VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: The Spaz

You Should Have Seen Them

Proud

Given Unto Folly

Weak-Kneed

Gimpy-Eyed

And
That Particular One Called Spasmodic Prayer

Full Of Fits And Starts

Given To Prayer Only Over Problems

But

Having No Time For Praying

When Life Is At Ease
And
Never Realizing That 
It Is When The Life Seems Most At Ease
That We Need To Pray The Most! 

On The Other Hand ...

Meet Christian Life!

Christian Life As We All Know Him

Is

A Dedicatedly Praying Person

Or
- To Be Exactly Honest -
At Least He Was Until

The Unfortunate Experience Called

Time And Circumstance!

It Was Like This ...

His Circumstance Was Tough, Hard

Untenable

And

The Time To Get Relief Seemed ... To His Carnal Mind
- Once Thought To Have Been Regenerated -

Unconscionably Long

Because 

Christian Life Had Pulled A Peter!

Christian Life Did The One Thing That 
No Obedient, Watching, Working, Waiting 
Wise-Unto-Salvation Believer In The Efficacy Of

The Innocent-Blood Sacrifice Of Jesus Christ The Lord

Should Ever, Ever, Do!

Christian Life Did The Unthinkable!
Christian Life Did A Hard Blink
And
Christian Life Looked ... Down ... And Around!

He Broke The Link 

And

He Looked Away From His Lord, His Master

His Hope, His Help

His Only Savior

And

Aided By Time, Unchained, Unchecked 

Circumstance ... That Heathen That Tries Men's Souls

That Raging Opportunist 

Bit Him Really Hard On His Behind-Him

And

Into The Drink ... Poured By Unfettered Time 
Which No Created Being Can Tame

He Started To Sink!

Christian Life Then Added Insult To Injury

And

He Did The One Other Thing That 
He Should Not Have Done:

He Didn't Do What Peter Did!

Peter Doubted And

  ... Started To 
       ... Sink 
            ... Into His Circumstance
But

Peter Remembered To Whom He Was Travelling

And

Being Wise ... Unto His Own Soul's Salvation

And

Remembering The Example Clearly Set For Him

By The Very One Who Told Him

To Make The Impossible-For-Man-Alone Journey

He, By Faith, Prayed ... Cried Out

And

Was Saved And Blessed!

Warning, Warning, Warning ... 

Anything Practiced Enough Becomes A Skill
And
At Its Performance
The Performer Becomes Adept!

See To It

That To Sinning

You Do Not Adapt!

Christian Life's Engine 
On The Railway To Heaven Started Slowing

Started Hiccoughing

Started A Regularly Irregular Schedule Of Runs

Started Doubting The Map

Started Questioning The Architect

Started Embracing Doubt Readily

Started Disengaging Faith Frantically

Until ...On A Downward Spiral

He Invited That Generator That 
Is 
A Heavenly-Current Drain

To Take Up Residence In His Insides! 

Christian Life ... By Constant Association 

Constant Indulgence

Constant "Oh, Taste And See ...!"

Became What He Was Eating

And

In Short Order

He Unveiled To Angels And To Men That

He Had Become ... Oh, The Shame Of It All
Spasmodic Prayer

That Weakling

That Wastrel

Who Took His Father's Substance

And 
Is Gone Off To A Far Away Land!

Let Me Repeat:
Oh, The Shame Of It All!

As We All Know

The Sweet Life Of No Prayer ...!

... You Said He Was Spasmodic Prayer Before!

Beloved, 

For Your, Our, Future Reference

Spasmodic Prayer And No Prayer

Are One And Same Thing

Because

They Sow The Same Seeds

And

They Reap ... With Our Willing Aid

The Self-Same Harvest Of Reward!

That Behavior Does Not Bless Us

And

Worst Yet

It Neither Pleases Nor Glorifies

Jesus Christ The Lord!

When We See Our Need For Christ

We Bow Our Hearts In Prayer

But

When We Trust Our Self We Should Fear

Because

We Walk Into Satan's Big-Able, Wide-open
Geared To Disobedient-Self

Snare!

I Thought We Were Talking About Praying!

The Christian Life

Which Does Not Include Prayer

Constant Prayer, Instant Prayer

Importunate Prayer

Regular Prayer

Prayer Of Faith

Prayer Of Thanksgiving

Prayer For Blessing

Prayer For Self

Prayer For Others

Prayer Just Because

Is

A Disobedient, Selfish, Idolatrous, Life

Walking Aggressively On The Quick-Sand Of 
The Carnal, Godless, Life ... And Fettered, Finite, Time!

Fettered And Finite!?!

Wasn't It Unfettered Before!?! 

Oh, Yes!

For Us, Time Is A Gully Bore! 

In The Heavenly Dispensation

Time, For Man, Is A Circumscribed Door!

Time Says This Much ... And No More

So Far ... And No Further!

It Is Leased And Locked

And

Personally Deeded And Loaded!
You Will Be By Time And Circumstance Goaded!

Consider A Bottle Of Soda Pop Well Shaken 
And 
Unceremoniously Uncapped

Which Contents Will Emerge 
Under The Force Of Pressure

Like A Pipe That Bursts!
You Can't Do The Reverse!

The Picture You Paint Is Not One That I Like

Because I Know From Personal Experience That
A Christian Life Without Prayer

Is A Life Lived All Over The Place

Chased And Caught

Caught And Released

Until He Who Is A Christian

Living The No-Prayer Christian Life

Becomes A Christian ... Not! 

A Nought!

How Could He Be So Foolish!

Why Don't You Ask Yourself

How You Could Be So Foolish!?!

Me!?!

Yes, Me!

Oh, Dear!

We Are All Guilty!

Guilty As Sin!

Guilty Of Sin!

More Prayer, More Power!

Less Prayer

And
It Is A Given That
Before Satan, You, Me, We Shall Cower!

The Thought Of That 
Just Makes My Stomach Turn Sour!

In That Case
Let's Exercise Our Privilege Of Praying

So That Against Sin, Self 
And 
Satan The Damned

We Shall Be Most Daring!

Hip! Hip! 

Hooray! 

 

HAPPY SABBATH + Dare To Testify Of Almighty God's Amazing Grace!

... But When I Came To Christ Jesus
I Still Held On To Sorrow And Hurt ... Like A Crutch
And
He, Speaking Softly And Tenderly Asked:

I Have Need!

Will You Give That To Me!?!

I Was Stunned, Amazed
Fearful Even
But
I Saw The Love In His Heart In His Eyes
And
Heavenly Light Shone On Me
And
I Recognized That His Love For Me
Made Sin, Self, Sorrow, Pain, Shame, Hurt
Recognizable As The Thing ... The Crutch
That Was Preventing Me
Preventing My Desire For Him From Rising
And
I Said: 

Yes, Lord!

He Said: 

Give It To Me

And

You'll Have Something Much Better

To Replace It!

I Didn't Even Think To Ask 
What It Is That He Is Going To Give Me!
I Just Simply, Forcefully, Said:

Yes, Lord!

You May Have It!

He Smiled At Me So Joyfully
And
I, Relieved Of My Burden
Cried Happily:

I'm Free! I'm Free!

Your Love Lifted Me!

I Feel ... I Know ...  I Am So Happy!

He Said Gently:

Happiness Is To Know Your Savior!

My Heart Said:

Happiness Is ... The Lord!

Having Relieved Myself Of My Burden
By Releasing It To My Lord
I Walk The World A New Person
Disconnected From Satan The God-Fraud
Who Couldn't Make Me Do Anything
But
Who Would By Deft Insinuation
Cause Me To Think In Avenues 
Guaranteed Not To Satisfy
And
To Unconsciously, Unwisely, Cherish Doubt
And
To Walk In Ways That 
Did Not The Lord Of Life Glorify!

Let There Be Praise ...

Those Days Are Done: I Trust The Lord!
I Know The Truth For This Age!
The World's Great Wits Are No More My Sage!
I Look At And Choose To Live In The Good Book!
I Act Upon A "Thus Saith The Lord!"
I Repair To My Master
My Lord And My God
And
Glory Be To The Father
The Son
The Holy Spirit
With Jesus Christ The Righteous  
Nothing Is Impossible
And
With Jesus Christ As King Of My Life
Eternity Is My Time
And 
My Time In Eternity Has No Limit!

What A Wonderful Change Was Wrought
Because
I Stopped Looking In At Self
And
Started Looking Up To The Creator Of
Heaven And Earth
The Seas And The Fountains Of Water
The Visible And The Invisible World
And
Ceased From Walking Wild And Willfully
With The Heading-For-Damnation
Wild Goat Herd!

The Lord Handed Me A Lamp
Which Gives Me Light To Light My Life
To Mark And Make The Way To Truth Plain
To Plainly Speak Righteousness
So That I Do Not Indulge In Things Profane
Profaning His Name
And
Causing Him Unnecessary Pain!
By His Great Grace
I Will Not Crucify Him Again!

I Trust The Lord God Almighty
Just And True
Giving And Forgiving
Blessing And Revealing
Providing And Chiding
Leading And Feeding!
I Am A Blessed Child Of The Eternal King!
I Have A Song Of Praise To Sing To Him!

Believe Me When I Tell You Plain:

Jesus Christ Utterly Saves

So Choose To Be Grateful And Thankful

For Free Mercy

And

Available Grace

That Has No After-Taste!

Only Jesus Christ

Can Cause A Repentant Sinner

To Win In The To-Eternal-Life Race!

Trust Him Implicity

Even If You Can't

His Hand Of Help Trace!

 

 Brethren,

Please Remember, Remember
And
Don't Ever Forget That
There Is Nothing That We Can Do 
That We Can Do Without Jesus Christ The Lord! 

There Is No Place That The Lord Can Bring Us To 
That He Cannot Carry Us Through

And

There Is No Hurt Or Sorrow That He Cannot Heal! 

His Grace Is Sufficient

And 

His Mercies Are Never Stale 

Because 

They Are Ever New 

Fresh From Heaven's "Bakery!" 
Jesus Christ's Love For Us Will Never Fail!

Please Give Thanks To Our God With A Grateful Heart! 

He Loves You: Love Him Fearlessly! 
He Is Our Only Peace!
His Love For Us Will Never Cease!

Conclusion

I May Have Taken My Time To Get Here

Or More Specifically 

It Might Have Taken Me A Time To Get Here

But

I Have Arrived At The Conclusion That

There Is No Profit In Sin

There Is Nothing Profitable About Sin

For All That Comes Thereby 
In The Life Of Fallen, Sinful, Sinning, Man

Is

Pain, Guilt, Sorrow, And Suffering!

We All Know De Drill:

A Lil' Bit A Sin

Wipe Yuh Mout' And Yuh Gone Clear! 

Pity Though, The Stench Persists

And SoonYuh Walkin' 'bout In Bare Fear!

You Don't Have To Worry About Who You See

Or Who Allegedly Saw You!

Our Major Concern Should Be About Him

With Whom We Have To Do

The Great God Who Can Destroy You

Body And Spirit In Hell

He To Whom We Must Give Account

And

Confession 

The One Whose We Are

By Creation And Redemption!

A Little Bit Of Sin

Works Just Like Bread Yeast! 

A Little Packet Of Yeast

Mixed With Flour Makes A Boat Load Of Bread

For Our Good Eating!

It Tastes So Very Good That

Before You Know It

You've Eaten The Whole Pan

And

In The Middle Of A Dark Night

Which Reveals Your Despair

You Embark On The World Of Hurting! 

Been There, Done That! 

Yes, Indeed! 

Sin Only Satisfies For A Season

And

Man Shall Not Live By Salt Bread Alone!

The Great Day Of Small Things Always Arrives

And At The Time Most Inconvenient ... For You!

Okras In The Stew!

Indeed!

Everything Come-To!

Yes!

It's Come To A Head

And The Old Sinner Is Caught

And Left With Only Two Places To Go To:

The Lord Of Life

Or The Prince Of Darkness!

It's Either Get Out From Sin

And 
Go To The Savior 

Or 
Go All In With Satan

And 
Burn With Him Later!

Who Wants To Burn!?!

Strange That You Ask

But

I Suggest To You That The Question Should Be

Who Doesn't Want To Live!?!

The One Who Doesn't Want To Live

Is

The One Who Refuses To Be Humble

To Be Set Straight

To Repent

To Confess 

To Turn Away From Easy Sin ...!?!

... Easy Sin!?!

Are You Cray-Cray!?!

Beloved, 
Sinning Is Easy

Because

It Is In Our Nature

Which Is Where Those Benighted Expressions

"Do You!"

And

"My Truth!" 

Come From

And

Why That Movement 
Into Being Comfortable Indulging Known Sin 

Is 
So, So, Very Popular!

Let's Finish This Conversation Right Here:

We Are Made A Little Lower Than The Angels

Which Makes Them Higher In Rank

Than We Are!

Lucifer And One-Third Of The Angelic Host

Sinned Against Holy Light

And

They Were Cast Out Of Heaven

Never To Return

And

Cast Down To Earth 

Where They Are In Full Knowledge

That Their Time Of Activity Is Short

While They Await Their Known, And Sure, Punishment

Aka Total Destruction 

By Jesus Christ The Lord!

Let Any Man Who Thinks He Can Stand Against The Judge
The King Of Glory

Dare 

Against The Lord Of Life To Antagonistically Fight!

I Wouldn't Even Bid The Fool

Who Is Saying That There Is No God

By That Stance

Good Luck Nor Good Night!

They Don't Have A Snowball's Chance In Hell!

Agreed!

That's Exactly Where They'd Be 
On A One-way Ticket Heading!

Depart From Sin

And

You Shall Surely To Heaven Get In!

We Are Children Of The Great King 
So Let Us Live As Those Who Have 
A Daily Allowance ... Faith
An Inheritance
Immortality, Incorruptibility
A New Name
A Crown 
And 
A Home In Glory Land
And 
A Commission ... A Work To Do
Telling The World That Our Heavenly Father Cares
And 
Jesus Christ Saves
And 
The Holy Spirit Guides And Chides
And 
The Holy Angels Protect And Influence Us 
To Do The Good And The Right! 

Let The Light Of Your Life In Christ Shine Bright  

As You Progress Through This Brand New New Year! 

Brethren,

Hold The Living God In Awe

In Godly Fear

And 
Of The Feeding Of Your Purchased Soul

See That You Take Care! 

Do Not Against Saving Truth Swear!