Psalms, Chapter 38

(1) O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. (2) For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. (3) There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. (4) For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. (5) My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. (6) I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. (7) For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. (8) I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. (9) Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. (10) My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. (11) My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. (12) They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. (13) But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. (14) Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. (15) For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (16) For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. (17) For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. (18) For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. (19) But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. (20) They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. (21) Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. (22) Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

A Random Prayer...

Easter Morning

As the world sings triumphant cries to heaven over death that You conquered, help us, Lord, tomorrow as well, when the dresses are put away and the candy is all eaten and on with life we go let us not forget. The celebration of Your Resurrection over death is a celebration of life that should continue well beyond the sunrise service and the music, rehearsed for days prior; it is beyond the sign of spring beyond the lily beyond new lambs grazing in open fields. Resurrection is a daily celebration over fear; man's greatest and most powerful enemy. Fear of tomorrow, fear of our yesterdays, fear of what shall become of our young our old our unborn. Resurrection is replacing fear with physical action. This alone, the most touching and profound of Your signs that fear is dead and belief in You brings, not just hope but life. What better living parable could You have brought? All fear death. All. Even in the garden, You took on our fear if for only moments, it was as real as our fears can be real and You knew then that this single enemy must be destroyed. And, You sacrificed Your life, leaving those who had been comfort, and follower; You left them behind, to conquer fear. I shall cling to this now, and the tomorrows given me. Peace and Thanksgiving lifted unto You. Amen.

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