Saturday, June 17, 2017

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Some And Piece Cannot Make One Whole!





Some O'This
AND
Piece A'Dat
Are Patchwork Christians
AND
Proud To Be

"Willing Workers For Our Lord
Praise His Holy Name
Come For Your World, Jesus!"

Prob ... LEM!!!

These Two
Are Selfish
Self-Righteous
Self-Centered
AND
To Top It All Off
They Put Their Personal Interests
AND
Personal Prosperity
Up Front And Way Before
The Interests Of The Heavenly But Soon Coming King
AND
DEEEMAND

That All The Other Brethren
In All That They Do
Or Contemplate Doing
Must Put God
AND
Others
First!

Their Behavior Is Appalling!

Their Hubris Lacks Shame!
Their Consciences Were Prickless
AND
They Think Simple Christians
Are Vain!

They Are Completely Useless
To Be Honest
But
No One Will Tell Them That
Because
Telling Ain't Hearing
AND
Of Understanding 
They Show Lack!

Don't Get Me Wrong ...

They Are Useful ...
When They Are Sleeping!
They Are Useful ...
When You Can See Their Backs
For Then
The Business Of The Kingdom
Proceeds Apace
When Some O'This
AND
Piece A'Dat
Are Not Around
To Give Willing Workers Flack!

This State Of Affairs Is Dreadful
BUT
It Does Not Have To Be So!
Patchwork Christians Are An Abomination
Misrepresenting The Lord Christ
With Their Acts Wholly Ungodly
AND
To The World
Putting On The Fine Show!

Christ Is Not Selfish!
Christ Jesus
For The Welfare Of Others
Does Daily Work
BUT
Patchworkers
Are All Over The Place
Leaning Into
Whatever Wherever
Whoever
AND
Whenever
If It Will Cause Them
To The Public
To Show Their Face!

Christ In Us
The Hope Of Glory
Is
To Them
A Phrase
Not The Way To Life!
AND
New Wine In New Bottles
Seems To Be A Trigger
Not The Call To New Life!

Old Man - Sinful Self
Old Wine - Unrighteous Doctrines And Philosophies
Old Bottles - Old Ways Of Being Seeing Doing
In These
They See No Wrong
For
To Please Themselves
Creed Is Speed
AND
They Know Therewith
They Can Do No Wrong
For
The Money Keeps Rolling Along!

They See No Reason To Change!
They Love The Status Quo!
Up With Self
AND
Down With
Down Upon 
Others
Is The Only Way To Grow
ANDTo Show
You're In The Know!
Those Are The Seeds They Sow!

Disgraceful!

Don't They Know ...

Put Off Self!
Throw Away Old Habits!
Dismiss Old Thoughts!
Put On Christ!
Take In His Light!
Walk In His Way
AND
Then The Devil You Can Fight!?

If You Look At A Patchwork Quilt
You'll See Lots Of Disparate Pieces
Cobbled
Sewn
Stuck Together!
They Come From Different Garments
Have Different Histories Of Use
AND
Color Persuasions
AND
Many Of The Pieces
Have Fraught History
AND
Often Unbeknownst To The Cobbler
Have Suffered 
Dreadful 
Damaging
Abuse!

To Keep The Disparate Together
One Must Make Many Seams!
One Must Provide A Backing Plain
AND
Faces Together
Patch AND Back
Are Joined Together
BUT
One Must Leave A Hole
For
Once Joined On The Four Sides
Back And Patch
Must Be Turned Out
To Show
A Different Face To The World!

BUT, And Still ...

The Transformation Is Not Finished!

Patch Must Be Irrevocably Tied
To Whatever Is His Back
AND
A Cobweb Of A Million Stitches
Going Every Which Way But Loose
Draws
Paints
Ascribes A New Persona
That Only God
Through Christ Jesus
Can Make New
AND
Suitable
For Heaven's Use!

As In The World
So In The Church!
If You Follow Jesus
You Must Give Up Self
In All Its Iterations
For
You Cannot Save Your Self!

Self Is A Bold Sinner
AND
Will Never Be A Saint!

The Saint Has Given Self
To The Savior
AND
Has Been Purged Of
Sinful Self's Taint!

If You Desire Salvation
Give The Patch And Back The Boot!
Jesus Will Give You
The Treatment
- His Cleansing -
AND
You Will Be Made Brand New!

Don't Settle For
Some O'This
AND
Piece O'That
When In Christ Jesus
You Can Have All
Of What Heaven Provides
For Those Who Will
From Death Arise
Because
They Have Accepted
The Salvation Call!

Come To Jesus Now!
He Negates The Effects Of The Fall!





SECULAR SELF-LOVE + A Prayer Against It!




The Day Was No Different From Any Other!
In The Old People's Vernacular
I Awakened
Said My Prayers
And Brushed My Two Teeth!
After Bathroom Detail
I Had Me Some Dry Oats
And A Warm To Hot Libation
AND
Looked To Start The Day
Without
Getting Into A Nasty Fight
With. My. Self
The Old Peace-Thief!!

Too Late!

Here They Come
Polished As Can Be
Secular Self-Love
AND
Temptation ... To Sin -
Wow!
They Are Wearing
The White Gloves!

Oh, Brother!

I Know What That Means -
They're Going To Try To Finesse Me
AND
Try To Make Me Want
To My Heavenly Father
To ... Lie?!

Yup!
Here It Comes!
I Can Feel The Urge A-coming To Say:

I Love Me!
I Love Me The Best!
The World's My Oyster!
I Am No Ice-Chest!


Oh, Boy!
Today Was Getting Off To 
Another Lousy Start!

I Will Not Submit!
I Will Not Submit!

Lord, Help Me!

PRAYER:

Father,
I Need You!
Have Mercy On Me!
I Didn't Do It When I Woke Up
But
I Am Doing It Now!
I'm Freely
Willingly
Eagerly
Giving My Self To Thee!


Lord,
Save Me From My Self!
Save Me!
Save Me, Now!
My Heart Before I Humbly Bow!

Lord,
My Self Is Trying
Of Me To Take Control
And
I Want No Part Of It
So, I Am Asking You, Please
Of My Life Take Control
For
I Want Willful Self
Outside
Of My Heart's Door!


This Secular Self-Love Has For Me
Been A Total Bug-Bear
And
A Really Grand Lie
For It Pit's One Against One's Maker
Encouraging One
The Love Of God To Deny!


When Secular Self-Love
Loves My Sinful Self
I Cannot
Your Voice Hear
And
When That Happens
Temptation-To-Sin
Screams Loudly
Unashamedly
In My Poor Ear
Urging Me To Willfully Ignore You
And
To Depart From Holding You
In The Necessary Godly Fear!
This, Lord, I Can No Longer Bear!

I Hate It!

Father,
I Have Battle Scars
And
I Desire None New
So
In The Faith Of Jesus Christ
I Give Also
My Will
And
My Way Unto You!


I Am Glad To Do This, My Father
For
I Know That You Will Take Care
And
With You In Control Of My Life, Lord
I Will Not End Up
Worthless
Useless
Hard
And
To Your Blessed Kingdom
Damned-For-Eternity Discard!


Thanks, In Advance
For The Save, Lord!
I No Longer Wish To Be
To Sin
A Trussed-Up Slave
And
I Totally Accept The Salvation Purchased
When Your Beloved Son Died
So That Me And My Kind
May Be Saved!

In Jesus' Name
I Make My Humble Plea
For
I Desire
In Peace
To See Thee
On The Great And Glorious Day!
I Love You, Lord!
AMEN.




Friday, June 16, 2017

HAPPY SABBATH: The Storm + The Prayer





Good Morning, Foolish Man!

Good Morning, Man Wise!

How Is Your Building Progressing?! 

I'm Moving Apace
But The Supplies
Their Price Is Giving My Stomach
Mucho Butterflies!
What About You!

I Have Built On The Rock Of Salvation!
I Have Used The Plan
Designed By The Heavenly Store!
I Have The Hand Of The Master Builder
AND
The Cleft Of The Rock
Marks The Beginning 
AND
The End Of My Property!
That's For Sure!

Wow!
You've Really Gone Against Tradition!
Not Me - I Want All That's Out There
And Truth Be Told
Much More!
That's Why I'm Getting Stomach Butterflies
For
I Didn't Dig Too Deep
And Now
I'm Not Sure
If My House Can Carry
The Heavy Weight Of My Ever-Increasing
Acquired Load!

You'd Better Think Seriously
About What You Are Doing!
The Storms Of Life
Are Just Up Ahead!
This Is The Season Of Trial
Affliction
AND
Tribulation
AND
All Need True Shelter
Real Comfort
AND
Trusted Safety
Or One Will Be Harmed
Or Worse
One Can Be Killed!
Dead! Dead!

No, My Brother!
You're Thinking Too Deep!
Talk To You Later!
It Has Been A Long Night
And I'm Off To Catch Up On My Sleep!

Not Even Two Days Later ...

Rumble Rumble!!                            Swish! Swoooosh!!            Swish! Swoooosh!!
              Rumble Rumble!!        Crack Crack Craack!!
Swish! Swoooosh!!                                        Pip Pip Tip!                                                          Crack Crack Craack!!                 Rumble Rumble!!
Swish Swish Swiiiiish!             Crack Crack Craack!!     Top Pop Plop!           Plop Dop Dop!

Man Wise Was Comfortable!
He Is Saying His Prayers!
He Is Thanking The Lord For His Blessings!
AND
Jesus Christ Is Comforting His Fears!

He Is Also Praying
For Foolish Man
His Neighbor
Across The Way
Whose House
Built On The Sands
On Public Opinion
The Theories Of Man
The Lust Of The Eye
The Pride Of Life
AND
A Gargantuan Serving
Of The Lust Of The Flesh
Is Being Torn Apart
By The Prevailing Winds
Of
The Turbulent Storm
Which Had Been Predicted
By The Author Of Life
Who Alone Can Save
The Children Of Man!

Lord, Please Spare His Life!

Suddenly ... 

There Is A Loud Thump Thump
AND
Upon Man Wise Answering
AND
Opening
Foolish Man
Fell In Through
Man Wise's Solid, Solid, Door!

Thank You, Lord
For Saving Foolish Man's Life!!

Foolish Man?!
Foolish Man!
Open Your Eyes!

Man Wise?!
Man Wise!!
I'm Still Alive?!
I Thought I Was Done For!
I Was Sure I Would Die!

The Storm
The Storm ... It Was Awful!
I Will Not Tell A Lie!
I Built My House On Shifting Sand
And The Storm Gave It
A Strenuous Buffeting
And When The Rain Of Trial
And Tribulation Started To Pour
It Was Not Very Long Before
My Roof Blew Off
And, Soon
All I Had Left
And Was Left Holding
Was The Fancy Knob Of The Expensive Door
Of The Perfect House That Was No More!

You Should Have Heard
The Scream Of Ripping Siding
The Screech Of Torn Out Nails
The Roar Of Blown Out Windows
The Sad Keening Of My Wails!

I Begged God To Save Me!
You Know  ...
The Very God
You Warned Not To Ignore!
The Very God
That Rock
You Told Me To Build Upon!
The Very God
In Whom I Had No Stock!!

It Was Terrible!
It Was Awful!
I Now Know Fear
And
I Am Asking You, Dear Brother
Could You Put Me Up?!
Can I Rest On You Spare Chair?!

Sure, Sure, Sure!
Take A Load Off!
You Are Welcome To Stay Here
BUTJust Know
That The Lord Of Life
Is The Head Of This Household
AND
I Don't Cotton To Those Pet Theories
That You Idolize!

Pet Theories?!
Pet Theories!!
Those Pet Theories
Practically Near Killed Me!

Look At Me Now
I Don't Even A Pot Of My Own
Too Pee In
Nor A Window To Throw It Through
So, Please
Do Not Speak To Me Ever Again
About Man Practice Nor Theory!!
Don't Do It - I Caution You!

You May, However
Tell Me Everything
That You Know
About The God You Built Upon
The God Who Guides And Protected You
And Surely Saved Me Today, Too!!

Foolish Man ...
Foolish Man!
You Need A New Name
For
You've Come To Your Senses
AND
That Is Quite Plain!

The God Who Is My Rock
Possesses
AND
Can Provide
Salvation To All
But Those Who Receive It
See Their Need
AND
To Him
Reach For It!

You Trusted In Self!
You Trusted On Man!
ANDYou Leaned On A Weak Arm
That Placed You
In The Path Of Harm!

Our God ...
- He's Yours Now -
Is Safe To Lean On!
He Strong To Uphold You!
He's Faithful To Console You!
He's Steady In All Ways!
He's Unchanging
Be It Day Or Night!
His Word Is His Character
ANDYou Need Him
Be It Dark Days
Or Light!

If You Will Let Go
AND
Let God
Be To You
Your All In All
He Will Lead You
Guide You
Teach You
Feed You
Lift You Up Ever You Fall!
He'll Never Abandon You -
It's Not His Way!
ANDHe'll Never Chaste You Away
For A Mistake
BUT
Take Heed Unto Yourself
And Do Not
Let Presumption
Cause You
From His Safety
To Turn Away!

You Have Been Given
A Chance At New Life!
Please Do Not From It Turn Away!
Deny The Liar
AND
Those Who Work For Him
Who Tell You
For Things Temporal
To Reach Higher And Higher!

Things Are Replaceable!
A Soul Lost Is Not
So, Please
Use This Golden Opportunity
To Claim Your Soul's Salvation
On
In
From
The Rock!

And, In Deep Contrition
Foolish Man
Turning Wise
Uttered This

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, 
I Thank You
For Saving My Soul
For
Without Your Salvation
You Know That I Would Be
A Duppy Quite Cold!

Forgive Me, Lord, My Folly
My Willingness To Presumptuous Sin
My Penchant For Shiny Objects
That Cluttered My Life
But Did Not My Soul Thrill!


Father,
I Invite You
To Fill The Void In My Heart
The Void In My Life
So, Please
Can You Make The Way Clear
To Help Me From Sinning To Depart!


Lord,
I No Longer Want
What Others May Have!
I Now Want What You Have For Me
And
I Desire From You
Through You
And
In You
The Blessed, Blessed, New Start!


Teach Me Your Way, Lord
And Help Me To Walk In It
For
I Know Now
- Of A Surety -
That Life Without You
Is A Bottomless
Handleless
Holey Rusted Bucket!
Lord, I Was Living In The Dark!


Hear, Oh, Lord
My Prayer
For
Father Most True
I Sincerely Need You
And
Will To Trust You
And, So I Give 

My Self
My Will
And
My Way
- In My New Faith -
Unto You!
Teach Me To Love You, Lord!
AMEN.


Welcome To The Family, Brother!
Welcome To The Family!




Thursday, June 15, 2017

Take Your Place, Satan!




I Believe God!
Do You?!

If You Believe ... Walk!
If You Walk ... Trust!
If You Trust ... Live!

If You Hope ... Reach Up And Reach Out!
If You Love ... Share And Care!
If You Think On Jesus Christ ... Talk About Jesus Christ!
If You Worship God ... Say Your Prayers!
If You Pray ... Plead!
If You Plead ... Believe!
AND
If You Really Believe In God
In Jesus Christ's Name ... Stand Firm In His Faith!

If You Are Standing Firm In The Faith
Keep The Promises Of God
As Your Comfort Every Day!
Take Pleasure In The Comfort
As You Walk Along Life's Way
For
Your Adversary Satan
Will Attempt To Strip You Bare
BUT
Believe And Trust
The Word Of God
AND
Plainly You Can Say:

Get Thee Behind Me Satan!
You Have No Part In Me!
My Master Is The Lord Jesus Christ
AND
Thank God
He Is Carrying Me!

Get Out Of My Way!
My Path Is By Christ Marked!
My Way Is Sure!
Jesus Christ Knocked On My Heart
AND
I Opened For Him
My Door
AND
He Sups With Me
AND
I With Him
AND
Sorry - Not Sorry
My Heart Is No More
Your Welcome Inn
So
Let Your Sorry Back
Reverence The Jesus-Is-Mine Door!
No Credit For You Today
AND
There Is Definitely None Tomorrow
For
I Am Now Walking

Saved And Forgiven
With God Almighty
The Very Highest Power!

Get Away From Me, Satan
You're An Unregenerate Liar!
I Am Going Home With My Jesus
AND
You
You Shall Eat The Banquet
Of Your Own Preparing!
You Shall Eat
God's Holy Fire
So
Take Your Place
AND
From Me - In Jesus' Name
Accept The Rejection

AND
Retire
Liar
!

I Am Bound For The Promised Land
AND
You May Put Up A Balaam To Curse Me
BUT
I'm Jesus Christ's To Command!
I Will Know Affliction
- My Jesus Says So -
BUT
With God's Grace
In Jesus Christ I'll Stand
For He Has Covenanted
To Protect Me
Shield Me
Teach Me
Lead Me 
Feed Me
AND
Take Me Safely
To The Glorious Land!


I'm Going Home With My Jesus!
Great's The Day!
I'm Going Home With My Jesus
Come What May!
I Have No Hold On The Temporal!
I've Seized On Eternity!
I'm Going Home With My Jesus
Lord, Haste The Day!
Haste The Day! 






Wednesday, June 14, 2017

HE SAID: I Did! - Trusting In The Lord Christ!




I Am In Love
With A Jealous God!

Aren't They All?!

I Don't Know
About A "They All!"
I Just Know About The Jealous God
Whose Name Is Jealous!

Really!?!

Yes!
He Does Not Share!
He Desires All Of My Love
For His Own
AND
As For His Glory
It Is All His!
His, Alone!

He Is So Giving!
He Told Me Up Front:

I Will Always Love You!
I Will Ever Provide For You!

He Told Me Straight
What's Good To Aspire
AND
Plainly Informed Me
What's Best To Retire!

Sounds Really Controlling!

Oh, No!
Not At All!

He Is Just Very Specific
About The Heart
He Holds In His Hand!

When We First Met
He Told Me Quite Plain:

This Is All Blessings!
He Showed Me The Right!

This Is All Cursings!
He Showed Me The Left!

AND
Told Me To Choose
Which One I Will Receive
AND
Never At Any Point
Did He Try To Me Deceive!

He Said I Have Choice!
He Says I Have Will!
I Can Choose To Give Him My Will
Which Will Permit Him
To Mark Out My Path
AND
At The End Of This Life
My Trove Of Blessings
He Will Continue
- For Eternity -
To Fill!

Sounds Like A Bill Of Goods To Me!

To You, Maybe!
But, To Me
My Beating Heart
At His Name
Completely And Totally
Thrills!

How Gullible!

Excuse Me?!
I Don't Understand!

My God Is Holy!
My God Is True!
My God Is Faithful!
AND
He Is Calling Out To You!

What God Ever Does Anything
Except Hold Out Their Frozen Hand?!

Ahhh! There's Your Problem!

Frozen-God Hand!
Frozen-Handed Gods
Are Not Gods!
They Are Idols!

My God Is Alive!
I Can Call Upon Him
At Any Time
AND
He Answers!
He Responds!
He Takes Care Of Me
AND
All That He Requires
Expects From Me
Is Faithfulness
No Doubt
Constancy
No Wavering
Trust
No Backsliding!
In Him
I Am Confiding!

One Is Born Every Day!

What Is That?!

A Sucker!

Oh, My!
I Don't Know Of Anyone Else!
I Speak For Myself!
I Know That I Was Lonely
Lost
Floundering
Wandering
Wayward
Alone
When I Met Jesus
And, Now
My Life Is Complete!

He Said:
Cast Your Cares On Me!
I Did!

He Said:
Trust And Obey!
I Am Trying
By His Grace
That Challenge
To Fullfil!

He Said:
Walk In Faith!
I'm Trying Not To Walk By Sight!

He Said:
I Will Never Leave You Nor Forsake You!
I Hold His Hand
Even When I Want To Relent!

Your Funeral!

He Told Me:
It Is Appointed Once
For Man To Die
And Then The Judgment!

Excuse Me?!
Judgment? What Judgment?!

Oh, Dear ...!

The Creator God
Becomes
The Judge Of His Creation
In The Day Of His Appointing
AND ALL MANKIND
Must Give An Accounting
Of His Life's Deeds!

To The Repentant
He Is The Welcoming King!

To The Unrepentant
He Is The Frowning
Aka Executing Judge!

Everybody Tells Me
Enjoy Life!
You Live!
You Die!
End Of Story!

But, YOU ...!!
You've Upset My Apple Cart!
You Just Burst My Bubble
And You've Done Put A Tremble
A Real Tremble
In My Heart!

What Do I Do?!
Where Do I Go?!
Who Can I Turn To -
I Really Don't Want
The Frowning Judge Score!

Jesus Christ
Is The Answer
First Question To Last!
In Him Is Life Eternal!
On Him Your Burdens
You May Cast!

Trust Him - He Is Faithful!
Lean On Him - He Is Strength!
Hold On To Him - He Is Life
AND
Follow Him
For
He Leads To Eternal Life!

Pray For Forgiveness
For The Rotten Deeds Of Your Past Life!

How On Earth Do I Do That?!

Tell The Truth!
Say What You Did!
Acknowledge That You Were Wrong!
Say You Are Sorry
AND
Ask Jesus To Lead You
The Rest Of Your Life
Be It Short Or Long!

Pray Is Personal Communication!
Tell The Truth Freely!
Forgiveness By Confession
And Repentance
Comes Your Way
BUT
Be Assured Of This One Thing
Going To Jesus
Means Satan Is Going To Be Dogging Your Way!
So, Please
Pray
AND
Keep Praying
AND
Keep Trusting!

Trust Gives Growth To Love
And Soon
Satan Will Have To Leave You Alone
At Least For Those Things
For Which
You Did Let Christ's Spill Blood Atone! 

But ... Know This

Give No Place To The Devil!
Not An Inch!
Not Even A Scratch!
When He Calls
Ask Jesus To Answer
AND 
He Will Run From You Far!

No One Has To Die Without Jesus!
No One Has To Face The Judgement Alone!
Jesus Pleads His Blood For The Faithful
AND
The Father Accepts
His Beloved Son's Spilt Blood - It truly Atones!

Will You Pray With Me?!

Our Father
Up In Heaven
We On The Earth
Accept The Promise
Offered To Us
In Jesus Christ's Spilt Blood!
Here Is A New Resident
For The Eternal Kingdom
Who Desires Forgiveness
From The God Who Is Love ...!