Saturday, August 13, 2016

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Church:- Professing! Processing! Progressing!?!






Bacchanal Was In Progress
AND
The Wicked
The Wild
The Wasted
The Wanton
Were Out And About In Full Force
AND
So Were The Other Creatures ...!

Church Was In Progress
AND
The Bold
The Beautiful
The Bought
The Blessed
The Bright
The Brainy
The Believing
AND
Those Other Creatures
Be-Angry
Let's-Sin
Constant Carping
Vile Affections
AND
Give-Place-To-The-Devil
Were In Attendance
AND
At Full And Attentive Alert
Readily
Boldly
Constantly Whispering
Not At All Sweet
Somethings
Into The Ears Of  

  • Those With Chips On Their Shoulders
  • Those Angry At God
  • Those Bitter At Life
  • Those Willing To Be Aggrieved
  • Those Stressed
  • Those Soul-Weary
  • Those Tired Weary Wanderers
  • Those Hopeless
  • Those Helpless
  • Those Prone To Sin
  • Those Striving For The  Mastery Of Self
  • Those Burdened For The People Of God
  • Those Who Refused To Submit To God
  • Those Frightened To Submit To God
  • Those Longing For A Closer Walk With God
  • Those Walking Toward The Kingdom Of God
  • Those Who Pray Prettily
  • Those Who Plead Piously

AND

  • Those Who Humble Themselves Before God By Prayer And Supplication Nothing Wavering

AND


  • The Pastor And The Church Board


In The Midst Were The Excellent Spirits
Peace
Hope
Help
Healing
Love
Humble-Thyself-Before-God
Sin-Not
AND
Give-No-Place-To-The-Devil
Along With Angel's Excelling In Strength
Pushing Back Those Wicked Spirits
Hate
Envy
Greed
Lust
Lies
Wasting
AND
Others As Previously Mentioned
And Many More Of The Horde!

It Must Be Said
That The Host Of Heaven
Is More Than The Horde Of Hell
AND
The Fact That
That There Were Many Times The Two Or Three
Gathered In The Lord's Name
Meant That The Holy Spirit Was There In Attendance
AND
Blessing
Comforting
Chiding
Abiding
Correcting
Teaching
AND
Leading
Those Who Would
By Personal Choice
Be Lead Of The Living God!

If Only The Congregation
Could See Beyond The Veil!



It Is A Good Thing
That They Cannot!

This Congregation Has Two Pastors:

One Is Ancient
Acknowledging
AND
Acceding To The Old Way Marks
Passionate For God
Pleading For Souls
Sacrificial By Spirit
Long-Winded
AND
King James All The Way!
"Thus Saith The Lord!"
Is Ever His Play!

The Second Pastor
Is Young
AND
A Risen Star
At The Top Of The Game
With The Set Car
The Entourage
AND
The Bodyguards
AND
Is A Best-Selling Author
Humanistic In Spirit
Ecumenical In Deed
Activated By Greed
Never Had A Need
That A Special Offering Couldn't Feed
Never Sang A Hymn That A Rock Guitar
Couldn't Make Into A Reel
AND
Always Preaches Sermons Given Over To Earthly Goals
AND
Constant Feels
To The Point Where
If You Were A Stranger In The Midst
You Were Given The Impression That
Constant Feels Was His Kept Mistress!

The Congregation Is In Turmoil
Because Of The Constant
Haul And Pull Of
The Desire For The Gains Of
The Hauler For Hell
AND
The Desire For The Pleasures Forevermore Of
The Pull Of The Paradise Of The Peace-Giver!

It Is Because Of This
Halting Betwixt Two Opinions
That The Sounds Of War In The Camp
Can Be By All Heard!

Today
Both Ministers Are Scheduled To Speak!

The Young And Sharp Minister
Spoke First
And Did So
Swiftly
Smoothly AND Sweetly
AND
He Got A Standing Ovation!
Truth Be Told
It Was As Though Jesus Christ
Himself
Had Been In That Very Room
AND
The Emotional Had Been Energized!
Only Problem, Though
Not A Call To Worship The King Had Been Uttered
OR
Utilized!

It Is Now Time
For The Pastor
Old And Stable To Speak
AND
He Chose Joshua's Words
Elijah's Expedition
Jeremiah's Lament
AND
The Whoredom's In Hosea
AND
King David's Prayers And Songs Of Praise
To Paint The Picture
Of
AND
FOR
The Church!

He Said:

Joshua Said: "Choose!"
And He, Himself
Chose God
For His Portion
AND
He Rested 
In God!

Elijah Was Valiant

In The Service
AND
For The Word
Of The Living God
AND
At The End Of It All
Almighty God
Ordained
That He Would Not Taste Death
AND
The Very Chariots Of God
Descended The Heights
AND
Took Him Bodily To God's Home
As The Great Reward
For His Faithfulness!
Elijah Represents Those Of Us
Who Shall Never Taste Death
For They Will Be Still Alive
When The Lord Comes!

He Spoke Of ...

Jeremiah's Lamentations
For The Church-Nation In Apostasy
Serving The Useless Gods
Of The Heathen-Unbelieving Nations
Warning
Ever Warning
Of The Judgment
For Apostasy Against God
AND
The Subsequent Delivery
Into Exile
Separation From God!

He Proceeded To Stress Heavily
That There Is Restoration
To Almighty God
To Be Found
By Confession 
AND
Repentance Of Known Sin!

The Faithful Steward
That Faithful Under-Shepherd
Of The Lord's Flock
Spoke Of
The Commission Given
To The Prophet Hosea
To Enter Into A Marriage
Of Fidelity
To A Whoring Woman
Who
Though Loved
Protected
AND
Provided For
By The Ever-Faithful Husband
Sought The Forbidden Pleasures Of Stolen Fruit
AND
Foolishly Gave Erroneous Credit To The Practice Of Sin
For Her Daily Provision!

That Kindly Shepherd 
Spoke 
Of Love - Himself
Readily Going After His Wife
Who Had Chosen The Life Of Whoredom
Over The Life Of Peace And Rest
AND
Loving Companion!

He Further Spoke Of
The Hand Of Care And Comfort
Being Despised
For The Love Of
Heady Emotionalism
AND
Still
God aka Love Going After
The Bride Of His Heart
The Beloved
Buying Her Out Of Her Slavery To Sin
Imploring Her
To Return To Him
To Be Faithful To Him
That Her Children
May Be Called
God's Children
Beloved
AND
Blessed
To Live In Eternal Peace!

In Tears ...

The Faithful Old Preacher
Spoke
Of The Nation-Church
United Under The One God
Worshiping
Praying
Praising
As Under
David The Shepherd King
- The Type Of Christ -
Able
- Even In Persecution -
To Give God Praise
Believing
Knowing
Trusting
The King Of Heaven
In All Ages AND Stages Of Life
AND
Finally
Stating Clearly AND Carefully
Of And For Himself
That:


As For Me
I Will Behold God's Face In Righteousness
I Will Be Satisfied When I Awake
With God's Likeness!


There Was
A Great Quiet In That Place
For The Very Presence 
Of The Lord
Could Be Viscerally Felt There!

Souls Were Convicted!
Hearts Were Convinced
AND
Converted
AND
Hard Faces Were Made Soft
By The Moving Of The Spirit Of Truth
From The Court Of Light!

An Awakening Had Revealed Itself!

Suddenly ...

Unexpectedly ...

A Voice
Newly Confident
Clearly Sang Out:


I Am Delivered!
Praise The Lord!
I Am Delivered!
Glory To His Name!
I Was Lost In Sin
In The Valley Of Death
I Am Delivered!
Praise The Lord!


As The Old Pastor Moved To Re-take His Seat
He Could Be Heard Saying:

Even So, Come
Lord Jesus!

The Young Pastor Loudly Cried:

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!








Ascending Prayers?! + PRAYER : Lord, Help Us To Be Humble






It Was Week Of Prayer
AND
Lican Pub
AND
i-See Phar
Were Standing Before The Assembly
Sending Up Prayers
To The Great Throne Of Grace!

Before I Proceed ...

I Should Tell You That
These Two Brethren Of The Faith
Were As Different As
Night And Day
Hot And Cold
Nice And Nasty!

Their Occupations
Were As Different As
A Thief And Thunder
A Teacher And A Technician
A Pharisee  And A Publican!

Still Further ...

I Shall Inform You That
One Of These Men Had Almighty God
Preserved
In His Back Pocket
AND
One Of These Men Had Almighty God
Treasured
In His Heart!

One Of These Men 
Believed 
Almighty God Needed To Hear His Self-Praise
AND
One Of These Men
Knew 
That He Needed To Hear A Word Of Healing 
From Almighty God!

I Must Now Offer Up ...

A Word Of Caution
As It Pertains
To Our Uttering Of Our Prayers
AND
The Entering Into God's Ears
Of The Prayers Of Our Hearts:


Humble Is
As Humble Does!
Prayers To God
Should Not Contain The Fuzz
The Fuzz Of The Suppliant
In Love With Himself
Who Believes
He Is Doing Almighty God A Favor
When
Before God
He Self-Lovingly Praises Himself!

Just In Case
You Think I Am Talking Folly
Just Remember That The Living God
Is
All-Seeing 
All-Knowing
Ever-Present
That Is ... Again
The All Mighty!
He Created Us!
He Sees Us!
He Knows Us!
He Records
ALL Our Ways
AND
He Is Not Fooled
- Like Mankind -
By Our Grandiose
Verbose
Yet Triflingly Self-Righteous 
Displays!

Man Looks Upon
The Exposed!
God Looks Upon
Our Concealed-From-View-Hearts
AND
Be It Made Known
That Speaking Down To God
Is What We Do
When We Lift Up To God
Swollen Heads
AND
Puffed-Up Hearts
Sold As Humble Meat Stew!

We Cannot Sell God
On Our Perfection
Like Some Jacked-Up Used-Car Salesman
For 
The God Of Grace And Mercy
Is Well AND Truly Aware
Of All That Is Concealed 
Under A Coat Of Paint
With
The New Mixed With Spent Oil
AND
Our Shamelessly Proclaiming To The World
"We Are Good To Go!"
Just Because
The Ignition Turns
AND
Our Engine Does Start
AND
Our Triumphant Processing Along
The Golden Way
In Full Lying Display!

I Leave You
To Draw Your Own Conclusion

BUT ...

Before I Do

I Leave You With This
Work Of Heart:

i-See Phar
Proud
Arms Uplifted
Head Raised
Praying
With Himself
Said:

"Lord, I Thank You That
I Am Not A Sinner Like Other Men
Like That Publican Over There!"

BUT ...

Lican Pub Prayed
Head Bowed
Not Daring To Raise
Even An Eye To Heaven
Saying:

"Lord, Have Mercy
On Me ... A Sinner!"

I Now Ask You
To Render A Righteous Judgment
To The Question Of:


Which Pray Did Almighty God Accept Into His Ears?"

I Now Ask Us All
To See
AND
Understand
The Method
Employed By
His Wickedness Himself - Satan
To Stop Our Prayers
From Ascending
Unto The Holy God!

I Implore Us All
- When We Physically Bow Before God -
To Decidedly
Bow Our Hearts To God
In Our Prayers And Supplications
So That God Will
In Jesus Christ's Blessed Name
Receive Into Himself
All
Our Petitions!

I Say Unto My Self:

"Physician, Heal Thyself!"


PRAYER:

Father,
Forgive Us Today
Even As We Pray
If A Little Of Self
Gets Into The Way
As To You We Repair!

Lord,
Help Us To Let
The Holy Spirit
Take Control And Lead Us
Even As We Ask You
To Daily Feed Us!

Help Us, Father
To Give Unto You
Our Selves 
As Well As 
Our Fears And Our Cares
And Help Us
To Be Ever Humble
Before You
As We Ask You To Fix Us 
And Our Fumbles!
Pity Us, Lord!
In Jesus' Name We Plead
For We Love You!
AMEN








Friday, August 12, 2016

HAPPY SABBATH + No Need To Walk Blind!







U-Turn
Back-Back
Stay-Put
Run-Away
AND
Walk-Away
Were Friends ... After A Fashion!

I Would Almost Say
That They Were "Friends By Circumstance!"
"Friends On Occasion!"
For The Simple Reason
That These Personages
Could And Would Work
For ... Well .... Just About Anybody
With A Cause
An Agenda
A Position
A Faith
Or A Belief
In Business
In Religion
In Health
Personal
Private
AND
Public!

Conscience And Creed
Did Not Matter To These Friends
Or So Everybody Thought
Until The Day
All The Land Found Out
That Each One Of These "Friends"
Was A Third Of A Triplet!

Their Actions
Were Dictated By Whoever
They Called The Boss!

Strange Thing ...

Each Triplet Set
Has A Set Of Twins In The Midst
And In The Midst Of The Three
Was A One Who Was Noble 
Holy!

This Is How They Stacked Up:

The Twin Out Of Every Set Of Triplets
Worked In The Dark
- For The Darkman -
With One Of The Twins
Encouraging A Victim
The Fence To Straddle
And The Second Of The Twins
Encouraging The Victim
Decidedly
The Wrong Way To Walk And Waddle!

It Is Interesting
Because
Looking At Them
There Is No Way To Tell Them Apart
To Identify Which Was Walking
Light Or Dark!

Test The Spirits!

Huh?!

TEST THE SPIRITS!

Ohhhh!! Test THE Spirits!
I Got You!

Only Those Indwelt By The Holy Spirit
Will Tell The Truth
Based On The Living Holy Word!
Those Who Are Moved
By The Conviction  Of Convenience
Will Try To Bamboozle Me And You!

Jesus Christ
John
Peter And Paul Speak Eloquently
About Those Who Would
False-Guide Us!
Jesus Christ Says Plainly
- As The Sun Rising And Setting Every Day -
He Never Changes!
His Way Is Ever Straight
And He Will Never Send Anyone
To Lie To Us
Nor Misguide Us!

Jesus Christ The Righteous
Sends Us Straight Truth To Edify Us
And Not Entertainment To Misguide Us
Nor Candy Kisses To Coddle And Calm Us!

Remember Though ...

Truth Hurts!
Truth Divides!
Truth Teaches!
And Truth Leads To God
Not Pie In The Sky!

So ...

When You Have
The Holy Spirit To Lead You
- Not Leave You All Forlorn -
And
The Word Of Truth
To Walk Behind
You Will Not Walk Blind
Like Children In A Maze Of Corn!

Your Bible Is Your Compass
And
Your Map
And
Right Living aka Righteousness
Permits
The Holy Spirit To Warn Us
When We Are Going Astray
And
When We Are Under Attack!

NOTE TO THE HEART:

We Do Not Have To Fear Missteps
When The Word Of God
Is Guiding Our Every Step!





Thursday, August 11, 2016

PRAYER: What I Desire Of Almighty God






I Desire Of You, Dear Father
Shoes With Soles
Suited To The Terrain
Found
On The Narrow Road!

Grant Me, Father
A Suit Of Clothing
Manufactured Of Your Holy Hand
Which Will
In The Fullness Of Time
Grant Me Entrance
Into The Holy Land!

Grant Me,  Lord
Eye-salve
Out Of Heaven's Stores
Providing Healing For Weary Eyes
Longing For True Sight To Be Restored!

Grant Me Funds,  Father
Finance For My Travels Through Life
And Along The Lonely Road
Coins Of Your Mintage
Tried And Tested Pure Gold!

Grant Me,  Lord
That New Heart
Promised In Your Word
For With The Spirit's Leading
I Will To My Old Heart
Be As The Dead!

And,  Lord
In All Of My Asking
And All Of Your Willing Giving
Give Me Hands That For You Work
And Wisdom
And Understanding
Grace
Instruction
Peace
Rest
Hope For The Grand Tomorrow
Grace For Weary Today
Love For My Jesus
Willingness To Obey
Joy In The Presence
Fidelity So That I Will Not From You Stray
Oh, And By The Way, Father
Keep Satan Out Of My Way
But
If He Is There As A Challenge For My Growth
Help Me,  Lord, To In Living Faith Say:

Satan
The Holy Book Says That 
You Are A Liar
And A Murderer, Too!
Get Thee Behind Me
Foul Fiend
My Lord, The Christ - Jesus 
Has Already For Me Conquered You!

Just As My Jesus Has About Himself To You Stated
You Have No Part In Me
And
There Is A Prepared Place In Holy Heaven For Me
And Sadly
Nary A One ForYou!

As For Me
I Hallow
Trust And Hope In My Jesus
And
I Heed The Spirit-Inspired Living Word!
I've Entry Into The Holy City You Gave Up
And I Choose To Walk With The Living Holy God
And Not Lying Deceitful
Unholy You!

Get Thee Hence, Satan!
My God Is Living - Not Dead!
Jesus Christ Is Alive
And
Because Of His Spilt Blood
I Am By The Father
Mercifully And Diligently
Daily Fed!

And, Father
Lest I Should Upon Occasion Forget
Please Remind Me, Dear Lord
That I Have Given My Self
And My Way
Deliberately
Over To You
So That You Will 
Continue To Lead Me
Ever On The Straight And Narrow Way!

I Love You Lord!
AMEN.