tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171149522024-03-16T14:52:37.901-04:00breathing room for my soulGod, 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 MessageBreathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.comBlogger1210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-45903452621167095062024-03-14T22:19:00.002-04:002024-03-14T22:19:55.126-04:00Lent - Spiritual Hunger<p><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><i>Living Bread</i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> ~ </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Jesus said to them,<i> “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” </i></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35+&version=NKJV" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #5a1e11; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration: none;">John 6:35</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVmRUJBtwhyphenhyphenlGn1SCJMSYcCZURRednhMcLXaElnVs0rQEjVkjYUAyt08LFc23gLl59mX9yMI4YLMQQTAd_u85AaOJs5kOJ7RsHEGzqSHCTNmgrbKm1rPJxXXdOoqMl5LBIg0Btd1po1-Nwp7X8knOO13bpBxRy1dvNWc-wHf1S_d5_hMkTohPTA/s2272/DSCN2668.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1704" data-original-width="2272" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVmRUJBtwhyphenhyphenlGn1SCJMSYcCZURRednhMcLXaElnVs0rQEjVkjYUAyt08LFc23gLl59mX9yMI4YLMQQTAd_u85AaOJs5kOJ7RsHEGzqSHCTNmgrbKm1rPJxXXdOoqMl5LBIg0Btd1po1-Nwp7X8knOO13bpBxRy1dvNWc-wHf1S_d5_hMkTohPTA/w200-h150/DSCN2668.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in Me will never thirst. . . I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; this bread is my flesh, offered so the world may live.”</b><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206:35,58&version=NIV" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">John 6:35,58</a> NLT</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="color: #333333;">Jesus uses bread to explain the difference between meeting the physical needs of hunger and the spiritual needs of redemption. Our physical life requires ongoing nutrition to survive, while our spiritual growth requires an ongoing relationship with Jesus. The greatest difference between bread and <i>living bread</i> is that in Christ our souls know permanent nourishment, everlasting sustenance. </span><span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">How does one eat <i>living bread</i>? Believing that Christ’s death and resurrection brings each one new life and trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance is the beginning. Continuing to grow in our knowledge and faith sustains us. Sharing the Good News of Jesus, sharing the <i>living bread </i>with others gives an even deeper satisfaction. Christ <i>came down out of heaven,</i> and Perfect Love offered Himself <i>so the world may live.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></div><ul style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4; list-style: outside; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;"><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Hungry? How much time do you spend feeding your soul with God</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">’</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">s word?</span><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"> </span></li><li style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0.25em 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;">Will you commit to spending time with God - daily?</span></li></ul><p><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living Bread ~ I am fed by an offering I cannot explain. <i>Bread of Heaven, feed me ‘til I want no more</i>. My God-story is full! – dho</b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></p><div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-86049813500516284662024-03-07T01:00:00.003-05:002024-03-07T01:00:00.138-05:00Lent - Bread of the Presence<div class="separator"><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ji9nmXzumDY-bFgH8Gg_MnQaF3K5t10jlE7kRhoTHaeBMiD0LUzbtwKfBAaiV4n0XPqLmVNw6KOpyTeFsVZ1xJtn4xh2AJLwhc48u8XbLu0gDE4JhTbP5sv0x8Oe6PFmbPHIyg/s200-rw/DSCN1383.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></div></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Living Bread</i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> ~ </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jesus said to them,<i> “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” </i></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35+&version=NKJV" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">John 6:35</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Place the Bread of the Presence on the table to remain before Me at all times.</b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span>Exodus 25:30 NLT</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In giving explicit instructions to Moses about building a holy sanctuary, God’s plan is to be present with His people. Chapters 25-27 in Exodus provide the specific details for the Tabernacle in which the Ark of the Covenant would stay. The Tabernacle includes two distinct areas: an outer space called the Holy Place where the lampstand (menorah), the table, and the Bread of the Presence would be, and an inner space known as the Most Holy Place surrounded by curtains where the Ark of the Covenant stays. This Bread of the Presence, 12 loaves of unleavened bread baked fresh each week before the Sabbath, must be placed on the holy table in two piles of six to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The Bread of the Presence depicts the people’s offering to God and God’s desire to always be present with His people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Only to be eaten by the priests in a holy place, the Bread of the Presence of the Tabernacle can symbolize Jesus, the Bread of Life, an offering of atonement to God. Christ, as the true High Priest, enters the Most Holy Place as a blood sacrifice, an offering for all people. Christ becomes the New Covenant offering atonement for sins, offering forgiveness and grace and everlasting life. Jesus, the Holy One, becomes true bread, spiritual bread that satisfies the hungry. Jesus, always present, is the Bread of Life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lord, my life needs something constant and knowing You are always present calms me, reassures me, comforts me. </b><b>“<i>Lord, always give us this bread</i>.” </b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b>Bread of the Presence and Bread of Life, <i>Holy, Holy, Holy!</i> I fall to my knees aware of Your unlimited love and grace. – dho</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-90454574494744100312024-02-29T03:22:00.003-05:002024-02-29T18:01:27.497-05:00Lent - Up to Jerusalem<p> <span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Living Bread</i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> ~ </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jesus said to them,<i> “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” </i></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35+&version=NKJV" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">John 6:35</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM684jD5RBUFrM2R3sMDnfvo5g6CzH6AtDX02zlQgXBJo1se0xYq6IwtBLLdLldPQ7yDVhLBJEIoVkNo37sTJ31U9IHZeBri2tE__zAwBSHTPOlIZZqU5kq1mdAPgDQC8eDmaSoA/s1600/DSC04404.JPG" style="clear: left; color: #5a1e11; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM684jD5RBUFrM2R3sMDnfvo5g6CzH6AtDX02zlQgXBJo1se0xYq6IwtBLLdLldPQ7yDVhLBJEIoVkNo37sTJ31U9IHZeBri2tE__zAwBSHTPOlIZZqU5kq1mdAPgDQC8eDmaSoA/s200-rw/DSC04404.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 8pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A51&version=NIV" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">Luke 9:51 NIV</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jesus spent the last months of ministry making His final journey <i>up to Jerusalem</i>. This verse in Luke’s Gospel announces the turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Focus on His teaching ministry changes, and Jesus begins to prepare the Disciples and Himself for His destiny, the cross. Over the next months Jesus repeatedly explains to the Disciples that He will suffer beatings and betrayal, death and resurrection. Christian discipleship always comes down to the cross!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Scholars call Luke 9:51 through Luke 19:44 the “travel narrative”. Jesus and the disciples minister to people from Galilee to Jerusalem. Parables and healing, opposition and rejection become lessons about the cost of discipleship. Plots to kill and </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">schemes to discredit both challenge and confront Jesus’ authority. <i>Up to Jerusalem </i>really describes Jesus in steadfast determination and faithful obedience to accomplish His assigned mission. God’s plan requires a journey to the cross!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Lord, I, too, know something about suffering and betrayal, rejection and confrontation. Like the disciples, I, too, do not always understand. In the shadow of the cross, I pray, </span></b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A34&version=NASB" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“<i>Lord, always give us this bread</i>”</span></b></a><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> to sustain me, to strengthen my resolve as I go up to <i>my</i> Jerusalem. - dho</span></b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-87589093884995599892024-02-22T01:00:00.007-05:002024-02-29T03:22:50.907-05:00Lent - Impossible Bread<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: right; float: right; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /><img border="0" height="150" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4kzLyTXIQqEDwQcMRhL9wfTe0bh9sPrHq8MVzK5S66D2jVn1RohU1BeZb-HfoLIJLGESdS9ajd7FGAl1pNjf7S6xsLfbOPfvX3UVAloBwRnkZg_VRNwiNX5cEgCRRFPQOD-jHg/s200-rw/DSC05269+%25282%2529.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></div></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Living Bread</i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> ~ </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jesus said to them,<i> “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” </i><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A35+&version=NKJV" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">John 6:35</a> </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia, serif;"> </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=+John+6%3A9&version=NKJV" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">John 6:9 NKJV</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When Jesus asks Philip where they could buy bread, he replies that 200 days’ wages would be necessary to feed such a crowd; it’s not realistic. Andrew finds a young boy with some barley loaves and fish. Barley, not wheat, is the type grain the poor use to make bread. These loaves are more like <i>small flat wafers</i> and the fish more like <i>sardines</i>, a modest meal for the boy. What a contrast between Philip’s estimation of the bread’s cost and the food in hand! The problem seems impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Throughout the Bible, God does the impossible with less, the miraculous with little. Most of us seldom give sacrificially; seldom do we even give generously. Like feeding 20,000 people with a poor boy’s small lunch, Jesus takes our sparse offerings and multiplies them for the blessings of others. Consumerism stands on every corner luring us to spend money. What a contrast between how much we spend on a TV to watch the world’s news and what we give to share the Good News of Christ! With God, the impossible becomes possible! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Miracle Worker, do a miracle within my heart! Show me true poverty that I might understand need. Multiply my time and talents and money for Your Glory! </span></b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A34&version=NASB" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“<i>Lord, always give us this bread</i>.”</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <b>Help me see Your possibilities! – dho</b></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-80905537454051415022024-02-14T01:00:00.003-05:002024-02-14T10:53:41.259-05:00Lent ~ Ash Wednesday<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Living Bread</i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> ~ </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jesus said to them,<i> “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” </i></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">John 6:35</span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Tahoma, sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYcFEUrbgMVvBjx2BZ0HXtnrnvvAd0RnMPLYrQf06orYgQiogpREZv3eH8RwBYTyvlMAagc0cKrUvnWnapYcNIfNtERlKHENXvEuFvcsyf6nxjjCm2ev5iqL381GUEJOCUnWkjUl-XXZcs19VCmc-gIrsChwbv7ppn2UpjQ__VSM6Rp7L1c7Ctg/s4608/DSCN5981.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYcFEUrbgMVvBjx2BZ0HXtnrnvvAd0RnMPLYrQf06orYgQiogpREZv3eH8RwBYTyvlMAagc0cKrUvnWnapYcNIfNtERlKHENXvEuFvcsyf6nxjjCm2ev5iqL381GUEJOCUnWkjUl-XXZcs19VCmc-gIrsChwbv7ppn2UpjQ__VSM6Rp7L1c7Ctg/w200-h150/DSCN5981.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+8%3A3&version=NASB" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;">Deuteronomy 8:3</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">In spiritual preparation to begin His ministry and after fasting forty days in the wilderness, Jesus is tired, weak, and hungry. Satan tempts Jesus. With each of the three temptations, Jesus rebukes the offer quoting Scripture from Deuteronomy. Led into the desert by the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit, Jesus shields Himself with God’s Holy Word. Spiritual warfare always desires to interrupt God’s plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">As we begin our forty day journey to spiritual renewal, we, too, are surrounded by spiritual warfare, tempted to take short-cuts or feel important or avoid hardship. Sometimes in our weakness we choose temptation’s path only to become disappointed and disillusioned at its end. Jesus tells us, “</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+6%3A48&version=NASB" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I AM the bread of life</span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.” Needing more than food to sustain us, we desperately need spiritual nourishment that can only come from Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">God Almighty, I kneel before You, resting my weariness, laying down my frail attempts to succeed by my own efforts. Mark me a sinner, one who has failed but is willing to try again. Renew my starving spirit; let my prayer be, </span></b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A34&version=NASB" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">“<i>Lord, always give us this bread</i>.”</span></b></a><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif">– dho</span></b></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-72090763714236457992024-02-08T21:52:00.004-05:002024-02-08T21:52:51.292-05:00Miracle-Wonders<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><b>He stood me up on a wide-open field;<br /></b></i></span><i><b>I stood there saved - surprised to be loved</b></i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">2 Samuel 22:20 <em>The Message</em></span></span></div><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEsc0O73BID1Utqov2JSiY2V63Wv7CHRFPrxNvv8z7HIpRHtR9jap9TXMilWG8dS37-vuPlHC8bvp5KGelL0WnmGmPN8CBQumqzew0KMprvQmJxdqXh6eOnGtARcBhoLeCwz0UZbK1CWZXqYl2zcNUv2YGZDswRQwy4iyatKgU6VF21pgHQM4NA/s4032/IMG_4021.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEsc0O73BID1Utqov2JSiY2V63Wv7CHRFPrxNvv8z7HIpRHtR9jap9TXMilWG8dS37-vuPlHC8bvp5KGelL0WnmGmPN8CBQumqzew0KMprvQmJxdqXh6eOnGtARcBhoLeCwz0UZbK1CWZXqYl2zcNUv2YGZDswRQwy4iyatKgU6VF21pgHQM4NA/w200-h150/IMG_4021.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">God of <em><b>miracle-wonders</b></em>,<br />God of <b><em>well-thought-out-plans</em> </b>~<br /><span style="color: #333333;"><b><em>His cloud-brightness burst through a grand<br />comet of fireworks. Then God thundered out<br />of heaven; the High God gave a great shout</em>. </b><br />I have seen You ~ the Light in my darkness. <br />I have felt You ~ the Power in my weakness. <br />I have heard You ~ the Voice in the chaos. <br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;">I celebrate<i> </i>You! I praise You! <br /></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;">I rest in </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333333;">the <b><em>mountaintop refuge</em>,</b> safe. </span></span></div><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Love Most High, in all times You are my<br />shield of protection! You rescue me, touch me,<br />heal me, lead me forward. For such love, words<br />search but find no escape, captives of<br />mediocrity. God, make <em>my life complete</em> as I<br />place <em>all the pieces before </em>You. Hear the<br />prayers of my heart. Amen.</span> </b>~ dho </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />* <em><b>Scripture</b> from 2 Samuel 22 (The Message)</em></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-64122672198690870002024-02-01T02:00:00.001-05:002024-02-01T02:00:00.147-05:00Divine Agenda<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>"The woman put down her water </i></strong><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>jar and hurried back to tell the people". </i> <br /></strong></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">John 4:28</span></span></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">"She put down her water jar. This very well may be<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">the heart of this beautiful story. Her water jar is her<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">own agenda. . . She walked away from that well with<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Living Water because she was able to let go of her<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">own agenda . . . and go forth with God's agenda."<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">from Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angels</em></span></blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NVpm-WzPyaPclwrTd_0wnH4RH9fRsF98IAYRBpQ0kwgqDJDiHgDZ4YX9MXruQ5Gd9p8I-JTaF0xGhEZBAsuvcfsX7rPGcvgoXE-a5ENKgMegh1D6XNWY4BV7sswQT7J5K0M3ZYcQjJzyZo3ashpIPlKsrsIQl6S_MSBvmmxhqfe4lOIsVe7dJQ/s4032/IMG_2547.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NVpm-WzPyaPclwrTd_0wnH4RH9fRsF98IAYRBpQ0kwgqDJDiHgDZ4YX9MXruQ5Gd9p8I-JTaF0xGhEZBAsuvcfsX7rPGcvgoXE-a5ENKgMegh1D6XNWY4BV7sswQT7J5K0M3ZYcQjJzyZo3ashpIPlKsrsIQl6S_MSBvmmxhqfe4lOIsVe7dJQ/s320/IMG_2547.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How easy to go about our daily routines of gathering and doing! This woman went to the well to get water, a daily task. In going about her ordinary task, she encounters Jesus and is never the same again. Others, too, are changed because she tells her story. The author of “A Tree Full of Angels” paints a beautiful picture of finding more that expected in the ordinary task when we lay down our <i>own agenda</i> and go with <i>God’s agenda</i>! Living Water fills us up when we make room for Jesus.</span></div><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></strong></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Holy Father,<br />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. </strong></span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">In my own humanity, I fail to come to the altar without some remnant of thought or partial desire in my heart. </strong><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">In the deepest part of my soul, I long to worship You with pure intent. I thirst for Living Water.</strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Fill my cup . . . I lift it up . . .Quench this thirsting in my soul . . . Fill it up and make </em><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">me whole.</em><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> Find me on my knees, my soul in the <em>circle of grace</em>, listening for Your Agenda. </strong><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Amen. ~</strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;"> dho</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-80109471123980301252024-01-25T12:00:00.000-05:002024-01-25T12:00:35.959-05:00Woven Together<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>O LORD, you have examined my heart and <span>know</span> everything about me.</b><br />You know when I sit down or stand up. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.<br />You know everything I do. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.<br />You go before me and follow me.<br />You place your hand of blessing on my head.<br />Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">and knit me together in my mother’s womb.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You saw me before I was born.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Every day of my life was recorded in your book.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed…</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">They cannot be numbered! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And when I wake up, you are still with me!…</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. </span>Psalm 139:1-6,13-18, 23-24 NLT</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyFVz6I2tBwtSntkSe9R9cuHbBKj1ebs7sZOTcHXQxleuctR-S0lK7Jn73QE3rdP7epT7H-dk5D1aNoIpsZJy351Yx89LEyjzvSfC3v0HtHLQO6jyWDwTbrWxtB_7tL29-BhzxmDBw23nKn4MPjfvW-vxil2dAYS7HMW6hFOkmrGIPBI4k0v4BA/s1653/IMG_1685.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1543" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyFVz6I2tBwtSntkSe9R9cuHbBKj1ebs7sZOTcHXQxleuctR-S0lK7Jn73QE3rdP7epT7H-dk5D1aNoIpsZJy351Yx89LEyjzvSfC3v0HtHLQO6jyWDwTbrWxtB_7tL29-BhzxmDBw23nKn4MPjfvW-vxil2dAYS7HMW6hFOkmrGIPBI4k0v4BA/w299-h320/IMG_1685.jpeg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Faithful Father,<br />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?<br />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! </strong></div><div><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></strong></div><div><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You create magnificent designs, each one unique. Your thoughts are like threads of gold and silver and cotton and silk, in colors of every shade, while our moments are like remnants of fibers with varied hues and textures and patterns. Your thoughts and our moments are woven and spun into holy tapestries of love. With majesty and grace, You weave them together for glory-purposes that exceed my abilities to know or understand. God, examine me… lead me ~ in all things, at all times! Amen.</strong><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-size: 16px;"> ~dho</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-22152597108775820702024-01-18T12:46:00.000-05:002024-01-18T12:46:37.329-05:00Into Community<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i>"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.”</i></b></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Henri J. M. Nouwen,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Can You Drink the Cup?</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">(Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria, 1996), 57.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9IpD4YqzTZcpCz3EpOQpi5t6C_pdhrd0n1pKd6rlJSR6TeAc72aNRMPH6DouVHsRVdheah2bzStzMWOe9bNgEhcJltsku0yRL_BCS33DKYngtz7x9twS9aIiYQFE9D85Hfi44DQuKXxRsxaOgCVVJYjjzkgkelmOrDSHGM5EMCLGM2hq4xhr7Q/s4032/IMG_3838.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9IpD4YqzTZcpCz3EpOQpi5t6C_pdhrd0n1pKd6rlJSR6TeAc72aNRMPH6DouVHsRVdheah2bzStzMWOe9bNgEhcJltsku0yRL_BCS33DKYngtz7x9twS9aIiYQFE9D85Hfi44DQuKXxRsxaOgCVVJYjjzkgkelmOrDSHGM5EMCLGM2hq4xhr7Q/w320-h240/IMG_3838.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Cloister walkway of Salisbury Cathedral</b></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br />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. </b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Philemon 1:6 The Message</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">We are called into community through Christ. He asks us to reach beyond our boundaries of our commonality and touch others in His name. While our differences sometimes distinguish us from one another, we are one in Him. Oswald Chambers writes about</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> becoming broken bread and poured out wine</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">. Only through Grace can</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">acts of goodness become </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">broken bread </em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">and </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">poured out wine. </em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Circumstance does not create community, rather it reveals its strength, its motivations, its endurance, its depth, its hope. Christ calls believers into community ~ and our response reveals our true faith. I wonder, “Do</span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"> </em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">people recognize Christ in my acts of goodness?” ~</span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">dho</b></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">*<i> Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England; the largest cloister in Britain. Build between 1220-1258. Photo/dho@2023</i></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-92054407469772732972024-01-11T16:54:00.001-05:002024-01-11T20:16:19.497-05:00Abundant Grace<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrnYiqM4m7eiV3QUMIjqczKID21t3hT7i8d8ZdVhLtaa67nL24F1FjFq5tAfd6paJlHh_EEw97h8RmCZwrO6ygFx_adEQteANdZwZgr2SOJP6gT3tQcwIuuGIgiya0yXL4gNjLI2va8zMFSYfdVBWHDHPj6w3ql_vyROcQYZg0O5Rol3mnQhfyg/s1547/IMG_0012.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1547" data-original-width="852" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrnYiqM4m7eiV3QUMIjqczKID21t3hT7i8d8ZdVhLtaa67nL24F1FjFq5tAfd6paJlHh_EEw97h8RmCZwrO6ygFx_adEQteANdZwZgr2SOJP6gT3tQcwIuuGIgiya0yXL4gNjLI2va8zMFSYfdVBWHDHPj6w3ql_vyROcQYZg0O5Rol3mnQhfyg/s320/IMG_0012.jpeg" width="176" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">O LORD,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You are</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">the portion of my inheritance</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">and my cup;</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You maintain my lot.<br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;<br /></span></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Yes, I have a good inheritance. </b></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">P</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">salm 16:5-6 NKJV</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Time after time, God has provided, and I know He continues to be with me. I don't have to look very far to know how richly blessed my life has been. Would I have chosen less tears or easier circumstances? Of course, my human heart wishes for simple and good, idealistic and benign paths, but a spiritual journey is challenging. The human mind questions God's answers and proposes contradictions. We are so finite that mystery escapes us, sometimes bewilders us. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In between the <i>what if's</i> and inside the <i>why not's</i>, His Grace flows so abundantly that I find my soul secure and in <em>pleasant places</em> - one with the Father. So, I will wait for His plan to be revealed, Word by Word, prayer by prayer, moment by moment, opportunity by opportunity, person by person, possibility by possibility.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong>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 <em>tokens</em> 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. </strong></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>dho</b></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrnYiqM4m7eiV3QUMIjqczKID21t3hT7i8d8ZdVhLtaa67nL24F1FjFq5tAfd6paJlHh_EEw97h8RmCZwrO6ygFx_adEQteANdZwZgr2SOJP6gT3tQcwIuuGIgiya0yXL4gNjLI2va8zMFSYfdVBWHDHPj6w3ql_vyROcQYZg0O5Rol3mnQhfyg/s1547/IMG_0012.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-14241679375291691772024-01-05T15:01:00.001-05:002024-01-05T15:01:52.490-05:00A Fresh Start<div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q0kkfJGDB2mCJ1lP3tn0ikRg5KuVozmeg4q98jF8nuE17tZrYVkQd0HVM71yzp-y5suz8yb6-GiVROOkqVG0Q2Etf3ut_rfVVv3FvImoTi-XfHlflAAGw77QnnPFbdexv0u3Sg1ZFXPlbAnd8PUfB2VnQpPueJ2k7WuxoDQXPnJAGwaT7UpKkA/s4032/IMG_3171.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q0kkfJGDB2mCJ1lP3tn0ikRg5KuVozmeg4q98jF8nuE17tZrYVkQd0HVM71yzp-y5suz8yb6-GiVROOkqVG0Q2Etf3ut_rfVVv3FvImoTi-XfHlflAAGw77QnnPFbdexv0u3Sg1ZFXPlbAnd8PUfB2VnQpPueJ2k7WuxoDQXPnJAGwaT7UpKkA/w320-h240/IMG_3171.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>God's glory is on tour in the skies, . . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Their words aren't heard,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">their voices aren't recorded,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But their silence fills the earth:</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's how God's Word vaults across the skies</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from sunrise to sunset,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Melting ice, scorching deserts,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">warming hearts to faith.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The revelation of GOD is whole</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and pulls our lives together.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The signposts of GOD are clear</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and point out the right road.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The life-maps of GOD are right,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">showing the way to joy.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The directions of GOD are plain</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and easy on the eyes. . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The decisions of GOD are accurate </span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">down to the nth degree.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's more: GOD's Word warns us of danger</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and directs us to hidden treasure.</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Otherwise how will we find our way?</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or know when we play the fool"</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Clean the slate God, so we can start the day fresh!</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Keep me from stupid sins,</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">from thinking I can take over Your work; . . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These are the words in my mouth . . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Accept them when I place them on the morning altar. . .</span></strong></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Psalm 19 <em>The Message</em></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZE3pUiTChs8S1Y_NzpHWzrxhXva_JrBgYUtjWuV3sLAfTszakB0IKt2ndrlxVGFTMgx_lBWY-PUFbJ5Dp9HLjMf0TXK7eFkR_rJZ_JLNwqQzuMtXVqSI74DFvrAUU2Rz9XyuSSfsgtFfbGGMk2_DMzrgyGd-pI9_kk0aZHnHZtFOWh3j8nx7mg/s3264/IMG_3066.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZE3pUiTChs8S1Y_NzpHWzrxhXva_JrBgYUtjWuV3sLAfTszakB0IKt2ndrlxVGFTMgx_lBWY-PUFbJ5Dp9HLjMf0TXK7eFkR_rJZ_JLNwqQzuMtXVqSI74DFvrAUU2Rz9XyuSSfsgtFfbGGMk2_DMzrgyGd-pI9_kk0aZHnHZtFOWh3j8nx7mg/s320/IMG_3066.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><em><br /></em></span></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><em><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></em></div><div align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Spirit of the Living God,</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I long to discover the inner workings of the Father's Plan for me. In these times of waiting, grant my soul peace, my mind discernment, my heart patience. How I can feel Your presence and sense the power of Your Ways! </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yet sometimes I can only watch You work. In these times, I must trust You. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prepare my heart with Your Desires. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prepare </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">my mind with the wisdom I will need. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Prepare </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">my soul for the path You choose. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Holy Spirit, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">whisper the mysterious and wonderful things the </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Father has for me. </span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Praises for His Endless Love </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and Unmeasured Goodness - it overwhelms me day</span></div><div align="left" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>and night! The applause of ten thousand angels is not enough! Jesus, hear this prayer! Amen. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">-<b>dho</b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-16283911675639377182023-12-30T11:19:00.003-05:002023-12-30T11:19:32.766-05:00As the Year Ends<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b> </b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;"><b>"Oh, the unspeakable benediction of the 'treasures of darkness'! It is not the days of sunshine </b>a<b>nd splendor and liberty and light that leave their lasting and indelible effect upon the soul, but those nights of the Spirit in which, shadowed by God's hand, hidden in the dark cleft of some rock in a weary land, He lets the splendors of the outskirts of Himself pass before our gaze."</b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;"><b> </b> Oswald Chambers</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijV2b97BN7ZRVus4P58XSPv6P8_TRfJ0-h04aON6Lm5KdDLHTcuLqr8bxnJ6C_x-rfBPBTjHe23ndlYRPZm_w-peoXh3NDWoy4Qo9pRuBQoa2uQk2iYh8KXl24C91inGFPGIujMQ/s1600/47AD1A15-3A96-457B-8DDE-47461CDC475C.JPG" style="clear: right; color: #5a1e11; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" height="200" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijV2b97BN7ZRVus4P58XSPv6P8_TRfJ0-h04aON6Lm5KdDLHTcuLqr8bxnJ6C_x-rfBPBTjHe23ndlYRPZm_w-peoXh3NDWoy4Qo9pRuBQoa2uQk2iYh8KXl24C91inGFPGIujMQ/s200/47AD1A15-3A96-457B-8DDE-47461CDC475C.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="150" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">As another year begs a moment of reflection on its treasures, this quote from Chambers catches my interest. His reference to benediction causes my soul to wonder how often I seek His splendor surrounding my "treasures of darkness". A benediction, an ending for a religious ceremony or service, frequently looks to the future with a blessing of hope and peace or an offering of thanksgiving or praise. Chambers seems to be referring to an end of a season of difficulty, reminding that the deepest marks upon the soul, the most hurtful scars do not come from easy times. These times of darkness often grieve us, leaving the soul with "unspeakable" endings and unimagined grace.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">Beyond the dark times, my soul hears such grace in knowing that God is with me at all times. Chambers' words clearly depict God's glory coming to us as we struggle "in a weary land". Like God's </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">cloud by day</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> and </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">fire</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">by</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">night </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">dwelling with the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years, God's splendor surrounds us, goes before us, comforts us with His presence. The majesty of God creates a border that envelops our human condition. What glory to behold is ours!</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">A new year summons each of us into the days and weeks and months to come. How will we consume this time? What will we surrender to God? Who will we employ with our goodwill? Where will we encounter Jesus? When will our confidence in God be consistent? We have 365 days, 52 weeks, and 8,760 hours to use during this new year. Well, actually this is Leap Year, so we get an extra day!! At the end of 2024, what testimony will my life reveal? How will my soul write its benediction next New Year’s Eve? Happy New Year!! I pray that this new year will be one of joy and peace in knowing the splendor and majesty of God's presence. - </span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">dho</b></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-37318586843097483842023-12-24T01:00:00.011-05:002023-12-24T01:00:00.132-05:00Fourth Sunday in Advent - Love<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white;"><i>For to us a child is born,<br /></i></b><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;"><b><i>to us a son is given, . . .<br /></i></b></span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;"><b><i>And He will be called Wonderful Counselor,<br /></i></b></span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;"><b><i>Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br /></i></b></span><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;">Isaiah 9:6-7</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Iv3apGbULzvQjvDtKUauytByPVXsf7JXLwDYcdObxOmmZtgLw3jJ_F4t_WSn5ziT0Xy2goMi-i60g_z7ZaVWGUJHgdajUHOtrSK29zrjsk19E4509LgyxWl5rlr0JKL0WhiWoPtqz0DH6ASapTNX3ZphOnz4LbFgeoYRXeIp1mTeM4lxka0Ziw/s1174/IMG_0329.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Iv3apGbULzvQjvDtKUauytByPVXsf7JXLwDYcdObxOmmZtgLw3jJ_F4t_WSn5ziT0Xy2goMi-i60g_z7ZaVWGUJHgdajUHOtrSK29zrjsk19E4509LgyxWl5rlr0JKL0WhiWoPtqz0DH6ASapTNX3ZphOnz4LbFgeoYRXeIp1mTeM4lxka0Ziw/s320/IMG_0329.jpeg" width="291" /></a></div><br /><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; position: relative;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="text Isa-9-6" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: "Charis SIL", charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Traditions unfold every year at Christmas, like treasures unwrapped with great care. Each holds special significance and reminds the heart. Our traditions mark time as we revisit old pictures and retell the stories, as we carefully place cherished ornaments on this year's tree, as we bake the Christmas cookies once more. Traditions exist in the repetition of experiences but <b>live</b> in the moments of the heart.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In the moments when we <b>know</b> love, laughter, tears, change, joy, or peace, time lives. In between, time passes. During this holy season, as you unwrap your traditions, reflect on the true moments of living, the grace-full gifts, the bountiful blessings God gives. This is the Lord's tradition ~ to bless those who are faithful to Him.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The greatest tradition of Christmas is celebrating the reason for remembering! May we once again unfold the Promise of Emmanuel, <i>God with us. </i>May we know<b> </b>Perfect Love and Extravagant Grace ~ the generosity of His Gift ~ the holiness of His peace. Every time we unwrap this treasure and retell His story, time lives! May this tradition remind us of Christ ~ remind us that He is <i>with us</i> always ~ remind us that <i>He lives </i>~ remind us that <i>He is coming</i>, again! <b>~dho</b></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-72195688758851424172023-12-17T01:00:00.010-05:002023-12-17T01:00:00.145-05:00Third Sunday in Advent - Joy<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold;">After seeing [Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Luke 2:17-18 NLT</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74impF_HFZWIVkt2irKQjQONpzK6B9YiYvgSYXb6DXiL5Eqdfp6ta60buTAE5ihM1sy8-N67fzECSBQoBiWh96gEdzmfn4uc3TUQBSlY7UtnS5YbeCw-E2h_BLkoopIes1H_qZZK-njZj-2ZyMbzgbLHaYPQ6tjC17C-dNEphMp5D8MPBemahoA/s320/IMG_4321.jpeg" width="240" /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>On this third Sunday in Advent we light the candle of JOY! The Christmas season is full of reasons to have joy -- to celebrate -- to praise God for such extravagant generosity. Images of angels and choirs of angels awaken our imaginations. Words like <i>Glory</i> and <i>Hallelujah</i> echo the sounds of trumpet and tympani. Church bells and hand bells ring with joy. Our hearts stir and our souls smile as we listen to both story and song. </span><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This world attempts to steal our joy at every corner. Poverty and plenty contradict while tragedy and truth challenge each other. Within our desire for joy, sadness competes for attention. So how do we keep <i>joy-full</i> when angels and choirs and music are silenced by tragedy? Be like the shepherds and tell the story! Share the wonder of the Christmas! During the Advent season we sing: <i>Emmanuel, Emmanuel, God incarnate, here to dwell. Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Praise His name, Emmanuel.</i> God is with us ~ and that alone is reason for JOY! <b>~ dho</b></span></span><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-22734063285244391712023-12-10T01:00:00.037-05:002023-12-10T18:46:32.926-05:00Second Sunday in Advent - Peace<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>For a child will be born to us, a son will be given us; </i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>And the government will rest on His shoulders; </i></b><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, </i></b><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold;">Eternal Father, Prince of peace. </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">Isaiah 9:6 NASB</span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0fWOdPjuj-pv2aezCqK95XEE9KN28tl18B-LpXNs9j-sfJnpyUU0bXovSa-RrtukxLt-u-TAFgffzAMea997rmWZPQ6Yl4vz7PzFigygif49RfRKTBuXw5HlwnqUrjM3di8eNuvANh2sByX_aHdUNyuT7NbhnzJ22zJUfU8_2P2rgjpKonULYw/s3264/IMG_1129.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0fWOdPjuj-pv2aezCqK95XEE9KN28tl18B-LpXNs9j-sfJnpyUU0bXovSa-RrtukxLt-u-TAFgffzAMea997rmWZPQ6Yl4vz7PzFigygif49RfRKTBuXw5HlwnqUrjM3di8eNuvANh2sByX_aHdUNyuT7NbhnzJ22zJUfU8_2P2rgjpKonULYw/w150-h200/IMG_1129.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">This second Sunday of the Christmas season directs our hearts and minds to peace! What is peace? <i>Tranquility</i>, <i>quiet</i>,<i> harmony</i>, and <i>freedom from oppression </i>are a few words that define peace. It comes from the Latin <i>pacisci </i>meaning 'to agree' while its antonym is war. We value the idea of peace, even the gentleness of peace, and perhaps the security of peace. Although peace is desired, the world is often hostile, loud, augmentative, and full of oppression. As you prepare for Christ this Christmas, where do you find peace? </span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In 2011 <i>The Story</i>, a chronological narrative of the Bible, became popular and many churches used it as a teaching format to study the whole Bible. In addition to the book, various Christian musicians wrote and produced a CD to accompany many of the themes. One of the songs <i>Be Born in Me</i> is written from Mary’s perspective, but there is a beautiful lesson for each of us. That chorus is a prayer for us: <i style="font-weight: bold;">Make my heart Your Bethlehem; Be born in me</i>. Over 2,000 years ago, Christ enters this world as a baby fulfilling prophecy. The Messiah, the Prince of Peace arrives. Today, as the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, the peace of Christ becomes our peace. Our hearts become a holy place where love is born. Offer the peace of Christ this Christmas season as you echo the words ~ <i>Make my heart Your Bethlehem; be born in me.</i><b> ~ dho</b></span></span><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-64514111595676885792023-12-03T02:00:00.006-05:002023-12-03T02:00:00.135-05:00First Sunday in Advent: Hope<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Words to <b>"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"</b> ~ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</i></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>I heard the bells on Christmas Day</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Their old familiar carols play,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>And wild and sweet the words repeat</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Of peace on earth, good will to men.</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>And in despair I bowed my head:</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>"There is no peace on earth," I said,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>"For hate is strong and mocks the song</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Of peace on earth, good will to men."</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><br /></i></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>With peace on earth, good will to men."</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><br /></i></b><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Till, ringing singing, on its way,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>The world revolved from night to day,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><i>Of peace on earth, good will to men.!</i></b><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHepK2e-A_l0Cb1bZcvBYdwo1-Y3Vd2vHIJ-8mvmk2IMHlkYqZVsloJDDIFHUaUAvWKkuzC-I7nNtu8Gs_hS78uHUmGJQ6Yb1tAxLnor3gS5ImnRgNpPZJ4pDfGssfdb9ABEoWT0BYCyFW11TBa201gc5vQaC_2wytdavsnTw1KEBZBgTRVAbYg/s1600/IMG_1634.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHepK2e-A_l0Cb1bZcvBYdwo1-Y3Vd2vHIJ-8mvmk2IMHlkYqZVsloJDDIFHUaUAvWKkuzC-I7nNtu8Gs_hS78uHUmGJQ6Yb1tAxLnor3gS5ImnRgNpPZJ4pDfGssfdb9ABEoWT0BYCyFW11TBa201gc5vQaC_2wytdavsnTw1KEBZBgTRVAbYg/s320/IMG_1634.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></b><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">On Christmas Eve 1863, during the Civil War, Longfellow wrote the words to this now familiar Christmas carol. Longfellow wrote these words "only six months after the Battle of Gettysburg where over 40,000 soldiers lost their lives. One of the country's most influential writers, he taught literature for seventeen years at Harvard University. His faith in the power of God and man to join and transcend the horrors of war gave birth to this song, inspired by his hearing the ringing of the Christmas bells."<b>*</b> Musical scores have been composed over the years making this a very familiar Christmas carol.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A modern arrangement by Casting Crowns brings a revival of this Hope. (You can listen to it here: <a href="https://youtu.be/M7670CXvPX0?si=pWfIGZROzSJH2lrR">https://youtu.be/M7670CXvPX0?si=pWfIGZROzSJH2lrR</a> ) We all find ourselves is various forms of war every day, and certainly our world knows the deep suffering of divisions. Hope lies in remembering God is Sovereign and in control. In surrendering difficult times to Him, our minds find peace. With thanksgiving for His Unfailing Goodness, our hearts know an inward peace. In times of war, in times of uncertainty we offer prayers and praises to the Love Most High. Comfort is not simply the peace God gives but in knowing God will be with us. This is Everlasting HOPE! <b>~dho</b> </span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-527307961789116692023-11-23T12:00:00.000-05:002023-11-23T12:42:01.330-05:00Abundance of Hope<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> <i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-weight: bold;">But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.</i></span></p><p><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+71%3A14&version=NASB" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #5a1e11; font-family: helvetica; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Psalm 71:14 NASB</a></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4HjrqS7pQoM-wiFXyW7YoQCnt9R2Ifj1ppHvoiviTpyNTBJl-otFNx1RzxPwHusnluja_DM-elr_zWsbHBIWqXCfNwLk6R3EoCENtKIkFbbDlDi0uIenjp3h7l-U5GihkFg1UQ/s1600/Plymouth+Rock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; clear: right; color: #5a1e11; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" height="240" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4HjrqS7pQoM-wiFXyW7YoQCnt9R2Ifj1ppHvoiviTpyNTBJl-otFNx1RzxPwHusnluja_DM-elr_zWsbHBIWqXCfNwLk6R3EoCENtKIkFbbDlDi0uIenjp3h7l-U5GihkFg1UQ/w320-h240/Plymouth+Rock.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In homes across America this week, preparations for Thanksgiving have been in full swing - traditions requiring planning and grocery shopping for the annual gathering of family. So many decisions abound - to stuff or not to stuff the turkey, how much sage to put in the dressing, what kind of cranberry sauce to serve, and which desserts to include. Yes, it does sound a bit more like a celebration of indulgence than simple thankfulness. So, when did Thanksgiving become more about <i>abundance of food</i> rather than <i>abundance of hope</i>?</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The story of the first Thanksgiving reflects a people who endured great hardship on a long journey of hope. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Leaving Plymouth, England in September of 1620, 102 people sail across the ocean for 2 months, some seeking religious freedom and some seeking prosperity in the New World, but all coming with hope. Only half of the original passengers would live to see Spring in New England. Within that first year, Native Americans would teach these pilgrims how to plant and harvest corn. While the Native Americans had a long tradition of celebrating the fall harvest, in 1621 they all gather <i>together</i> in celebrating</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> the pilgrims' </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">first successful corn harvest. This merging of nations and traditions with a feast of thankfulness writes America's first Thanksgiving story. The hope of new beginnings, the </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">hope of survival, the</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> the hope of religious freedom, the hope of prosperity join together creating new traditions</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> with new people. </span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span>Pilgrim means <i>a person who journeys</i> or <i>a newcomer to a place</i>. Some of the Mayflower pilgrims came to a new land looking for freedom to worship without mandates by the government. Some of these pilgrims came to make money. These settlers and many others to come would set the standard and endure the cost of these pursuits. There would be death and famines and wars. More than 150 years pass before the Declaration of Independence would be written and signed, officially forming a new nation. Thinking about those challenging times, I still see lots of similarities today. We continuously find ourselves enduring uncertainties and often hardships (physical, emotional, or financial). <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We don't always get along with our neighbors. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Sometimes, we are the newcomer and are not welcomed, other times the roles reverse.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We are constantly exposed to disease and hunger and violence. We all need hope to pull us through; we need each other. Instead of division, we need to gather together in feasts of thanksgiving.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We are still on a long journey but now live those very freedoms the hope the pilgrims of 1620 </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">brought to the New World. None of us are perfect; we</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> are flawed and yearn for more. At times money motivates and differences divide and fears fetter our hearts. For more than 200 years after the first harvest feast, America found ways to celebrate the hope of freedom, but it would not be until 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, that Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official holiday with this proclamation:</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lincoln asking Americans to <b>"</b><i style="font-weight: bold;">ask God to command to His tender care on all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife." </i>He called for an annual day of Thanksgiving, the last day of November to <b>"<i>heal the wounds of a nation."</i></b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">We are all pilgrims on a journey of hope - a hope for better, a hope for more. Let us strive to be a brighter light and a kinder neighbor for there is enough darkness around us. Let us seek to love better and judge less for there is more than enough suffering already. Let us shout praises of thanksgiving for the freedoms in America and freedom of our souls. Let us offer prayers of thanksgiving to God whose blessings of mercy and grace define our Hope. Let us gather together - with family or friends or whoever we meet on Thanksgiving day - and remember, we are pilgrims who are <i>prone to wander...prone to leave</i> a God who pursues us, loves us, rescues us. Jesus continues to seek the newcomers and the strangers and many who have simply lost their way. Let our Thanksgiving Hope rest in God's goodness! Let His goodness refine our HOPE! <b>~dho</b></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>**</b><i>side note</i>: In 1941 FDR signed a bill making Thanksgiving the 4th Thursday in November (rather than the 'last'); the purpose was to <u>stimulate retail sales </u>during the Great Depression. Hummm! </span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-46421852717373134922023-11-16T01:00:00.006-05:002023-11-16T01:00:00.176-05:00To God be the Glory<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Then Moses said, "Now show me your Glory." And the LORD said, "I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." </strong></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;">Exodus 33:18-19 NIV</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: black; float: left; font-variant-caps: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding: 4px; position: relative;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoYwV0DvazAH6S3IZwxe93uDKrDfpVyJ2GsRtYCAGVPtfNWdPVn7sbXzJsLv8dpuh4ZxQ4hkziy_A-u9nQpAz2i_fC99nEcOLWQpEW3jhe6ACiI-rOatspykmWfiiGQkjiKFshQ/s1600/2Thomas+catching+a+breeze.png" style="clear: left; color: #5a1e11; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" height="356" loading="lazy" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoYwV0DvazAH6S3IZwxe93uDKrDfpVyJ2GsRtYCAGVPtfNWdPVn7sbXzJsLv8dpuh4ZxQ4hkziy_A-u9nQpAz2i_fC99nEcOLWQpEW3jhe6ACiI-rOatspykmWfiiGQkjiKFshQ/w278-h356/2Thomas+catching+a+breeze.png" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; background: repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); border-radius: 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(202, 202, 202); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 20px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="278" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thomas, head through the sun roof! Simple joy!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Twelve years ago, as our family has prayed its way through the journey of brain cancer, surgery and radiation, we asked God to heal, to strengthen, to comfort Thomas, who was only 9 years old. Our prayers and the countless prayers of family and friends and friends of friends asked for encouragement and energy, for patience and peace, for calm and courage. Holy praises were offered to the Lord for joy in the simple things, for small victories, and for laughter. We did not ask God like Moses, "<em>Now show us Your Glory", </em>but <strong>He did</strong>! God's great <strong>goodness</strong> passed in front of us! His Glory is evidenced in moments and minutes and memories of His Presence during this long journey.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The question of why there is suffering and who is healed cannot be understood this side of Heaven. The fall of humanity from the beginning allowed sin to stand between mankind and God. It is only through Christ that we find a way back to God. In between that beginning and the coming end, the world’s complexities are full of uncertainty and chaos and questions; yet, <em>before</em> the beginning and <em>after</em> the end, there is everlasting Certainty, Peace, and Truth. On this earth, we only find these possibilities in God, the Creator himself, who has all authority. Not bound by time or distance or circumstance, God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Trusting in the Sovereignty of God is the best hope for humanity.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Remembering this time more than a decade ago, God’s glory surrounded us in ways we could have never known outside this crisis. Neither knowing why, nor understanding His Ways, I can say for certain that we <strong>felt</strong> God's mercy and compassion, we <strong>witnessed</strong> God's mercy and compassion, and we will always <strong>tell</strong> of God's mercy and compassion. Then and now, every petition <em>rises like incense </em>to this Holy God, each one is full of thanksgiving for such undeserved, unmerited mercy and compassion. Truly the Goodness of God passed in front of us, too!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">To God be the Glory ~ <b>dho</b></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-72055832362971526662023-11-09T01:00:00.006-05:002023-11-09T01:00:00.137-05:00The Last Days!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.”</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span>Psalm 27:4 <span style="color: #333333;">ESV</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(254, 253, 250); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASbAzLN2-XJr60aXWirHej0donh0gl25tGLUh-pV5jEHf7nrN1R-kHOpa6eCHF4-HxPcQfiU7IS90qLu89HuLl2jefP7a2ZHBE5BdK-LlPLYnn_RJuyPMtzZsloo7qE116xsokRPnh69zvpKIPWNTz2Pr3HUxtnSasIbOLEmQJTgC9PEnVCHHOg/s4608/DSCN6432.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASbAzLN2-XJr60aXWirHej0donh0gl25tGLUh-pV5jEHf7nrN1R-kHOpa6eCHF4-HxPcQfiU7IS90qLu89HuLl2jefP7a2ZHBE5BdK-LlPLYnn_RJuyPMtzZsloo7qE116xsokRPnh69zvpKIPWNTz2Pr3HUxtnSasIbOLEmQJTgC9PEnVCHHOg/w200-h150/DSCN6432.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church at Kylemore Abby, Ireland</td></tr></tbody></table>Just before Jesus ascends to heaven, He instructs the disciples to tell the story of Good News to all people. His final words of encouragement: <i style="font-size: 16px;">And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age</i>. In the New Testament, <i style="font-size: 16px;">the last days</i> refers to the time between Christ’s return to heaven after the resurrection and His second return to earth. The last days are now! The promise remains true; Jehovah Shammah, the LORD is there, dwells with us. God’s presence with His people is certain.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(254, 253, 250); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Scripture tells us that in the last days the name of Jesus is mocked and questioned. Arrogance attempts to diminish the power of God, to discredit His role in creation, and to dismiss His promise of judgment. People choose other gods to worship. With humility, His faithful followers must earnestly continue to be about the work God calls us to do. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(254, 253, 250); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(254, 253, 250); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">LORD, Creator and Promise Keeper, </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Your grace falls gently in the middle of these harsh last days. Forgive those who deny You and give them a reason to hope. I long to dwell in Your Presence all the days of my life. Here I see the beauty of Extravagant Love and know the unexplainable joy of Living Hope. As I eagerly anticipate what You will do next, help me tell Your story of Grace! Count me alive in Christ. Moment by moment, Jehovah Shammah, You are here! - dho</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background: repeat rgb(254, 253, 250); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>* previously posted on this Blog as part of the Jeremiah series, 2021/DonnaOswalt</i></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-17267651471075112282023-11-02T20:23:00.000-04:002023-11-02T20:23:02.161-04:00Come and Worship!<p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNXRCnbrdxo9yiyVBxS3AHZYylkR-TBk0knXAgUqoIN-woATl-m9H6i1B9Otl9jVtdpsV1INeapnUyBSBLKUDdIK5Pg_sYV1HQA6_S0ec2X10SVXO11aA5WTYuJ6A0aX0g6sWtODdDQ_hLbEgz8e_oqGot0yK36RRqsTn5C0DSzwWJ7_3Q61h8Q/s3264/DSCN2013.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNXRCnbrdxo9yiyVBxS3AHZYylkR-TBk0knXAgUqoIN-woATl-m9H6i1B9Otl9jVtdpsV1INeapnUyBSBLKUDdIK5Pg_sYV1HQA6_S0ec2X10SVXO11aA5WTYuJ6A0aX0g6sWtODdDQ_hLbEgz8e_oqGot0yK36RRqsTn5C0DSzwWJ7_3Q61h8Q/s320/DSCN2013.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Silence is praise to You, [Jerusalem-dwelling] God,<br />And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all...<br />How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You<br />to dwell in Your [holy of holies].<br />We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.<br />By awesome deeds You answer us in righteousness, O God of our salvation,<br />Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,<br />Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,<br />Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash...<br />Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship."</span><br /><i>Psalm 65:1, 4-8 </i>(<i>NASB</i>, <i>The Message</i>)<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PRAYER</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif"><em>Earth-Tamer</em><strong>,<br />You have created infinite opportunity for my soul to praise Your holiness and majesty. You teach me perspective and humility with the greatness of simplicity.<br /></strong><em>Ocean-Pourer</em><strong>,<br />You renew my life with steams of righteousness, always leading to rivers of goodness, and oceans of more. You teach me the Source of power.<br /></strong><em>Mountain-Maker</em><strong>,<br />You let me stand in high places, knowing blessings beyond need. You teach me the wonder of holiness and glory.<br /></strong><em>Hill-Dresser</em><strong>,<br />You decorate the landscape with beauty that escapes description. You teach me the joy of details.<br /></strong><em>Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash</em><strong>,<br />You tame the turmoil inside my soul with ease. You teach me the peace of grace.<br />I, too, come and worship at dawn and dusk and moments in between. For such Perfect Love brings me to my knees where I offer wordless soul-songs of praise to You. Amen.</strong></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><b>~ </b>dho</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-50285466724664562842023-10-26T01:00:00.021-04:002023-10-26T01:00:00.152-04:00God’s Word Prevails<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span color="windowtext" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2 Timothy 3:16</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP522-uXJvrrAXLvhEni2L7FnfZs0WLu-ooyTYsNf6HG9m_Te1gtC5RU9xDAyl66e7q7UMua8RVn8th6rmzC9XkPrIW6SxnVvlbue7klZ4jbA9Bnrg_4IqfekA3TZAyptKxj-PwZUDX0JkEj20QCQLlygP1VDJtxgstFRcGUSFai3OyA_YzClHDA/s280/IMG_1847.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="280" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP522-uXJvrrAXLvhEni2L7FnfZs0WLu-ooyTYsNf6HG9m_Te1gtC5RU9xDAyl66e7q7UMua8RVn8th6rmzC9XkPrIW6SxnVvlbue7klZ4jbA9Bnrg_4IqfekA3TZAyptKxj-PwZUDX0JkEj20QCQLlygP1VDJtxgstFRcGUSFai3OyA_YzClHDA/s1600/IMG_1847.jpeg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocket Bible given to military during WW2 </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, the living Word of God. We also believe, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” In his book <i>Whisper</i>, Mark Batterson says the first language of God is Scripture. He reminds us the Bible is “composed by more than forty writers over fifteen centuries in three languages on three continents.” These myriad of authors are “farmers and fishermen and kings” and “poets and prophets, and prisoners of war.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The prophet Jeremiah writes<b>, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O LORD, God of hosts. </b>(<span color="windowtext">Jeremiah 15:16</span> ESV) Batterson talks about consuming and savoring and digesting the Word of God. “The Bible comes alive only when we actively obey it.” Obedience becomes our living out the Scriptures. This is spiritual transformation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When I read the ancient words composed centuries ago, they still touch my soul, enrich my living, convict my spirit, encourage my journey. The Holy Bible is composed of words inspired by God; this Living Word reveals God to us. These sacred promises of God belong to each believer. Even though God is greater than any questions or doubts we can have, we will never be great enough to understand all of God’s answers. Through His Word, God whispers to our hungry, weary souls and our eager, longing hearts. God whispers joy and love as He celebrates with us. God whispers eternal Hope to all who listen. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Consider this!</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Bible, holy and sacred, prevails over hundreds and hundreds of years, through all kinds of skepticism and doubt and persecution. Does this truth give you hope? - </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;">dho</b></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-62373439923555996582023-10-19T01:00:00.003-04:002023-10-19T01:00:00.153-04:00Keeper of the Lions<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2677" data-original-width="3471" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWADabWMSDEfTjnzU36YmnWJyLLIWmZAiWeR-vs7IdbeC6NlGgI6PYz-g5JdnR283S8WRcnsJujVd5syBfMQNT_ddcNafZQUzYGgab62V5S7EaW8fDZw94hcrOSaQFSUno9KmSumijHdf1nw2nAayuK_DBLeEZEWxKMJ0BpIx5NlU571vnjbHOA/w320-h246/DSCN6580.jpeg" width="320" /></div></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">Daniel 6:16 . . . </span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"><em><span style="color: #333300;">The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!" </span></em></strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;">King Darius cast Daniel into the lion's den, knowing that Daniel's only hope was with the </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #333300;"><strong>God whom you serve</strong></span></em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;">. Even a doubting, egotistical king was overcome with remorse when </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">his decree</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;"> revealed Daniel still chose God and must be punished for </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: helvetica;">breaking the rules</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;">. There is a lesson in Daniel choosing God, taking a risk; there is a lesson, too, in the king getting a second chance when choosing God.</span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">The story is familiar. Daniel had been found kneeling in prayer, </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="color: #333300;">thanking and praising his God</span></strong></em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">. </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="color: #333300;">The conspirators found him praying, asking God for help</span></strong></em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">. They went to the king reminding him of his royal decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god except the king for thirty days. The punishment was to be thrown into the loins' den. The king had found favor with Daniel and was greatly distressed to learn that he was who they were reporting. </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span style="color: #333300;">At this, the king was very upset and tried his best to get Daniel out of the fix . . . He worked at it the whole day long. But the conspirators were back, "Remember . . .the king's decree!"</span></strong></em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> </span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><em><span style="color: #333300;">The king . . . ordered Daniel thrown into the lions' den. But he said to Daniel, "Your God, to whom you are so loyal, is going to get you out of this.</span></em></strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> In the waiting, the king could not eat, could not sleep.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">Daniel was protected and the king rejoiced. Verse 23 says Daniel was saved because </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #333300;"><b style="font-style: italic;">He had trusted his God. </b>Daniel had remained faithful. </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">Continuing on with verses 25-27 </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333300;"><strong><em>King Darius published this proclamation to every race, color and creed on earth:<br />Peace to you! Abundant peace!<br />I decree that Daniel's God shall be worshiped and feared in all parts of my kingdom.<br />He is the living God, world without end.<br />His kingdom never falls.<br />His rule continues eternally.<br />He is a savior and rescuer.<br />He performs astonishing miracles in heaven and on earth.<br />He saved Daniel from the power of the lions. ~ </em></strong>from<strong><em> </em></strong>Daniel 6 <i>The Message</i><br /></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">There is comfort in knowing that the God we worship and love and praise, reaches down in difficult times and rescues us from those who desire us to fail. He uses our Christian witness - our confessions of mistakes, our commitment of faith, and our choices not to compromise to influence others. I know that conspirators manipulate truth and that evil seeks destruction. But even </span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">better</strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"> - I know God - </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333300;"><strong style="font-style: italic;">a living God, who never falls, a Savior who rescues, </strong>w</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #333300; font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: black;">ho</span><em><strong> performs astonishing miracles</strong></em></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa; font-family: helvetica;">. God saves us from the lions! And in our worst moments, when we let ourselves get in the way - He reveals Himself to us through others, provides us with a chance for forgiveness and redemption. What a Mighty God!</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Keeper of the lions!</strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Mighty God -<br />I come to You on my knees with a contrite heart. How is it that You choose to love me so much? How is it that You rescue me even when I allow evil to permeate my heart? How is it that you give me second chances when I fall? I know it is easy to blame the conspirators and fear the lions. It is harder to see the manipulation and harder to trust the lions' den. Make me like Daniel, willing to risk all that I have for You. Rescue me when I fall victim to evil. Save me from the lions! And when I am more like Darius, swayed by my own pursuits, let me see You in another's actions, hear You in another's words. Let me feel Your presence in my unsettled heart. My deepest hope rests in a Mighty God who loves me. I trust in a Living God that rescues my heart from the deeds of evil, that saves me from the lions. Praise prayers call to You from the deepest places within my soul - <em>Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!</em> Holy Spirit, come and dwell in me. Be my Abundant Peace. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Son of the Everlasting Father, Maker of heaven and earth. Amen. </strong><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;">~dho</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-6825578139286003642023-10-12T12:32:00.000-04:002023-10-12T12:32:02.490-04:00My Portion <div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">O LORD,</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">You are</em><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">the portion of my inheritance</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and my cup;<br /></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You maintain my lot. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;<br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Yes, I have a good inheritance. </b>Psalm 16:5-6 NKJV</span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUDyOhNrZp3vian-u5jnn2enLwtkeWDQq2XQE4CgMzImduoQgS79HwbVX6AUoHjg-ccEe-8IGdVN8hzMnolDc-H6TMQ7dzP16BsGuRoOIfGPeyN6bkH3lsYJ9gPmt6oqHqKusCkbf7LJ9_qgQdRNforplETFPQQduTam2UTb0aoLWHdk1FEYDeg/s3264/DSCN2898.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUDyOhNrZp3vian-u5jnn2enLwtkeWDQq2XQE4CgMzImduoQgS79HwbVX6AUoHjg-ccEe-8IGdVN8hzMnolDc-H6TMQ7dzP16BsGuRoOIfGPeyN6bkH3lsYJ9gPmt6oqHqKusCkbf7LJ9_qgQdRNforplETFPQQduTam2UTb0aoLWHdk1FEYDeg/w200-h150/DSCN2898.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild horse; Corolla (Outer banks), NC</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Time after time, God has provided, and I know He continues to be with me. I don't have to look very far to know how richly blessed my life has been. Would I have chosen less tears or easier circumstances? Certainly my human heart wishes for simple and good, idealistic and benign paths, but a spiritual journey is challenging. The human mind questions God's answers and proposes its own arguments. We are so finite that His mystery escapes us, sometimes bewilders us.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span>In between the "what if's" and inside the "why not's", His Grace flows so abundantly that I find my soul secure and in <em>pleasant places</em> - one with the Father. So, I will eagerly wait for His plan to be revealed, Word by Word, prayer by prayer, moment by moment, opportunity by opportunity, person by person, possibility by possibility.</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><strong><span>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 <em>tokens</em> 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. -</span></strong></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: #fefdfa;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">dho</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-84648607859577070202023-10-05T11:56:00.001-04:002023-10-05T12:08:13.498-04:00A New Season<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">The peace of God is perfection of energy; it is a healthy vigor of the soul. </b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">Oswald Chambers</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="3226" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfw5iTk4nS6kQ-gLbVirv1-se8UkSCBm9hdp1ZFoRyvLOxNjpsRiiuIKvUiGyp-xadwTJq_-dsZ04rO8T5QKnke_AD-eQkjICmM5CowGgPFq9zykzD73OldLhA2dRVXvsoBuPXR-GMfd38vCCqwQw1px7BtfW_Tru_V6GKey_Xb3c3L0Bz6eZkfA/w320-h218/IMG_4639.jpeg" width="320" /></span></div><br />Fall is here! Summer's memories, along with its sand and shells, trails and travels, laughter and living, are tucked into bags and drawers and photos. School is back in session, and a change is in the air; summer rests as leaves change, daylight shortens, and Autumn's plans begin to fill the calendar. Relaxed schedules have merged into routines. As a new season begins, the heart hopes that God's peace will be more than enough and desires God's love to become its deepest joy. Our prayers search for words to refresh the soul with a new beginning.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">While <i>energy</i> is the capacity to do work, <i>potential energy</i> is energy that exists in a body as a result of its position or condition. Wisdom and grace fall gently from God reminding us of His generous provisions. His power and love exceed our capacity to understand. L</span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;">etting God be the source of our energy is the only way we can truly prepare our hearts to know His peace and our hands to serve others. But how do we position ourselves to receive such awesome energy?</span><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>I will build an altar of the broken fragments of my heart, and will bow my spirit within me. My broken spirit - that is Thy sacrifice; let it be acceptable upon Thine altar. I will proclaim aloud Thy praise, I will declare all Thy wonders. </b><i>Hymn of Unity, 12th Century</i></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I search for words to refresh my soul for this new season, I search His Word for the <i>potential energy </i>necessary to move my heart into position to do His work. These words from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+51%3A12&version=MSG" style="color: #5a1e11; text-decoration: none;"><b>Psalm 51:12 </b><i>The Message</i></a> become my prayer: <i style="font-weight: bold;">Put fresh wind in my sails! </i>Will you ask Him too?<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i><b>~dho</b></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17114952.post-32063990333782960092023-09-28T01:00:00.024-04:002023-09-28T11:10:55.412-04:0025,000 and Counting!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunesWPJ3Qa5_6fmIvi1-2g-HF4ROXCGpmV9Es-0IZa8Z0RkJl1deyBY5ahRH7CMlaK1B267qhMfP1ve0amBoytatjEynGMfRmv84ApFHk4luaTAIodvQUTEpNWH33IsL-ELwOuwSzeDUeh_E3sslA6aEHu5Ugf0IDhPyyISCzXwLHpY35ARB_cg/s1653/IMG_1685.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1543" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunesWPJ3Qa5_6fmIvi1-2g-HF4ROXCGpmV9Es-0IZa8Z0RkJl1deyBY5ahRH7CMlaK1B267qhMfP1ve0amBoytatjEynGMfRmv84ApFHk4luaTAIodvQUTEpNWH33IsL-ELwOuwSzeDUeh_E3sslA6aEHu5Ugf0IDhPyyISCzXwLHpY35ARB_cg/w187-h200/IMG_1685.jpeg" width="187" /></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">What is 25,000? Several years ago I heard someone discussing Mark Batterson’s book</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">IF</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The question of “how many days had each of us lived” was posed. The challenge was to count each day. Online I found a way to calculate my days from birth to a specific date and began to record them in my devotional journal. That was some years ago, but on September 23, 2023, I hit 25,000 days!</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The challenge had been to evaluate our days for purpose. Each time I wrote the total number of days I had been given, I became more aware of what I had done with each of these days, or often not done. Over these many years of living, I have wasted more time than I care to admit but have also known days and seasons of waiting for God’s leading on what would be next or what decision to make. I have also celebrated many of the days, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations, births of children, friendships both new and old, and achievements, mine and others. While we prefer not to think about dark times, there have been days that felt hopeless, endless, and uncertain. I have grieved for others’ losses as well as my own. My timeline also finds days of service and sacrifice, obedience and obstinance, revival and remorse, faithfulness and failures. We are each full of such days.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Quite unplanned, my 25,000<sup>th</sup> day fell on my 50<sup>th</sup> High School Reunion! I grew up in a small town in Northeast Mississippi, and most all of my classmates and I started first grade together, then graduated together. Additional blessings entered the mix as new classmates trickled into our group over the years, and they just seem to be part of the original group. We had a moment of memorial for 27 of our classmates who have died, each name read aloud. Tears and heartfelt memories prevailed during this part, each of us remembering precious times together. We were challenged in a devotion by our beloved classmate “Hule” - now Reverend - to remember them, but we also must remember Christ, remember our living alongside Him, and ask how our own reunion with God will be. Thirty-three of us stood for a group photo, all having lived at least 68 years, living through joys and losses, with health and diseases, celebrating successes and enduring disappointments, retelling the best memories and sharing the now. Laughter was loud. Legend and legacy stood shoulder to shoulder. From these folks, some of the next generation and the next have entered this world, hopefully to make the world a better place, to be a light to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Batterson suggests that counting our days is like “counting the possibilities” of our lives. The opportunities we have every day to make a positive impact for Christ in this world is countless. He writes, “The possibilities of your life are limitless.” If we seek God, He will show us more possibilities than we can imagine. Find your God-given passion and purpose and act! I remain more than grateful to God’s generosity to me - 25,000 days and counting! To God be the Glory in all that we do in service for Him. -<b>dho<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span><span>** I confess to not having read </span><b>IF</b><span>, but I will say my favorite Batterson book is </span><b>Whisper, How to Hear the Voice of God.</b><span> I recommend it. I wrote a </span><u>Summer Series</u> on my blog in 2019 about this book (June 13, 2019-September 5, 2019). Can search the blog by “2019 Summer Series” or go to the 2019 index.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; margin: 0in;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD641TOxCtBLkQz05nZKLikkWDnyPLDHp75CDJiOSVfxfPNOBoeF754LDhs_CHxCKjrfoklfTsDhQCIDzEwceqVtKp9GTpUQv4yrjlR5uL0lTcWfFMgAbJC9uTp9WP-b42g3Vp8UqjjWgUeVw5cG49rWzqK4YgOwXLVF7vCLRXoxRNFr4xfUHY2Q/s1776/IMG_0064.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1776" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD641TOxCtBLkQz05nZKLikkWDnyPLDHp75CDJiOSVfxfPNOBoeF754LDhs_CHxCKjrfoklfTsDhQCIDzEwceqVtKp9GTpUQv4yrjlR5uL0lTcWfFMgAbJC9uTp9WP-b42g3Vp8UqjjWgUeVw5cG49rWzqK4YgOwXLVF7vCLRXoxRNFr4xfUHY2Q/w320-h194/IMG_0064.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">
believe ~
O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! Jeremiah 32:17 NLT</div>Breathing Room For My Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01734599127679199587noreply@blogger.com0