If somebody does you dirt and gets caught at it, they hate you all the more.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Chancy)

    “For the wicked are like the troubled sea, When it cannot rest, Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
              –Isaiah 57:20  (NKJV)
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Psalm 38 shows a tremendous cry for help from David.  He didn’t bother with any of his accusers, even though they were falsely accusing him.  He showed restraint in not acting against them.  W. Graham Scroggie said, “When we answer back, we may win a battle and lose the campaign; but when we are silent we may lose a battle but shall win the campaign.  It is well to sacrifice a passing victory for the sake of the final triumph.”  
    David went to the Lord with his sin, asking for forgiveness, but did not answer his critics.  Meditate on the words of this portion of Psalm 38.

    13 – I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.  I am like a speechless person who does not open his mouth.
    14 – I am like a man who does not hear and has no arguments in his mouth.
    15 – I put my hope in You, Lord; You will answer, Lord my God.
    16 – For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”
    17 – For I am about to fall, and my pain is constantly with me.
    18 – So I confess my guilt; I am anxious because of my sin.
    19 – But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason.
    20 – Those who repay evil for good attack me for pursuing good.
    21 – Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me.
    22 – Hurry to help me, Lord, my Savior. (HCSB)

There are those who love to gloat over another’s misery, whether it be a mistake, or failure, or sin.  They are smug in their satisfaction of seeing a righteous man fail.  David finally puts that aside, realizing that his hope is in the Lord and not in the vain thoughts of his enemies.
    Why was David being attacked so mercilessly?  Because he pursued good.  He didn’t go along with plans for evil.  He did not call evil good and good evil; he stood for the right.  He knew they were powerful, but he would put his trust in the Lord.  In that, he cried out to the Lord to be his immediate help.

              “Be still, my soul!  The Lord is on thy side;
               Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
               Leave to thy God to order and provide;
               In every change, he faithful will remain.
               Be still, my soul!  Thy best, thy heavenly Friend
               Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
                        –Katharina von Schlegel

    It our iniquity and in our quandary the Lord might not give us an immediate answer or immediate relief.  He might allow the process to continue in our life until we finally realize the lesson and call in deep sincerity upon Him.  Keep your trust in Him no matter your situation, whether it is induced by others or by your sin.  “He wants our obedience at His first call, but He will accept our surrender even after many invitations have been spurned.” (George O. Wood)  Lean on Him, and tell your soul to “be still.”

The best gift to man—or, if not the best, then at least the rarest—is the power to meet the emergency:  to do your best and a little better than your best when nothing less will serve.”
              –Eugene Manlove Rhodes (Bransford of Rainbow Range)

       “In this confidence let us hold on to the hope that we profess without the slightest hesitation—for he is utterly dependable—and let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds.”
              –Hebrews 10:23-24 (Phillips)
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My mercy, it’s May already!  Hard to believe.  May 1–May Day, an ancient celebration to bring in the spring season.  Through the years there have been many “versions” of it.  The most common in the U.S. was the giving of baskets, candy and flowers, left anonymously on the neighbor’s doorsteps.  It has also been designated as Law Day in the United States.  However, communist countries have celebrated it by the display of the nation’s armaments.  Quite a difference.
    The talk continues, and will continue regarding the virus.  The accusations, especially since this is an election year will harp on and on.  But the most important thing is:  what have you done during this quarantine?  Have you done your best to keep a good attitude?  Have you done your best to meet the situation as it comes to you?  Have you done your best to encourage friends and family?  Have you done your best to get with your Lord?
    Again, I will say, I do not believe that the Lord sent this virus upon the earth.  However, I do believe that He has allowed it.  There are several reasons, one of which is to wake up the people.  The Lord is coming soon, here is a wake-up call.  Another reason is for the Church, the believers, to clean up, straighten up, and look up for their redemption draweth nigh.  A third reason is to set the stage for the coming of the Antichrist and his world government.  There could be several more listed, but one last thing to consider was that the Lord allowed it for you.  This has been a wonderful time to spend more time with Him, study His Word, meditate and contemplate on the things of God.  This has been your time.

         “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”
                   –Hebrews 10:22-24 (NKJV)

    Since the Lord has given us this special time I want to close this Echo with some words from Fenelon.  Perhaps it may help you during this time in your prayer life.

          “When you see your mind wandering [during prayer], bring it back gently without being upset, and without ever being discouraged by these distractions which are stubborn.  On the contrary, they will help you more than a prayer which brings with it very evident comfort and fervor, because these distractions will humble you, mortify you, and accustom you to seek God purely for his own sake, unmixed with any pleasure.”

As Texas begins to move back the restrictions do not neglect the habits that have been formed in your spiritual disciplines.  Don’t waste and throw away this opportunity which the good Lord has given you.

Make every experience in your life count for good.”
              –Zane Grey  (Captive of the Desert)

    “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
              –Luke 12:40 (NIV)
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The first third of the year, that’s right, the year is one-third over, has been quite the different sort of a year than in the past.  For the first time baseball has been cancelled, at least until further notice.  Not even in the dark years of World War II was it cancelled, for it was considered “essential.”  The Houston Stock Show and Rodeo was cancelled, along with the Calgary Stampede and other rodeos.  NASCAR is not running in circles.  Meetings of any sort, in person, have for the most part been cancelled.  I don’t often do this, but I want to share with you something from Thomas a’Kempis.

         Each morning remember that you may not live until evening; and in the evening, do not presume to promise yourself another day.  Be ready at all times, and so live that death may never find you unprepared.  Many die suddenly and unexpectedly; for at an hour that we do not know the Son of Man will come.  When you last hour strikes, you will begin to think very differently of your past life, ad grieve deeply that you have been so careless and remiss.
         Happy and wise is he who endeavors to be during his life as he wishes to be found at his death.  For these things will afford us sure hope of a happy death; perfect contempt of the world; fervent desire to grow in holiness; love of discipline; the patience of penance; ready obedience; self-denial; the bearing of every trial for the love of Christ.  While you enjoy health, you can do much good; but when sickness comes, little can be done.  Few are made better by sickness, and those who make frequent pilgrimages seldom acquire holiness by so doing.
         Do not rely on friends and neighbors, and do not delay the salvation of your soul to some future date, for men will forget you sooner than you think.  It is better to make timely provision and to acquire merit in this life, than to depend upon the help of others.  And if you have no care for your own soul, who will have care for you in time to come?  The present time is most precious; now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.  It is sad that you do not employ your time better, when you may win eternal life hereafter.  The time will come when you will long for one day or one hour in which to amend; and who knows whether it will be granted?

    Salvation is up to you!  That is one thing a friend or family member cannot do for you.  And as is so stated above–don’t put it off!  Now is the time to be born again; now is the time to be working for Christ, for one day, and you don’t know when, it will be too late.  One-third of the year gone, what have you done?  In quarantine for several weeks, are you practicing Christian disciplines?  Ahh, but here’s just as important a question, there may (or may not) be two-thirds of the year left, what will you do if it is given to you?  Back to the old ways, party-hardy, or give unto the Lord your time, energy, strength, and life?

I have sometimes noticed that the people who preach peace so fervently are doing it from a comfortable place—often after a good meal.  It’s quite another thing when you face armed men in the night in a lonely place, men who have no standards beyond their own selfish interests.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Callaghen)

    “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.”
              –Proverbs 11:4 (NASB)
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Pandemic!  Ha, and that’s not to demean what is taking place.  In one sense of the word, it is a pandemic for the virus spread rapidly across the word and many died.  It does not come close to the 1918 influenza pandemic in which 40-80 million died.  I might also mention, one reason for the wide spread of 40 million is that no one really knows how many died in China; sounds strangely familiar.
    But folks, the world hasn’t seen nothing yet!  The Lamb, Jesus, is opening the Fourth Seal–the Pale Horse.  The COVID-19 epidemic will be like going to a Sunday School picnic compared to what is coming to the world.

         “When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come’ I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”
                    –Revelation 6:7-8 (NASB)

An “ashen horse” often translated as a “pale horse” and notice the name of its rider–Death.  The first time I saw the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and the dark riders appeared bring evil and darkness upon the earth I thought of Death riding the Pale Horse.  In my mind I see the Pale Horse as almost albino, a greenish color, the color of pus and infection.  Notice the wording, there may be an indication of a fifth horse ridden by Hades, or some translations, Hell.
    This will not be a happy time on earth.  There will be great travail and death will be rampant.  There are people today clamoring that the world must depopulate; well, they will get their wish for a fourth of the inhabitants of the earth will die in one way or another.  They will die from war, from famine, and from pestilence, and there is one added factor–wild beasts.
    No matter what apocalypse film you may have seen, it will not come close to depicting how horrible it will be for those who miss the Rapture.  Let me reiterate here that the Church has been removed; the “salt” that once flavored and seasoned the earth is no longer there.  Evil is now rampant.  God will not pour out His wrath on the “Bride.”  Look at what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

         “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come….  For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
                     –1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9 (NASB)

Imagine people being torn apart and eaten by wild beasts on the streets of Chicago.  Imagine food shortages and a pandemic much worse than the coronavirus on the streets of Atlanta, or the nation’s capitol.  To get food a person will have to carry the “mark” of the Antichrist–the dreaded, and often mocked, “Mark of the Beast.”  It will be a terrible time, but yet, the worse is still to come.  That’s why now–today–is the day of salvation.  Wake up, for our redemption draws nigh.