Sunday, June 25, 2017

PRAYER: Father, Seal Us For The Strife!





Lord, 
Have Mercy On Us Who Care!
Have Mercy On Us Who Pray!
Have Mercy On Us
Who Look For The Day
When The Great God Of Glory
The Conquering King
In Splendor And Beauty
In The Eastern Sky
Shall Appear!


Father Most Faithful
In Truth 
I Come Before You
Saying The Name "Jesus!"
For I Am Petitioning You
For Favor
For Blessing
In Love 
And
With Trust
Please, I Beseech
Harken To The Words
Of This Child Of The Dust!


I Am A Mere Mortal
Approaching Unto The God
That Is Consuming Fire
Knowing
That Without Jesus
My Position Would Be My Funeral Pyre
But
Jesus Christ
The Beloved
My Accepted Savior And Lord
With His Innocent Blood
Made Provision For Me
So That I Can To You
Reach Higher And Higher!


I Am Human
A Creature Of Unclean Lips
Unclean Hands
Impure Thoughts
Deceitful Heart
And
I Sin Against You, Father
In Thought
Word
And
Deed
And
Often Behave
As One Who Knows Not
That I Have The Need
To Confess My Sin
To Repent Of Evil Ways
To Plead For Forgiveness
To Walk In Narrow Paths
And
To Abide In Straight Ways!


Father,
I Need Your Green Pasture
I Need Your Oil To Anoint My Poor Head!
I Need The Still Water Of Life!
I Desire The Bounty From You
With Which Only The Faithful Are Fed!
I Desire The Protective Services
Of Angelic Companions
Who Excel In Strength
And
I Desire The Peace
That Passes Human Understanding!
I Desire To Reside In Your Tent!


Father,
My Father
I Do Truly Love You
Even Though There Have Been Times
When I Have Acted
As Though I Do Not Know
Or Own You!

Forgive Me! - I Am Sorry!
I Hang My Head In Great Shame
For I Repent
Were It Possible
In Sack Cloth And Ashes
For The Many Times
I Have Brought To Your Holy Name
Great Shame
For I Did It Profane!


Father,
In This Hour
I Do Not Ask For
Bread
Shelter
Shoes
Or
Clothes
For
With Yesterday's Blessing
I Already Have Those!


My Petition
- By Faith -
Is For Today's Measure Of Increase!
I Need
Faith For My Journey
Grace For My Head
Mercy For My Person
And
To Be Holy Spirit Lead
Even As I Am Comforted
That My Redemption
By Christ's Salvation
Is Just Up Ahead!


Father,
I Covet That One Thing
That Many Men
Many Bright Minds
Totally Discount!
My Heart To You
Is Totally Open!
Fill Me From The Fount
That Fount Of Every Blessing
The Fount That Is The Rock
The Rock That Is My Salvation
For Which Striving
I Am Ever Under Attack!


Father,
I Need The Promised Protection
You Ordain For Those
Who
- By Your Leading -
Will Follow You
And Grow
And
Continue Growing In Grace
And Keep Walking
Going To The Eternal City
At Which Entrance
They'll Have The Right To Enter The Gate
And
Will Never From Your Lips
Hear:
"No, I Know You Not!
Away From Me, Go!"


Lord,
My Heart Is Full - Fill Me!
My Faith Is Strong - Strengthen Me!
My Will Is Yours - Take It!
Sin Has A Hold On My Human Nature - Break It!


Father,
I Accept The Wedding Invitation
And
I Truly Love The Wedding Garment
Which
To Me, You Do Provide!
Help Me To Keep It Spotless
So That In The Great Day
- From Your Majesty -
I Will Not Run To The Rocks And Hills
Beseeching Them
My Vile Personage To Hide!


Lord,
I Am Coming Home
With My Jesus
And
I Am Giving To You My Will
And
My Way
And
I Fully Expect You
To Make Homecoming So!

I Am Determined
- By Your Provided Grace -
To Cooperate With You
So, Please
Help Me To Remember
The Living Word
So That I May Thrash The Evil One
With A
"Thus Saith The Lord!"
And
Chase Him Away
From Outside My Door!


Remember, Lord
The Lost
The Lonely
The Demon-Possessed
The Devil-Oppressed
The Beguiled
The Benighted
Even Those Who Are
Devil-Worshippers
Proudly Foolishly
Coined And Styled!


Remember, Lord
Your Faithful
Your Grace-Filled
Your Fearing, Caring, Few
Some - Even Now - Already
Persecuted
Prosecuted
Tormented
Imprisoned
And
Being Murdered
For You
And Your Holy Word
Immutable
True!
 
Father,

We Believe
We Love
We Trust
We Honor
We Worship You
And
We Obey
And, Lord
Please
In The Name Of The Holy Jesus
Seal Us For The Coming Conflict
And
For Our Sakes
- As You Promised -
Shorten The Day Of Jacob's Trouble
For The Elect's Sake
And
By Your Will
And
In Your Known Way
Hasten, Lord, Hasten
The-King-Is-Coming Day!


Until Then, Lord
Defend!

We Love You
And
We Bless You
And
Ask You With Humility
In Jesus Christ's Name
Our Few Petitions
To Grant
According To Your Pleasure
And
In Your Way!
AMEN.



Saturday, June 24, 2017

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Settling Down With Jesus ...!!




A-form O' Godliness
Intellectual Religion
Supposed Hope
AND
Facing Ruin
Used To Be My Perfect Companions
BUT
That Was Back When My Name Was
Heart Not Cleansed!

I Used To Talk The Talk
BUT
I Didn't
Couldn't
Walk The Talk!

Pray Tell, Why Not?!

Well ... It Is Like ... Well ...

Oh ... .

He Couldn't Walk And Chew Gum!

His Walk Was A Lie!

His Talk Was All Head Space!
He Was Going To Fry!


Oh, My!
Surely, You Lie!

What He Said Was True!
I Was Going To Hell!
I Held A Season Of Life's One-Way Ticket
Until The Day
I Landed On My Butt
AND
Struck Hard
My Hard Head  -
It Was A Very Bad Day!

I Cried! I Cried!

We Can Well Imagine!

Having Always Had The Inclination
To
- With Brain Capacity -
Intensely
Everything Intellectualize
I Found Myself
Incapacitated
Barely Able
To Move More Than My Eyes!

You Had been Given Right Proper Time To Think!

Trying To Talk Hurt!
Thinking Hurt More!
My Mind Had Struck Me!
It Was Being A Gully-Bore!
My Mind Kept Hitting A Particular Grove
AND
Refused To Let Me
- In Peace -
To Have A Good Snore!

Peace?! What Peace?!

Exactly!
Of Peace I Had None!
Then
The Dear Savior Came A-Calling
AND
That Interview
Was
- Of Necessity -
Not Fun!

There Were Statements Like:


  • Deal Truly With Your Own Soul!
  • Be Earnest!
  • Be Persistent In Prayer!
  • Ask For The Renewal To A Right Spirit!
  • How Long Are You Going To Keep Running Away?!


I Was In A Straight Betwixt Two!
I Was Between A Rock
AND
A Very Hard Place!

Flesh And Eyes?!

Yup ... Flesh And Eyes!
AND
Don't Forget
I Was Also Warring
With ...

 ... THE PRIDE OF LIFE!

We Know!
We've All Been There!
It's The Great Test
That All Men Must Face!
Jesus Faced It
And So Will We
And With Grace
- The Power To Face It -
We Shall Overcome
As Valiantly Did He!

I Wrestled!
I Fussed!
I Waffled!
I Cried!
Life's Things Were So Nice
AND
Shiny
AND
To Give Them Up
- THEORETICALLY -
I Thought Without Them
I Would Die!

DING, DING, DING!!
Theory vs. Practice!

12 Rounds For The Win!


Mash-up And Buy-Back
Were Ghoulishly Cheering
BUT
I Saw The Sacrificed
AND
Still Living Jesus
On My Right Wing!


Yeahhhhhhh!

The Faithful Wing Man
Is Our Lord Christ!
His Life Death Living
Tells Us That
By Obeying And Trusting God
We Will Survive The Bitter Strife!

Well ...

My Life Depended On The Win!
I Was Not Going Down
By Default!
In Wrestling With Jesus
I Had Read The Back Of The Book
So
For Life Through Self-Death
Was The Only Way For This Fight To Be Fought!

Isn't It Wonderful?!

It Is!
When You Know You Can't Lose
When You Know That Holy Blood
Earned For You
The Great Win
You Will Put Your Head
On The Life Line
Knowing That
If In Christ You Die
In Him
You Again Will Live!

That Fight Was Brutal!
Satan Threw Everything At Me ...

Sinner

Liar

Thief
Cheat
Faithless
Useless
Unclean
Unwanted By The Lamb
Unworthy
Disgraceful
Lost
Rejector Of Grace
Selfish

AND
A Few Horrible Ones More!


Tears Were Running Down My Face!
I Was Blubbering!
Then I Saw Jesus!!
Love Is In His Face
He Held Up His Hands!
Light Shone Through The Holes
AND
For New Love Of My Now Master
In His Power
Through Love Returned
I Cried:

Create In Me A Clean Heart

Oh, God

Renew A Right Spirit Within Me!


Satan Of My Life Let Go!

Then ...

I Heard My Self Saying
What I Was In My Spirit Hearing ...

Jesus, I Come!

You Promised Not To Cast Me Out!



Bless Me To Do Thy Will!
The Lord IS My Shepherd!

I Shall Not Know Want!



Father, I Cast My Cares On You

For I Know You Care For Me!



Lord, I Confess My Sin!

You Are Faithful And Just -

Forgive Me
And Cleanse Me From All Unrighteousness!


Lord, I'm Coming Home!

Draw Me Nearer!



Jesus,
I, My Cross Have Taken!
I Am Thine, Oh Lord!

Guide Me, Oh, Thou Great Redeemer!


No Turning Back!


Lord Jesus, Plead For Me!

Mine, Mine, Mine!

Jesus Is Mine!


Suddenly ...

I Realized
The Adversary Was
- For The Moment -
Gone!
The Accuser Of My Brethren
Had Been Vanquished
By The Word Of The Holy God On The Throne!

I Rejoiced In My Redeemer
AND, THEN

He Firmly Cautioned Me:

Be Sober! 

Be Vigilant! 

This Is Not Time For Sleep! 
Your Adversary The Devil
- As The Roaring Lion - 
Is Ever Looking
For A Straying Sheep To Eat!


Be Instant

And

Constant
Ever Be In Prayer! 
Call On Me!
Call On Me!
Call On Me!
 I - For You - Care!
Do Not Doubt! 
Do Not Be Double-Minded
And
The Devil Won't Be Able
To Put You In His Mouth!


The Holy Spirit Is Here

To Comfort Guide

Teach And Chide
And
The Holy Angels
To Influence You For Good
And
To Protect!


Call My Name

When You Petition The Father! 

Remember
I Have Paid Your Eternal Expense!


Friends,
I Do Not Say
That Since Then
Life Has Been Easy
For That Would Telling An Untruth
BUT
The Lord
My Savior Redeemer
Is
From Me
Just A Prayer Away!

Temptation Is Rife!
Deceits Flow Like Spice!
Evil Is A War Horse
BUT
I Ever See My Jesus
Branded
With The Marks Of The Cross
That Gave Me New Life!

I Am Satisfied
With My Jesus!
I Am Trusting Him
Day By Day!
I Am Determined To Arrive
At The Gates Of The City
AND
To Hear MY Beautiful Savior Say:

Welcome Home, My Child!

Welcome Home! 

Enter In!
The Feast Is Prepared!


Many Times
Satan Has Had Me On The Ropes!
Many Times
He Butt Me Like A Wild Goat! 
Many Times
Many Times
I Felt A Goat Horn In My Rear
BUT
Thank God Almighty
I Trusted In Christ Jesus!
I Obeyed What He Said
AND
I Did Not Walk In Fear!

Jesus Had Given Me
A Lil' Some'ing Some'ing
That Is Called Daily Grace
AND
Daily Faith
Plus The Good Word Of Truth
AND
Thank God For Jesus
I Threw It Often
In Old Satan's Face!

I Hold On To My Jesus
For Dear, Dear Life
AND
Come Hell And High Water
Jesus Christ IS Mine
AND
I Have In My Grasp The New Life!

I Feel Like Praising
Praising, Praising Him!

Thank You, Jesus!                                             
Glory To God In The Highest!                 
We're Fighting The Good Fight!

By God's Grace
We Shall Attain The Reward!
In The Fulness Of Time
We Shall Be Forever Shuck
Of
That Decimating Old Fraud!


Amen, Lord!
AMEN.






SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: THE WORD OF GOD - Truth OR Dare?!





What Does A Faithful Christian Do
When
A Beloved Pastor Has Lost His Way
Through Apparent Indifference
To The Truth?
When
Visible Indifference To The Truth
Is Besmirching What Was Once 
A Committed-To-Christ Life?
When
Getting On With The Business Of Life
Is Seemingly Preferable
To Engaging In What Can Only Be Considered
Standing Up For Christ's Life?

Are We As Saints Of The Lord
Permitted To Say Which Part Of Christ's Words
- Christ's Character -
Should
- For Worldlings' Peace -
Be Set Aside?

Are We As Striving Christians
Equipped
To Tell The Living Eternal God
That His Commandments
Statutes
Laws And Covenants
Are To Be Set Aside
IF
In The Present State Of Things
They Will Roil The Prevailing Tide?

Are We Men?
Or
Are We God?
Are We Seeking Favor
Or
Are We The Ones Rewarding The Lord?

Can We Tell God
Where He Hid The Foundations Of The Earth?
Can We Go To God's Storehouses
AND
Send Snow To The Deserts Of The Earth?

Can We Heal Our Own Backslidings?
Can We In Our Own Grace Abide?
Can We Duel With The Devil
AND
Can We Raise Up A Soul Who Has Died?

Are We God?
Are We Men?
Do We Need The Savior?
Do We Need Angels Our Person's To Defend?

Who Are You?

I Am A Mere Mortal!
I Am A Child Of The Great King!
I Know My Need
My Limitations
I Know That I Cannot
As A Known-Natured Sinner
Stop My Self
The Eternal God Not To Offer Offence
BUT
I Have Taken The Lord As My Shepherd
AND
I Have Chosen In The Presence Of God To Abide!
I Have Decided To Follow Christ Jesus
AND
I
From His Face
Have Chosen Not To "Hide!"

I Can Say
That I Cannot Save Myself
AND
I Am Not Going To Try
For I Know That I Need The Redeemer
AND
It Is He Alone
Who To Heaven
Can Get Me Inside!

So ...?

The Bible Says
That In The Last Days
Men Will Not Abide Sound Doctrine
AND
Will
- From The Truth -
Fall Away
So
It Is Imperative
That As True Believers
We Harden Our Resolve
To Stay Upon The Glorious King's
To Eternal Life Highway
If We Desire To Fly Through The Skies!

Let Us Pray For Our Straying Brethren!
Let Us Lift Them Up To The Throne Of Grace!
Let Us Petition For Them To Humble Themselves
Before God Almighty
AND
That They Permit Him To Change Them
To Walk Faithfully
Upon The Straight And Narrow Way
Before They 
- Without Hope -
Die!

As For Ourselves
Let Us Not Get Complacent
Lest We Think We Stand
AND
Instead
We Spectacularly Fall!
Lest We Guide Others Into The Kingdom
AND
We Do Not Make It There At All!

Look To Your Selves, My Brethren!
Let No "Good Man" Be Your Strong Arm!
Let The God Of The New Jerusalem Temple
The God Of The City Of Zion Grand
Be To You
Your All And All!

Men Are Weak!
Men Are Liars!
Men Are Notable For Lighting
Old Satan's Fires!

Do Not Be Deceived!
God Is Not Mocked
AND
If Once Faithful Men
Against God
Commit Iniquity
Their Past Good Works
Won't Get Them Into The Golden City!
They'll Be Outside
With The Whoremongers
The Dogs
Sorcerers
And Those
Who Hate Christ The Lord!

Just Remember
My Brother, My Sister
It Is The Eternal God
Who "Wrote" Down The Words:

"Work Out Your OWN SOUL'S Salvation!"

Fear And Tremble!
That Is God's To You
Emphatic Word!

It Is Time
To Become
Bereans!!!