Transition.

I had fun in Dallas last weekend. I'm excited about California this weekend thru the 21st. In the mean time, I am not excited or, well, happy. Here are some scriptures to sum up my heart.

How long will you forget me, O Lord? Forever? How long will you hide Your face from me? How long must I lay up my cares within me and have sorrow in my heart day after day? How long shall my enemy exalt himself over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten the eyes [of my faith to behold Your face in the pitch like darkness], lest I sleep the sleep of death, Lest my enemy say, I have prevailed over him, and those that trouble me rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted, leaned on, and been confident in Your mercy and loving-kindness; my heart shall rejoice and be in high spirits in Your salvation. Psalm 13:1-5

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help! Draw out also the spear and javelin and close up the way of those who pursue and persecute me. Say to me, I am your deliverance! Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek and require my life; let them be turned back and confounded who plan my hurt! Let them be as chaff before the wind, with the Angel of the Lord driving them on! Let their way be through dark and slippery places, with the Angel of the Lord pursuing and afflicting them. For without cause they they hid for me their net; a pit of destruction without cause the dug for my life. Let destruction befall my foe unawares; let the net he hid for me catch him; let him fall into that very destruction. Then I shall be joyful in the Lord; I shall rejoice in His deliverance. Psalm 35:1-9

For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection; [they will be] slanderers, intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. Although they hold a form of piety, they dent and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. II Timothy 3:2-5a