VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: A Finite Man's Greatest Achievement Is ...! + PRAYER: Father, I Am Fighting The Good Fight Of Faith!

There Is A Strong
BUT
Misguided Belief That
Man's Greatest Achievements
Are In
Academia
Sports
Entertainment
Science
AND
Finance
Lauded
Applauded
By Like Men
BUT
I Beg To Differ
For
Our Greatest Achievement
Is When
Our Faith Moves To Action
The Mighty Hand Of Holy Power!

Consider The Hand
That Made
The Universe Wide
AND
Also Man In His Own Image
That He Desires
Would In Him Constantly Confide!
Think Also
Of All The Promises
Signed Off On
In Blood
AND
The Word That Says
Ask ... AND Receive
AND
Come Unto Me ... And Live!

Think Also Of The Eternal God
Giving A Finite Man
Leave
To Approach Unto His Glorious Presence
But Only If
By Faith
You Believe
That He Is Faithful
Just
Kind
AND
A Providing Savior-Shepherd, True
Who Desires To Hear
Our Believing Heart's Petitions
So That He May Provide
What ... In His Wisdom
Is Good For Us
AND
For His Glory, Too!

A Prayer Answered
Even With A:

"No!"
"Yes!"
"Wait!"
"My Grace Is Sufficient For Thee!"

And Given Into The Hands Of 
A Believing Child
Sends Faith Soaring
Into Yonder Sky Blue
For We Then
- In Hind Sight -
Can See The Loving Care
Displayed By The All-Knowing God
Which Also Is All-Powerful
AND
Is Present
Everywhere!

Imagine ...
NO!
Believe
That The Creator Of The Still-Expanding Universe
Cares For
Loves Gracefully
AND
Feels Mercifully
For His Child Of The Dust
AND
Consider That
He Is Never Tired
Nor Too Busy To Hear
Of The Things
That Cause Us To Stress Out And Fuss!

The God Of The Universe
The Eternal God Who Made Earth
The Creator God Who Made Man
For Want Of A Nicer Expression
Is Our Wet And Baby Nurse
Providing For
Cleaning
Feeding
Teaching
Leading
Guiding
Protecting
Never Lying
Doing Everything
- He Has The Power -
To Bless
AND
To Eternally Save Us!

All That Is Required Of Us
Is Loving
Faithful
Trusting Obedience
So That There Is Never A Need
For Us
To Run With Bad Company
AND
To Yell:

"Fire! Fire!
Lord, Save Me!

This Living Life Is Pure Hell

And I Can't Breathe!"

Constant Communication
With
Our Holy God

Avails Us Of

Necessary Care And Comfort!

Our Father Is Big!

His Hands Are Wide!
His Love Is Deep
AND
In Our Heart
- If Invited -
He Will Surely Abide!

Pray Earnestly
Confidently
Constantly
Believingly
AND
Watch 
Our Heavenly Father Work Wonders
Time And Again
For Me
AND
For You!

What Will Your True Achievement Be?

Pray

And ... Watch God's Hand's Move

For Thee!

PRAYER:

Father,

I Am Fighting The Good Fight Of Faith!

I Will My Hands Lift Up

If You Will Hold Them Up!

I Can Do Nothing Of Myself, Lord

For I Was Born A Sin Slave

Deserving Only

A Cold Dark Grave

But

I Here Make My Claim

Against The Promise You Made

In The Blood Of The Beloved

For

I Desire

From Eternal Death

To Be Saved!

You Are The God Holy!

You Are The God True!

So,  Please

In Jesus' Name

Honor Your Promise

For

Father,

I Can Depend On No One

But You!

Father,

You Call Upon Me To Believe!

You Promised Never Me Ever To Deceive!

You Gave Gifts Unto Men -

My Talent I Joyously Receive

And

By Jesus Christ

- My Hope For Glory -

I Intend

Heaven

To Achieve!

Help Me To Grow

In Faith

By Your Great Grace

Is My Heart's Earnest Plea

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name!

I Love You, Lord!

AMEN.

HAPPY SABBATH + HELLBENT: Small Tongue Big Doings! + PRAYER: Lord, Please Grant Me A Tongue Restraint!

Loose Lips
Sink Ships
AND
A Raging Tongue
Will Make One Lose
On Eternity 
Their Grip!

The Pointed Red Rag
That Slab Of Hot Meat
Stuck Behind Two Rows Of Pearls
Called Teeth
Is Lit On Fire From Hell
AND
Is Ever Ready To Blast
Into A Blazing Conflagration
Which No Human Hand
Can Quell
Though Cold Water On It
Is Quickly Cast!

I Heard That
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath!

I Heard That Tongue And Teeth 
Always Have Words
And That Teeth Always Is The One
Getting The Bath!

Well ...

I Believe The Word Of God
Which Says
Be Angry
AND
Sin Not
AND
I Am Really Concerned For Those
For Whom
Self-Control
Does Not Mean A Whole Lot!

Why Would You Let
A Small Tongue
Carve For Your Feet
A Very Wide Road
When
For A Deep Breath
AND
A Silent Prayer
The Living God
Can Carry The Load?

Would You Write
AND
Issue
A $1,000,000 Check
When You Have Just 1,000 Pennies In The Bank
Just To Show
That You Are A Big Man Around Town
All The While Knowing
That Off To Bad Check Court You Will Go
For You Committed An Offense!
A Crime?!

Come On! That ... Would Be Foolish!

Well, A Loose Tongue
Acts Just Like That!

It's Not What You Say!
It Is How You Say It
AND
Thinking Before Speaking
Is Not Carrying A Back-Breaking Load!

No Man
Can The Hot Tongue Tame
So It Stands To Reason
That A Wildly Wagging Tongue
Is Something About Which
One Should Be Ashamed!

Look Before You Leap!
Think Before You Speak!
Pray Before You Flail
AND
A Sinful Tongue
Won't Land You In Sorryman's Jail!

Apostle James ...?!

Yup!
Apostle James!

Better To Practice
Self Control
AND
Temperance In
Food Thought Word
AND
Lean On The Lord
Instead Of From Life Getting
A Red Penalty Card!

Think!
Look Forward!
AND
Think Back!
AND
Don't Be An Abominable Scorner
Bent On Always Having Your Own Way!
Say Your Prayers
AND
Let God Lead The Way!

That's A Good Way To Play!

I Agree!
I'm Really Tired Of Saying "Sorry!"
For Words That I Can't Take Back!
It Is Better That They Should Be Left Unsaid
Than To Have
Self-Recrimination's
Weak
AND
Roundly Aching Head
Because You Regret
What Fool Thing You Have Said!

Beseech Almighty God For Help
AND
Then Permit God To Do His Do
AND
Take Away From You
That Wicked Tongue's
Fire-Pit Walking
Running Shoes!

Amen To That!!

PRAYER:

Father,

I Come Before You

For

I Have A Big Problem

With My Little Tongue!

It Is Always Writing Checks

And

Causing Me To Look For Money

Which Can Never Be Found!

I Beseech You, Lord

In Jesus Christ's Name

To Help Me

Oh, Help Me

My Tongue To Restrain

Even If I Have To Severely Bite It

And Then

Yell Out From The Pain!

I Give Unto You, Lord

My Will

And

 My Way

And

I Lean On You

Hoping

Praying For

Jesus-Made Tongue Restraints!

Help Me, Today

To Keep My Big Mouth Shut

For

I Desire To Live In Heavenly Mansions

And

Not In A Damnation's Burning Hut!

I Love You, Lord!

Please Grant Unto Me

The Victory

For

In Jesus Christ's Name

I Utter This Prayer And Plea!

AMEN.

Two Weighty Questions And ... A Heartfelt Prayer!

How Many Of Us
Who Call Ourselves Christians
Have Previously Gone
To The Fleshpots Of The Earth
AND
Have Found
(Real Or Imagined):

The Food ... A Gastronomic Delight
The Company ... Amenable
The Atmosphere ... Salubrious
The Light ... Suitably Dark
The Mood ... Indulgently Mellow
The Conversation ... Enrapturing ... Enthralling
The Drink ... Such That Intoxicated A Soul
AND
The Honor And Majesty
Of The Glorious Holy God
Turned Into A Plush Mat For Testy Feet
A Floor Runner
A Soiled Sheet?

How Many Of Us
Have Committed Sin Vile
AND
Thought:

I Cannot Go Home To God!
I Did His Holy Name Revile
Forgetting
Misremembering
Been Misinformed
Been Misguided
On The Fact That God
Our God
Our Father
Our Shepherd
Our Savior
Our Redeemer
Our Friend To Life's End
Says:

Return Unto Me  ...!
Come Unto Me ...!
Come Let Us Reason Together ...!
Follow Me  ...!
Take My Yolk  ...!
Learn Of Me  ...!
Trust In The Lord  ...!
Believe On The Lord
AND
Be Saved
... Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet
... Though Your Sins Be Red Like Crimson
... They Shall Be Whiter Than Snow
... They Shall Be As Wool!?!

Sin Stains
BUT
Jesus Christ's Blood
Is The Only Blood That 
WASHES
AND
CLEANS COMPLETELY!

Sooo ...

Go To Jesus
Now ... TODAY
AND
Honestly
AND
With Contriteness Of Heart
AND
Brokenness Of Spirit
Unreservedly
AND
In Your Own Way
Say:

PRAYER:

Father,

Forgive Me

I Knew What I Was Doing!

The World Of Sin Delighted My Senses

And

I Knew What-Upon I Was Chewing!

I Sniffed The Pleasant Fragrance!

I Tasted The Bountifully Spread Food!

I Drank Deep Of Hell's Libation

But

With The Passage Of Time

Hell's Angels To Me

Were Shown Maliciously Cruel!

Living In Sin Is Not Cool!

They Upped The Ante

And

I Knew The Score

But

Overconfidence

On One Great Can't-Lose Play

Had Me Prostrate

Bent

Unto Broken!

Breathing For Life

Became A Mere Token

Until

Fully Aware

- Finally -

I Can Hear

What It Is The Holy Spirit Is Speaking

Had Spoken

And Now ...

Now!

I Am Here

Ready To Made Clean

Anxious For A Clean Scene

Willing Now

To Do What You Say

No Longer Eager

For My Own Sins

To Pay!

Forgive Me, I Pray!

Father,

My Father,

Thank You For Plain Revelation

That Shows Clearly

That Satan Is A Total Liar

A Biting Fraud

A Destructive Devil

The Opposer Of The Holy

The Living

The Eternal God

Who Takes Pleasure

In Rack And Ruin

And

Joys In Man's Disgrace

Uplifting Self-Gratification

And

Belligerently

Goading Weakened Ones

To Dismiss

Shameness Of Face!

Father,

Please Forgive Me!

I Acknowledge All That I Did!

I Humbly Confess

And

Repent

In Jesus' Name!

Please Reform Me

And

Remake Me

For I

- Now Truly Broken -

Desire

With My Whole Heart

To Take Up My Ignored Cross

And

Daily

Follow After You!

Please, Lord

Teach Me New Music

A New Traveling Song

A New And Healthful Diet

With No Intoxicating Mixed Beverages

To Cast Me Prostrate

On The Wide Street Long!

Lead Me, Lord

Along The Straight And Narrow Path

For

Walking On The Broadway

Encourages My Indulgence In Gross Greed

And

My Dependence

Upon Practicing Craft

And

Using It For Fast Steed!

Help Me, Lord

To Secure Godly Companions

To Encourage Me

- And I, Them -

To Cheer Me On

Along The Holy Way

And

Help Me, Lord

Not To Pick Of The Wild-Fruit Fruit Trees

Amply Spread Out

And

Disgracing

The High And Holy Way!

Oh, Lord

Let Not Self-Satisfaction Beguile Me!

Let Not Own-Way Control Me!

And

Let Not Tomorrow-Can-Wait

Stone Me

For

Arrival And Residence  

In The Holy Kingdom

Now Motivates Me!

I Now Am Thine!

You Are Holy And Divine!

In Your Loving Arms, Lord

Please Confine Me

And

Help Me Thereby

In The Great Day

To Cross The Separating Line!

Draw Me Nearer

And

Haste The Glorious Day

For This, Lord

Is My Heartfelt Prayer!

I Believe!

Help Thou My Unbelief!

In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, I Plead!

AMEN.

The Letter

Vashti Died!
Her Dog-Eared Bible
Rubbed Smooth With Age
Was Reposing On Her Heart!
The Letter Was In Her Lap ...!

The  Paper Upon Which The Letter Was Written
Was From The Age Of Onion Skin
Crinkly
And Pleasing To The Touch!

The Letter Was Written
One Paragraph
One Year At A Time!
It Was Started In 1965!
The Final Entry Was Yesterday!

Her Sister, Anna
Trembling
Read Out The Letter
And
Her Voice Was Molasses Thick!

The Letter Read:

Dear Jesus,
I Have A Present For You!
My Whole Heart I Give To You!
Please, Won't You Make Me Strong?!

I Am Not Always Kind!
Sometimes I Speak An Untruth
But
I Want To Do Better
For I Want To Live
In Eternal Peace With You!
AMEN.

My Favorite Text Is
"Suffer The Little Children
To Come Unto Me
And Forbid Then Not!"
Thank You!
I Shall Grow In Your Grace!

Lord,
I Wish You Made Personal House Calls
For I Would Wish To See You In My House
But
I Shall Be Satisfied
Just Knowing You Are Everywhere!
Wherever!
Whatever The Height!
You Are Higher!

Today I Learned To Love ...
"Create In Me A Clean Heart, Oh,  God
And Renew A Right Spirit Within Me ...!"
It Made Me Think Of Doing The Laundry:
Dirty Clothes In Hot Water
Mixed With Deep Cleaning Detergent
Followed By A Cool Rinse In Fabric Softener
Which Emerge Smelling
Like The Sunlight On Lofty Green Grass 
And Laced With Refreshing Lime
And Feeling Soft As Air!
Please, Lord! Do That For Me!

The Sirens Were Incessant Today
And They Make Me Realize What We Have Lost
And They Point Me, Lord
Back To You!
Oh, How I Desire A New Life!
A Holy Life!
No More Sorrow!
No More Pain!
No More Evil
By Which To Sin We Have Chained!

I Understand Now, Lord!
The Peace Of God Is As A Slow Moving River!
The Love Of God Is An Enfolding Embrace
Joy In The Lord Is A Fit Meal
Touching Every Sense
Even Those Not Known Yet
And
With Grace Intermingled
Via The Holy Spirit
And Topped With Holy Rest
Wherein In Eternity
The Then Immortal Soul Shall 
With Eternal Gratitude Reflect!

Lord,
Oh, Love
That Will Not Let Me Go
I Love You
And
I Also Like You
For You Are Truly My Friend!

I Was A Child!
Now I Am Old!
You Provided
Food Shelter
Care Comfort
Help Healing
Grace Faith
Mercy
Truth And Light
And
In Your Name
By Your Blood
I Go Redeemed To The Father
Having Escaped
The Defiling Of Sin's Flood!

Prayer Is My Food!
Prayer Is My Drink!
Prayer Is The Petition Of My Heart
To My Holy God
On Whom I Constantly Do Think!
I Have Not Been Forsaken
And ... Soon
I Shall Be At Home
For
I Walk With God.

******

There Is Not A Heart Touched
A Nose Not Wet
An Eye Not Red!

The Benediction Said There:

Vashti Died As She Lived
At Peace
In Her God!

Much Soul-searching ... Followed.