Glorious Grace

Gracious Lord,
Grace falls like gentle rain, steady and sure. Grace pours over us like rivers of light, faithful and full. Grace floods our hearts, spilling over and rushing free. We cannot capture or explain or contain Your generous offering. Yet, every day, we simply find more Grace lavished upon our souls. Gentle Shepherd, Faithful Father, Holy Spirit - You come to us with unmeasured love that is undeserved, and You show us unmerited favor.

Our praise comes with Thank You, sincere and simple. Our praise shouts with Hallelujah! and Amen!, grateful and rich. Our praise overflows with To God be the Glory, great things He has Done!. We cannot adequately celebrate or applaud or adore your Magnificent Power. Yet, every day, You graciously accept meager gratitude scattered within our words. Everlasting Light, Holy Father, Spirit of the Living God - we come to You with imperfect words that are unworthy, and, still, we find more offerings of Extravagant Grace.

Gracious Lord, how do we offer thanks for such a Gift? ~dho

Psalm 84:11 (NKJV):
For the LORD God is a splendid shield;
The LORD will give glorious grace;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.

God's glorious grace and our inferior, imperfect offerings merge in stark contrast; our temporal, finite human mind is perplexed. This gracious, generous God accepts our frail, feeble attempts to praise and worship Magnificence, Majesty and Mystery. In return, He gives Extravagant Grace!

For me to seek the answers that only Mystery knows, to choose the gift that only Majesty offers, to know the grace that only Magnificence gives, implores Yahweh's splendid shield and glorious grace. The world is full of contradictions. That Perfect Love would pay the ransom for my perfected iniquity remains the greatest one. Gracious Lord, how do I offer thanks for such a gift? ~dho

God's Ways

God's glory is on tour in the skies, . . .

Their words aren't heard,

their voices aren't recorded,

But their silence fills the earth:

unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. . .

That's how God's Word vaults across the skies

from sunrise to sunset,

Melting ice, scorching deserts,

warming hearts to faith.

The revelation of GOD is whole

and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of GOD are clear

and point out the right road.

The life-maps of GOD are right,

showing the way to joy.

The directions of GOD are plain

and easy on the eyes. . .

The decisions of GOD are accurate

down to the nth degree.

There's more: GOD's Word warns us of danger

and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way?

Or know when we play the fool"

Clean the slate God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins,

from thinking I can take over Your work; . . .

These are the words in my mouth . . .

Accept them when I place them on the morning altar. . .

Psalm 19 The Message

Spirit of the Living God,

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! Yet,
sometimes I can only watch You work. In
these times, I must trust You.

Prepare my heart with Your Desires. Prepare

my mind with the wisdom I will need. Prepare

my soul for the path You choose. Holy Spirit,

whisper the mysterious and wonderful things the

Father has for me. Praises for His Endless Love

and Unmeasured Goodness - it overwhelms me day
and night! The applause of ten thousand angels is
not enough! Jesus, hear this prayer! Amen.
~ dho

Wait Expectantly

I pray to GOD - my life a prayer -
and wait for what He'll say and do.
Psalm 130:5 The Message

The Living Bible uses these words ~ I wait expectantly, trusting God for help, for He has promised. When we wait expectantly, that is called hope! In A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Eugene Peterson writes this about Psalm 130 and hope:

Hoping . . . means going about our assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and the conclusions. . . It is the opposite of desperate and panicky manipulations, of scurrying and worrying.

[Hope] is imagination put in the harness of faith . . . a willingness to let God do it His way and in His time.

Is it our lack of trusting in God's faithful promises or the our cynicism towards hope that binds us to despair? Do we worry more about not being able to control circumstances than confindently going about our assigned tasks? Allowing God to work in His way and in His time often requires us to wait. By studying the Scirptures and through prayer, our relationship with God grows; our understanding of His character increases. In His presence we find a peace within the uncertainty; we are embraced by His peace through the waiting. We must wait expectantly on God ~ Who is Faithful, Who is Promise, Who is HOPE! ~ dho

Gracious LORD,
I come to the altar shouting praise for
all the blessings in my life. You are the Light
that writes the words of my soul-song. It is
You that gives my heart its desires. You are Hope!
Faithful Father, I am God-strong; my blessings
abundantly exceed my needs. Creator, gather the
details of my life, take Your holy threads and weave
a tapestry of Your design. . . You transcend all
circumstances, expose all evil, reveal all love but
never measure Grace. I am God-strengthened! ~dho

Hope Endures

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall still praise Him
For the help of His presence. . .
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:5,7-8 NASB

The soul must remain willingly unguarded in its struggle with suffering, not for the lessons of despair, rather hope. It is Hope that reaches into the chaos and rescues us. Lindbergh's description of suffering is more about hope than despair. If hope prevails, God must have access to our suffering souls, and it is only in our willingness to remain vulnerable that He can offer lessons on mourning, understanding, patience and love. While not bound by time, His Grace is released in our praise, released by His presence, released through His unfailing love, released with our prayers. Hope in God endures. ~dho


Faithful Father ~
I come into the Holy of Holies! On my knees, my head
bowed in reverence, I ask for wisdom and understanding.
Sometimes my faith seems weak as circumstances crowd
around me and threaten to come between You and me.
Forgive me when the noise of the world drowns out Your
voice, when the chaos inside my heart closes the door to
Your beauty, when the ramblings of my thoughts interfere
with Your desires. In my weakness, I need You more than
ever. Let me love with a tender heart. Fill me with hope.
Come with me - wherever I must go. Remind me of Your
unforced ryhthms of grace. In Your loving arms I can always
find rest from the world. In the name of Jesus, Amen! ~dho

Promise Keeper

Nehemiah 9:1-15 The Message

They stood and confessed their sins. . .
read from The Book of the Law of the LORD their God
. . . confessed and worshiped the LORD * (NKJV)

Blessed be Your glorious name,
exalted about all blessing and praise!
You're the one, GOD, You alone;
You made the heavens,
the heavens of heavens, and all angels;
The earth and everything on it,
the seas and everything in them;
You keep them all alive;
heaven's angels worship you!

You're the one GOD, the God
who chose Abram . . . signed a covenant with him
. . . kept Your word because You are righteous.
You saw the anguish . . . heard their cries . . .
amazed Pharaoh . . . with wonders and miracle-signs.
. . . You split the sea before them . . . their pursurers . . . sank.

. . . by day You led them with a Pillar of Cloud,
and by night with a Pillar of Fire
To show them the way they were to travel . . .
You spoke to them . . . gave them instructions . . .
You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger,
You sent them water from the rock for their thirst.
You told them to enter and take the land
which You promised to give them.


In his devotional book The Power of His Presence, Ray Stedman describes this prayer in Nehemiah as a great model. God is more than Creator and Protector, He is compassion and provision, sustainer and redeemer. God knows our needs before we do, hears our pain's depth, provides for our hungering and thirsting souls. Stedman writes God sustains us momemt by moment.** Forever offering manifold mercies, God is the Promise Keeper. ~ dho

** Where To Begin, August 18, The Power of His Presence; Ray Stedman
http://www.raystedman.org

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance
and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance. Psalm 16:5-6 NKJV

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 choosen less tears or easier circumstances? 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. However, 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 pleasant places - 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 possiblity.

Father, my heart gives You the Glory for my good deeds. My offerings are simple compared to Yours - a prayer, a Scripture, a hope, a gesture - just tokens of kindness and love. You touch my soul with words written centuries ago. Oh, Lord, Your Grace pours over me like a gentle rain, refreshing and renewing. In the stillness of this moment, I accept the portion and cup You have assigned me. In my obedience, use me to reach beyond, around and through circumstances to be a witness to Your Grace. Amen. dho

Tapestries of Love

LORD, You have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. LORD, even before I say a word, You already know it. You are all around me – in front and in back – and have put Your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand
. . . You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
. . . God, Your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many! If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. . . God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any bad thing in me. Lead me on the road to everlasting life.
Psalm 139:1-6 (NCV), 13-16 (NLT), 17-18, 23-24 (NCV)


Faithful Father,
What makes me think I can hide my doubts from You? How can I pretend to be strong when You know I am not? Why would You listen so intently to my prayers when You already know my needs? When am I ever alone?
You know all about me and love me still. I am never alone – You are all around me. You listen to the groans of my soul with mercy and tenderness. You are my strength; You make me bold, for I am nothing without You. LORD, even before I say a word, my heart’s desires, my anxious thoughts, my hurried spirit, my silent fears – all are known. You are too marvelous for me!
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. ~dho

Glory

Bravo, GOD, bravo!
. . . angels shout, "Encore!"
In awe before the glory, in awe before God's visible power.
. . . GOD's thunder sets the oak tres dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees - we call out, "Glory!"
Psalm 29:1, 9 The Message

God's Splendor and Power reveal His character ~ Steadfast Love and Faithfulness. And my response? It should be to fall to [my] knees and call out, "Glory!". The problem often lies in not noticing God's mystery and majesty; the problem lies within me.

Holy Father,
Glimpses of Your glory escape me because I hurry past or rush between or skip ahead. Your best moments are hidden in my eagerness, my enthusiasm, my certainty. Forgive the careless and egocentric attitudes that clog my days and blind my heart to the unmeasured blessings.

In the silence of the early morning, let me linger in Your presence, a fragrance fresh and sweet. In the darkness of the late night, let me sit with You, with wisdom strong and true. In the solitude of an afternoon walk or in the stillness as children lie sleeping, I desire to rest with You, a shelter safe and warm. Tell me where to go and what to choose. Help me know how and when and if. Oh, Father, as I wait, give me patience to be still long enough to listen, quiet long enough to hear Your whispers of love. Amen. ~dho

Thirsty!

John 4:28 "the woman put down her water
jar and hurried back to tell the people".

"She put down her water jar. This very well may be
the heart of this beautiful story. Her water jar is her
own agenda. . . She walked away from that well with
Living Water because she was able to let go of her
own agenda . . . and go forth with God's agenda."
from Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angels

Holy Father,
Help me put down my water jar - my
agenda, my expectations, my plans, my
desires. These get in the way of your Mighty
Ways, your Divine Intentions for my life. In
my own humanity, I fail to come to the altar
without some remnant of thought or partial
desire in my heart. In the deepest part of my
soul, I long to worship You with pure intent.
I thirst for Living Water. Fill my cup . . . I lift it up . . .
Quench this thirsting in my soul . . . Fill it up and make
me whole. Find me on my knees, my soul in
the circle of grace, listening for Your Agenda.
Amen. ~ dho

Community

Henri J. M. Nouwen, Can You Drink the Cup? (Notre Dame, Ind.: Ave Maria, 1996), 57.

"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.”

Paul writes: And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it.
Philemon 1:6 The Message

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 becoming broken bread and poured out wine. Only through Grace can acts of goodness become broken bread and poured out wine. 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 people recognize Christ in my acts of goodness? ~dho

It is no light task to teach all people in truth, and to foster unity, forgiveness, sincerity, and uprightness in all things. ~ The Rule of Carthage, Irish, 7th century

Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NASB/ESV)

Deep and Wide

To You they cried out and were delivered;

In You they trusted and were not disappointed.

Psalm 22:5 NASB

There is a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea. . .

For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind. . .

If our love were but more simple, we should rest upon God's Word;

and our lives would be illumined by the presence of our Lord.

by Fredrick W. Faber, 1854

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 ESV

Prayer for a new story ~

When I told you my story, You listened to me;
train me in Your deep wisdom.
Help me understand these things inside and out
so I can ponder Your miracle-wonders.
I am sad and tired;
build me up again by Your Word.
Barricade the road that goes Nowhere;
grace me with Your clear revelation.
I choose the true road to Somewhere,
I post Your road signs at every curve and corner.
I grasp and cling to whatever You tell me;
Lord, don't let me make a mess of things.
I'll run the course You lay out for me
if You'll just show me how.
Psalm 119: 26-32 ( The Message, TLB, NCV, the Amplified Bible)

Maker of my soul,
Hear my story - my uncertainties and struggles and disappointments. I attempted to understand the wonder of Your Grace, but it exceeded my comprehension. I journeyed down many roads in search of personal satisfaction, but continued to miss the signs. I tried to write my own story but grew weary in my efforts.

Speak to me! I long to hear Your voice. Grace me. Lead me. Show me.
Redeemer, renew me. Let my soul find rest in the Grace that exceeds understanding. Give me a map out of the wilderness. Lead me on the righteous road to contentment. Author of all, write my story! Show me how to share this new story of faith and obedience and blessing! With praises for Everlasting Goodness, Amen. ~dho

Obedience to the Command of Jesus

In his book A Life of Obedience, Andrew Murray writes about obedience to the command of Jesus (the Great Commision) and the disciples' response:

Before, during His life on earth, they had more than once expressed their doubt about the possibility of fulfilling His commands.

But here, as quietly and simply as He speaks these divine words, they accept them . . . they go to the appointed place to wait to be equipped by their Lord with heavenly power for heaven's work of making all the nations His disciples.

. . . Within a generation, simple men, whose names we do not even know, had preached the Gospel in Antioch and Rome and the regions beyond. The command was passed on and absorbed into the heart and life, as meant for all ages and for every disciple.

Still today, we disciples of Jesus continue to share the Gospel. At the appointed place and equipped by God ~ Generation after generation stands in awe of Your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts. . . GOD is good to one and all; everything He does is suffused with grace. (Psalm 145:4,9 ~ The Message) ~ dho

A Private Audience

He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved - surprised to be loved. 2 Samuel 22:20 The Message

God of miracle-wonders,
God of well-thought-out-plans ~
His cloud-brightness burst through a grand
comet of fireworks. Then God thundered out
of heaven; the High God gave a great shout.
I have seen You ~ the Light in my darkness.
I have felt You ~ the Power in my weakness.
I have heard You ~ the Voice in the chaos.
I celebrate You! I praise You! I rest in
the mountaintop refuge, safe.

Love Most High, in all times You are my
shield of protection! You rescue me, touch me,
heal me, lead me forward. For such love, words
search but find no escape, captives of
mediocrity. God, make my life complete as I
place all the pieces before You. Hear the
prayers of my heart. Amen. ~ dho

* Scripture from 2 Samuel 22 (The Message)

A Father's Love

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

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

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)

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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)

Holy Wind

You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God. John 3:8 (The Message)

Holy Wind

A mighty gust, some gentle breezes,
Either blows wherever it pleases.
In silence passing, roaring through,
Hidden still, this Wind chooses you,

From south to north or west to east,
From weak to strong or more to least,
Invisible, with power to
Break and mend, this Wind comes to you.

Quietly with intense yearning,
The Wind flames a fire burning
Within the soul, consuming dross
That calls repentance to the cross.

From south to north or west to east,
From weak to strong or more to least,
This Perfect Love endures each nail
Which reconciles and rends the veil.

Infinitely bolder than deep,
Broader than wide, higher than steep,
Holy Wind, hold each empty place,
Mend my soul with marvelous Grace. ~dho


Spirit of God,
Despite my sin - resume the call – define my heart!
Delight my mind – assume my sin – design my life!
Ignite the fire - consume the dross - refine my soul!
Invisible and Indescribable and Invincible! Take me now! ~dho

Be Transformed and Renewed

. . . by the mercies of God: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

The Scripture above is more familiar in the translations that use phrases like living sacrifices and be transformed by the renewing of your mind, but The Message gives us examples of how we are to be these phrases. Becoming too much like the world is a constant danger for us. The power of the world entertains our imaginations, teases our thoughts, heightens our emotions. Darkness will always lure us down to its level of immaturity. So, how are we to be transformed? We must keep our focus on God, whose compassions . . . are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.*

Eternal Hope ~
I confess that darkness entices me, and each time, I rediscover its illusions of better and happier and wishful. Deceptively, the world veils the truth like a magician, distracting me with a maze of limited results. This is not hope!

The Word tells me to passionately wait and quietly hope** in God. I am to bring the things of my ordinary life and to offer them to the Holy Father. Lovingly and creatively chosen for me, God’s purposes are always best. I wait for Hope!

Transform me! Make me more like You; change me from the inside out.
Renew me! Find me where I am; pour out Your mercies everyday.
Teach me! Give me life lessons that grow faith; develop perseverance.
Refine me! Take my joys and my burdens; melt me into Your will.
Create me new everyday with Your unlimited possibilities!
You are Living Hope! Amen. dho

* see Lamentations 3:19-23 (NIV)
** see Lamentations 3:24-30 (The Message)

The Holy Potter

The LORD said to Jeremiah: Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you. Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay did not turn out as he had hoped; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make . . . Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand. Jeremiah 18: 2-4, 6 (NAS/NLT)

The Master Designer is creating a beautiful vessel! Somewhere, during some revolution of the wheel, the vessel begins to change, hard to say just how or why or when. Efforts to reshape the broken vessel do not go as hoped. Perhaps, the Potter will have to remake the original vessel into another vessel, one that pleases Him more.

Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand. We are clay in the Potter's hand, each of us being molded into a beautiful vessel ~ designed by Him, complete in Him and useful for Him.

He holds each of our broken vessels and longs to repair them. Knowing we are tenderly held in His Hand gives me great peace. I believe He takes us like clay, mends the broken parts and creates new vessels that will be better ~ stronger and braver, more compassionate, more generous ~ not perfect, but more graced!

Holy Potter ~
Take me in Your hand like clay, make me into a vessel that reflects Your Glory. Mold my words into deeds of kindness and compassion. Shape my heart with Love, my soul with Light. Glaze me with Grace. Put me in Your kiln and let the holy fire refine me, seal me forever. When anyone mentions the wonder of Your craft, I shall always praise the Holy Potter! I shall tell them of the Love and Light and Grace that comes only from Your hand. Amen!
~ dho

God, pick up the pieces.
Put me back together again.
You are my praise! Jeremiah 17:14 (msg)