Saturday, June 11, 2016

TRUTH: Warning: Men Will Cry!




... For God

Hmmm ...

So Loved The World

Yawnnnnn ...

That He Gave

Stretchhhhhhh ...

His Only Begotten Son

Cough! Cough!

That Whosoever Believeth In Him

Steupse!

Should Not Perish

Eye Roll!

But Have Everlasting Life!

Snoooooooooooore!


AND ...?!

Here We Have
A Fallen Man
Unconcerned With His Soul's Salvation
Uncaring Of Salvation's Plan
And The Sweet By And By
Just Enjoying
A Tired Slumber
Not Mindful
That There Is Something
That He Must
Ponder
Remember!

** He Who Is **

Dismissive Of 


Unmindful Of 


Unconcerned About 


Will Cry When




Erases The Separating Line!

*******

Please
Do Not Let
This Story
Be Your Swan Song!


Friday, June 10, 2016

HAPPY SABBATH: The Lived In Face








In The Old Days
Before It Was The Thing
To Spackle And Fill
Dermabrade
And Do Botox
It Used To Be Said Of A Person
With A Weathered Face
That
His Her Life Is Written In Their Face!

I Was Always Enthralled With This Idea 
And Really Loved The Road Maps Produced!

I Was Am Enamored With The Lived-In Face!

The Face Marked
Marred
With The Evidence Of A Life Lived
With Its Trials
Tribulations
Hopes Achieved
Hell Endured
Victories Won
Failures Overcome
Pleasures Enjoyed
Pains That Annoyed
Satisfaction In Arriving At Salvation
Sorrow For Sin That From Jesus Drew You Away
Pride When Children Excelled And Kept Shame At Bay
Love In The Home
Joy In The Lord
Worry That Made One Humble Self Before God In Prayer
Triumph That Made One Sing Praises To God
Confidence In The Living Word Spoken From The Sacred Desk
Knowledge That Peace And Rest Are Found In Him Who Loves Us Well And Best
Assurance That He Who Paid Our Price Will Carry Us Home Across The Divide
Peace In Knowing That Our Holy God Is Real And Alive
AND
That We Can Ever Always
What's In Our Hearts
To Him Confide!

There Is Faith In Him
For
The Living And The Loving
The Crying And The Dying
AND
There Is The Assurance Of The Knowledge
That The Record Of Life
Shows That We Have Confidence 
In The Finished Work Of Christ On The Cross!

There Is No Fearing
That Hope For Heaven Is Loss
For The Living Lord
Is
The First
The Final Boss
AND
We Are Satisfied
With How God Made Us
Knowing That If We Sow To Eternity
Our Promised
Purchased
New Life Will Be
Youthful
IMMORTAL
ETERNAL
Unmarred
Unmarked
PERFECTION!

Alas ...

The Face Of Today
Without Rhyme Or Reason
Is Plain
Plastic
Ever New
Always Tight
Severely Unmarred
BUT
Still Marked:


  • Knows Not The Living God!
  • Never Lived In For Real!
  • Never Had A Root Crop Just Shale!
  • Never Been Tilled Nor Irrigated!
  • Never Been Manured!
  • Never Had A Waiting For Any Reason!
  • Never Known A True Growing Season!


How Sad
That To Show
You Have Lived Honestly In Your Body
Is To Show
To The Wicked World
That You Are
A Penniless Nobody!


God Bless The Child
Reared
To Invite
The Spirit Of The Holy God
In His Inside
To Abide!


*********

Better A Warm Face
Of
Life-Carved Flesh
Than A Factory Face
Of
Brittle Cold Porcelain Perfection!




Thursday, June 9, 2016

A Simple Prayer Of The Heart



Father,
Thank You For A New Day!
I Can Hear The Birds Singing!
I Can Hear The Wind Blowing
And
I Can Hear
On My Pillow
The Very Beating
Of My Own Heart!

Lord,
I Beseech You
That In All My Listening
Let Me Ever Hear
That Still Small Voice
Of 
Your Holy Spirit
Sweetly Calling My Name
And
Help Me To Always
Swiftly Answer 
"Yes, Lord!"
To Your Call!
I Love You, Dear Father!
AMEN



Wednesday, June 8, 2016

LESSON LEARNED: SIN Is Not My Friend!






Hands Down
The Most Interesting
Entertaining
Solicitous
Engaging
Open "Friend"
I Have Ever Had
On The Journey
Along The Street Of Life
Is Sin!

I Kid You Not!

Sin Was The Jolliest
Most Adventurous
Daredevil
Up-For-Kicks Acquaintance
That I Have Ever Had!

No Suggestion Was Considered 
Too Bland Or
To Boring
Because Sin Put His Spin On Everything
AND
Life Then Became
GRAND!

I Had New Hills To Climb!
I Had New Balls To Bounce!
I Had New Rocks To Roll!
I Had New Thrills From Which To Get Spills!

I Had
Newer!
Bigger!
Better!
Boundaries To Breach!

I Had More Gains From The Many Pains!

There Was Never The Same Thrill
Never The Same Store
Just More and More ...!

UNTIL ...

My Mind Started
Asking
Asking
Asking Why?
What For?
What's Right?
AND
Saying:

                                               That's Wrong!                             No!
                      Don't!
                                                                               Stop!
      Stand Still!
                                         Run Away!
                                                                                                God Sees You!
                   Haven't You Yet Had Your Fill?



THEN ...

The Day Came
When Fun Sin
Wasn't Funny Any More
AND
Doing Wrong No Longer Made Me Feel Strong
AND
I Hated
Hated
Hated What I Had Become
Because ...!

Because Why?!

Because Loving The Wrong Is Not You!

You Don't Belong
With That Crew
That Lives In The Loo
Besmirched
Branded
Waiting For The Death Plane ...
Which Is Coming In For A Landing!

BUT ...

No!



This Child Is Mine!



Come, Child!

Say Your Prayers!
You Know My Name!
Call On Me, Now!
I AM Your Way Of Escape!



Suddenly ...

I Really See
That Sin Is Not My Friend
BUT
A Fiend
AND
The Enemy
Of Anything Desiring 
By Jesus Christ
To Be Made Clean!

Lord Jesus!

It's Me!
I Have Need Of You!
Help Me, I Pray!
I Can't Last Another Day!"


AND ...

That Is When
The Blinders Fell Off
AND
I Tore Off The Black With Sin Cloth
AND
Spit Out Sin's Once Pleasant 
Soul-Tickling Bubbles And Bewitching Froth!



Satan's Sin Is No Man's Friend!

Christ's Salvation
Is
FREE
From The Friend To The End!

Doing Wrong Needs No Effort
BUT
Doing The Right
Requires
Making
Conscious Decision!




Tuesday, June 7, 2016

PRAYER: Father, I Made No Agreement With Hell!





Lord, I Bring Before You My Adversary
Satan
The Enemy Of My Soul
Who Daily Seeks To Entrap Me
With His Pet Snares
Licentiousness And Idolatry!

Satan
Is Malicious!
He Seeks To Make Me Foul Up
With Constant Temptations
Saying
That No Matter What Unrighteous
Unholy Thing I Do
It Is Not Sin
For
You Are Love
And To Heaven You Will Surely Take Me Up!

Lord, You Blessed Me With Ability
And I Can For Myself
The Living Word Read!
Love And Justice
Mercy And Grace
Are All Parts
Of The Holy God To Whom I My Heart Yields
And I Am Not To Presume Upon Love
To Elevate Mercy And Grace
For Your Justice Demands
That Sin Be Put Away From Your Face!

Lord, I Have Made
No Covenant With Death
Neither Have I Made An Agreement With Hell!
You, Lord, Are The Savior Of My Soul
And
I Desire
That
Of This Situation
You Take Complete Control!

Wash Me!
Clean Me!
Heal Me!
Take Control!
My Desire Is To Be Named In Your Book
When You Call Up The Roll!
I Desire To See You As My King
Not As My Judge
And The Destroyer Of Unrepentant Souls
So, Father
Have Mercy!
Save This Weak Dependent On You Soul!

Father,
I Give Me To You!
Please Hold Complete Sway
For
I Am A Child Willing
To Do Whatever You Say
For It Is For My Soul's Good
Forever
And Always!

I Love You, Lord!
AMEN.





Monday, June 6, 2016

The License Renewal




My Life Driver License
Had Come Up For Renewal!
I Hemmed!
I Hawed!
My Life Was In Upheaval!
I Had Walked In My Own Way!
Sometimes I Even Prayed As I Played
- Until Now That Is -
Well Knowing That
If I Continued Thus Walking
Driving
High Flying
AND
At Doing Sin Not Balking
I Was Staring Eternal Darkness
Separation
From The One
In Whose Peaceful Pastures
I Should Be Comfortably
Joyously
Restfully Partaking!

I Was Miserable!
Do What Thou Wilt
Had Been The Call
Of My Rebellious Way
Where
Do It If It Feels Good
Have Fun In The Sun
Do Dark Deeds In Darkness
AND
Wipe Your Mouth
It Is Nobody's Business
If They Weren't There When You Had Some
Reigned Supreme!

I Got To The Renewal Station!
I Had My Renewal Payment In Hand
When Right Beside Me
Was A Man With Holes In His Hands!
In Shock I Looked Up
Down
And Saw A Tragically Scarred Face
AND
Holes In Bronzed Feet
AND
Through The Rents In His Garment
A Gaping Hole
Deep!

Instinctively
I Reached Out!
I Touched Him!
I Looked And I Saw
Tears In His Eyes
AND
I Started Crying Too!

My Stomach Had A Million Butterflies
BUT
I Didn't Care!
This Stranger
Well Known
By All And Sundry
- Rejectors And Acceptor Alike -
Was The One Who For Lost Souls
Was Always In A To-The-Death Fight!

I Asked:
Are You Here About Me?

He Answered:
I Am Pleading For Your Life!

I Cried:
But I'm Just Here To Renew My Life Driver License!

He Cried:
Please Don't!
That Renewal Has A License Is Lease
Feeling Is Grease Rider!
It Is Going To Cost You
Your Life Now
AND
Eternal Life
When Earth Comes To Journey's End!

I Went White Purple
In Shocked Disbelief!

I Exclaimed:

But ... BUT ...
Pastor Says
That All You Desire From Us Is A Little Faith
A Little Belief!

He Stated:
Faith Without Work Is Dead!
Swallowing Hot Coals Will Kill You Dead!
Ignoring The Salvation Of Your Soul
Won't Make Death
Any Less True
And
Denying The Penalty Of Death For Sin
Is Not Going To Force Me To Save You!

I Already Paid For Your Salvation!
I Already Gave My Life For Yours!
I Paid So You Don't Have To
And 
My Blood Gives You Heaven's Gold!

Discard The Wilful One's Artful License
Stop Right Now
And
In My Name
To The Father Prayer!
Confess Your Sins And Repent
And Invite The Holy Spirit
To Take Up Residence
And With You Forever Stay!

Please!
I Beseech You!
I Am Pleading To Save Your Soul!
Life's Pleasures Are Fleeting!
Life's Coins Are Like Burning Coals
And
As Coals Have A Shelf Life
So Will You
If Heaven Is Not For You The Sole Goal!

I Offer Pleasures For Evermore!
I Offer Gold That Is Tried!
I Offer Life Everlasting
Across The Separating Line!

I Ask For Your Willing Obedience!
I Ask You To Walk In My Straight Narrow Way!
I Ask You To Please Come With Me
BUT
You Can Only Come
If You Believe In Me And Trust Me
To Guide You In The Holy Way!

Your Life Will Not Be Easy!
You Will Be Hated
Oppressed
And
Often Distressed
BUT
If You Walk With Me
You Will Always Be Blessed
And Have Rest!

Please Give Me Your Life Drive License!
Let Me Be Your Shepherd Today!
I Love You!
I Need You!
From The World Turn Away!

I Though For A Brief Moment!
I Saw My Life Through His Eyes!
I Gave Him My RIGHT Hand
The Hand With The Old License And Renewal Money
AND
His Garment Changed
Right Before My Eyes!

He Stands The King Before Me!
I Stood Striking Tall
For I Knew If I Looked Behind Me
He'd Be Standing There
As My Judge
AND
The Judge Of Those Who
Reject The Salvation Call!

We Talked For A Long A While!
I Nodded Acceptance!
I Acknowledged That The Path Will Be Hard
BUT
Come What May
I Know I Have An Advocate With My Heavenly Father
AND
I
Consciously
With Christ
From Sin
Deliberately
Prayerfully
Walked Away!

My Motto
From That Day Onward Is:

Not I But Christ!

I Am Glad
That I Took The Steps Toward Christ!




Sunday, June 5, 2016

Self Is A Sinner!





On A Day Called Questionable
Cutting Truth
AND
Pleasing Fable
Stood Face To Face
Across The Lord's Supper Table
Each Defiant
Each Direct
With The Congregation Not Knowing What To Expect!

Cutting Truth
- In A Strong Tearful Honest Voice -
Encouraged The Congregation
In The Sacrifice Of Christ To Rejoice
For
The Blood
Once Spilled
Buys Pardon For All Who
Lay Down Sin
Pick Up Their Cross
AND
Daily Eat Their Fill
Of A King James Preserved
"Doth Saith The Lord!"
God's Holy Word
Uncorrupted By Evil Men And Women
True!

Pleasing Fable
- Not To Be Outdone -
Took Up Alexandrian Philosophy
Man-made Church Policy
AND
Leading Men's Educational Corrections To Holy Writ
For A Cheer-filled Soliloquy!
He Bobbed!
He Weaved!
He Impugned God's Word
AND
Went For A
"Do As I Please!"
AND
The Church Was Divided
With Hardly Any Souls
Willing
To Glory
In The Finished Work Of The Lord!

If The Veil Could Have Been Removed
Those Laodiceans Would Have Seen:

Self Satisfaction
Glorious Inaction
No Pleasure N. Restraint
Sinning S. Fun
Shoot-down D. Bible
AND
Lovely Rum
Were Working Adroitly
Slipping The Arrogant
Man-Is-god-Believing Crowd
High Priced Bromide
Instigating Rebellion
Prodding The Willful
Away From The Heavenly Guide!

The Cause Of The Ruckus?
Who Needs To Jesus Flee
When Self Awareness
Lifts Up Everybody!
Just Do What You Will
Just Don't Harm Another Soul
For Sin Death Hell
Confession And Repentance
Are Concepts Grown Cold!

If Eyes Could Be Opened
On The Side Of God's Faithful
Those Pleading With Brethren To Fear
God
AND
His Commandments Keep
To Let Him Our Burdens Bear Against The Fraudulent Creep
Those Believers Would See
Angels Of God
Doing Battle
Preserving God's Saints
Against Those Weavers Of Black Darkness
Of The Army Of The Degrading Lord Fraud!

The High-Minded Departed
In High Dungeon
AND
In Complete Disarray!

The Faithful Of God
In Humility Of Soul
Held Hands Together
AND
Prayed!
They Sighed
AND
They Cried
AND
Lifted Up God
AND
Yearned
Dearly Yearned
For
Their Blessing
In The Great Day Of Reward!

They Confessed
Their Own Sins
AND
The Sins Of The World
AND
The Numerous Sins Of The Church
Knowing
That Judgment
Begins First
In The House Of The Lord!

AND ...

When All Was Completed
They Sought Counsel Of The Lord
AND
With Prayerful
Humble
Teachable Spirits
They Delved Into His Word!

They Approached God's Word
Where Great Treasure Is Hid!
They Sought It With All Diligence
AND
They Asked God To Remove Self
AND
In Compassion He Did!

They Lifted Up Jesus
The Light Of Their World
AND
God
With True Blessing
Did To Their Humble Hearts
Heaven's Glories
Bestir!

They Ate Drank Of The Symbols!
They Did Not Remake
Nor Eat God!
They Lifted Up The Master
AND
Gave All Glory To The Risen Lord!

Renewed
They Departed The Sanctuary
Built By Human Hands
Looking Forward To That Day
When They Would Enter The Temple Raised Up
By The Holy God's Hands
In The Land Uncorrupted
God's Glorious Land!


When The Soul In Worship
Is Before God
Self Must Die!

*********

To Uphold Self Is To Denigrate God!

*********

When Self Is An Active Party
In The Soul's Salvation
There Is No Shield From Delusion!


*********

Man-Approved-gods Are Idols!

*********

To A True Christian
Self And Sacrifice
Make A Compound Word!

*********

Salvation Over Sin Is The Saint's Refrain!