Sunday, June 12, 2016

THE DECALOGUE : For Life And For Judgment






In The Beginning Was The Word
- And The Word Was With GOD -
- And The Word Was GOD -
In Whom Is The Faithful One's Redemption
In Whom Is The Christian's Hope
In Whom Is The Believer's Peace
In Whom Is The Over-comer's Heavenly Reward!

The Word
In His Wisdom
Gave The Words
That Preserve Life!
Four Words
For Our Relationship With Our Father
AND
Six Words By Which To Live With Our Brethren
Without Acrimony And Strife!

The Words Of The Word
To All People
In Total
Make Up The Guide For Life
AND
That Same Word
By Fire On Stone Written
Will Be The Rule For Our Judgment
At The End Of Life's Strife!

There Is A Do
Some Don'ts
AND
One Remember
AND
That One Remember
Will
At The End Of The Age
Be Used To Take Away Our Lives
Because We Won't Dishonor God's Word
AND
With The Damned Devil
Hoot Holler
Falsely Worship
AND
Grossly Play At Pray!

To Make Light Of The Decalogue
Is To Make Light
Of The Living God's Light!
In It Is No Legalism!
No Sting!
Not A Bite!

We Ignore It
At Our Own Soul's Peril!
AND
We Do It To The Dark Lord's Delight!

Let Us Come To Our Own Conclusion!
Let Us Study For Our Own Selves
So That We May Believe
AND
Not Let
Pastor
Pope
Priest
Prince
Parent
Politician
Paramour
False Christ
Nor False Prophet
Determine
AND
Decide
For Us
Where We
Through Eternity's Endless Age
Will Reside!

The Chances
The Choices
The Classes
Are Ever Only Two!
Heaven Or Hell!
Sinner Or Saint!
Saved Or Lost!
Eternal Immortal Life In Heaven With Jesus
OR
Body And Spirit Death aka Eternal Separation From God aka Hell
With You Know Who!

Be An Educated Consumer!
Don't Be A Driven Goat
On A Devil-knotted Rope!

Follow Jesus!
He That Is Meek And Mild!
Follow The Lowly King Jesus
Who For Our Sake
Became A Man-Child!
Follow The Lamb Jesus
Who For Our Sake Was Reviled
AND
Who For Our Blessing
To The Father
Us
He Reconciled!


God Grants Glory!
Satan Secures Slaves!

*********

God Blesses Believers!
Satan's Bamboozles Brains!

*********

God Leads Guides And Carries
AND
Satan Entraps The Unwary!

*********

I Made My Own Choice!

I Am Following The Eternal God!

Now ... CHOOSE:

The Eternal God

OR

The God-Fraud!

Let The Choice Be Your Own!


Exodus 20:1-17 King James Version (KJV)

And God spake all these words, saying,

2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.







Saturday, June 11, 2016

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: Christian Lightweight: The Exercise Class







I Had Gotten Fat By Being Lazy!
I Had Become Lazy
By Being Selfish And Own Way
AND, NOW
Christian Was I
In Name Only
- Not By Nature -
AND
I Wasn't Worth A Hill Of Beans
Nor A Row Of Yams
On The To-Jesus High Way!

My Prayers Were Of The Diet-Light Version!
I'll Give You An Example!
Let's See If You Agree
AND
If These Ideas As Prayers Sound Familiar
You'll Know That You Should At Exercise Class Be Joining Me!


  • "Thank You, Lord!"
  • "I Love You, Lord!"
  • "Thanks For My Food, My Head, And My Bed!"
  • "I Am Glad That I Am Not Like Those Other Christians, Lord!"
  • "Lord, I Need A ...!"
  • Lord, Could You Send Me A ...!"


The Handwriting On The Wall Of My Soul
Was Clear
When It Said:


In Tribulation
You Are Going To Fold!
You Have No Stored Resources!
Your Battle-Muscles In Jesus Christ
Are Flabby And Weak
AND
At The First Sign Of Real Trouble
You Are Going To
Blubber
AND
Fold Up
AND
Against God
AND
His People
Speak!


I Was Seriously Shocked!
I Was Grossly Humiliated!
I Was Damnably Ashamed!
I Was Revoltingly Distressed!

I Really Love My Jesus!
I Really Really Do!
I Thought My Self A Success
But
Seriously?
Has My Life Been All A Christian-like Jest?!


You Know It!!

Lord Jesus, Have Mercy On Me!
I Have Been Indulging
In A Round Of Gross Folly!
Take Me!
Teach Me!
Turn Me To The Right Way!
I Desire Your Leading!
I DO NOT Wish You To Be By Me Betrayed!

NOW ...

That Is A Prayer From Your Heart!



Go One More Step!
Think Jacob - Not Esau
And
Ultimately
All-Out
Wrestle With Your Lord!

Confess Your Sins!
Of Known Sins You Must Repent!
Go Boldly To The Throne Of Grace
AND
Your Gross Heart Rent!

Commune With Your Savior!
Lock Arms Against The Adversary Of Your Soul!
Indulge Yourself In Mortal Conflict
AND
Don't Let Go Of The Master
Until You Get A New Name
AND
The Blessing
As Reward!


Well ... Long Story Short ...

I Found My Self In The Bunny Class!
I Had To Learn All About Exercising Hope:

I Hope!
I Know How Hope Feels!
I Know Hope Somewhat Well!
I Have No Hope!
I Am Hopeless!
I Am Somewhat Hopeful!
AND
I Have Hope!
AND
I Am Hoping!
In That Class
I Learned
What It Means To Wheeze!

My Next Class
The Intermediate Workout
Aka Iron Man -  To The World
But
To The Believing Christian
"Hold To God's Unchanging Hand!"
Brought Me To My Knees!

In That Class
I Really Learned To Pray!
I Went From:

What Faith?
Inherited Faith!?
Faithless!
Mustard Seed Growing!
Faith Almost Full!
Faithful!
Happy Heart Overflowing And Full!

I Had Arrived At
Faith And Works!
That Is No Bull!

I Was Getting Happy!
I Was Singing!
I Even Pulled Off A Happy Dance

WHEN ...

The Drill Sargeant
Life Kicker
Buckled On His
"Life Is A Bastard!"
Weighted
Burden-Carrying Pants!

I Was In Total Shock!
I Couldn't Decide
Whether To Cry
Wheeze
OR
Just Pray

SO ...

I Called On Jesus Christ
The Holy Sacrifice
My Lord And My God
The Payer Of My Fee
My Shepherd And The One Like Whom I Want To Be
AND
I Learned Of
AND
Leaned On The Holy Spirit
Instead Of Inanely Crying:

"Why Me, Lord?! "

Patience?!?

Patience!!

Lord, I Need You!
Wait On Me.

Lord, I Am Weak! Help Me!
Wait On Me, Child.

Lord, I Don't Know What To Do!
I Am Calling, Lord!
I Am Trusting ...
LORD! I TRUST YOU!

Wait On Your Lord!
In Him Is Your Reward!
Wait Meekly And Pray!
Your Lord Won't Cast Your Hope Away!
Wait
Watch And Pray!
His Living Word Obey
And
At The Appointed Time
You Will Have Nothing For Which To Repine!

I Learned Of Patience
Whose Root Says Pay!
I Paid Pay My Dues Daily!
I Pay!
I Don't Play
With
Faith
Hope
Nor Prayer!

I Know That If I'm Not Prayed Up
That I Will Preyed Upon
AND
I Choose
To Wrestle With Jesus
AND
Peniel
Stand Upon!

I Have Patience ... With My Lord
Not Because I Want To
BUT
Because I Must!
I Don't Envy The World's Traffic!
I Don't At Delay Make A Fuss!
I Hope!
I Pray!
I Have Faith
And
In Patience Wait
For
In The Living Loving
Holy
All Seeing
All Knowing
Ever Present
Always Available To The Believing Child
Holy God
I Trust!


Lord, I Want To Be
A Bleeding Heart
Believing Christian
Not A "Christian"
With A Callused Heart
Because
A Hard-hearted Christian
Is One For Whom
Heaven's Light Is Dark!





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.