A Prayer for Times of Trouble

Faithful Father ~

In times like these, there seems to be no silence, just confusion - too many thoughts combined with too many possibilities frantically dancing with too many emotions. In times like these, the heart aches but can find no voice, the heart cries but can find no release. In times like these, there are no easy answers, no quick solutions, no simple explanations. Jehovah, remind us of Your faithfulness.

Petitions to You are endless, with asking and telling, questioning and knowing, seeking and listening. The soul finds hope beside doubt, truth beside lies, joy beside sorrow, love beside betrayal. The wounds are so deep and so wide that they cannot be measured. Consequences are unfair, circumstances are cruel, and the burdens are too heavy. Adonai, remind us of Your unfailing love.

When darkness falls as the day ends and stillness calls, it is Your voice that whispers to the weary Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest. . .for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Hold the tears and the truth that disappoints; hear the cries and the heart that breaks.  Jesus, Lover of my soul, remind us that You are the Yoke, the One who shares all burdens. 

In times like these, there is peace in Your presence.  In times like these, there is hope in Your love.  In times like these, there is comfort in Your loving arms.  In times like these, there is joy in Your holiness and grace.  El Shaddai, remind us that You are God All Sufficient.  Amen.  ~dho

[I] have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And [I] pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father. Colossians 1: 9-12 (NIV)

Things of God ~ Contemplation and Conversation

“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” 

Proverbs 18:15 The Message

[God speaks to us through the people who speak to us about the things of God.]

~ Henri Nouwen

“Good words satisfy like a fine meal; yes, good conversations are sure to satisfy.” 

Proverbs 18:20 The Voice

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Holy Spirit Within Us

Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, however harmless it may appear to me. A.W. Tozer

The secular response to Christ - if there is any acknowledgement - is that Christ was a great teacher and a good person. The world says there are no absolute truths, that truth is what you believe to be true. The Holy Scriptures, the foundation of the Christian faith, tells a different story. Christ is the Living Son of God, the willing and sinless sacrifice offered for all the iniquities of humanity. He has always been and will always be. Jesus came in human form to earth to fulfill God's Plan of salvation for mankind. There ARE truths that must be part of our faith statement as Christians. Without these absolute truths, we claim a belief in nothing more than good intentions.

Read 1 John 2:18-29

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life He promised us. . . you have received the Holy Spirit and He lives within you. . . For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what He teaches is true. 1 John 2:24,27 NLT

Through careful and continued study of the Scriptures, these truths become more clear. God reveals Himself to us today through the Living Word. The Scriptures are both ancient and living words, telling us the stories of old and using these lessons for today. Our struggles in the world are no different than centuries ago. There was unbelief then and unbelief today. Then - time after time, faith required a bold stance in the face of uncertainty, and today - we must continue to stand boldly in faith to our Creator, Redeemer and King.

Consider this!

• How do believers come to more fully understand the character of God?
• Why does the world dilute and deny the absolute truths in the Scriptures?
• What do you believe about Christ?

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me. Father, Son and Spirit ~ three in One ~ we cannot understand Perfect Love, but we can accept this Gift by faith. Give us the courage to grow in understanding of the Living Word that we might be light in the darkness. Amen. ~ dho

Oneness in Christ

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6 NASB

The journey of every Christian begins at the same place, the cross. Without the cross, the death of innocence and victory over death, grace would be just a concept. Instead, grace chooses us and claims us though our faith. Hope not only promises but sustains us. Despite differences among Christian denominations, Christ remains the One constant. Holy Scripture reveals the beliefs of the collective body of Christ, the church, and connects the commonality of our faith, our humanity, and our destiny. Christianity is oneness in Christ

In this Scripture, the Trinity ~ one Spirit, one Lord, one God ~ merges with the one God of all who is over all and through all and in all, individually unique but unified all together as One. The Holy Spirit dwells, intercedes, and builds unity. This Spirit of truth and understanding and counsel guides us. Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, becomes grace. The righteous and holy and sinless Jesus takes the punishment for humanity's sin, and calls to us, "Follow Me." The loving Father, protector and provider, desires to be in relationship with us. Encompassing all, the transcendent God reigns ~ sovereign and just and infinite.

One faith unites us to the Living God, Jehovah, El Shaddai, the One who offers one hope, a promise of everlasting life. Inward renewal of the soul by the Holy Spirit identifies our oneness in Christ with one baptism, a spiritual baptism into the body of Christ. The Message ends the Scripture this way, "Every thing you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness". Theology and sacrament converge as together we confess oneness in Christ with our whole being ~ in character and thought and deed. ~dho

 "Every thing you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness". Theology and sacrament converge as together we confess oneness in Christ with our whole being ~ in character and thought and deed. - Donna Oswalt

God's Mystery ~ Contemplation and Conversation, 2015

“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” 

Proverbs 18:15 The Message

[No human being, no matter how wise or how spiritual, can interpret the ways of God, explain why one miracle and not another, why an apparent intervention here and not there...we can only wait and trust.]

Philip Yancey, from Prayer, Does It Make Any Difference?

“Good words satisfy like a fine meal; yes, good conversations are sure to satisfy.” 

Proverbs 18:20 The Voice

Share your thoughts, questions, experiences, and/or conversations:

*right here; see below "COMMENTS"

*Mangrove Ministries Facebook Page

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Jesus Knows

Nathanael said to [Jesus], "How do You know me?" Jesus said, "...I saw you." 
John 1:47-51 NKJV

Currently, I am studying a book, Discernment by Henri Nouwen, to better understand God's will and purpose for this time in my life. This Scripture from John reveals that Jesus knows us, intimately hears our hearts and hopes, completely understands our intentions and frustrations, actually sees our willingness and weakness. Just like with Nathanael, Jesus demonstrates His supernatural knowledge to us whenever we are open to God's presence. Jesus knows!

Discernment becomes a new way of seeing that results in divine revelation and direction. ~ Henri Nouwen  

The discernment process consists of listening more deeply for the voice of God, and its global purpose for each of us is to know God's will. This new way to see God affords the individual new opportunities. In the process of discovery, the acknowledgement that God does see and know me evolves, and my alertness to God's presence heightens. This openness to God reveals a deeper awareness of spiritual truth, and the awakening of purpose begins to unfold. I find new affirmation of who I am in Christ. I know Jesus knows! ~ dho  

"Jesus demonstrates His supernatural knowledge to us whenever we are open to God's presence. Jesus knows!" ~ Donna Oswalt

God's Love ~ Contemplation and Conversation, 2015

Breathing Room For My Soul

“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” 

Proverbs 18:15 The Message

Contemplation...

[God has created you and me with a heart that only God's love can satisfy. And every other love will be partial, will be real, but limited, will be painful. And if we are willing to let the pain prune us, to give us a deeper sense of our belovedness, then we can be as free as Jesus and walk on this world and proclaim God's first love, wherever we go.] - Henri Nouwen

then Conversation... 

“Good words satisfy like a fine meal; yes, good conversations are sure to satisfy.” 

Proverbs 18:20 The Voice

Share your thoughts, questions, experiences, and/or conversations:

*right here; see below "COMMENTS"

*Mangrove Ministries Facebook Page

*on Twitter @SoulChat

WORDS for a New Year ~ 2015!

Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights. 
Proverbs 18:15 The Message

Words, words, words, AND more words! With the internet, social media, and electronic devices - we scan, read, and process an enormous amount of words daily. Overflowing words saturate us with general information through our work, from the news, about our connections while others pour into us from books, movies, lyrics, signs, and directions. How many of these words are useful to our souls, improve our personal spiritual journey, or increase our knowledge of who God is, of who God calls us to be within our community?

Proverbial wisdom reminds us, "Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as satisfying as a good harvest." (Proverbs 18:20 MSG) While studies show the average woman speaks 20,000 words per day and men, 7,000 words, the studies do not evaluate the usefulness of these many words. Maybe the more important question is not how many words we speak, but how do we use our words? Words can destroy or encourage, blame or explain, be loving or deceitful, be filled with compassion or empty and useless. Words connect us to each other! Words have great power! 

Thinking about the new year, I want to add something to my blog I am calling "Contemplation and Conversation"! From time to time, a short quotation will be given for your reflection and then, hopefully, you will share your thoughts with someone else. So often these days, we simple read words, maybe ponder them, and sometimes even incorporate new ideas into our personal experiences, but sharing words - in conversation, with discussion - happens less and less. Oh, we speak to each other - obviously 1,000's of words a day, but deep and honest exchanges have become fewer and fewer. Words have the potential to grow our minds and hearts. From the beginning before time, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) Jesus, this Word, can transform each of us into more!

So, here's the challenge! Read the "Contemplation and Conversation" posts, ponder them then talk to someone or several someones. Share your thoughts and ask them what they think! It will be posted to Mangrove Ministries' Facebook page (click link here) as well. Comments welcome!  Begin today by sharing your thoughts about today's Scriptures and this idea. Get involved! Share your experiences! Let's start feeding our inner voices, increasing our Spiritual journeys, always learning, always listening for fresh insights. ~dho

***By the way, my regular blog will continue as usual, posting typically will be Thursday! AND while we are talking about the blog, share and invite your friends to follow - SIGN UP for EMAIL! (top right corner)

Let's start feeding our inner voices, increasing our Spiritual journeys, always learning, always listening for fresh insights. ~ Donna Oswalt

4th Sunday of Advent ~ Holy Light, Perfect Love

Merry Christmas!  ~ 2014

the 4th Sunday of Advent leads us into Christmas...

“…and they hall call his name

Immanuel,” which means

GOD WITH US!  Matthew 1:23

FrederickBuechner, American writer and theologian writes, “…Bethlehem is not the end of our journey but only the beginning…” The Season of Light captures our attention with its hurried and increased activities. Choirs and candles, decorations and details capture us. Words and wonder fill us to nearly overflowing. The Virgin Mary with Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, angels singing to shepherds, a star and Magi, all coming to celebrate this newborn baby called Immanuel. Advent candles retell the familiar story with hope and peace and joy and love. Buechner continues, “The birth of Jesus made possible not just a new way of understanding life but a new way of living it.”

Christmas reminds us of new beginnings. We sing Christ the Savior is born but must remember that Christ is also the Redeemer, bringing salvation to a dying world, establishing a new relationship with us. Immanuel, GOD WITH US, is still with us and holds us with grace and goodness. Jesus came that we might be His Light to others, to help the lost and have compassion on the broken, to feed the hungry and hold the hurting, to tell the Good News of His Grace, to forgive, to listen, to love. We must continue to live a new way after the Christmas celebrations end and the decorations are put away, long after we forget about sheep and shepherds. As we find our old routines, let the greatest Christmas Gift, Jesus, renew our journeys. Let’s find the new beginning and new ways of living for Christ in the coming year! ~ dho / 2014         

3rd Week of Advent ~ Shepherds See the Glory of God!

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night... and the glory of The Lord shone around them... For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ The Lord... You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger..." Luke 2:8-20

The shekinah Glory of God fills the house of The Lord (1Kings 8:11) when the Ark of the Covenant is placed into the Holy of Holies in the temple Solomon built. Centuries later high above a Bethlehem field the Glory of The Lord again appears breaking the silence of the night, revealing to shepherds where to find Christ The Lord! This stands in stark contrast between appearing to the priests in the Temple in the Most Holy Place and common shepherds in an open field. Considered the least in society, shepherds, believed to be unclean, could not even worship in the Temple; yet, God chooses these with simple faith to go and find the baby Jesus. The least, the simple, the willing shepherds.

Some scholars suggest that sheep to be used for sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem were frequently kept in the fields around Bethlehem, and that perhaps the very shepherds the angel appeared to were keeping watch over these sheep. While the shepherds could not even be witnesses in legal situations, perhaps it is irony that they become the first people to bear witness and testify to the birth of Jesus. The New Testament uses the Greek word poimen for 'shepherd' meaning a person who tends to a flock. According to Mounce's Expository Dictionary, the most frequent use of poimen refers to Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. These shepherds who society deems some of its most unworthy receive the first invitation to see the Lamb of God. The unclean, the unworthy, the invited shepherds.

This Advent season reconsider these God-chosen ones. In the Christmas Story, shepherds of simple faith and willing to respond are key figures, but society calls them unworthy and unreliable. The shepherds came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when [the shepherds] had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Do we see others through God's eyes or accept society's view? Are we willing to recognize Jesus in the least, the simple, the broken? Aren't we ALL unclean, sinners who are unworthy? Yet, God chooses each of us ~ rich or poor, scholar or laborer, old or young, thriving or hopeless, struggling or defeated! God invites each of us to come and meet Christ The Lord ~Perfect Love, Lamb of God, Amazing Grace!  ~dho

The Second Week of Advent 2014 ~ The Lord You Are Seeking Comes!

Ad-vent: a time of waiting; marked by a spirit of anticipation; an arrival of a notable person; appearance

"See, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:1 NIV

Some say the four candles we light at Advent symbolize the 400 years between the prophecy of Malachi and the proclamation of John the Baptist. During those 400 years, God is silent. Historians record the lives of the people during Persian, Greek and Roman rulers, each group conquering the next. Cyrus of Persia meets defeat, and Alexander the Great claims victory. When Jerusalem comes under Greek control, idol worship desecrates the temple. During these years the Jews participate in the Maccabean revolt which re-establishes the Jewish temple. It is cleansed and rededicated (Hanukkah celebrates this victory). Ultimately the Romans defeat the Greeks, and by the time John the Baptist spreads the message about Jesus, Herod the Great rules the Roman Empire. Four hundred years of waiting! 

These 400 years mark the completion of the Old Testament writings giving the Jews an authoritative canon, comprising the Law, the Prophets, and the Wisdom writings. The Greeks compile the Scriptures of the Old Testament and translate them into Greek calling it the Septuagint. Other writings scholars acknowledge from this period include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Apocrypha, writings of Philo and Josephus, early rabbinical writings, and religious literature known as the Qumran. The Old Testament we know today includes the 39 canonical books that the Jews accepted during this time. Four hundred years of writing! 

"It is written in Isaiah the prophet:

"I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way - a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, and make straight paths for him.'" 

And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him...And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:2-8

In Luke 4:14-21 we can read the account of Jesus going to the synagogue, standing to read from the scroll given Him. "Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is one Me because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  Everyone watches Jesus as He returns to sit. Jesus looks at them and says, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Four hundred years of silence broken!

The Old Testament tells of obedient prophets who share the messages God reveals but all pass from life without the appearance of the 'Wonderful Counselor'. A faithful remnant waiting for the 'Everlasting Father' to end their struggles in a world more impressed with power and possessions pass their hope from generation to generation to generation. Desperate and defeated people longing for the one called 'Mighty God' anticipate His coming. Then the 'Prince of Peace' walks into the synagogue and announces God's promise is fulfilled, but nobody recognizes Him. 

This week contemplate God's promise of the Messiah. Think of the years of faithful waiting. Imagine yourself in the synagogue that day, listening to Jesus read the Holy Scriptures from ancient times. Are you listening? Do you recognize Jesus? Do you hear Him calling? 
God is calling to you, preparing you for His purposes. Listen! ~ dho