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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Submitting To The Yoke

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:13-14 NASB

I am certain that seeking His Will is the only way, and I do find His goodness along the way ~ in every day. The ordinary calls to me this day ~ the simple calls in the quiet of the morning, the warmth of the sun, the singing of birds, the beauty of Spring's new blooms ~ and yet, in this ordinariness and simplicity, I find the Creator's fingerprints which are extraordinary ~ complex ~ intricate. He weaves it all together ~ in the waiting ~ and in the living.

The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! . . . Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin agresh each day.
. . . I will hope in Him! The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. Lamentaions 3:22-26 NLT

The Life Application Study Bible commentary refers to "submit to the yoke" (Lamentations 3:27) meaning the ways God teaches us. It offers these ways:
1- silent reflection on what God wants 2- repentant humility 3- self-control in the face of adversity 4- confident patience, depending on the divine Teacher to bring about loving lessons in our life

These words speak to me, give me season to pause, give me reason to reflect. How blessed I am to share His Word! ~dho

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Crucified Redeemer



“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:38-39 (NIV)

Epitimao is a Greek word meaning “to rap on the knuckles” as to reprimand and appears several times throughout Mark's text. According to Mark, the miracles of Jesus do not define Him as Messiah, rather His essential suffering and death on the cross. In the death of Jesus, His glory is revealed as Messiah, Redeemer of all, Son of God. Through these words of Mark, I begin to focus on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion, not just His glorious resurrection.

Oswald Chambers writes:
"The Cross of Christ is the revealed truth of God's judgement on sin.
. . . The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision . . . But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God." *



Epitimao

Centuries ago, a man of God called Mark inscribed a great work.
Written in his native Greek, this first edition served as a reference
For other scribes who penned the story.
And, hence, became a polyglot classic.
Little is known about this enlightened composer of images,
The recorder of the Messianic secret.
To most, the beauty of his literary genius remains obscured by candid, woven narration.
Theologians echo, “Epitimao, for they are dull.”

It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
He was despised and rejected by men,
A man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering . . .
For he bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.”

As the Master instructed his students, he spoke of the Kingdom of God,
While his students chattered about a kingdom.
Teaching them of things to come, the Master described the betrayal, suffering, and death of the Son of Man,
While his students argued about poIitical appointments by an earthly king.
As predicted, betrayal followed by denial, became the Master’s fate.
Alone with his captors, the Master was beaten, mocked, and crucified.
At last, the beauty of his divinity was revealed,
Unveiled by a violent and cruel death.

Centuries have passed: the victorious Good News endures.
Translators polished the original Greek classic.
Yet echoes of Mark rend the air,
Epitimao those who stand amazed in the presence of a risen Savior,
And have not stood mute at the foot of the cross.
Epitimao, for they are dull.” ~ dho


Lord ~ In my boldness to profess Your glory, I forget the pain. I hear Epitimao! In immense humility, I fall to my knees with wordless intention, but cannot truly know the depth of suffering You endured.
Reveal my sin that drives the nails into Your flesh. Reveal the Cross that breathes new life into my soul. Reveal the cost. Reveal the Love. ~ dho

* Oswald Chambers, from "My Utmost for His Highest", April 6, updated edition

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

New Hope

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)


Adonai-Jehovah ~
Sovereign Lord, we know the blessings that pour from You, blessings like the sweetest wine that flows from the highest mountains, generous and gracious, extraordinary and extravagant. In You we find the Source of all goodness. With tender mercies You open our eyes to these gifts, open our ears to these promises, open our hearts to these wonders! With unlimited love You heal the pain, mend the wounds, hold the tears. With gentle grace You forgive our faults, prepare our hearts, renew our minds. Such Amazing Love and Marvelous Grace!


Yeshua, You became the Suffering Servant. You are the Glory Everlasting! Savior and Shepherd, we rest in You. Rebuild us and plant us, for Your purposes exceed our imaginations. Use our hands and feet, our minds and hearts, our strength and weakness, our hope and weariness, our love and desire ~ for we are made new in You! Precious Jesus, speak this prayer for us. Amen.
dho

God . . . renew a steadfast spirit within me Psalm 51:10b (NIV)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Day!

We thank Thee, O God, for the return of the wondrous spell of this Christmas season that brings its own sweet joy into our jaded and troubled hearts. Forbid it, Lord, that we should celebrate without understanding what we celebrate, or, like our counterparts so long ago, fail to see the star or to hear the song of glorious promise. As our hearts yield to the spirit of Christmas, may we discover that it is Thy Holy Spirit who comes- not a sentiment, but a power- to remind us of the only way by which there may be peace on the earth and good will among men. May we not spend Christmas, but keep it, that we may be kept in its hope, through Him who emptied Himself in coming to us that we might be filled with peace and joy in returning to God. ~ Peter Marshall ~

Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, He embraced us. Ephesians 2:4 (MSG)

Holy Father,
This day we celebrate a new beginning, a time
of new birth for an old way of living. Christ
came to bring a New Way to this world, weary
and lost. Today, we remember and celebrate
the simple and innocent way He came to us.


We long to find the simple way, to find You
in ordinary places, in everyday faces. Help
us to put away our old way of living, complicated
by excess baggage and unnecessary burdens
we
often carry around with us. Teach us a
New Way of living, restored and replenished,
redeemed and refined.

Show us beauty in the new and simple; show us
joy in the Light and Love! Take us now, this very
day, as we lay down our old way of living and offer
ourselves as living stones for You.

Holy, Holy, Holy LORD, GOD of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of Your Glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. Hosanna in the highest.

The magnificent abundance You give our souls
exceeds all expectations! With unexplainable
acceptance of Your mysterious ways, we praise
your Holiness! For we shall tell of You and
Your Ways; tell how beauty-full You are! For
Your Glory, we shall tell this God-story, the one
You are writing on our hearts and lives.


I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of
answered prayers.*
Your vows are binding
upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings
to You.** A thousand Hallelujahs, my ex voto. Amen!
~dho

* Psalm 13:6 The Message
** Psalm 56:12 NASB

The Latin 'ex voto' literally means "from the vow". An 'ex voto' is an offering made in fulfillment of a vow or promise.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Winter's Morning!

Creator,
Your morning is glorious! The sun shines in a
beautiful, clear Mississippi-blue sky. Frost
covers the ground and each blade of grass
glistens in the sunlight. You feed the birds
along the roadside; they know You will provide.
A lone crow sits and waits. He, too, will not be
disappointed. With the morning's frost, the pansies

bow in reverence to You , but even they will find
the warmth needed to endure the cold.

I see my Provider in this day. There are new
mercies in Your Glory. How my soul glistens
in your Everlasting Light! You make all things
new every day! I wait for You with anticipation!
I will not be disappointed. On my knees, I bow
before a Holy God. Lord, You are the author of all.

Write the God-story You desire in my heart,
and I will pen the words. Hear my prayer. Amen. ~dho

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Goodness

GOD majestic, praise abounds . . .
His sacred mountain,
breathtaking in its heights - earth's joy. . .
Your name, God, evokes a train
of Hallelujahs wherever
It is spoken, near and far;
Your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action. . .
Then you can tell the next generation
detail by detail the story of God,
Our God forever,
Who guides us till the end of time.
Psalm 48:1, 10, 13b-14 (The Message)

Who is this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty,
He is the King of glory!*

Jehovah ~
You are LORD of all, the King of glory!
We look toward this sacred mountain longing to find Your presence.
We go up to Jerusalem seeking to know Your will.
We shout with holy Hallelujahs rejoicing to speak Your name.
We rest in Your arms learning to see Your goodness-in-action.
We tell about this glory-story striving to recount Your faithfulness.
You are the King of glory! You are El-Shaddai!
You are our God, now and forever, till the end of time.
Hallelujah, Amen! ~ dho

* Psalm 24:10 (NLT)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Awesome Deeds

from Psalm 65:1, 4-8(NASB, The Message)

Silence is praise to You, [Jerusalem-dwelling] God,
And also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all. . .
How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
to dwell in Your [holy of holies].
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.
By awesome deeds You answer us in
righteousness, O God of our salvation,
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer
Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash . . .
Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship."


Earth-Tamer,
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.
Ocean-Pourer,
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.
Mountain-Maker,
You let me stand in high places, knowing blessings beyond need. You teach me the wonder of holiness and glory.
Hill-Dresser,
You decorate the landscape with beauty that escapes description. You teach me the joy of details.
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
You tame the turmoil inside my soul with ease. You teach me the peace of grace.
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.
~ dho

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Truth's Choice

Truth is the great equalizer, a weapon of revelation. So often we stand at the crossroads and look both ways, the world to our left and righteousness to our right. Here we are confronted by Truth. Truth says we will experience both delight and disappointment in life. In its most honest moments, the world will tell you stories of both. Living a righteous life in Jesus will reveal the same lessons. There is a freedom on both paths; however, the consequences remain vastly different. In the world, everything depends on me, but in Jesus, He provides everything I need. Truth always reveals a choice. The world chants Pick me! Pick me! all the while Jesus whispers I choose you! The world offers no guarantees, no refunds, no exchanges. Jesus offers grace, forgiveness and eternal life. Truth demands a choice. I choose Jesus, the most Divine Gift. ~ dho

Henri Nouwen writes:
The joy that Jesus offers His disciples is His own joy, which flows from His intimate communion with the One who sent Him. It is a joy that does not separate happy days from sad days, successful moments from moments of failure. This joy is a divine gift that does not leave us during times of illness, poverty, oppression or persecution.

John 8:31-31(The New Jerusalem Bible)
Jesus said to those who believed in Him:
If you make My Word your home
you will indeed be My disciples;
you will come to know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

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

Monday, October 01, 2007

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

Sunday, September 16, 2007

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