Jesus
Knowing That The Reward Of Their Faith
- From His Heart -
Will Never Be Cruel Lies!

Trust The Lord! 

Bless The Lord! 

Believe The Lord!

Pray!

Walk In Faith!

Do The Will!

For 1,000 Years In Heaven Stay!

Know This ...

Mercy Is Free!
Obedience Is Cheap!
Grace Is Always Sufficient
And
The Bill For Making It All Available To Us

- To Almighty God -

Was Immensely Heartbreakingly Steep!

Take Time To Look Up ...

If You Are Like Old Look Back
An Attitude Adjustment Is In Order

Because
Wearing The Name Christian Holds No Weight
If

- Against Your Heavenly Record -
There Is No Pearl Gate Designated-Entrance Order!

The Look Back "Solution"

Is

Faith-Polluting

But

The Eye Of Hope

Helps

Committed Christians

With

This Vale Of Tears To Cope!

Jesus Christ Saves!

PRAYER: Father, I Am Not Worthy ... I'm Thankful And Blessed!

Thank You, Father

For Waking Me Up 

And

Preserving My Life Today!

I Bless You, Lord

For The Love Sacrifice

Of

The Innocent One

On That Dreadful Day

Which Purchased My Pardon 

And Provided Me Access To You

The Eternal God Holy ...

My Heart Cries Out To You In Prayer!

I Am Not Worthy!

For Me

Jesus Christ Paid It All!

I Am Not Worthy

So, Father

I Am Answering

Accepting

Acceding

Please Hear My Heart's Pitiful

Give-Me-Jesus Call!

I Am Not Worthy!

Jesus Christ Is My Light! 

My Life

My Love To Him I'm Giving!

Protect Me From Those Things Which Do 

The Soul Benight!

I Am Not Worthy!

Jesus Christ Is My Way Home! 

My Will

My Choice To Him I'm Giving

Please Don't Leave Me Alone!

I Am Not Worthy!

Jesus Christ Is The Truth And For Me!

My Self

My Soul

My Strength

My Heart

My Hope

My Hand To Him I'm Giving!

Help Me To Get Out Of Self-Centered Living!

Father,

I Surrender!

I Am Forsaking Sin!

Help Me To Do So Daily

As I Am Through This Life

This Vale Of Tears

Walking!

Let Not My Life Be Of Words 

Good Only For Talking!

Help Me By Faith

To Walk With

To Walk True

To Jesus Christ My Lord

And 

Help Me

Please Help Me

With Him Ever Always

To Be In One Accord!

I Desire To Live Forever With My Lord!

Let Grace Be My Even-Song! 

Let Grace Be Afternoon Tea! 

Let Grace Be My Morning Prayer

And

Ever And Always

Sufficient For Me!

I Love You, Father!

I Recognize My Need

And

I Make My Petition

With Unfeigned Lips

In Jesus Christ's Holy

And

Matchless Name!

Help Me To Salvation

To Secure My Grip!

AMEN.

Living Hopefully In The Love Of The Eternal Holy God!

Tribulation Works-Patience
Patience Gains-Experience
Experience Lives N. Hope
AND
Hope Maketh-Not Ashamed
Are Sojourners
In The Vale Of Tears!

Theirs Is A Symbiotic Relationship
Standing Each On The Other
AND
All Depend Upon That Young'un
Living By-Faith
In Life
To Move Around!

Without Them
Living By-Faith
Will Not Ascend On The Upward Way
To Gain Higher Ground
That Is ... Holy Ground!

It All Started ...

One Day!

Actually On Day One!

The First Adam Deliberately Sinned
AND
Man
- That Man -
In The Day That He Sinned ... Died!

THAT ... Is A Lie!

How So, Friend?!

Adam Lived Hundreds Of Years
AFTER He Sinned
AND He Had A Boatload Of Family
BEFORE He Died!

Indeed, He Did!

Huh!?!
But You're Agreeing With Me!

Indeed, I Am!

Why?! 

How?! 

What For?!

Think About It ...

How Many Earth Years Make Up The Eternal God's Day?!

Even I Know That!
One Thousand Years!

How Old Was Adam When He Died?!

967 Years!

How Long Is A Day With The Living God?!

One Day With God Is As A Thousand Years!

Did Adam Spend A Full Day With The Faithful God?!

Oh, My!
No!
Not At All!

Ergo ...

Adam Died
In The Day That
He Sinned!

Adam Sinned!
Man Died! 

Jesus Christ

 - The Last Adam -

 Died And Arose From Death

AND
Man

- By His Own Choosing

To Accept The Gift  For The Asking -

Lives ... Again
Reconciled To The Father
Because
Available Grace Is Applied
AND
Free Mercy Shows!

Amen, But ...

What Does Any Of This
Have To Do With Living By-Faith?!

My Question Exactly!

The First Lesson ...

Without Faith
It Is Impossible ... To Please God!

The Last Lesson ...

The Patience Of The Saints
Those Possessors Of Living
Working
Watching
Waiting ... FAITH
F aith
A ttains
I ncrease
T hrough
H ope
Their Hope ... Is Realized!
Their Desire ... Is Realized! 

They See God
In Their Own Flesh
WITH
Their Own Eyes
AND
They Are Not Ashamed!

Oh.

You're Very Welcome!
I Pray That Your Faith In Jesus Christ
Will Daily Grow
As You Grow In Grace
His Blessings Daily To Know!

Endeavor To Let Your Calling
AND
Your Election
Be Made Sure And Secure

By Enduring All Things

Never Departing The Faith Of Jesus Christ

To Enjoin Spurious And Dying Affections!

Amen!

We Must Walk Right!
We Must Work Before It Is Night
AND
We Must Wait Patiently In The Light
For
His Coming
Is 

Going To Be Tempestuous
Loud And Bright!

Indeed!

We Are Looking Forward To That Grand And Holy Sight!