Day 31 - Passionate*Pioneer*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Years after shopping carts and velcro, I found myself at home, alone, in my quiet time chair while everyone else was gone to work and school.  The perfect storm had converged over my life - the winds of change I wrote about in Day 29.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

He leads me beside quiet waters,

I was laid off from my job, and so on this particular day I had nowhere to go.  I had been running, spinning, and working so hard to try and keep everything together and moving in the right direction, and suddenly I was still.  I had no schedule, no alarm, and all was quiet.

He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

I sat in that quiet time chair in my pajamas with my Bible, a journal and a pen for almost a whole day.  I had no words, quite uncommon for me.  So, I listened in the silence.  I needed to hear my Shepherd call my name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I was feeling very lost - off course.  Suddenly, I realized I had been wandering for a long time.  I had been distracted by all the sights and sounds.  Voices called from every direction; an opportunity over here, and a great idea over there.  Distractions, enticements...I followed watching, trying, hoping to find the best stuff of life.

I will fear no evil, for You are with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

And then I heard Him...
Good Shepherd whispered my name deep within my heart.  He reminded me of my young wandering seed and the choice...velcro or the cart.  The wandering seed was me too.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, 

Over the next several months I attended a prayer class - listening prayer - at my church.  (I was only available to go to the class because I didn't have a job during those months.  When the class ended I started a new job!)

You anoint my head with oil;

During this class, practicing listening prayer, I began to hear Good Shepherd calling me from my desert wanderings.  He called me by a new name, "Passionate Pioneer". Good Shepherd was calling me to follow Him, velcroed to His side, out of the desert and into a new land of abundant life with Him!  

my cup overflows.

I wanted to follow.  I was afraid at first.  However, it was Good Shepherd's call, "Passionate Pioneer, come and follow me.  I'll take you on the adventure of a lifetime, beyond your wildest imagination, if you'll choose to journey with Me!", which was utterly irresistible...a cup of cold water for my dry and crusty heart. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

In the quiet, stillness of the cart, I spoke up, "Oh Good Shepherd, I want to be velcroed to Your side.  Thank You for searching me out.  Thank You for calling my name with JOY, and thank You for velcro."

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23

Thank You, new and old friends, and family for sharing the journey over these 31 days.  Thank you for your encouragement, for reading along, and most of all to STFM for putting up with all the long nights of typing and leaving "the stuff" undone!  

I'm so grateful for all you fellow sojourners; it's so much more fun to adventure on the journey together - arm in arm - on tiptoes of anticipation to see the greatness of our King!     

Blessings of GREAT JOY on your amazing adventure journey with Jesus! 

Lisa        

Day 30 - Velcroed To My Side*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

No worries...it only looks like a real alligator.

Our youngest seed was a wanderer, an adventure seeker.  Taking him shopping, as a young tyke, was a challenge.  My solution to his wandering ways - make him ride in a cart.  Young seed, however, wanted no part of riding in the cart, and had a way of arguing (like a skilled attorney) his point with such intensity I usually chose not to fight that particular battle.

On one memorable outing, the two seeds and I grabbed a cart and took off to accomplish our errand.  As any good mom would do, I promised a trip to McDonald's to reward good behavior. I admonished both seeds to stay with me, right by my side, and off we went.

Our seeds - brothers forever!

For our young adventurer, the sights and sounds of the toy aisle were far too enticing.  And shopping, mom style, was B.O.R.I.N.G.  Several times, young seed made moves toward the toys, but I refocused him to stay with his brother. I promised to walk through the toy aisle on our way to the checkout lane.

Trying to finish up the necessary, I turned away from seeds and cart.  It was a moment of concentration, but when I turned back only one seed stood looking at me...the eldest seed. "Where's your brother?"  The shoulders shrugged and the brow wrinkled.  

I wasn't overly concerned.  It was the toy aisle. He couldn't help himself.  So, we headed confidently to find young seed.

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'"   Luke 15:4-6

To infinity and beyond...

He wasn't there.  I felt fear rise up, and I began calling his name.  With each aisle and no sign of my missing seed, I called louder.  Finally I located an employee and frantically tried to get her to understand my child was lost.

The kind woman followed procedure and called for a "Code Adam" over the loud speaker.  The manager asked me for a description.  The front doors were sealed, and employees swept the store searching for a wandering, lost looking child.

In reality, only minutes went by before I was paged to the front doors.  As I ran, one seed by the hand, toward the sound of the page, I saw him...the younger seed.  He was standing up by the front doors with the greeter.

Always making us laugh!

Relieved, I called to him.  He stopped, looked at me quizzically, and asked, "What's wrong, Momma?" I told him I was worried and afraid because he was lost.  Undaunted, my young adventure seed exclaimed, "I'm not lost!  I'm a greeter!"

Should I laugh, cry, scream?  I scooped him into my arms, hugging him and his brother; so grateful for the return of my lost sheep.  I thanked the greeter, the manager, the employees who had searched and taken the whole situation seriously.  All the adults and the older seed were relieved while the younger still couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about!

The next time we headed out on a shopping errand I gave youngest seed the ultimatum.  Knowing his affinity for velcro, I told him we were going to pretend we each had velcro attached to our sides.  He could walk in the store as long as he attached himself (velcro to velcro) to my side.  If he detached his velcro from my velcro and wandered off, young seed would have to ride in the cart.period.end of discussion.  

For many years after, young seed would receive the admonition, "Remember you are velcroed to my side!"

Ah, but sometimes their lessons are meant for me too.

There came a day, not many years ago, when I was wandering, distracted by sights and sounds and dreams and desire to "do something" exciting for God.  I wasn't seeking His face, I was shopping popular trends of our culture.

It was in this season I heard the Lord, my Father, calling me in the deep place of my heart, "Lisa, my daughter, you need to come and velcro yourself to my side!"

I've said for years, "One day I'm going to write a book entitled, 'Everything I know about God I learned from raising sons'"  Maybe one day...

Blessings of GREATEST JOY on your amazing adventure journey with Jesus!

Lisa

Day 29 - The Worst Vow I Ever Made Redeemed*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

(con't. from Days 27 & 28)  She's gonna' blow!

Suddenly, the winds of change began to blow through my life, picking up in intensity over several years. The earth rumbled and quaked under the core of my dry and crusty heart. My life seemed to be crumbling inward, and I was helpless to stop the destruction!

"Helpless, failure, inadequate, unloved" were some of the words the enemy of my soul continually whispered into my broken places.  The seeds of lies had taken root. Destructive fruit had grown in the weed patches of my heart garden. My faith was severely tested as I doubted the goodness of God toward me.  

...if God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

The landscape of family I had envisioned at a young age was structured, manicured and flawless.  I had somehow believed a perception that if I worked the "Christian family formula" as prescribed in sermons and radio talk shows, I'd achieve the "right answer" - the happy Christian family reproduced into the next generation.  

The reality of our family was not so; it was messy, difficult, and frankly a disappointment to my heart.  Daily, I asked myself, and God, "How did we get here?"  I tried to do it all right.  The desire of my heart was to be the very best wife and mom I could possibly be.  My prayers were full of requests for Father to help me to love well, and to forgive my shortfalls.  

But our family was broken.  Relationships were torn.  Anger, bitterness and resentment threatened to tear us limb from limb.  Church and faith and belief became a point of further contention and division...the prowling lion was licking his lips.

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:33-34

Our oldest seed was preparing to graduate from high school.  Plans to send him off to college had been made.  Another two years and we would be repeating the scenario with our youngest.  

Reality was setting in; the years of parenting from within our home were coming to a close.  Easily within sight was the empty nest.  STFM and I would soon come full circle to where we started - just us.

The reality of "just us" was a scary thought, which was unfortunate.  Our goal in parenting had been to raise our seeds to maturity and independence, send them flying successfully from the nest and then celebrate our free-bird status. Unfortunate for us, we could barely speak a civil word to one another.

The stuff of life pounded hard, change rocked my stability, everything was beyond my ability to control.  With every painful circumstance, I continued to try to stuff it all down, but I had reached maximum capacity.  The rocky core of my heart began to bubble hot and suddenly without warning the volcano blew. Years of unresolved feelings, hurt, anger, frustration spewed forth in red hot tears.

STFM and I sat in a counselor's office.  I had been referred to Dr. Doug by our pastor and his wife. It surely was a miracle we were sitting there for an appointment together. I had no faith STFM would attend and participate.  We were so emotionally and spiritually detached from one another.  It all seemed hopeless.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  Romans 8:35

The counselor asked me (sitting at one end of the couch) to tell STFM (sitting at the other end) how much it meant to me that he was there.  I opened my mouth to speak, but only tears (and snot) flowed.  I wasn't sure I would ever be able to stop.  

Our counselor leaned toward STFM and stated rather directly, "There's a box of tissue next to you.  Get a tissue for your wife, scoot over close to her, put your arms around her and hold her while she cries."

The ugly consequence of the vow I made so many years before, STFM had never learned to console his wife through the heartache and the tears.  My sinful passive-aggressive behavior, a vow carelessly tossed out in anger, robbed us of an emotionally balanced relationship.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

It wasn't too late, and all had not been lost.  In one hour, we moved from hopeless to hopeful.  The curse of the drought had been broken mercifully by a loving Father, who heard my cry of repentance and graciously came to the rescue.  

It's been a few years now.  We're still working on our relationship; daily growing in intimacy with one another and with God.  Over these last few years, we've laughed a lot and we've shed quite a few tears - both of us - and we're healthier for it.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

Blessings of GREAT JOY on your amazing adventure journey with Jesus!

Lisa

Day 28 - The Worst Vow I Ever Made And Then*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

(continued from Day 27)

And truly, he didn't...see me cry that is...not for many, many years into our marriage.  In anger and frustration, passive-aggressive felt she had really showed him.  Yet, STFM was not upset or hurt at all by the bold vow.  In fact, he was glad for it.  He was getting everything he wanted out of the argument; no more tears would be a bonus!

Time went on, life ebbed and flowed between beautiful moments of joy and the harsh reality of conflict.  From the rearview mirror I see more beauty than anything else.  However, there were disagreements, hurt feelings, and painful emotions; the normal stuff of relationship between two people daily struggling between saint and sinner.  

When the tears stung at the corners of my eyes, I practiced what I had declared; I pushed them back, bit my lip, and most often laughed to keep myself from crying.

Still rather young on my adventure journey with Jesus, I had no understanding of the power of my words.  I had not read God's word regarding vows and oaths, nor the power of life and death being in the tongue.  However, I was taught by my dad, "Never say never!"  Obviously, I had not yet learned to heed the warnings of elder wisdom and Godly counsel.

In your anger, do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27

The rash words faded over weeks, months and years. My hastily spoken words though, blurted out in anger, opened a hole in my spiritual heart garden, and into the fertile soil the enemy of my soul continually sowed seeds of lies.

Each time my heart was wounded, I pushed the tears down, along with the pain, packing those lies down further and further.  The lies took root and from the lies grew wrong thinking; out of wrong thinking, wrong actions played out.  Such a subtle and deceptive tactic of our enemy, Satan.

In time, we began a family, STFM and I.  As the two became four, Father answered my prayers for only sons to raise.  (One of the lies I believed: I would be a better mom to sons than daughters.  Wrongly I thought life would hold less drama (fewer tears)with sons.  Wrongly, I say!)

With two sons, one STFM and a boy dog, I was greatly out-numbered by testosterone.  And so, with every year, every stage of life as a family, the un-redeemed people-pleaser in me continually sought to fit in by "being one of the guys".  Sports, stinky socks, tons of boo boos, and brush it off - you're not hurt, no you're tough...

As their mom I had done them a great dis-service.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, 

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

I'm so grateful for redemption, forgiveness and restoration.  More to follow...

Blessings of GREAT JOY on your amazing adventure journey with Jesus, 

Lisa

Day 27 - The Worst Vow I Ever Made*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

The worst vow I ever made came tumbling from my lips in a moment of anger and frustration toward my husband (STFM).  At the time, he was quite frustrated with me as well.

May 21, 1988

We were probably within the first year to eighteen months of marriage, so in the marital bliss department, we were still pretty green.  And then, as if marriage were not a big enough adjustment, we had already experienced job change, moving out of state, and the purchase of our first home.

As I described previously, Day 21, I am a recovering passive-aggressive people-pleaser. Suffice it to say, I'm much more recovered today than I was 25 years ago. So, in the beginning, anytime STFM hurt my feelings, argued with me or didn't take my side on an issue, I ran to the master bedroom closet, sat in the dark and cried my eyes out.

Of course, passive-aggressive ran to the closet expecting STFM to follow after, wrap her in his arms, console, and then give her what she wanted.  I thought this was how it was supposed to work.  It works this way in romantic chick flicks, right?

May 21, 2013

Well, STFM was (and still is) not a fan of drama nor was he sympathetic to tears.  As a leading man, I believe STFM would give Clark Gable, as Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind, a run for his money.  Frankly, my dear, he did not give a hoot!

All these years later I have no idea what caused such a fuss.  The details of our conflict are long lost, which indicates the trivial nature of our disagreement.  

On this particular day, however, my typical pattern of crying in the closet was met with a rapid response from STFM.  He did chase after me this time, and when he found me on the floor in the closet, he stated emphatically something to the effect of:

You need to dry it up.  You can't just run and cry every time we disagree or anytime you don't get your way!

Oh!  Well now, those to me were fightin' words!  No longer was I sad and desiring consolation.  I.Was.Mad.  So, I looked my young groom square in the eye and vowed, 

"Fine, you'll never see me cry again!"

The worst vow I ever made, but that's not the end of the story.

This is what the LORD commands:  When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word, but must do everything he said."  Numbers 30:1-2

Blessings of GREAT JOY on your amazing adventure journey with Jesus!

Lisa

Day 26 - My Prayer for You*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

My prayer for you and me this week...

(Truly, this is my prayer for me.  Perhaps you desire to pray with me this week.)

Father, my Abba, encourage me, strengthen me, and comfort me as I learn to be content in whatever circumstance.  As my family faces unknown health issues, job loss, and decisions regarding the care of an elderly parent, may I desire most of all to keep my eyes on You and stand close at Your side.  

Thank You for reminding me of Your faithfulness, Your provision, Your love, and Your healing through all the days of my life.  There's not been a single day You didn't show Yourself mighty to save and tender to love.  

You know all the circumstances of my life and only You know all the times You've rescued me - delivered me from disaster.  I offer You a heart of gratitude for all the times I created my own trouble and in the midst cried out to You for help; You heard my pitiful cry and brought help I didn't deserve.  I thank You for the times You allowed me to feel the discipline of natural consequences.  However, I am humbled to wonder how many times You poured out Your favor on me through the kindness of others, and made for me a way of escape.

I thank You Abba for these words from Paul through the Holy Spirit to the Philippians 

(4:11-13 HCSB) 

for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content - whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.  I am able to do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.

I thank You for the encouragement; being content is a learning process.  You know I am on the journey of learning.  And I thank You, Father, You are the one who enables me to be content and to persevere through whatever circumstance I am in, as You lead me on the path toward Your Kingdom entrance.  

This life journey is truly an adventure with You, Father, and I thank You for the guidance of Holy Spirit.  May I journey with You in great JOY and contentment to represent You well.  Provide other sojourners along the way that we may link arms, walking together to Your Throne Room... for help, to give thanks and delight in Your presence.  

In the precious name of Jesus', my helper, my JOY, and my contentment...Amen!

Blessings of GREAT JOY on your amazing journey with Jesus!

Lisa

Day 25 - Perspective Pushes Away Helpless*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

 Still pondering the hard week...the helpless feeling...so many needs and not enough answers.

Pondering today from a different vantage point, a place of rest.  Jesus' words all important and timely.

"Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

What was the context of Jesus' directive to His disciples in Mark 6:31? 


The twelve had been sent out by Jesus two by two to minister to the people they encountered.  Jesus had given them authority over evil spirits.  And before they set off on their adventure, journeying with Jesus, He set the parameters of their pioneering mission.

"Take nothing for the journey except a staff - no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.  Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.  And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."  

Mark 6:12-30 recounts for us the reason Jesus met them with a place of rest, offering restorative refreshment in His Presence.

The disciples went out into the dark of the day, into the villages of fallen mankind.  They went just as Jesus sent them as Light and Salt in the power He imparted to them by the Father's will and purpose.


The disciples preached repentance, drove out demons, anointed the sick with oil and saw many healed from the inside, soul healing, and the outward, physical healing.

And in the middle of all this redemptive work, the horrible, tragic martyrdom of a saint took place. John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, the forerunner of Christ, the one who was sent to prepare the way, to blaze the trail...the pioneer, was imprisoned and beheaded.

The disciples went and took John's body from the prison and laid it in a tomb.  And then... they were gathered around Jesus.

I want to allow myself to think, to imagine, taking the present day circumstances of my life and ministry in the "village" where I live to understand this passage of Scripture; the scenario which led Jesus to call the disciples away...by themselves...with Him...alone...in the quiet place...to get some rest.

They were grieving the murder of John the Baptist. Gathered together again with Jesus, they were telling Him of their experiences, the people they met and ministered to; they were recounting the victories they witnessed in His name. 

But the people kept coming in and out.  The needs and suffering was never ending.  The darkness tried without end to crowd into their fellowship with Jesus. So, many were the demands, they didn't even have an opportunity to eat.  

Possibly the events had stolen their appetite. Weariness, despair, and helplessness surely beckoned the disciples to come and take part.  In the midst of all the good ministry, the victories accomplished on the journey, walking with Jesus, the reality of the depth of depravity overwhelms and threatens.

And so, Jesus steps in and simply commands, "Come, Lisa, with Me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest."

The Good Shepherd's call is for His sheep.  Do you hear His beckoning? He's calling you...Come, (your name is here),...

Day 24 - Feels Like Friday* Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

It feels like Friday.

The end of a long work week.

Fatigue from early alarms and 

late nights.

And the stuff of life, being out there in the dark of the day, out in the world. 

There’s no long search to find people imprinted by sadness, anger, depression, injustice, hatred, illness, abuse, apathy, a broken family, neglect, and death. 

Simple encounters, momentary conversations (for those with eyes to see and ears to hear) reveal expressionless faces, longing eyes; hopelessness and despair spoken through body language and strained voices.

I’m not referring to long nights spent on TV or movies or internet.  No, this is the stuff of real people.  And in my sphere of influence, the heart-wrenching truth - so many walking wounded are children.

People all around me are hurting, lost, anxious, lonely and suffering from the fallen-ness of mankind extending all the way back to Adam’s treasonous choice in the Garden. 

Leaving work, I pulled my car onto the road leading home, Jesus caught my attention.  He knows my thoughts and what I tend to do with them.  So, He reminds me of truth.  The words of Paul I need to catch hold of…

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

Suddenly reminded, Good Shepherd is near, I prayed.

Jesus, You know all the stuff, I've bumped into today. I can't fix it, and I can't carry it.  It's all too much, and I am weak.  All I know for sure; Jesus, You are the only hope for everyone I've met today.  You're my only hope.  So, please do what only YOU can do for each of us; fulfill Your good plan and glorify Your name.

And then the earlier words of Paul to the Philippians pushed forward in my thinking...

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

Refreshed, thankful, I received His peace and pulled my car into home.

Weekend. Rest. Sabbath. Grateful.

Blessings of GREAT JOY following Jesus on this amazing adventure journey!

Lisa

Day 23 - Testimony in a Psalm*Adventure*Journeying with Jesus*

It's been a long day...a hard day.  You?

By lunch time, I wished I'd donned work-out attire and tennis shoes rather than cute-work attire.  

I like to be busy, and I was today.  However, there's productive-busy and then there's hectic-busy.  Today, at work, was hectic busy.

I like my job.  I feel like I make a difference - light in a spiritually dim environment.  

And tonight, it was my delight to do ministry with beautiful daughters of the Most High God and King.  We filled 100 gift bags with chocolates and nail polish, tied them up with colorful ribbon; we asked the Holy Spirit to pour a blessing over each gift bag and make them useful in a supernatural way to reveal the love of Christ to women trapped on the streets of our city.

If I'm whining...I'm sorry!  I'm just really tired and my head hurts behind my right eye.  Again, I've not protected my sleep.  

My day began so sweetly with a cup of coffee on my quiet couch visiting with Jesus.  His Word in Psalm 40 warmed my heart and soul.  I said to Him, "Good Shepherd, these words sound like me!"  I believe He smiled a yes.

If only I could have stayed there all day...visiting with Him, hearing and taking in.  But, He is not just for me to receive and hold for myself.  Father says I must go out and share Him with everyone He give opportunity. 

So, on this 23rd day of the 31 day writing challenge...I'm sharing with you the blessing of Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the Lord,

and He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

He brought me up from a desolate pit,

out of the muddy clay,

and set my feet on a rock,

making my steps secure.

He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear

and put their trust in the Lord.

How happy is the man

who has put his trust in the Lord

and has not turned to the proud

or to those who run after lies!

Lord my God, You have done many things—

Your wonderful works and Your plans for us;

none can compare with You.

If I were to report and speak of them,

they are more than can be told.

You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;

You open my ears to listen, 

You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.

Then I said, “See, I have come;

it is written about me in the volume of the scroll.

I delight to do Your will, my God;

Your instruction lives within me.”

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;

see, I do not keep my mouth closed —

as You know, Lord.

I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;

I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;

I did not conceal Your constant love and truth

from the great assembly.

Lord, do not withhold Your compassion from me;

Your constant love and truth will always guard me.

For troubles without number have surrounded me;

my sins have overtaken me; I am unable to see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my courage leaves me.

Lord, be pleased to deliver me;

hurry to help me, Lord.

Let those who seek to take my life

be disgraced and confounded.

Let those who wish me harm

be driven back and humiliated.

Let those who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

be horrified because of their shame.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;

let those who love Your salvation continually say,

“The Lord is great!”

I am afflicted and needy;

the Lord thinks of me.

You are my helper and my deliverer;

my God, do not delay.

 

Amen and Good Night!