PRAYER: Father, Help Me To Look Up To You

Have Mercy, Dear Father

And 

Forgive Me

For All The Times

I Have Raised My Self

Above

My Creator

My Healer

My Helper

My Provider

My Defender

My Protector

My Perfector

My Savior

My Sealer

My Friend To The End

My Lord

And 

My God!

Help Me, Father

To Look Away From Self

And 

Look Up To You

To Step Outside Of Self

And

Step Up To Glory In You

To Give Up Self

And 

Give In To You

To Walk Holy

And 

To Live Wholly For You

In Whom My Hope Rests!

I Pray, Lord

For The Indwelling

The Chiding

And 

The Direction 

Of The Blessed Holy Spirit!

I Also Pray, Lord

That In The Day

That I Must Need Be Chastised

That You, In Mercy

Will Help Me To Accept Graciously

The Reproof 

As A Blessed Child

Of A Loving And Holy Father!

I Also Beseech You, Dear Father

To Help Me

- No Matter The Earthly Reward -

Not To Grieve The Holy Spirit Away!

I Love You, Lord

And 

I Thank You For The Many Blessings

And 

For Hearing 

And 

Answering Prayers

Even With The Unwanted 

Yet Often Necessary

Fatherly "NO!"

In Jesus' Holy Name 

I Come

I Stand

And 

Plead!

AMEN.

Who Is YOUR God?

I Believe God!
I Believe In God!
I Love God!
I Trust God!
I Trust In God!
I Hope In God
BUT ...!

BUT What?!

The Problems ...!

What Problems?!

There Is Always A Problem ...!

Wait Up!
You Did Say You Believe In God,  Right?!

Yeaaahh ... But ...!

Stop!  Just Stop?!
...  And Think About What You Are Really Saying!

Okay!

NOW TELLTell  Me WHO IS Your GOD?

Tell Me How Big Is Your God!

Did Not Our Holy And Living God
The Creator
The Shepherd
The Provider
The Sustainer
Our Hope
Our Helper
Our Healer
Our Sealer
Our Savior
AND
Our Friend 
Say: ASK
Nothing Wavering
Because He Has Nothing For Those Who Doubt?

Yes ... .

Alright Then.

So, Who Is Your God?
Can Your God Do
OR
Does He Just Require YOU To Do Things To Prove That You Love Him?
OR
Has Your God Already Done All
To PROVE To You That YOU Can AND Should TRUST Him?

Our God Says If We Love Him
Keep His Commandments!

Yeah! 
Our Keeping 
Of All God's Commandments 
Means Obedience!

Which God Is Your God:

The One Who Loves You By Unalterable Action
OR
The God Who - By Outside Inputs - 
Goads You Into Unprofitable Reactions!?

Is Your God Holy? True? Real?

Is Your God The One
Whose Living Word Cannot Fail?

If Your God Is One
Who Can Be Caused To Fall
To Topple Over
AND
Who Can Be Set Up To Fail
AND
Not Deliver On His Own "Promises!"
You Need To Get Rid Of Him
AND
Get The God Eternal
Who Created Us All
Planet And All
Heaven And All!

I Hear That!

Father,

Free Me From Doubt!

Father, Free Me!

My Soul Is Crying Out!

Help Me To Trust You

Totally

And 

To Believe

That My Requests

Asked Not Amiss

I Shall

By Faith Receive!

Amen.

My God Is REAL ...!

AND ...?

... So Is My Faith!

God Has Got Me Covered!!

AMEN!!

God Is My Shepherd!

I Desire To See Him
Who
For Me
Gave His Life!

I Desire To Live With Him
Who Ended
The Conflict
Between Death And Life!

I Desire To Walk Holy!
I Desire To Sing The Glad Refrain:

Blessing And Glory

AND

Thanksgiving And Honor

Unto The Holy Name!

Lord, I Love You!

I Have Chosen To Walk Your Way!

It's Too Late To Turn Back

AND

I Refuse To Know There's Such A Way!

I Have In My Hand

The Blood-Soaked 

Heaven-Is-Home Ticket

AND

I Am Glad To Confess

I Can't Afford The Turn-Back Fare!

Dear God, You Are My Shepherd

You Lovingly Guide Me Along The Way

AND

Because Of This Treasured Blessing

Satan And His Machinations

I Will Not Fear!

Amen.

Problems Praying?!

When We Are Having A Hard Time
A Hard Time Saying Our Prayers
Unable To Tell The Lord
What Is Causing Us To Despair
Let Us Get Out A Pencil And Paper
AND
The King James Good Book
AND
Then Think Of A Word
Upon Which We Can
Our Present Sorrow Hook!

Then ...

Let's Turn To Our Bible's Concordance
OR
Even The Exhaustive Strong's
AND
Seek For Our Problem's Word
AND
All The Suggested Texts Track Down!

First 
Start With Those Texts
Found In The Book Of The Psalms
Then
Give The Book Of The Proverbs A Go
Followed By The Book Of The Prophet Isaiah
AND
Then To
The Gospel Books Of
Matthew
Mark
Luke
AND
John 
Go!

Thereafter
Let's Spread Our Net Wide
AND
To The Rest Of Our Holy Bible 
With Blessed Assurance Go
AND
As We Pray Back To God
His Promises True
We Will See Our Prayer Life
Explode!
I Do Not Kid You!

NOW ...

If For Some Reason
Our Problem's Word-Study
Cannot Be Found
Let Us Take Pleasure
In Using A Synonym-Study
AND
Subsequently 
Watch Our Prayer Life
Acquire The Change Profound!

This Prayer-Problem Thought 
Is Not Original To Me!
I've Just Documented It
In A Memorable Way
To Be A Blessing
For Everybody!

If You Want Proof
That This Technique Works
Just Look At The Three Times 
That Jesus
Had A Ready Word
To Send Satan Scurrying Away!

Jesus Knew The Name Of His Problem
AND
He Knew The Living Word To Fix The Problem!

Every Word 
That Jesus Used
In Reply To Satan
Began The Same Simple
AND
Efficacious Way:

It Is Written ...!

It Is Written Again ...!

The Coup de grace
From Jesus To Satan
In The Third Temptation
Was:

Get Thee Hence, Satan

For It Is Written ...!

It Is Written
Are The Best Words
That A Believer
Can Say Pray
Today
For We Are Claiming From
The Living God
The Promises
Which He Has The Currency
For Which Our Faith
Extracts
Its Holy Pay!

We Need Have No Fear
In Calling God To Account
For
He Is Not A Man
That He Should Lie
AND 
Turn Us About!

Just Remember
That Not All Prayers
Are Answered
When Or How
We Expect Them To Fly
AND 
Know That This Means
- Without Fear Or Failing -
That Some Of Our Requests
- As Requested -
Will Be Provided To Us For Real
AND
Not As The Proverbial Pie In The Sky!

Our Prayers

Provide To Us

Godly Power!

ALL Things Were Created By Jesus
AND
For His Pleasure!
In Him
We Have Our Being
AND
Do Exist!
Jesus Christ
Gives To Each Man
The Measure Of Faith
The Faith That Works In Tandem 
With Our Belief
With Nary A Shady Twist!

Our Belief 
Urges Us To Trust Him
Who Has All The Power
AND
Our Fervent Prayers
Bring Quickly To Us
His Relief As Blessing Showers!

The Holy Spirit Urges Us To Pray
AND
Makes Intercession For Us
With Inexpressible Groanings
For We Know Not To Pray As We Ought!

The Father God Almighty
Through Love For The Glorified Son
Accepts Our Weak Prayers
AND
Gives To Us 
Our Desires
IF
The Request Is His Will For Us
That Day
And Not Another Way!

Please ...

I Beseech You
Do Not Permit
The Sin Of Presumption
To Get Between You
AND
The Living God
For That Is The Second Temptation
That Jesus Christ Suffered
At The Hands Of The Faithless Fraud!

Please Remember 
To Do As Jesus Did
AND
Send Satan Away
By Telling Him In Plain Language 
That It Is Written
That We Should Not Temp The Lord
Our God 
In Any Way!

Prayer IS Power

AND

Persevering Prayer

IS

Preserving Power!

*********

REMEMBER! REMEMBER!

The 7th Part

Of

The Whole Armour Of God

Makes God

 - For Us -

Our Strong Tower!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Church:- Professing! Processing! Progressing!?!

Bacchanal Was In Progress
AND
The Wicked
The Wild
The Wasted
The Wanton
Were Out And About In Full Force
AND
So Were The Other Creatures ...!

Church Was In Progress
AND
The Bold
The Beautiful
The Bought
The Blessed
The Bright
The Brainy
The Believing
AND
Those Other Creatures
Be-Angry
Let's-Sin
Constant Carping
Vile Affections
AND
Give-Place-To-The-Devil
Were In Attendance
AND
At Full And Attentive Alert
Readily
Boldly
Constantly Whispering
Not At All Sweet
Somethings
Into The Ears Of  

• Those With Chips On Their Shoulders
• Those Angry At God
• Those Bitter At Life
• Those Willing To Be Aggrieved
• Those Stressed
• Those Soul-Weary
• Those Tired Weary Wanderers
• Those Hopeless
• Those Helpless
• Those Prone To Sin
• Those Striving For The  Mastery Of Self
• Those Burdened For The People Of God
• Those Who Refused To Submit To God
• Those Frightened To Submit To God
• Those Longing For A Closer Walk With God
• Those Walking Toward The Kingdom Of God
• Those Who Pray Prettily
• Those Who Plead Piously

AND

• Those Who Humble Themselves Before God By Prayer And Supplication Nothing Wavering

AND

• The Pastor And The Church Board

In The Midst Were The Excellent Spirits
Peace
Hope
Help
Healing
Love
Humble-Thyself-Before-God
Sin-Not
AND
Give-No-Place-To-The-Devil
Along With Angel's Excelling In Strength
Pushing Back Those Wicked Spirits
Hate
Envy
Greed
Lust
Lies
Wasting
AND
Others As Previously Mentioned
And Many More Of The Horde!

It Must Be Said
That The Host Of Heaven
Is More Than The Horde Of Hell
AND
The Fact That
That There Were Many Times The Two Or Three
Gathered In The Lord's Name
Meant That The Holy Spirit Was There In Attendance
AND
Blessing
Comforting
Chiding
Abiding
Correcting
Teaching
AND
Leading
Those Who Would
By Personal Choice
Be Lead Of The Living God!

If Only The Congregation
Could See Beyond The Veil!

It Is A Good Thing

That They Cannot!

This Congregation Has Two Pastors:

One Is Ancient
Acknowledging
AND
Acceding To The Old Way Marks
Passionate For God
Pleading For Souls
Sacrificial By Spirit
Long-Winded
AND
King James All The Way!
"Thus Saith The Lord!"
Is Ever His Play!

The Second Pastor
Is Young
AND
A Risen Star
At The Top Of The Game
With The Set Car
The Entourage
AND
The Bodyguards
AND
Is A Best-Selling Author
Humanistic In Spirit
Ecumenical In Deed
Activated By Greed
Never Had A Need
That A Special Offering Couldn't Feed
Never Sang A Hymn That A Rock Guitar
Couldn't Make Into A Reel
AND
Always Preaches Sermons Given Over To Earthly Goals
AND
Constant Feels
To The Point Where
If You Were A Stranger In The Midst
You Were Given The Impression That
Constant Feels Was His Kept Mistress!

The Congregation Is In Turmoil
Because Of The Constant
Haul And Pull Of
The Desire For The Gains Of
The Hauler For Hell
AND
The Desire For The Pleasures Forevermore Of
The Pull Of The Paradise Of The Peace-Giver!

It Is Because Of This
Halting Betwixt Two Opinions
That The Sounds Of War In The Camp
Can Be By All Heard!

Today
Both Ministers Are Scheduled To Speak!

The Young And Sharp Minister
Spoke First
And Did So
Swiftly
Smoothly AND Sweetly
AND
He Got A Standing Ovation!
Truth Be Told
It Was As Though Jesus Christ
Himself
Had Been In That Very Room
AND
The Emotional Had Been Energized!
Only Problem, Though
Not A Call To Worship The King Had Been Uttered
OR
Utilized!

It Is Now Time
For The Pastor
Old And Stable To Speak
AND
He Chose Joshua's Words
Elijah's Expedition
Jeremiah's Lament
AND
The Whoredom's In Hosea
AND
King David's Prayers And Songs Of Praise
To Paint The Picture
Of
AND
FOR
The Church!

He Said:

Joshua Said: "Choose!"
And He, Himself
Chose God
For His Portion
AND
He Rested 
In God!

Elijah Was Valiant
In The Service
AND
For The Word
Of The Living God
AND
At The End Of It All
Almighty God
Ordained
That He Would Not Taste Death
AND
The Very Chariots Of God
Descended The Heights
AND
Took Him Bodily To God's Home
As The Great Reward
For His Faithfulness!
Elijah Represents Those Of Us
Who Shall Never Taste Death
For They Will Be Still Alive
When The Lord Comes!

He Spoke Of ...

Jeremiah's Lamentations
For The Church-Nation In Apostasy
Serving The Useless Gods
Of The Heathen-Unbelieving Nations
Warning
Ever Warning
Of The Judgment
For Apostasy Against God
AND
The Subsequent Delivery
Into Exile
Separation From God!

He Proceeded To Stress Heavily
That There Is Restoration
To Almighty God
To Be Found
By Confession 
AND
Repentance Of Known Sin!

The Faithful Steward
That Faithful Under-Shepherd
Of The Lord's Flock
Spoke Of
The Commission Given
To The Prophet Hosea
To Enter Into A Marriage
Of Fidelity
To A Whoring Woman
Who
Though Loved
Protected
AND
Provided For
By The Ever-Faithful Husband
Sought The Forbidden Pleasures Of Stolen Fruit
AND
Foolishly Gave Erroneous Credit To The Practice Of Sin
For Her Daily Provision!

That Kindly Shepherd 
Spoke 
Of Love - Himself
Readily Going After His Wife
Who Had Chosen The Life Of Whoredom
Over The Life Of Peace And Rest
AND
Loving Companion!

He Further Spoke Of
The Hand Of Care And Comfort
Being Despised
For The Love Of
Heady Emotionalism
AND
Still
God aka Love Going After
The Bride Of His Heart
The Beloved
Buying Her Out Of Her Slavery To Sin
Imploring Her
To Return To Him
To Be Faithful To Him
That Her Children
May Be Called
God's Children
Beloved
AND
Blessed
To Live In Eternal Peace!

In Tears ...

The Faithful Old Preacher
Spoke
Of The Nation-Church
United Under The One God
Worshiping
Praying
Praising
As Under
David The Shepherd King
- The Type Of Christ -
Able
- Even In Persecution -
To Give God Praise
Believing
Knowing
Trusting
The King Of Heaven
In All Ages AND Stages Of Life
AND
Finally
Stating Clearly AND Carefully
Of And For Himself
That:

As For Me

I Will Behold God's Face In Righteousness

I Will Be Satisfied When I Awake

With God's Likeness!

There Was
A Great Quiet In That Place
For The Very Presence 
Of The Lord
Could Be Viscerally Felt There!

Souls Were Convicted!
Hearts Were Convinced
AND
Converted
AND
Hard Faces Were Made Soft
By The Moving Of The Spirit Of Truth
From The Court Of Light!

An Awakening Had Revealed Itself!

Suddenly ...

Unexpectedly ...

A Voice
Newly Confident
Clearly Sang Out:

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

I Am Delivered!

Glory To His Name!

I Was Lost In Sin

In The Valley Of Death

I Am Delivered!

Praise The Lord!

As The Old Pastor Moved To Re-take His Seat
He Could Be Heard Saying:

Even So, Come
Lord Jesus!

The Young Pastor Loudly Cried:

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!