God always pours His grace into empty hands. ~St. Augustine
I sometimes find my hands too full, holding all the moments that charm me, claim me, constrain me, conceal me. Sometimes I hold to them in fear that I will lose them or not find them again. Then, sometimes I hold to them in joy for the same reasons. Either way, I hold to them tightly, hands full! Only when I lay them at the altar, in confession or celebration, can I open my hands to the Holy Father. The vivid imagery that comes to my mind is kneeling with my hands empty, palms up, and knowing His grace falls gently to me.God, listen to me shout, bend an ear to my prayer. . . You've always given me breathing room, a place to get away from it all...... And I'll be the poet who sings Your glory! Psalm 61:1, 3, 8 The Message
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Acts of Worship
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God proclaiming our allegiance to His name. And don’t forget to do good and share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. Hebrews 13:15-16 NLT
- an offering of dedication and thankfulness to God for His provision
- an offering which is commanded by God
What will I offer as an act of worship ~ a different kind of sacrifice to God? ~dho
Friday, April 12, 2024
God-created Identity
Friday, April 05, 2024
Living Faith
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Jude 24-25 NKJV
In verses 20-23, Jude gives us a lesson in authentic faith, a living faith. With Christ, our faith becomes holiness, our prayers rise through the Holy Spirit, and mercy is ours in His love. Christ calls us to live lives of compassion and discernment, lives full of His love. Jude, like his brother James, gives a call to authentic faith, a faith of words and deeds, a faith that demonstrates the grace of Christ. How does your faith look? How does your faith live? Do those in your circle of influence find your faith journey to be marked by authentic faith?
The last two verses are a doxology full of praise to God, the only One who is wise, the only One worthy of praise, the only One that is both glory and majesty, authority and power. Only God offers grace that invites us into His presence both now and forever. This evokes both Hallelujah and AMEN to sing together deep inside my soul!! ~ dho
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Lent - Maundy Thursday - Bread and Wine of Jesus
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Lent - “I Am This Bread”
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Lent - Spiritual Hunger
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
- Hungry? How much time do you spend feeding your soul with God’s word?
- Will you commit to spending time with God - daily?
Living Bread ~ I am fed by an offering I cannot explain. Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more. My God-story is full! – dho
Thursday, March 07, 2024
Lent - Bread of the Presence
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Lent - Up to Jerusalem
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Lent - Impossible Bread
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Lent ~ Ash Wednesday
Living Bread ~ Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35
Thursday, February 08, 2024
Miracle-Wonders
I stood there saved - surprised to be loved. 2 Samuel 22:20 The Message
God of miracle-wonders,
God of well-thought-out-plans ~
His cloud-brightness burst through a grand
comet of fireworks. Then God thundered out
of heaven; the High God gave a great shout.
I have seen You ~ the Light in my darkness.
I have felt You ~ the Power in my weakness.
I have heard You ~ the Voice in the chaos.
I rest in the mountaintop refuge, safe.
Love Most High, in all times You are my
shield of protection! You rescue me, touch me,
heal me, lead me forward. For such love, words
search but find no escape, captives of
mediocrity. God, make my life complete as I
place all the pieces before You. Hear the
prayers of my heart. Amen. ~ dho
* Scripture from 2 Samuel 22 (The Message)
Thursday, February 01, 2024
Divine Agenda
John 4:28
"She put down her water jar. This very well may be
the heart of this beautiful story. Her water jar is her
own agenda. . . She walked away from that well with
Living Water because she was able to let go of her
own agenda . . . and go forth with God's agenda."
from Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angels
Help me put down my water jar - my agenda, my expectations, my plans, my desires. These get in the way of your Mighty Ways, your Divine Intentions for my life. In my own humanity, I fail to come to the altar without some remnant of thought or partial desire in my heart. In the deepest part of my soul, I long to worship You with pure intent. I thirst for Living Water. Fill my cup . . . I lift it up . . .Quench this thirsting in my soul . . . Fill it up and make me whole. Find me on my knees, my soul in the circle of grace, listening for Your Agenda. Amen. ~ dho
Thursday, January 25, 2024
Woven Together
You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know everything I do.
You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!…
What makes me think I can hide my doubts from You? How can I pretend to be strong when You know I am not? Why would You listen so intently to my prayers when You already know my needs? When am I ever alone?
You know all about me and love me still. I am never alone – You are all around me. You listen to the groans of my soul with mercy and tenderness. You are my strength; You make me bold, for I am nothing without You. LORD, even before I say a word, my heart’s desires, my anxious thoughts, my hurried spirit, my silent fears – all are known. You are too marvelous for me!
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Into Community
"Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other in a gesture of hope. In community we say: “Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs – but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.”
Henri J. M. Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup? (Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria, 1996), 57.
The Cloister walkway of Salisbury Cathedral |
Paul writes: And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Philemon 1:6 The Message
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Abundant Grace
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6 NKJV
Father, my heart gives You the Glory for my good deeds. My offerings are simple compared to Yours - a prayer, a Scripture, a hope, a gesture - just tokens of kindness and love. You touch my soul with words written centuries ago. Oh, Lord, Your Grace pours over me like a gentle rain, refreshing and renewing. In the stillness of this moment, I accept the portion and cup You have assigned me. In my obedience, use me to reach beyond, around, and through circumstances to be a witness to Your Grace. Amen.