Empty Hands

God always pours His grace into empty hands. ~St. Augustine

I sometimes find my hands too full, holding all the moments that charm me, claim me, constrain me, conceal me. Sometimes I hold to them in fear that I will lose them or not find them again. Then, sometimes I hold to them in joy for the same reasons. Either way, I hold to them tightly, hands full! Only when I lay them at the altar, in confession or celebration, can I open my hands to the Holy Father. The vivid imagery that comes to my mind is kneeling with my hands empty, palms up, and knowing His grace falls gently to me. Holy Father, may we know Your Glory in our every moment. ~ dho

O my soul . . .

Psalm 103 ~ The Message

O my soul, bless GOD! From head to toe, I'll bless His holy name!

O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing!

He forgives your sins - every one

He heals your diseases - every one

He redeems you from hell - saves your life!

He crowns you with love and mercy - a paradise crown.

He wraps you in goodness - beauty eternal.

He renews your youth - you're always young in His presence.

God makes everything come out right. He puts victims back on their feet.

He showed Moses how He went about His work, opened up His plans to all Israel.

GOD is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, He's rich in love.

He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever.

He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is His love to those who [revere] Him.

And as far as sunrise is from sunset, He has separated us from our sins.

As parents feel for their children, GOD feels for those the [revere] Him.

He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of [dust].

Men and women don't live very long; like wild flowers they spring up and blossom,

But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here.

GOD's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who [revere] Him,

Making everything right for them and their children as they follow His Covenant ways

and remember to do whatever He said.

GOD has set His throne in heaven; He rules over us all. He's the King!

So bless GOD, you angels, ready and able to fly at His bidding, quick to hear and do what He says.

Bless GOD, all you armies of angels, alert to respond to whatever He wills.

Bless GOD, all creatures, wherever you are - everything and everyone made by GOD.

And you, O my soul, bless GOD!

". . . Possibility discovered the unexpected, assumed the predictable and hoped the impossible. Of all the routines possibility choreographed, His unforced rhythms of grace* became my favorite. This dance revealed the heights, depths, widths and strength of His Amazing Grace. Too high for words, too deep for tears, too wide to grasp, too strong to fail, He held me in all circumstances ~ good and bad, easier and harder, known and unknown. Mercy reached through, beyond my human fraility, and Grace restored my soul." dho excerpt from my devotional journal ~ 10/8/06 * Matthew 11:29 (The Message)

In memorial ~ Mary Sue Howell October 7, 1929 ~ October 1, 2006

Rooted in Christ

Like the mangrove, our roots planted in Christ grow deeply. He is the Provider and Protector of all, our El Shaddai, our God-all sufficient.

The roots of the mangrove create and shelter a complex ecosystem. Over time, mangrove trees nourish and replenish the soil, allowing other plants to form roots. These mangrove roots are the source of food and nutrients for both animals and micro-organisms. And, they "breathe air".

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Colossians 2:6-7 (NAS)

photo/Mangrove in Roatan, Honduras/taken by Donna Oswalt July, 2007

In the Wilderness

Thomas Merton writes in his book Thoughts in Solitude: The Desert Fathers believed that the wilderness had been created as supremely valuable in the eyes of God precisely because it had no value to men . . . God's plan was that they should love Him in the wilderness and that they could always look back upon that time in the desert as the idyllic time of their life with Him alone.

Holy Father ~
I fall on my knees in Your presence. You illumine my mind when darkness lingers. You protect my heart when doubt threatens. Your rescue my soul when uncertainty challenges. When I am weak, You strengthen me. When I stumble, You catch me. When I am weary, You hold me. In countless ways, You bless me! My prayers of praise, insufficient but whole-souled, applaud Your Glory. Still on my knees, I surrender my own desires and offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, for He is Grace. Amen. ~dho


Doxology
To Him who can keep you from falling and bring you safe to His glorious presence, innocent and joyful, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, authority and power, before all ages, now and forever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25 (The New Jerusalem Bible)

Plant In Response to God

Live creatively, friends. . . Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens . . . Make careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. . . sharing all the good things that you have . . . What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. . .
Galatians 6: 1-10 (The Message)

In the New Living Translation, verse 9 reads: So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.


God of all ~
My soul falls to its knees before Holiness. Speechless in the presence of Your Majesty, I weep, for I do not know what to say. You always let me rest at Your feet.
You are the Power and Glory that charms me, yet sometimes I struggle to understand. You are the creative force that beats within my heart, races through my mind, surges inside my soul; yet, sometimes I ache with uncertainty. How do you want me to use these gifts?
I long for the Holy Spirit to reveal my harvest road. I long to plant in response to You, to grow through the Holy Spirit, to harvest a crop of real life. Holy Father, I long to reap a harvest of blessing and tell everyone it comes from You.
In the daily planting, let my heart be open to Your voice. Help me to not grow weary when the harvest seems far away. Teach me to find Your Seeds, to plant them with Eternal Hope, to nourish them with Living Water. Father, when the time is right, show me a harvest blessing. Amen. ~dho

All His glory and beauty come from within,
and there He delights to dwell.
His visits there are frequent,
His conversation sweet,
His comforts refreshing,
and His peace passing all understanding.
~ Thomas Kempis ~

Mysterious Love, Hope, Grace, and Peace

Holy Father ~
You are the Holy One that knows the depth of each of us. You are greater than all knowledge and all wisdom. You are I AM. What mystery!

Hear my heart, my desire to follow You. Hear the struggle in my words, my choices in the past . You also hear my silent thoughts of doubt and weakness. You hear my unspoken words of uncertainty and grief. What love!

We call You many names ~ Jehovah, Yahweh, El Shaddai ~ Healer, Sustainer, Provider ~ Love Most High, Good Shepherd, Jesus. You call us Beloved. You always know just where we fall, just where we break, just where we wander. What hope!

I come to the garden to pray. My prayers rise to heaven with the Spirit of Holiness. There is such comfort in knowing You already know the reasons, know the depth of need. There are times when I choose the easier path, the one that does not honor You. I neglect to mention Your name and constrain my words that would give You praise. I do not always put You first. I compromise, choose good not best. My intentions are not always worthy. Father, forgive me when I try to be You. Forgive the times when weakness wins and boldness flees. Forgive the times when silence speaks and courage hides. Forgive my doubt and hold my tears. I lay all this on the altar. Consume the wrong and renew my joy. What grace!

What kind of God lets us confess what He already knows? What kind of God listens to our petitions when He knows we will fail again? What kind of God forgives our mistakes just because we ask? What kind of God loves more than enough? What kind of God calls us Beloved? Oh, Mercy comes and whispers with tender words ~ My Beloved, you are Mine. You are forgiven. I will never let you go. Now, let's be about My purpose. There's a harvest waiting. I love you. Baruch Hashem Adonai! What peace! Amen. ~ dho

Glory Rising

. . . all of His followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
“Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!”
But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
[Jesus] replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, He began to cry.
Luke 19:37-41 (NLT)

Crowds filled the roadside, children sang songs, and joyful cheers rang loud. As Jesus passed, the crowds waved palm branches. Many followers shouted God-songs for miracles and wonders they had witnessed, “Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!”

Similar words had welcomed Jesus before this day. The angels announced the birth of the Messiah with Glory-songs and peace-filled praises. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”*

Each time the world expected a different kind of savior, one who would be king, one who would deliver them from oppressive rulers. They hoped for political glory. But the Holy One came into the world as the Savior for all people, the King of kings, the Deliverer. He is the Hope that brings Eternal Glory. When Jesus saw the city ahead, He began to cry, mourning for His people, knowing God’s righteous judgment to come.


Anointed One,
You are Messiah and Savior and Son. Welcomed by angels singing Glory to God in the highest heavens, the people were amazed but did not understand.
You are Prophet and Priest and King. Cheered by crowds shouting glory in the highest heaven, the people were amazed but did not understand.
You are Christ and Redeemer and Risen Lord. Rejected by the world saying Crucify! Crucify!, You amaze us with forgiveness and reconciliation.
You are Living Water and Bread of life and Prince of Peace. Cherished by believers telling Your Glory-story, You amaze us with provision and compassion.
You are Eternal Hope and Everlasting Faithfulness and Enduring Love. Defined by Glory rising Peace be with you, You are Amazing Grace! Amen. dho

* Luke 2:13-14 (NLT)