IN THE GARDEN OF DESPAIR: Living With Hope!

In The Realm Of Affliction

In The Garden Of Despair

I ... A Christian Faithful

To My Savior Will Repair!

In My Heart 
I Have Faith, Hope, Patience
Love, Resolve, And Sweet Joy

For I Am Determined To Live For Him

Whose Love For Me Has No Alloy!

I Am Not Alone ... Nor Lonely! 

He Who Calls Me Cares!

I Am Not Rejected: I Am Being Restored

And 
The Great Physician Is The Gardener

Who Tends Me 
And 
Over Me Sheds Great Tears!

I Am Encouraged!

I Have Hope That What Is

Is 
Not What Shall Be!

I Am Resolved To Remain Faithful

For In The Savior's Care I Am Blessed

Sheltered, Protected: What I Feel, He Feels!

Pruning Shears Are Not Comfortable!

Grafting Cuts Do Hurt!

Cleansing 
Is 
Often Embarrassing ... Awkward

Exposing The Hidden

Digging At The Roots Of My Sin

Sloughing Off The Drying, Dying, Dead Leaves Of 
Past Affections And Untoward Associations

Picking Off The Worms Of Willfulness

Waywardness, Wildness, Gainsaying
And 
Greed, Doubt, And Deceit

To Nurture Me To Enduring Faith

Willing Obedience

Heartfelt Prayer 
And
Humble Trust

To Reach For The Sun Of Righteousness

To Drink In The Rain ... The Water Of Wisdom

From The Sweet Spirit Of Truth

So That I Will Bear Fruit ... Sweet Fruit

And 
Not Be Fruitless ... Unproductive

Unprofitable

Useless!

I Have Free Will: I Choose To Submit To Him!

I Have Free Choice: I Choose To Let Him Fix Me

Heal Me, Save Me, Succor Me 
Seal Me And Secure Me Against The Storm Of Sin

The Quick-Sand Of Self

And
The Raging Sea That Is Satan! 

I Am ... I Have ... Resigned Myself From Being Own-Way:

Own-Sin Self-Pay 
Is 
Not The Profitable Way! 

I Have Accepted That I Am Profited 
By Being In His Holy, Sacrificial, Grace-Filled Care

For I Know By Experience That 
The Day Of Transplantation

Is 
Soon Here

And

My Soul's Desire Is To Go Where

He Has Said There Is A Place Personally Prepared For Me

Where All Is Love, Joy, Rest And Peace! 

I Shall Lie Down By The River Side:

No More Tears

No More Sorrow

No More Death

I Shall Forever Live

Immortal

Incorruptible

Glorified

At His Glorious Side

I Shall Abide! 

I Live In Hope ... With Hope ... Which Springs Eternal! 

Brethren,

It Is Because Of Known Sin That 
We Are Pilgrims And Strangers 

In A Strange Land

Exiled From The Holy Congregation Of 
The Family Of The Eternal God! 

Even Though We Are Away From Home

The God Of All Grace Has Given Us Something:
Something To Dream About

Something To Yearn For

Something Beautiful To Look Forward To 

And

His Blessed Promise Of Care And Conveyance 

To Get Us Safely There! 

Beloved, 

Keep Hope Alive! 

Be Faithful And Obedient! 

Look Up To The Hills

And 

Pray The Word: 

My Help

Comes From The Lord Jesus

My Shepherd

My God And My King! 

I Shall Walk Through This Valley

In His Care

And 

I Shall Reach Hill Zion Safety

And 

I Shall There And Rejoice ... Forever! 

Heaven Is My Home! 

The Lord Is On His Throne

And 

All Is Well! 

My Jesus Saves! 

SHUT IN WITH THE LORD CHRIST: Without Any Stain Of Disgrace!

Where Are We Going!?!
Home!

How Are We Going To Get There!?!
Safely!

Who Is Our Guide!?!
Jesus The Christ!?!

Who Or What Is Our Adversary!?!
Satan, Sin ... And Self!?!

What Are Our Weapons!?!
Faith, Obedience, And Prayer!?!

Who Will Protect Us!?!

The Holy Angels Excelling In Strength!

Who Is Our Teacher!?!
The Holy Spirit Of Truth!

Where Shall We Shelter!?!
In The Secret Place Of Prayer!

What Is Our Caution!?!
Remember Lot's Wife: Do Not Look Back!

What Is Our Necessary Food!?!
The Eternal Word Of The Living God!
The Living Word Of The Eternal God!

What Shall We Guard Against!?!
The Spirit Of Error!?!

What Shall We Embrace!?!
The Spirit Of Truth!

What Are We To Worry About!?!
Nothing!

What Should We Pray About!?!
Everything!

Why Should We Pray And Not Worry!?!
We Are Christians ... Christ's Followers
And We Are Charged To Pray And Not Faint!
We Are Not Worry Because Worrying Speaks Of Doubt!

Why Should We Avoid Doubt!
Doubt Is Of The Devil!
We Believe In The Living God
In Whom We Have Faith!
Faith Holds No Doubt!
We Are, By His Grace, Faithful!

Is The Journey Home Going To Be Easy!?!
No, It Is Not!
The Lord Never Promised Us An Easy Road!
The Lord Promised Us That We Shall Arrive Safely!

But ...

What If We Should Die On The Road Home!?!

That Is Not A Problem!
The Lord Has Promised That
If We Live In Him ... Exercising Our Gift Of Faith
Enduring All Things Without Murmuring
Without Complaining
And Endure The Struggle To The End Of Life
We Shall Rise Up When He Shall Come
At The Sound Of The Last Trumpet
To Live With Him Forevermore!
The Lord's Word ... The Transcript Of His Character
Is His Covenant With Us: We Believe The Word Of God!?!

What Can Stop Us From Reaching Home Safely!
Turning Aside To Fables
Trusting Man's Opinion Over Almighty God's Word
Refusing To Abide In The "Thus Saith The Lord!"
Being Willful
Being Disobedient
Being Proud
Being Covetous
And Like Kindred Errors!

What Are The Three Tests That We Shall Face!?!
The Same Tests As Did Jesus Christ Our Lord:
The Lust Of The Eye
The Lust Of The Flesh And
The Pride Of Life!

Our Eyes Are Focused And Fixed On Our Lord!
Our Flesh, By Our Hearts, Is Abiding In Almighty God!
We Have Nothing To Be Proud About!
We Are Sinners Saved By The Lord's Grace
And It Is Our Intention ... With Willing Obedience
Abiding Love And Faithful Endurance
To See Him Face To Face ... In Peace
Without Any Stain Of Disgrace!

Hear The Right ...

The Lord Is My Shepherd
My Refuge, My Strength
He Leads Me Into Green Pastures
And
My Thinking Of Him Are Thoughts Well Spent!

Many Are My Foes
But 
My Friend Is The Holy One!
My Burdens For Me Are Heavy
But 
My Friend Carries Every Last One!

I Believe That The Lord Is
And 
I Trust Him With My Life!
My Life Is Hid With Christ In Almighty God 
And
Because I Live In Him
I Shall Not Fall For The Satanic Device!

Living For Self

Is As Bearing

An Unliftable Cross!

Some Truth Is All Error!
Some Love Is All Hate!
Some Disobedience Is All Witchcraft
And 
No Gainsaying Person Shall Enter Heaven's Gates!

I Desire Oil, Water And Fire:
The Oil Of Gladness
The Cleansing Flood
And
The Heat Of Purification
All Of Which Come Only From The Holy God On High
From The God Of All Grace
Whom ... By His Blessed Grace For Me
I Shall Not Defy
I Shall Not Deny!
The God Of Grace Cannot Lie!

I Do Not Walk This Life Alone!
I Am A Child Of The Great King!
Prayer Is My Telephone!
I Need No Tokens, No Cards, No Access Codes!
I Start With A Humble Heart Longing For Him!
From His Love, I Shall Never Depart!

Those Who Choose To Walk In The Faith Of The Lord Jesus

Though Molested, Tried, Tempted, Tormented

Abused And Disregarded By The Society Of The Wicked

Shall Reap The Reward Of The Righteous

- Everlasting Peace And Joy In And With The Lord - 

As Long As They Remain Enduringly Faithful In Their Pilgrim Walk! 

Bad Things Happen To Good People: Be Faithful! 

Good Things Happen To Bad People: Watch Them Enjoy It

- No Sorrow On Your Part - 

For That Enjoyment Shall Cease Forever At Their Demise! 

We Who Trust In Jesus Christ

- Though We Die In The Flesh As All Men - 

Have A Future ... An Expected End! 

Do Not Envy The Proud ... Nor The Wicked! 

Trust In Jesus Christ Always 

And 

In All Ways For Real Joy 

And 

Perfect Peace!

There Is No Risk Involved

When One Relies Upon

Heaven's Majesty

Jesus Christ The Lord, The King!

VANITY: Covetousness

The Heart Devoid Of The Love Of God

And
Despising The Word Of Truth

Wants What It Wants

When It Wants It

And

All Proprieties Be Damned! 
Word On The Street:

I Breathe Therefore I AM!

Gimme: I Want ... It!

Thou Shalt Not Covet Your Neighbor's Possessions
Is 
The Tenth Commandment 
And 
The Lord Christ Who Gave It 
- To Show Us How To Operate 
In Our Relations With Our Fellowman -
Promises Never To Leave Us ... Or Forsake Us! 
The Lord Always Provides!

Covetousness Doubts The Sovereign Will 
And 
The Holy Word Of Almighty God 
And 
Is Idolatry ... False Worship
And 
No Covetous Person Shall Enter The Holy City! 

Beloved,
Let's Remember That Covetousness 
Is 
Of Satan ...  The Piercing Serpent
Who In His Former Life As Lucifer ... The Light Bearer
Started War In Heaven 
By Coveting The Position 
And 
The Worship Of The Son Of God! 

Covet Once, Covet Always ...

Satan Brought Death To Us All 
By Beguiling, Fooling, Eve 
Into Coveting  The Wisdom Of God
To Be As God
- The Pride Of Life -
Through The Lust Of Her Eyes
And 
Her Taste Buds ... The Lust Of Her Flesh! 

A Condemned Angel

Doesn't Care Whom He Causes

To Be Likewise Condemned!

Almighty God Isn't A Lying Man ...

What The Lord Promises To Provide For Us 
Is 
Plainly Enumerated And Designated
So Let Us Practice Gratitude And Contentment
And 
Be At Peace With The God Of Mercy, Love And Grace
And 
With Every Man!

Don't Vex Your Spirit

Over The Useless Vanity!

Brethren, Beloved

Vanity 

Is 

A Broken Person 

Looking In A Circus Mirror 

Which Faithfully Shows Every Perspective 

Except The Truth! 

When We Look At Life Through The Lens Of Truth

- The Gospel Of Grace - 

All Our Murmurings

And 

All Our Vexations ... Cease 

And 

We Are In Humble Peace 
With Our Gracious, Giving, Blessing, Holy God! 

Consider This, Therefore
And
Be Wise Unto Your Own Soul's Salvation:
There Ain't No Vain Soul 

Who Knows What It Is To Be Humble! 

Meekness Aka Humility

Is A Fruit Of The Holy Spirit:

Choose To Believe

The Eternal Word Of

The Holy God Faithful!

Remember:

You're Worth More Than A Sparrow

And

You Don't Need To Own The Supermarket

To Be Able To Eat Food

And

You Ain't God

So You Don't Need Worship!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: THE SPIRITS SAY COME:The Holy Spirit Of Truth

The Day Was Bright!

The Temperature Was Cool!

Heads Were Hot! 

Tempers Were Flaring

And

There In The Midst Of It All

Were The Parties Designating Themselves As

The Flesh

The Spirit

And

The Lord! 

Up For Grabs Were

The Spirit Of Truth

And

The Spirit Of Error! 

Every Body Involved Called Their Pet Position 

The Spirit Of Truth! 

Nobody Even Considered That Their Position

Was Compliments Of The Spirit Of Error

Because, Well, Because

They Were Committed Christians 
So What Could Possibly Go Wrong!?! 

They Couldn't All Be Right

And

This Right Here Is The Reason Why:

The Ones Designated The Flesh 

Were Perfectly Good 
Without The Spirit And The Lord! 

The Ones Considered The Lord

Were Fine With The Flesh Minus The Spirit! 

The Ones Called The Spirit

Were All Into The Spirit All Of The Time

Because 
Their Flesh Was Not Into The Sacrificial Jesus
God-Made-Flesh Mumbo Jumbo! 

They Were Enlightened And

They "Vibrated On A Different Plane!" 
The Lord Was Not Even On Their Minds!

It Was All Very, Very, Very Off-Putting! 

Things Were Getting Decidedly Out Of Hand

When Carey Carew Decided 
To Put A Nail In The Devil Coffin 

Figurately Speaking, Of Course! 

Brethren, 

Enough Is Sufficient 

So Let Enough Satisfy! 

Question To You Bright Sparks:

Jesus Died To Save Us

And 
He Promised Us The Gift Of His Sweet Spirit! 

The Gift Is Being Poured Out

Being Received

Being Used

So Pray Tell Us In All Honesty 

How:

You Want The Gift But Not The Giver 
When The Gift Is The Giver!?! 

How:

You Want The Gift Inside

But Do Not Desire The Wrought Transformation 
To Manifest On Your Person's Outside!?! 

How:

You Choose Flesh And Yet Claim The Great Name!?! 

You Who Are Called The Flesh, 
Pray Tell Why You're Eating Your Own Bread

Wearing Your Own Clothes

And 

Are Still Desiring The Blessed Name To Boldly Carry!?! 

You Who Are Called The Spirit, 
Pray Tell How You Expect

To Separate The Lord From The Spirit ... His Spirit
The Holy Spirit That Leads Into All Truth!?! 

And 

As For You Calling Yourselves The Lord

Pray Tell How, When
And 
Under Which Gospel 

Are You Expecting To Exalt The Lord

Denigrate His Holy Spirit

And 

Walk In The Flesh ... Your Sinful, Own-Way, Flesh 

And 

Still Gain The Great And Heavenly Reward

In The Holy And Consuming Fire Presence Of Our Father God!?! 

There Was A Stunned Silence 

And

Then There Proceeded Much Ado About Everything!

And Then

The Malevolent, Nasty, Defiling, Spirit Of That
Notorious Bottom-Feeder Doubt 'N Discord 

Showed Everybody ... At Long Last

That He Was No True Member Of

The Heavenward-Bound, Living-For-Jesus, Class! 

Doubt 'N Discord Prejudicially Washed Carey Carew In Curse! 

He Told The Saints About Their Antecedents

And

He Told The Workers For Christ That

He Hoped They'd Get Fleas In A Bad-Word Place! 

Wow! 

So Much For Being A Christian! 

You Mean A Christian By Proxy! 

You Know What I Mean! 

Yes, I Do! 

Christians Need To Test The Spirits

That They Claim Are Talking To Them

Leading And Guiding Them! 

The Anti-Christ Spirit Is Abroad And Abounding! 

We, Christians, Need To Wise Up

Watch Out

And

Cast Off Those Unfruitful Workers Of Darkness! 

Hear, HEAR! 

Some Of Us Seem To Be Willing To Forget That 
Satan Is A Lying, Deceitful, Murderous, Spirit

Whose Fallen Angels Aka Demonic Spirits

Talk To Mankind As Does The Spirit Of God, Holy, Undefiled! 

People, Wise Up! 

No Jesus Christ, No Spirit Sweet! 

No Spirit Sweet, With Sin We Do Creep! 

When With Sin The Unwary Christian-Called Does Creep

Satan Blesses Himself

With Another Trophy Gotten Real Cheap! 

If I Still Used To Swear

I'd Say Bad Word, Bad Word, Right Here! 

Well, Dear Heart

You Don't Swear Anymore! 

You Gave Up That Life

So Let's Do Something Profitable

Like Reading The Good Word

Uttering A Heartfelt Prayer

And

Urging A Brother, A Sister

To The Way Of The Cross To Adhere! 

We Could Do All Three! 

I Concur: You're Such A Dear! 

Let's Continue To Trust Our Lord

And

Hold Him In Godly Fear! 

From Willful Sinning

Let's Continue To Foreswear! 

Brethren, Beloved

There Are Many Amongst Us 
Who Preach And Teach Jesus Christ

But 

With A Side Of Sin And Satan As Tasty Dessert: 
Rebuke Them And Depart Their Company! 

The Preserved Word Of God 

Is 

The Standard Which Must Be Met 

And 

Maintained! 

The Word Of God Is 

And 

Is To Be Used Without Addition Or Subtraction

Without Weight Enhancers To Make Jesus "Look Good" 

Or Diet Pills To Make Bold, Brazen, Unrepentant Sinners 

"Feel Good" About Themselves In Their Known Sin! 

Satan And Sin Decimate The Soul! 

The Savior And His Salvation Elevate The Soul! 

We Need To Learn About The Real Jesus Christ

If 

We Are To Avoid Real Damnation: 
Don't Compromise Truth To Gain Temporary Pleasure! 

Remember, Remember, Don't Ever Forget That

The Holy Spirit Leads Us Into All Truth: Jesus Christ Promised! 

HAPPY SABBATH + Have Faith ... In Jesus Christ The King, Our Lord!

Without Faith

It Is Impossible To Please Almighty God! 

Without Faith

We Cannot Be At Peace With God! 
Without The Hearing Of The Word Of God

We Cannot Have Faith! 

Jesus Christ 

Is 

The Holy Word Made Flesh 

And 

He Being The Giver Of Every Good Gift
Gives Unto Each Man, Woman And Child

A Daily Ration Of Faith To Use Each Day 

With No Carrying Forward! 

Faith Is For The Day! 

Strength Is For The Way That

You Are Called Upon To Walk! 

Faith 
Is 
A Wrapped Gift! 

To Know What Is The Content Of 
Our Personal Gift Of Faith 

We Must Dare To Unwrap That Daily Gift ... Daily!

You Know What Faith Is

But You Need To Use Your Faith

To Know What It Is That

Your Exercised Faith In Christ Can Do! 

Brethren,

Great Blessings Await The Trusting

And

We Must Choose To Use Our Faith 

If 

We Are To Gain The Blessings Generously Promised 

And 

Abundantly Provided! 

Faith ... Utilized Faith 

Is 

The Victory Which Overcomes This Sinful World

So Let's Energetically Take Our Faith ... For Today

With Head, Heart, Hand, Body, Mind, And Spirit 

And 

Work It To Death! 

Let Us Cast Caution, Aka Doubt, To The Curb 

And 

Let Us Whole-heartedly Trust ... Have Faith ... In God 

For All Our Needs! 

Beloved, 

I Implore Us All To Remember 
To Pray According To The Will Of God 

As Enumerated In The Holy Word 

And 

To Know That By So Doing
That All Will Be Well! 

Neither God Nor His Word Can Change

So Follow The Word ... Follow Christ Jesus

And 

Walk In Faith

And 

Be At Peace!

The Master Says

To Not Be Anxious

For Anything!

He Who Promises Is Faithful To His Word

And

His Word Makes It Plain That

He Will Never Leave Us Nor Forsake Us! 

Please Walk With Christ Jesus

For He Is Light! 

Let Us Choose To Reject Lying Eyesight! 

Let Us Choose To Exercise Holy Faith Which Cannot Fail

And

Let Us Choose To Live In The Light That 
Blesses The Believing Child Of The Father

And

Illuminates The Way To Everlasting Life! 

Yesterday Is History!

Today Is A Gift

And

Tomorrow Is Not Promised

So Choose Life ... Today!

Remember, Beloved

Jesus Christ Alone Saves! 

Jesus Doesn't Ask Every Person To Manufacture His Own Faith! 

He, Being The Giving God Holy, Faithful And Ever True
Gives Unto Each One Of Us 
A Measure Of His Illimitable Supply

And

He Asks 
And 
He Expects 
His Believing Children

To Step Up To The Trial Of Faith

And

Stand Up

Walk On

And

Rest In

His Unfailing Gift! 

Jesus Christ Is Not A Mortal Man Who Lies! 

Jesus Christ 
Is 
The Eternal One

The Almighty God

The Lord Who Blesses

The Master Who Serves

The Shepherd Of Rest

The Prince Of Peace

Our Hope, Our Help

And

Our Only Salvation! 

He Is Our Relief And Our Release! 

He Is Our Soon-Returning King! 

Believe On Him By Working Your Gift Of Faith

And

Be Forever Blessed!

Someone Is Praying For You!