VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Benighted Shepherds + PRAYER: Lord, Lift Us Up!

The Day Is Now Here

When Men Shall Have No Fear

Of Lying To The Lord's Flock

By Tickling Them In The Ear!

I Give To You 

A Word Of Caution

I Tell You

Do Not Them Fear

They Are Of Their Master The Devil

AND

God Has A Place

For Them All Prepared!

Unrighteousness

May Prosper For A Season

Wickedness

May Last A Long Night

BUT

Jesus Christ

Who Cursed The Fig Tree

AND

The Jerusalem Temple

Keeps Very Good Records

Of Those Who Do

His People's Prosperity

Blight!

PRAYER:

Oh, Lord,

Hear My Lament

For In Sorrow

My Heart I Rent!

How, Lord

Can I Lift Holy Hands To You

In A Congregation

That Pays Homage

To You Know Who

Giving The Gift Of Praise

And Worship

To Him Who

Has Nothing

With You

To Do?

Lord,

Why Should True Believers

On The Faith Of Our Lord Christ

Give Our Pennies And Dollars

To Support The Work Of The Fraud?

Should We Not Be

Good Stewards Of Our Increase

And Stop Letting Charlatans

Our Little Pockets Fleece?

Lord,

How

In Good Conscience

Can We Come Before Your Face

Praying And Praising

Led By Men And Women

Whose Living Is A Christian Disgrace?

Who Sow To Their Souls Pleasure

Who Please Their Bodies -  Not Their Lord

Who Live By The Eye -  Not By God To Live And To Die

Who Give Love To The Self

Who Measure Prosperity

By The Many Toys On Their Shelves

Who Live For New Money

Who Cry:

"My Money!  Please, Give Me More! "

Who Have No Desire 

To Reach The Blissful Shore

For

Their Shore Is Their Checkbook

Their Diamond Black Charge Card

The Invitation To Majestic Palaces

To Honor Man As God

Who Have No Love For The Sin-Sick

Who Sickness And Acknowledging Sin Do Utterly Bore

And Who

For Want Of Another Bauble

Will Send A Seeking Soul

Through Satan's Wide-open

And Majestic Front Door!?

Oh, Lord

I Beseech You

Have Mercy

On This Remnant Flock In The Open Field

Who Need To Be Led By The True Shepherd

And Not By Crooks And Charlatans

Liars And False Prophets

Outright Thieves

And

Demons Called Miracle-working Men

Calling: 

"Depend On Us! Depend!

God Did Us To You Send!"

Lord,

You Promised My King Jesus

Our Beloved Captain

And Commander

In This Spiritual War

That He Would Not Lose A Soul 

That You To Him Gave!

Lord, I Believe What You Say

And For This Reason

I'll Be Brave 

- I Mean No Disrespect -

And Make Here A Demand

That You Live Up To The Word - Holy - 

That Through Inspiration

You - The Living God -

As Blessed Comfort To A Fallen Race

Gave!

Lord,

Lift Us Up!

We Want To See ... Jesus!

We Give You Our Humble Praise!

Oh, Lord, We Adore You!

So, Save Us, Lord! Save!

AMEN!

God Rules In The Affairs Of Men!

The Power That Wicked Men And Women
With Wild Control Wield
May To The Public Seem
That God To Them Yields
BUT
A Word To The Wise
Should Be Sufficient Today
As The Word Given To King Nebuchadnezzar
In The Book Of The Prophet Daniel
Does Say:

A Base Man May Be Low Born!
A Base Man May Be Nature Vile
BUT
Low Born Wild
Or
High Born Vile
None Can Defy The Lord
AND
Live An Eternally Prosperous Life!

Brothers And Sisters
Take Comfort Today
In Knowing That
The One Who Stepped On 
AND
Crumbled Your Dry Biscuit
Is Going To Have His Lavishly-Iced Cake 
Permanently By God Taken Away!

God Does Not Ugly Like
AND
You Can Rest Assured
That Unkindness To The Weak
The Widow
The Poor
AND
The Orphan At The Door
With Be Met With Just Reprisal
At God's Judgment Bar!

Keep Your Confidence In Jesus Christ
AND
Just Live In The Lord's Light
AND
In The Glad Day You Shall See
That Your Oppressor
Tormentor
Persecutor
Will Be To Darkness
Carted Away
UNLESS
In This Present Life
With Heart Bowed In True Repentance
Contrition
He Let's The Great God Of Glory
Have His Sovereign Way In His Life!

The Evil May Enjoy

A Few Moments In The Sun

BUT

The Good Will Enjoy

Eternity With The Son!

 

HAPPY SABBATH + PRAYER: Lord, Grant Me Faith

Dear Lord,
I Come To You This Day
Willing To Be Clay
In The Only Hands
That Can A Soul Repair!

Help Me, Lord,
To Trust You At Your Words Of Love
 To Listen To Your Words Of Warnings
And
To Heed Your Loving Chastisements!
Help Me, Dear Father
To Be A Tree Fruitful Indeed!

Lord, Grant Me Faith 
To Let You My Burdens Bear!

Lord, Grant Me Faith To Dare Ever
To You In Prayer To Repair!

Lord, Grant Me Faith

To Share The Everlasting Word

That The Eternal God Is Love!

Lord, Grant Me Love To Hope!

Lord, Grant Me Hope To Cope!

Lord, Grant Me Hope Enough In You

To Tell The Devil:

Nope! I'm Not Missing Heaven 

By Playing With Your Death-dealing Dope!

Lord, Grant Me Grace Upon The Rock To Stand!

Lord, Grant Me Grace Temptations To Withstand!

Lord, Grant Me Grace

For The Battles I Must Face

So That

At The End

I'll Not Be Turned Away From Your Sight

Marked An Eternal Disgrace!

I Love You, Lord

And I Pray This Hour
For Heaven-sent Power

So That My Thoughts And Actions

Will With Your Sovereign Will

Be In One Accord

And Not Aligned
With The Ways Of The Fraud!
In Jesus' Holy Name I Stand And Plead!

AMEN.

Wrong Is Wrong Is Right + PRAYER : Lord, Keep Your Promise

We Have Rights
To Do Many Wrongs!
We Have Rights
That Make God Frown!
We Have Rights
So The Wicked Leaders Now Say
To Sit Down To Eat
AND
To Rise Up To Play!

It Is Put Forth
By Those In Long Sleeves
That Lying Down With Dogs
Does Not Give A Person Fleas
That Worshiping The Sun
The Moon And The Stars
Is All Good And All Right
AND
For The God-given Soul
A Perfect Delight!

One May Kill Granny
One Can Kill Gramps, Too
One Can Kill Baby
AND
One Can Kill One's Own Self, True
BUT
Killing A Career
Is A Murder Profound
AND
Failing At Self Promotion
Can Get One Run Out Of Town!

One May Praise Satan
BUT
One Must Pillory Almighty God!
One May Proselytize For The Devil
BUT

One Cannot Proselytize For The Creator God!

One Is Apparently Free 
To Chop Off The Head Of A Christian
BUT

One Is Frowned Upon

For Killing A Roach
AND
Singing A Song Of Zion
Will Get One Free Transport To The Lockdown Hotel - No Joke!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord,

Have Mercy On Us

For Worshiping You

Is Set To Cost Your People In Some Countries

A Fee!

Good Is Now Stated Evil!

Evil Is Called Good!

Sweet Is Now Bitter

And

Dark Is Now Where Light Stood!

True Worship Is Worthless

And Defilement Is Become A Free-To-All-Comers Delicacy

And

It Is Stated That If I Give You The Finger 

It Would Make Me A Good Buddy!

Lord,

Truth Is In The Street Fallen

And Justice Has Removed

The Blinders Off Her Eyes!

Mercy Is A Meddler!

Liberty Of Conscience Is Denied

And Liberty To Worship The God Of Our Fathers 

Is Maliciously Being Denied!

Father,

We Are Free To Do Wrong

But Wrong To Do Right!

Have Mercy On This Fallen Race

For We Are Living In A State Of Disgrace!

Father,

I Choose Your Love

Your Light In Your Word

I Choose Bodily Destruction Before Dishonoring My Lord!

I Know I Already Have An Immortal Body Waiting

In The Kingdom Of Light

So,  Father

Keep Your Promise

And Let My Faith Become Sight!

I Love You, Lord!

AMEN!

God Is Calling Us!

Hast Thou Considered
The Place Thy Feet Go
That The Conductor Of The Universe
Has Ordained To You That Shore?

Hast Thou Considered
That The Work Of Thy Hand
Is There For Your Perfecting
By The Only Holy Hand?

Hast Thou Considered
That The Trial Faced Today
Is To Turn You Toward The Master
So That To The Father
You Will Cry Out In Prayer?

Hast Thou Considered
The Part
As The Whole
AND
Recognized With Cognition
That God Calls You
To Shelter In His Fold?

Hast Thou Considered
The Plight Of The Blind
The Heart Of The Lame One
The Life Lived By Crime
The Man With The Millions
The Billions
The Country Some One Out There Rules
AND
Recognized
But For The Grace Of God
You Could Be As Some
Unfitted For God's Service
AND
Be Acting Like
One Of Satan's Best Tools?

ALL Who The Lord Fits For His Service
Are In The Fire Of Affliction Tried
Our Hard Edges Are Rubbed Off
Our Bad Habits Off Us He Files
Our Homes May In Swamp Land
Our Children May Be Acting Like Satan's Servants

But ...

Because We Have Accepted The Lord's Commission
With Jesus' Faith In Our Insides
Neither Satan Nor His Agents Can The Truth
From Us Disguise!

Let Us Stand Up For Jesus
Let Us Go Faithfully Where He Sends
Let Us Accept The Nicks And Scrapes Of Battle
Let Us Keep Our Hearts In Prayer Bent
Let Us Not Despise The Place In Which We Are Laboring
For
There May Be A Soul There
We've Been Sent To Bless!
Let Us Do Our Best To Be Faithful
AND
Let God Do What He Does Best!

God The Father Delivers!
God The Son Saves!
God The Holy Spirit Comforts!
This Godhead Covers All
AND
In Spades!


The Faithful Are Never Alone
For
God Sends Angels
To Protect 
AND
To Influence
AND
If We Will Heed The Call Of Commission
By God's Grace
We Shall Reach The Heavenly Home
For Eternal Rest In The Peaceful Glade
From Whence We Shall Nevermore Roam!

Next Stop -  ETERNITY!

The Lesson In The Duck!

If We Will Let The Lord Teach Us 

We Will Find Lessons Everwhere!

If We Will Let The Lord Feed Us

We Will Have Good Food

And Some

For Others To Share:

Fear To The Christian
Should Be As Water On A  Duck's Back!
Fear Should Become Prayer
When A Christian Is Under Attack!

Hope For Heaven
Should Render A Christian Beautiful
Like A Duck On A Migratory Wing!
Peace Should Be To A Christian
What Water Is To A Duck Floating!

Love To A Christian
Should Be As Webbed Feet To A Duck
For Love
- Just Like Webbed Feet Even In Dark Water -
Moves The Christian Along Singing 
A Happy-In-Jesus Song!

Living For The Lord Jesus
To A Christian
Should Be As A Duck Catching An Updraft!
For
The Updraft Gives One Altitude
Raising One Up To The Perfect Flying Path!

Daily Bible ReadingTo A Christian
Should Be As Down And Feathers On A Duck Whole
For Insulation
For Clothing
For Transport From Climes Cold!

The Goodness Of God
In The Voice Of A Christian
Should Be Heard On The Ground
Even As The Voice Of A Duck Is Heard
When He Is Flying High Above The Earthbound!

Every Christian
Though In Transport
In Transport Of Christ's Delight
Should Send A Word
A Blissful Word
To Those Shuttered In By Night!

We Were Once As They Now Are
Hemmed In On Every Side
AND
Someone Sent By The Pitying Jesus
Brought To Our Hearts
A Fair And Comforting Word Of Life!

We Were Then Able To
- By Faith -
Separate Ourselves From The Strife
AND
In Trusting Jesus
Walk Toward His Offered New Life
Propelled By Love Of Him
Who For Us Gave His Own Life
AND
Really Believing
In The Call Of:

New Lives For Old!

New Lives For Old!

Jesus Christ Gave Up His Life

For Your Life To Be Made Anew!

Available Now!

Today! Today!

Get A New Life For Your Life That's Old!

The Head Of The Christ-Centered Christian
Should Be As The Head Of The Duck!
Even Though Its Head Is Oft' Underwater
Its Security Is Profound!
Its Eyes Are Still Beholding
AND
Its Destination It Can See!
Elements May Drown Christian Heads In Sudden Deep Water
BUT
Our Hearts Are Resting In Almighty God
So No Dread Action Of The Lion De Liar
Should Be Able To Cause Us 
To Deny Our One True And Saving Lord!

Duck Are All Great Waders!
They Wade Even In Water Cold Deep!
They Know The Vibrations In The Water
AND
Understand When To Remain Calm
AND
When To Flee
For Changes In The Rhythm Of
The Troubling In The Water
By Elements Unknown
Can To The Duck
- As Well As To The Christian -
Prove To Be Deadly!

Preaching The Mnemonic Jesus

The Servant Of God
Stood Up For To Preach
AND
In The Time Allotted
He Did Quite Scholarly Teach!
He Was Greatly Commended
AND
Feeling Quite Pleased With Himself
To The Congregation Did Say:

I Hope You Have Been Blessed
For
For That Teaching
My Mental Faculties
Were Greatly Stressed!

A Buzzing Was Heard
An Anxious Moving As Of A Restless Herd
BUT
It Was God's Flock Of Faithful People
Being Seriously Disturbed
As Proved By A Quietly Loud Voice
Filled With Hurt And Still Command
Who Pointedly Asked The Intellectual Preacher:

Do YOU Know The Feel Of The Lord's Hand?

Sir,
This Is Not A Science Project
Nor Other Intellectual Pursuit!
These Are Life And Death Matters
Which Need No Poseur
In A Brooks Brothers Suit!

You Preach An Intellectual Jesus!
You Teach A Physical Lord
AND
Therewith My Brother
You And The Bible Are
Not In Accord!

Pray Tell Us ...

Do YOU Personally Know Jesus?
How Has Jesus Changed You In Your Life?
Is Jesus Christ Your Savior
Or
Is He Just A Teaching Preaching Device!?

Your Teaching 
Was Intellectually Stimulating
BUT
I Could Not Feel Your Heart
For
In My Heartfelt Opinion
Of God's Grace
You're Just Shooting In The Dark!

I Beseech You!
I Am Pleading!
Show Us What The Lord Has Done For You!
Get Real With Your Teaching
AND
Tell Us 
By Your Witness
How Jesus Christ Has Personally Saved You!

If You Are A Workman
In The Lord's Vineyard
Your Credentials Should Be Experience Based
BUT
Your Talking About A Theoretical Jesus
Gives No One Of Jesus
A Sweet-Food Taste
Which
- Upon The Tasting -
Should Encourage One
A Full Meal To Purchase By Prayer!

The Food That You Served
Which We Did Today Taste
Is For The Party Goers Palate
AND
Not For One Seeking To Avoid
An Unrepentant Sinner's Fate!

I Came Here From The Desert!
I Desire The Water Of Life!
I Expect The Bread Of Heaven
Not Jesus The Mnemonic Device!

I Want Jesus!
I Need Jesus!
I Desire His Life!
So,  Please
Let's Do This Over!
Show Us How A Life Is Changed
After Experiencing
The Free Grace Of Jesus Christ!

And So ...

The Preacher Bowed His Head
AND
Prayed Aloud To The Living And Eternal Holy God:

Dear Father, 

Up In Heaven

I Thank You For The Rod!

The Rod Of Correction

That Brought Me Out Of Sin's Fog!

I Thank You For Your Blessing

Your Blessings That Fall On Me

Blessings That I Did Not Know I Needed

Until They Were Touching The Heart Of Me!

Dear Father,

I Plead For A Word Of Comfort

For These Children Of Hope!

Help Me Dearest Father

To Show Them How You Got Me Off 

The Old Devil's Dope!

Bless Me, Lord

To Bless Your People!

Help Me From Truth Not To Shy Away

Help Me To Lift Up The Holy Jesus

Who From Sin

Drew Me Away!

Help Me To Be Honest

Help Me Truth To Confess

Help Me To Help Others

Who Through Sin

Are In Mortal Distress!

I Love You

I Bless You

Help Me To Honor You Today And Always

And Help Me, Dear Father

To Forget Self

And Lift You Up

For The Rest Of My Days!

Thank You, Lord, For Your Mercy

Please Accept In The Name Of The Holy Jesus

Your Trembling Servant's Prayer!

The Congregation 
In Unison, Said:

Glory! 
             Hallelujah! 
                                    Praise God! 
                                                            AMEN!

Fear God!

Vice Is A Costly Indulgence
Oft' Brought To Our Door
By One Whom
With Us
Has That Thing Called Influence!
Its Effects Are Like Those Of 
A Great Pestilence
AND
The Cost To Repair The Damage
Is Often The Cost 
Spent In The Arena Of Those
Living The Life Of Affluence
AND
Then ... It  Can Cost The Life!
Even Eternal Life!

Vice Is Not Nice!
In Retrospect
It Is As Lice!
To Pick Them Up
Requires No Effort At All
BUT
To Get Rid Of Them
Requires Every Last Effort
Available For Use 
On The Blue Ball!

In The Call To Vice
Risqué Seems Nice!
To Maintain Vice
Risqué Needs Spice
AND
Pity The Person
Who Says:

Vice Is Just Play!

To Which I Say:

Ask God!

AND
Then Tell Me What He 
In His Living Word Doth Say!

Living Right
Requires Effort Every Day!
Living Like A Louse
Well ... Just Live
For
Anywhere Is Your House!

Let's Trust God For Our Living!
He Is Our Guardian
Our Guide
AND
Our Stay!
Let's Do What He Tells Us
AND
For Own Sin
There Is No Bill To Be Paid!

Living According To The Rules Of Vice
Is Living According To 
Satanic Device!
Doing That Makes Us
Friends Of The World
AND
Marks Us Boldly 
As An Enemies Of The Lord!

Vice Kills
The Mind
The Body
AND
The Spirit
Stone Cold!
The Thoughts Are Beclouded!
Just Ask Solomon Of Old
Who Used His Great Wisdom
To Explore Every Sense
BUT
It Left Him As A Man
Broken
Idolatrous
AND
At Body
AND
Also Great Spiritual National Expense!

But ... GOD

In His Mercy
Opened King Solomon's Eyes
AND
Solomon Repented
Of The Life Of Vice
Which Nearly Cost Him
Eternal Life
AND
As A Word Of Caution
To Those Who Him Walk Behind
That Preacher
King Solomon
Wrote The Book Of Ecclesiastes
As The Book Of Living Life Warnings!

All Is Vanity!
All Is Vanity
AND
A Vexation To The Spirit!
So Hear The Conclusion Of The Whole Matter
AND
Do Not Forget It:

Fear God

And

Keep His Commandments

For They Will 

- Indeed -

Preserve Your Life!

Everything We Do
God Brings Into Judgment!
Secret Things
Good Things 
AND
Evil Things
In This Mortal Strife!
God Is Watching 
AND
Keeping Records On You 
AND
Me, Too
So
This Is Worth Repeating: 

Fear God

And 

His Commandments Keep

For This Is Your Whole Duty

As Long As You Are Living!