Abba,
I prithee:
hear this homage from my sincerity;
my genuine heart flows out to Thee;
and my lips outpour thanksgiving from me.
Thou art my Father; I am Thy son.
I want to embrace Thee after this life,
for Thy Love extended to me tho’ I
bethought myself undone:
Once I was a lost heathen who besought gratification:
accruing iniquitous debt, uncaring about sin’s wages.
Inwardly I abhorred righteousness; outwardly I adored it.
Wherefore my utmost desires were wholly impure,
while my outermost decorum was entirely secure;
hence my way of living was wayward via disobedience.
Against Thee, O Father, I did many bemoaning sins.
I knew Thee not then for I was a son of perdition...
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...I was a bastard...
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...but Thou heldest me dear to Thyself
since by Faith alone Thy Grace was gifted
to me without repayment myself.
This once lost soul was hostile towards Thy Love;
antagonistic ‘gainst Peace offered by Thy Hand.
Blinded by my pride, I established myself above;
in my vacuity hereof was my legacy simply sand.
Yet in patience, the Gospel wrought in me a conviction.
Even within my crookedness, Thou offered me a pardon.
Not just forgiveness: a sinner like me was offered sonship.
Once a hellion bastard was then made an adopted son.
All thanks to Thee...
...I am debt-free.
O Father, I thank Thee for Mercy in abundance!
O Father, I praise Thee for Grace without reluctance!
‘Tis Thy Sacrifice that reconciled Thee and me;
now I hold Thy tender affections compassionately.
Ergo do I choose to serenade out of a willing heart;
from my willingness hereof do I in gratitude call You...
...my Heavenly Father.
From Thy son to Thee.
O Abba:
Thy Lovingkindness cherisheth my wailing soul,
for whilst I was struggling in my own blindness,
Thou lovingly embraced me in my fear and pain;
I thusly found rest under Thy Domain.
Thy Faithfulness comforteth my uneasing mind,
for whilst I was travailing in my own distresses,
Thou faithfully assured me in my doubt and worry;
I thusly found comfort despite my theory.
Thy Chastisement correcteth my rebellious body,
for whilst I was defying ‘gainst Thine own advisement,
Thou correctly chastised me in my evil and pride;
I thusly found sanctuary by Thy Side.
Abba, Abba:
My Good Guide, Thy Path is where I abide.
My Good Shepherd, Thou leadeth me furthest from the leopard.
For Thy Voice guideth me to what I need heard;
and I love hearing clear instruction from Thy Word!
For Thy pathway leadeth me towards living water;
and Thy staff directs me towards a green pasture.
O Candid Carer, Thy Way is without error.
O Candid Mender, Thou healest a battered defender.
Cause Thy Peace is the only thing I need always;
thus it comforteth me for following all Thy Ways!
And I rejoice in my heart for Thy Word is true,
for my wounded soul can Thy Hands renew.
Devout Defender, Thy Arm is my provender.
Devout Protector, Thou defendest my weakest sector.
Thy Love ever keepeth my fragile body alive;
Thy plain direction spareth destruction as I thrive.
Thou warnest me about perilous treachery,
cause Thy rod chastiseth me against lechery.
Forsooth, Thou art a blessing to me,
t’which I appraiseth higher than gold.
Precious provisions floweth from Thee;
outpoureth blessings ‘bove what’s sold:
Thy pasture doth prosper my health,
whereby the land lendeth me ‘nough wealth.
Thy deep well doth prosper my soul,
whereby Thy Living Water maketh me whole.
Thou also equipeth me ‘gainst all evil,
for wiles won’t prosper ‘gainst me in upheaval.
Thou pareth me for sojourning on hard gravel;
Thou sheereth me for a wearisome travel.
Thou cleanseth dirty rags into spotless fleece;
Thou procureth ailments for an inner peace.
Aground the greenery doth nourish a soul in hunger,
even my innermost needs are filled with wonder.
Thy pure water imbibed doth quench my mind,
and Thy fragrances of lilies, roses doth pacify in kind...
...Lovingkindness...
...Goodness...
...Faithfulness...
...Graciousness...
...Mercifulness...
...so sweet a song within me that resonates:
a melody ‘bout within Thee that emanates...
...cause Thou imparteth these to me undeserved:
it aweth me within my being to be most nerved...
...all confided for an affection for Thy son resided...
...I need Thee, Heavenly Father.
O Abba, O Abba:
Thou hast relented judgment in spite my shortcomings,
and hast bequeathed eternal life in Thine own forthcoming.
For I oft’ neglect, even refuse, Thy Perfect Teachings,
and regretfully repeat my woeful carnalities.
Even so, Heavenly Father, my stubbornness is one of many frailties;
hence I hate my prodigal ways which deserve many flailties.
O Father, how oft’ do I forget Thy Love!
In poverty do I mind my immersion upon paucity!
In commonality do I omit devotion in slack formality!
In abundance do I neglect to express my thanksgiving!
For these transgressions deafen my ears to Thy Words!
Upon my deafness do I prohibit gratitude in prayer...
...ingratitude, lack of personal prayer, eluding study...
...all sear consciousness and in numbness do I sin...
...forgive me for I have sinned against Thee!
But all of my sinful blights have been covered
since Thou art a propitiator of all my iniquity;
I therefore express my gratitude and thanksgiving.
Lamb of God, Thou restoreth a bond once severed.
My Abba:
Jesus my Lord, Thy affection is most heartfelt to myself,
cause as a wretched sinner without deserving of Mercy,
and thus my only merit is being cast into deepest Hell:
Thou chose a hard pathway to rescue me from condemnation.
I hence love Thee cause Thou hast loved me; it is my adulation.
Thou listeneth to my quietest prayers,
heedeth closely to my lamentations,
even hearkeneth to my minutest fears.
Thus in these precious times of stillness,
I draweth close in Thy Presence in aloneness,
and how sweet is Thy love in prayerfulness!
In thankfulness — without discontent.
In faithfulness — that’s unbent.
Within close family — well-spent.
Within hidden iniquity — to repent.
Within severed friendships — to undent.
For my wounded brethren— to be present.
Then for my transgressions upon another...
...and there remains only one other:
Lord Jesus, my heart holdeth a retained request,
not of ambition or of personal recognition,
but of humility and of honest civility...
...I beseech Thee for a needed outreach,
seeing a wanting dire for all within a mire...
...amid them to and fro I walk quietly,
seeing their flaring deeds outwardly.
I hear their voices.
I watch their actions.
I peruse their faces.
I know of their feats.
I know of their triumphs.
I know of their struggles.
Gathering all the evidence I thus conclude...
...they need You, Lord Jesus Christ.
In my love for them am I making myself available...
...here am I; send me...
...here’s my plea:
Father,
I prithee:
hear this prayer in my solemnity;
my compassionate heart cries out to Thee;
and my lips are dried up in pleads from me.
For I seeth the need of the Fatherless,
witnessing in them my former likeness:
They are bound by their own addictions.
They are blinded by their righteousness.
Loveth they their own desires yet still in want.
Cherisheth they their possessions and to flaunt.
Persueth they their own ambitions but to taunt.
Knoweth they of creeds but not Thy fashion.
Embraceth they of lusts and not Thy compassion.
Abideth they of errors yet not Thy refashion.
Most High, I beseech Thee to send me thence:
out of compassion, patience, mercy hence.
Amongst them I once walked in ignorance,
but my hardened heart was renewed to flesh since...
...O Father...
...I know of sinful inclinations...
...I know of worldly temptations...
...I know of rumpled foundations...
...I know of Lucifer’s gestations...
...I even know of righteous damnations...
...Father, Father...
...they are young.
They are old.
They are fathers.
They are mothers.
They are single, married, separated.
And of other assortments...
...O Father, O Father...
...from conception their heart contains sinful inclinations.
In youth followeth they after worldly temptations.
Aging they standeth on rumpled foundations.
Lies are they accostomed to by Lucifer’s gestations.
Thus, they careth not of Thy righteous damnations...
...My Father...
...they are drunkards.
They are cursers.
They are lewd.
They are immoral.
They are all great sinners.
Misperceive me not, O Father, for I too fall short.
I curse them not for vain seductions of devilry.
Misconstrue me not, O Father, for I want no retort.
I am familiar with engaging in demonic revelry.
For I also was led astray by my own lusts:
its gravel was smooth and glaring with gold.
The pathway was broad, suitable to my liking.
The fragrances were pleasant; its noises comforting.
I ate of its greenery and drank from its springs.
Along the journey, I heeded a voice that assured me:
\"Follow thy heart.\", he said; \"Pursue thy dreams.\", he claimed.
His voice was confident, smooth; he even serenaded to me.
It gave power; it gave pleasure; it gave possessions...
...I settled there; ate there; drank there; rested there.
I enjoyed the assurance, blissfulness, confidence.
I loved the decor, elegance, festivities.
I was gladdened by hellionism in my iniquity.
In sin I bethought myself a completed being.
I thus excused transgressions in my reasoning...
...in truth my heart’s disposition and Lucifer’s route were destructive:
In sin was my heart dissatisfied.
In iniquity was my mind disarranged.
In transgressions was my body disjointed.
...I felt...unsettled...
...the water...unsatisfactory...
...the grass...poisonous...
...I was...restless...
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...it was all a horrible, horrible lie from my heart, the world, the devil...
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...and I see the same walk the lost are making...
...I see their agitation, bitterness and cynicism...
...their dejection, envyings and ferocities...
...all from an unmended heart, a fractured world, kisses from Satan...
...they hence followeth their deceitful hearts and the father of lies,
along with other blind sheep: friends, foes, family, and their lambs...
...the glittering pathway of the world only ends with...their butchery...
...it breaks my heart!
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...Finally Father...
...I therefore pray for a solid testimony:
In compassion, I pray for rapport.
In patience, I pray for resilience.
In mercy, I pray for restoration.
For on the cross Thou displayed True Friendship;
for forgiveness of sins Thou showed True Grace.
Forsooth True Love is of Thee: for Thou art Love;
in lieu of eternal requital, Thou offereth True Mercy...
...all that’s required is humility and acceptance of Thy Free Gift...
...Thyself.
My beloved Father...
...I therefore pray my testimony induceth a Godly sorrow,
to which Thou embraceth readily unto Thy Fold:
not by force, feigned love, faux devotion, but wooing them.
And I also will gladly enfold them in celebration...
...in Christ-like Love and an untainted heart;
I prithee, use me to win over souls, my Lord.
Amen...
...finally Abba:
No other comfort befound than by
poring o’er Thy sweet Word daily!
No other assurance behad than by
pouring o’er love in prayer privily!
Thy Way leadeth to True Peace unmatched.
Thy Truth assureth True Faith unmarred.
Thy Life offereth the True Hope unmistaken.
As I live, I pray for sound praise without uppish blare.
O my Shepherd, I repose my soul in Thee for my remaining years.
O my Bishop, I resound Thy Redemption over any other overseers.
For Thou art not an aloof god without care...
...but a close Friend of mine in my hour of need...
...and every justification to withdrawal from me...
...leaving me lost in isolation with my deceptive heart...
...my Friend, I admit that I do so attend to it most oft...
...but Thou tarried patiently with tumults, trials, tranquilities...
...and hath taught me Wisdom; tried my Faith; trained in Sanctity...
...tended my wounds; took out murkiness; triumphed over dependency...
...and Thou toted me on Thy Back in my defenselessness...
...Thou transformed my mind from my self-centeredness...
...Thou transferred Spiritual Discernment in generousness...
...thus art Thou a Perfect, Loving Father in immeasurableness...
...vowing to me an unbroken promise to me:
...I will never leave thee, nor forsake Thee....
...Father, I am truly blessed in Thy Friendship...
...Thank You...
...thus this child of Thine chooseth
to abide in Thee for all my days
till I\'m in the dirt.
My Lord, I pray to prepare my
heart for service till I depart
from this earth...
...with love doth my heart yearn for an eternal endeavor...
...to be forthwith enjoined with Thee forever!
My beloved Abba:
From Thy son to Thee.