The Psalms: 11

Psalm Eleven

My beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that His paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lies in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employs no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I put on your garments, and I walk with you; I pray the God of my salvation that He view me with His all-searching eye; wherefore, you will know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I took your iniquities upon my soul, and that I stand with you before Him, and I plead for mercy for us.

O, my beloved brethren, let us turn away from our sins; let us shake off the chains of him that would bind us fast; come unto that God who is the rock of our salvation.

O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executes all His words, and they have gone forth out of His mouth, and His law must be fulfilled. But behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world and walked a mile with their brethren, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world. They shall be free and their joy shall be full forever.

Come, my brethren, everyone who thirsts come to the waters; and he who has no money, come and eat; yes, come receive wine and milk without money and without price. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perishes not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness and abundance, that we may have charity for the House of Israel.

The First Fruits

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A patch, of berries quite concealed;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Shifting and dancing in the breeze.

Their luminous skins of silk did shine
And from their petals stretched away,
They spanned in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
A hundred thousand jewels I saw,
Enough to fill this man with awe.

I looked again and eyed some more
Delicious-looking orbs of fruit
Forty thousand, another four
That took their goodness from the root.
I gazed and gazed and then I thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

'Cause oft, when resting for a while
This question to myself I'd ask,
Where are ones who don't speak guile
And do they recognize their task?
And then my heart pervades complete,
As I recall the berries sweet.

And now the power in their hands

Resides with faith and mercy shown

To bless and help their fellow man

With love to bring them to His throne.

His light will shine profound and swift

If they will wield their curious gift.

The Fast

Why do we fast and you not see?
Our afflictions come at least monthly.
No food or drink (for half a day)!
Is this not the required way?

When did I publish the decree,
To wear a sackcloth painfully?
Or in the bulrush bow your head
While wanting for some wine and bread?

Behold the fast to be endured:
To break the yoke of those immured
And bring the poor from your house cast
While loosing bands. This is my fast.

The light shall break forth in the day
That you employ the higher Way.
And paths repaired will bare the feet
Of prisoners freed and souls complete. 

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Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

The Encounter

a total stranger one black day
knocked the living hell out of me

who found forgiveness hard because
my (as it happened) self he was

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an enemy came in my view

i asked, "what shall i do to you"

"forgive" she said, "ourself and then

believe in Love restored again"  

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once upon a glorious time
an adversary crossed my line---

with probing eyes he canvassed me:
"you gave no fight, so go, you're free"

The Psalms: 10

Psalm 10

O Lord, attend unto my cry, give ear to my prayer, which is spoken not out of feigned lips.

You have helped me prove your words; you have visited me in the night; you have helped me try you, that I may gain knowledge and understanding.

Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have been kept from the paths of the destroyer. By the pouring of your Spirt from your vessels I have approached the beautiful tree, and you have held up my goings in your paths, that my footsteps slip not; and that I will not again stray.

I have heard your doctrine, and am observant not to place a curse on myself by my own words.

Show thy marvelous kindness and tender mercy to those who put their trust in you. O save them by your right hand from those that rise up against them.

Forgive those who know not what they do, and have mercy on my adversary.

The Psalms: 9

Psalm Nine

Lord, who shall abide in your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in your holy mountain?

He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.

He who does not bite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up blame and warning against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is not scorned, condemned and cast out.

But he honors them who have charity and hear the doctrine of Christ.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is being sung in all the world, for a witness unto all nations. I will not call the East Wind to descend. I will not shake that house or beat upon it. I will pray in the closet for these, my brethren, and if the floods come, I will descend with them. But he that remains steadfast in the doctrine of Christ and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.

Whoso reads, let him understand.

The Right Hand - Updated

I heard a Voice who said,

It is well that you desire to follow me and walk and agree with your brethren, even to your own bondage and suffering. But it is not required for you to pledge your fealty with an oath-like gesture to men and their priorities if those things do not align with my doctrine. Therefore, go. The way is prepared for you, and salvation is free. Walk with them or whomever you choose, but do not surrender your agency to those who aspire to priestly seats and worldly power. 

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I have repented of my oath, as can be done.
Now with the Wandering I will be one.

The Right Hand

“I’ll raise my hand and make the sign!”

“By doing so, you cross the line.
Your branch is wild, I am not fooled.
It must be cut, it will be pulled.”

“Dear Lord I forthwith understand
The meaning of the word ‘command.’
In Bountiful you sang the tone
Of how Thy house is built on stone.”

“I’m following the men in white!”

“Why do you seek to shun the light?
The curses spoke by prophets blind
Will be restored to all their kind.”

“I hope that others come along
Who play the lyre and sing the song.
My family name was blest, not marred.
When I agreed, we were not barred."

“I cast the vote and set my stance!”

“That was it: your final chance.
Swiftly comes the whirling wind:
‘Upon my house it shall begin.’”

My Spirit will not always strive
To keep men’s hopes and dreams alive.
And when it ceases, wo is heard!
For progress stops without the Word

“The battles are not mine to fight
YOU’ll change the darkness into light.
My heav’n-ward cries, they were not muted
My heritage was not polluted!”

“For I was wary to oppose
The ones who sell their priestly clothes.
You said to bless them, not to curse.
I’ll follow Thee, for best or worst.”

         "A time shall come when Mother Earth
         Shall undergo the pangs of birth.
         Lord, hurt her not, till we can find
         The priestly to thy word aligned!"
         

------------------------------------------

I have offended against the generation of thy children.
When I think to know this, it is too painful for me;
Surely thou didst set me in slippery places to try my faith: now thou castest me down into destruction.

How am I brought into desolation, as in a moment!
I am utterly consumed with terrors!
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou hast despised my image.

Thus my heart is grieved, and I am pricked in my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth; for, lo, thou hast seen my whoring, and I am far from thee.


      "I say of the Lord: He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
      Surely he shall deliver me from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
      He shall cover me with his feathers and wings: his truth shall be my shield and buckler." 

      "I shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 
      Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; 
      Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday."

      "A thousand of my brothers have fallen at my side, and ten thousand fathers at my feet; 
      But it shall not come nigh to me. Only with my eyes shalt I behold and see the coming reward.
      Because I have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, my habitation."

The Interruption

I dreamt my brother approached me, not asking or doing anything out of the ordinary. But I suspected him. I was paranoid that he wanted something of mine and fearful that he would cause harm. I started voicing my concern abroad and telling everyone that they should be very wary of my brother, accusing him of ill true motives. With everything he said to me, I believed him less and less until I told him that we were no longer kin. “Get out and don’t come back!” was my tone. “I don’t want you to harm me or my family. I need to protect them, so go away.”

I awoke from the dream very confused. I don’t feel like that at all about my brothers, sisters and family, or really anyone. I asked the Lord, "Why would those emotions come to me in that manner?"

Then I heard a voice in my mind, “This is how it feels to be void of the Spirit. You needed to know.”

A couple of days later, I received more enlightenment through the voice of an angel: "Are we not all brothers?"

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I have changed the tune I am singing, even if it is slightly. For if payment ever comes due, without adjustments I may find myself lacking.

The Psalms: 8

Psalm Eight

The Lord will look down from heaven upon the children of Zion, to see if there are any who understand, and seek God.

I will bless my enemy.

I will receive Her gifts.

Thus says the Lord: "I will show unto this people that I had other sheep, and that they were a branch of the house of Jacob; and I will bring to light their marvelous works, which they did in my name.

"And I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which the Gentiles have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine--the only doctrine which is in me."

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of the children of Zion! But when the Lord brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad; for they will inherit the Gentiles.

I will agree quickly while I am in the way with them.

The Psalms: 7

Psalm Seven

Why have you stood afar off, o Lord? Why have you hidden yourself in times of trouble?

Take courage, my friends. The Lord has heard the desire of the humble. He will prepare their heart and cause their ears to hear.

He will cause their guilt to be swept away, if they but believe that His grace is sufficient for them. For God cannot lie.

And if you say, "I am weak, I am nothing," remember that God has called you good. And remember that it is by the weak things of the earth that the Lord will thresh the nations by the power of His Spirit. For God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and the things which are mighty.

Wherefore, He calls upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of His Spirit; and their arm shall be His arm, and He will be their shield and their buckler; and He will gird up their loins; and He will preserve them.

And the poor and the meek shall have the gospel preached unto them, and they shall be looking forth for the time of His coming.

And it is nigh at hand.

The Psalms: 6

Psalm Six

What is it to praise the Lord with my whole heart? How do I show forth all His marvelous works? What does it mean to take on His name, and to be immersed in His love? How can I be glad and rejoice in Him? How should I sing praises to the name of the most High?

It would be well to look past the performances of these things--beyond the rituals, the traditions, the forms and the carnal commandments--which is the lesser priesthood.

But the greater priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. And in the ordinances thereof is the power of godliness manifest.

How are the ordinances manifested to men?

I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto His children; and I would like you to remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after His holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. And those priests were ordained after the order of His Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know how to look forward to His Son for redemption.

Now these ordinances were given after this manner, that thereby the people might look forward on the Son of God, it being a type of his order, or it being His order or His high priesthood, and this that they might look forward to Him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord.

And the mysteries of God are given to many; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that the priests should not impart, only according to the portion of His word which they give heed and diligence; that their experience may bear testimony of Him.

And by so doing, the Lord God prepares the way that the residue of men may have exceeding faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; that they may believe in Christ unto repentance and unto the remission of their sins, that they may be free of guilt and work righteousness rather than to perish. And after this manner the Father brings to pass the covenants which He has made unto the children of men.

And the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, declares it unto all nations; that they may have glad tidings of great joy. And He sounds these glad tidings among all His people through His vessels, even to the Gentiles and all who are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. And the good tidings have come unto us. I pray:

Have mercy upon us, O Lord; consider our trouble which we suffer of them that hate you. 

But I know that you lift me up from the gates of death: That I may show forth all your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in your salvation.

The Gentiles of the Great and Abominable Church are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

And they are as a wild flock which flees from the shepherd, and scatters, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest; or as a people who run from the molten fire, and are trampled upon by their own feet.

Bless them, O Lord, that they will not shake excessively when they wake from their slumber and they may yet produce fruit meet for your kingdom. 

The Psalms: 5

Psalm Five

I say a word to my friends:

There is a law given to the Ancients, and the apostles and prophets, wherein we may be granted repentance. And this was prepared from the foundation of the world and given to Adam, although it did not recognize it at the time.

According to this law of restoration, we are returned to the master we claim through our works and our desires. If we are merciful, Mercy will claim us. And mercy comes about because of belief in the atonement of Christ. Thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

And mercy is patient, and is loving, and is not malicious or proud; she does not boast and seeks for the welfare of others over herself; she is not provoked easily and assumes the best in others. She rejoices in the truth, even if it shakes her to the core. With faith she bears her afflictions and believes they are for her understanding. She hopes for a better world and endures until the promises of God are fulfilled.

But justice is exacting. He expects retribution for offense, which can only come through the economy of payment. He does not recognize Mercy and will point a finger at the sinners and the law-breakers. 

And he will exercise all his demands; and those who follow him will dig a great pit for others. It will be their own prison.

A man cannot serve both Mercy and Justice. But based on their fruits, the true master will make them theirs.

And Justice has no claim on Mercy, according to the Law of Restoration and because of Jesus Christ; therefore, it is not possible that Mercy can rob Justice. She cannot be acted upon, for she is free forever, according to her desire to do good.

My friends, be not harrowed up by your sins, but seek the mercy of Christ; and you will behold His marvelous light. Believe Christ, believe that His grace is sufficient if you claim Mercy by your actions. And your limbs will receive strength, and you will desire to sing praises to your God and to bring others to taste of the joy and fruit of the Lord.

And He has taken upon Him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people. And He has taken upon Him your infirmities, that His bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that He may know according to the flesh how to succor His people according to their infirmities.

He sends an invitation to you and unto all men, and the arms of mercy are extended towards you. I pray, therefore, that you will receive Him, and witness it by your change of heart and following of His doctrine; that you may enter into His rest.

Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you. Pray for them who spitefully use you and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He exacts over nothing and makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good alike. 

The Psalms: 4

Psalm Four

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my pondering thoughts.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, and reason with me as with men in days of old, even with your strong reasoning.

I direct my prayer unto you, and look up and say:

I know that you are a God that has no pleasure in wickedness: and that evil will not dwell with you.
The foolish will not stand in your sight.
It has been said that you hate all workers of iniquity.
And that you will destroy the liars, that you detest the violent and deceitful man.

But where is the standard of mercy in the proclamation of destruction?
Where is the white fruit in the fear of the Lord?

You gave a law to your servant Nephi,
And to my fathers Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham
And to all your ancient prophets and apostles.
You said that if they reward to their enemies according to their works, they are justified.
But if they spare their enemies, they will be rewarded for their righteousness
Unto the third and fourth generation.

Nephi knew this,
Yet he slew Laban.
And the stolen sword became the standard to settle all disputes between the people of Nephi and his brethren.

Did Ammon know this law?
For his people spared their brethren and their enemies.
And the Lord did grant their children His presence
And peace unto the third and fourth generation.

As for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your mercy.
I will seek the standard of the law given to the Ancients.
And while there is no faithfulness in the mouth of the wicked,
I will not seek their destruction, but will only ask for mercy and blessings on their heads.

They may fall by their own counsel and be cast out in the multitude of their transgressions for their rebellion,
For that is the standard of justice.
But I plead that you will be merciful and show them the Light, as you have been merciful to me.

Your mercy has saved me from a bitter hell, because you have shown me my weakness.
I will be joyful in your name and in your law.

The Cave 

The Forgotten Ones

If I point them out
With all of my heart
Will you Mark the words
And then play your part?

_______________________________________________

The Prayer of the Captive

The People
Help, Lord! Wilt Thou quite destroy us!
The harvest now is over, the summer days are gone, and yet no power cometh to help us! Will then the Lord be no more God in Zion?
The deeps afford no water! And the rivers are exhausted! The suckling's tongue now cleaveth for thirst to his mouth! The infant children ask for bread! And there is no one breaketh it to feed them.
Lord, bow Thine ear to our prayer.

The Lord
Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted
Yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks.
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—
The Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

The People
Yet doth the Lord see us not, thou mocketh at us; thy curse hath fallen down upon us, thy wrath will pursue us till thou destroy us.
For thou, o Lord our God, thou art a jealous God, and thou visiteth all our follies and abominations on the children to the third and the fourth generation of them that hate thee.
But thy mercies on thousands fall, on all them that love thee and keep thy commandments.

The Lord
If the children shall repent, or the children’s children, and turn to the Lord their God, with all their hearts and with all their might, mind, and strength, and restore four-fold for all their trespasses wherewith they have trespassed, or wherewith their fathers have trespassed, or their fathers’ fathers, then my indignation shall be turned away.
And vengeance shall no more come upon thee, saith the Lord thy God, and thy trespasses shall never be brought any more as a testimony before the Lord against thee.

The People
Thou hast given us a commission to find thy people. We are broken-hearted!
Open the prison to us who are bound.
Yea, open the heavens and send us relief.
Help, help thy servants now, o God!
Be not silent to us! And thy great mercies remember, Lord.

The Lord
Peace be unto you. All my words shall be fulfilled.
Ye need not say that the Lord delays his coming unto the children of Israel.
And ye need not imagine in your hearts that the words which have been spoken are vain, for behold, I the Lord will remember my covenant which I hath made unto my people of the house of Israel.
Ye need not any longer spurn at the doings of the Lord, for the sword of my justice is in my right hand;
And behold, if thy children shall spurn at my doings I will cause that it shall soon overtake them.
Wo unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord; yea, wo unto him that shall deny me and my works!
Wo unto him who denieth my doctrine; yeah, who denieth my children access to the gate.
For the keeper of the gate is your Lord; and I employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for I cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is my name.

Notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and thy children sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.
For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.
And the cry has gone forth: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.
And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
First among those among thy children, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.

For is written, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths; But verily, verily, I said unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
And cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. Cursed shall be he who makes the sign and receives a mark in their right hand, for they shall be bound together as one. For if they do willfully reject my doctrine, then is the hour of their judgment nigh, and their house shall be left unto them desolate.

Thou knowest that the love which I have for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which I have prepared in the mansions of thy Father.
And I know that thou hast hated me, and not had charity for the House of Israel; therefore, I have proven thee, and taken away thy talent, yea, even that which thou hast received, and given unto them who have more abundantly. And I have shown thy children thy weakness, that they may be humble. And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

And blessed are thy children who repent, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father. For my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon the believing of thy children, and all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

And thou shalt be re-deemed, and become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for thyself and not be acted upon.

The People
Thanks be to God! He quencheth the thirsty land. The waters gather, they rush along, they are lifting their voices, and we shall lift ours. The stormy billows are high, their fury is mighty. But the Lord is above them and almighty.

We shall come up, upon the many waters out of captivity. And we shall be anxiously engaged in the cause of restoring Israel and doing the the will of the Lord! We shall do many things of our own free will and bring to pass much righteousness!

Lord, our Creator, how excellent thy Name is in all the nations! Thou fillest heaven with thy glory, and thou granteth thy decree to thy friends. Thou comfortest our hearts! Let us fear not! Let us give thanks in everything and rejoice evermore!

The Psalms: 3

Psalm Three

You heard me when we called, O God of my righteousness. You have enlarged our souls and enlightened our understanding. You made the fruit delicious to us and turned all sin into an abhorrence.

You turned our distress into a testimony, and our pain into a type, that they might look forward on the Son of God; that they might have a brightness of hope, and enter into the rest of the Lord.

O you sons of men, why will you not believe when I say, “O God, you have turned away your judgments because of your Son”? How can you read the scriptures and disbelieve on the Son of God? How can you not understand Her mercies which She has bestowed upon you because of Her Son? Why will you not accept her bounteous gifts?

The Lord will hear when we call unto Him for the sake of our people. His promises are immutable and will be fulfilled. Yet, O you Gentiles, we will walk with you, and we will bless you.

Let us offer up an open heart and a receiving spirit, and put our trust in the Lord.

He has poured gladness in our hearts with His Spirit. We know and bear record that He has visited with the manifestations of His Spirit, for it persuades men to do good. We have confidence when we hear Her say, "I love you."

The Psalms: 2

Psalm Two

I have set my King upon Zion's everlasting hills; and I will declare the decree, "The Lord has said to me, 'You are my son; this day I have begotten you.

'Ask of me, and I shall give you the Gentiles for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. Your people shall make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

'Do not fear, for you should not be ashamed; neither should you be confounded, for you will not be put to shame. For you, O Israel, will forget the shame and reproach of your youth; you will not remember the shame of your widowhood any more.

'You will break forth with a rod of iron, on the right hand and on the left; you will dash to pieces like a potter’s vessel crumbles; you will be as a lion among beasts of the forest who will tread down and tear into pieces, and none can deliver.'"

Therefore, you Gentile kings be wise; you priests be instructed. Remember your afflictions and be comforted. Fear only the punishment that comes of your own tongue and the bondage that comes at your own hands. Come unto Christ and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

Go forth with all your might and cease not in your diligence, for blessed are all they that put their trust in Him; for the Lord works with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards those who believe on his name.

The Psalms: 1

Psalm One

Happy and free is the person that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of fellowship with “sinners,” and sits not in the seat of the scornful and the Accuser;

Yet, when compelled, they will walk a mile with those who ask; they will pray for their enemies; and they will agree while they are in the way with their adversaries.

Their delight is in the new law of the Lord; and in His way do they pray always, and immerse themselves in meditation day and night.

And they shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, whose fruit is desirable to make one happy. They shall bring forth their white and delicious fruit in season; their leaves also shall not wither; and all things they do shall prosper.

They are free forever, for they act and are not acted upon. The works of the Father are shown forth in their exceeding faith and good works. And they are called with a holy calling, and prepared with a preparatory redemption.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, and His sheep hear His voice, which has been poured out to all that they may be proven and show forth their works.

Let us not scorn or dismiss our brethren, be they righteous or ungodly. If we do so, our faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must have charity; for if he has not charity he is nothing.

And charity suffers long, and is kind, and envies not, and is not puffed up, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil, and rejoices not in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

The Garden

There is another sky,
Ever serene and fair,
And there is another sunshine,
Though it be darkness here;
Never mind dots for counting,
Never mind fresh men scared -
Here is a little forest,
Whose leaf is ever green;
Here is a brighter garden,
Where not a frost has been;
In its unfading flowers
I hear the bright bee hum:
Prithee, my people,
Into my garden come!

The Will of God

“How is it I shall do thy will?
It’s all a guessing game!”
“I now behold my will and thine
Are merging as the same.”

“I will submit to anything
Of me you shall desire!”
“An open heart and patience, child,
Are all that I require.”

“I’ll bend my knee obediently,
Please tell me what to do!”
“I’ll give you signs and open doors.
The rest is up to you.”

“Who AM I, Lord? What is my role?
That’s all I want to see!”
“The hope you have in ignorance
Is what shall make them free.”

The Millennials

FROM A MUSE
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same.

FROM A SERVANT
I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of you.
If the casting away of Israel be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Be not highminded and lofty, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in,
Which even now is at the doorstep.

Be not lofty branches, lest you are blinded at the coming desolation.

FROM A MUSE
These children that we spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to our consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

FROM A SERVANT
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor?

Yet, the Children of God sing
And the children who have more abundantly hear and have charity for their fathers
And weep for Zion.
Their fruit is glowing white!

Lord, spare the vineyard a little longer.
I know you are desirous to trim the branches of the tree
And pluck the wild fruit which is ripened to cast into the fire
Lest the good branches perish.
If I perish with the wild fruit, Lord have mercy.

Until then, let us labor with all our might
To nourish the good fruit
And graft in the natural branches.
That the root and top of the tree may be equal
According to the strength thereof.

That we may preserve the good fruit
And have joy in the in its sweetness.
For this is according to the oath and covenant which belongs to our priesthood,
Which cannot be moved or broken.

We shall bring forth fruit meet for the Father’s Kingdom
And do many wonderful works,
And cast out the devils in His name,
And open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf,
And allow the dumb to speak.

And when the rain descends
And the floods come
And the winds blow
And beat upon our house
It shall fall not, for it was founded upon the Rock.